What's a good starter road bicycle?

Question

I love riding and am considering taking the financial plunge and buy a good starter road bike. My budget at this point is $1,000.00 dollars US. I currently use a $100.00 mountain bike for about a 3 mile commute to work, but really like riding and would like to expand my experiences. As a part B to this question, should I look into what I would consider a more durable bike like a mountain bike rather than a traditional ten-speed style since I live in an urban environment and do not always have ideal riding conditions?

Answer 1

Perhaps a tire approach instead of a budget approach?

Tires are application specific. One famous tire is for both city and club racing.

To take the road bike over city roads, you need Panaracer T-Serv 28mm x 700c.

This is an application specific tire for city use, with flat protection, softer ride, and ability to come to a stop on a wet manhole lid.

About 50% of road bikes will fit a 28mm tire.
The Panaracer is actually 27mm.
It takes featherweight performance inner tubes sized to fit 25mm racing tires.
Michelin racing tubes are good for these.

At the $1000 price range, you'll want to go up to the $1300 price range or down to the $700 price range plus a set of Rol or Neuvation wheels.


Shifters, and the difference between 24 speeds, 27 speeds, and 30 speeds don't make a noticable performance difference; and the difference between a $1000 road bike and a $700 road bike is shifters and alloy chainrings.

Alloy chainrings? You can usually find an Ultegra 9 or Shimano 105 9 crankset with high quality alloy chainrings on sale at Nashbar and many other places for about $60 to $70.

The $1000 bike will not come with high performance wheels. Maybe decorative "botique" wheels, but not performance wheels.

For city use, you'll need a wheel with a strong areo rim and at least 20 evenly spaced spokes.
However, the "16 spoker super-blade" will work fine on a bike that has suspension (springer) forks.

$700 bike with econo wheels and steel chainrings
$1000 same as $700 plus 1 more cog on the rear
$1300 bike with alloy chainrings and *maybe* good wheels.

Since wheels make the majority of the difference in actual performance. . . You know what to do. ;)


Hybrids, cyclocross, and the Specialized Roubaix are all wonderful rides, but there's a catch. . . The cyclocross fit has rapidly increasing top tube lengths between sizes. In this case, standover height is not a measure of fit. That would result in a large, slow ride.
I always recommend getting a smallish size whenever there's a cross fit. You can adjust the stem, not the frame.

At a much smaller price point, Schwinn Super Sport has some models with front and rear rack attachment for long-distance touring, and they fit both road and 29'er tires.
As a full cyclocross, you need to keep the knobbies onboard the factory wheels and use a set of "road" wheels for club races, the weekend warrior sport. ;)
That's the traditional clip-off, clip-on cyclocross personality change.

Now, I do realize that you may have to purchase the urban warrior Panaracer T-Serv 28mm x 700c and then go and physically install it at the bike store if you want to really find out if the bike you're interviewing is ready for city and all-season.

At the Specialized dealer (bike store), Specialized Roubaix is application specific for rough roads, as the name suggests. It may or may not fit 28mm (27mm) tires. I have not personally checked the tire clearance.
It will use a smallish fit.

If the handlebars are too far, the frame is the wrong size (cyclocross fit). If the handlebars are too low, then use a stem, such as Profile Designs H20, specifically, that one (the only performance-centric riser stem).


Going to the bike store and insisting to install the tire you need?
This is not a crime.
Bike stores are accostomed to extensive interviews of their bikes.
Test driving and try-outs are really the only way to get a bike that makes you happy.

Answer 2

You might want to check out a hybrid. A nice hybrid can run several hundred bucks, is a cross between a mountain and road bike. Wider tires than a true road bike. Nice comfortable bikes for more everyday casual riding. With a budget of $1000, you have a huge array of options. You should go to your local bike shop and try out both hybrid and road bikes and see which one would fit your needs. The bike shop will fit you to the appropriate size and configuration that will make riding even more enjoyable. Good luck and keep riding.

Answer 3

For road
1) Giant OCR2: $850, carbon fork, tiagra shifters with a 105 rear derailleur, SPD pedals

2) Giant OCR1: $1099, same as the OCR2 but using the new 105 ten speed group and a carbon seatpost instead of the OCR2's alloy post

For commuting, you may look into the FCR series, a flatbar road bike. It has the same frame, wheels and gearing of a road bike but uses the mountain bike style handlebars, shifters, and brakes.
For ATB, look at the Giant Ranier or the XTC. Might want to check out the Specialized Rockhopper series also.

Answer 4

I agree with the Giant options. I don't know much about roadies, but at some times I've looked to road biking, and Giant always looks like a nice starter bikes.

Answer 5

Lemond Tourmalet or Trek 1500 when they go on sale, they usually get to 1000. Great bike. Ultegra rear derailer, 105 everything else, Bontrager select or race hard goods.

Answer 6

Giant OCR is a good entry level bike and should fit into your budget.

Answer 7

No matter what you do, don't buy a Schwinn. Wal-Mart sells Schwinns. Real bikes are sold at bike shops. Oh, and knowledgeable people work at bike shops. Losers work at Wal-Mart.

Answer 8

These are not your father's Schwinn's.