What Road Bike?

[darylbowden]

I know there are at least a few of you folks on here who have some good road biking experience, so I'm hoping I can get some basic advice from you.  I'm looking to start riding a road bike just to do a little training, maybe commute a couple times a week and I have NO idea what to buy.  My requirements are as follows:

I'm 5'10", 154 lbs, so I need something that fits me.
I would like something that is low maintenance.
I would like something that I can buy used on CL (read: I'm not looking for a CF wunder-bike).
I would like something that can be had in the 250-400 range (used, obviously).

I don't know if you need more info, or if my budget is asinine, so please let me know what the deal is.

[jagstang]

Honestly, 250-400, even used, isn't going to get you much of a road bike, at least not a modern one.  If you want a nice bike for the money, older Cannondale CAAD bikes, Specialized Allez, etc can be had for well under 1k.

[gojira]

Paging MsIncredible. 

My initial thought is agreeing with the previous post in that 250-400 won't buy you much of any road bike, even used. And if there is one I'd bet it won't be very comfortable for long rides.

[bryant8]

I just started road biking a few weeks back.  I'm close to your physical dimensions, 5'8" 150lbs and ended up w/ a  I picked up a 52cm Trek 1.5d.  The bike and gear was less than $1k.  I couldn't find much of anything road bike-wise for less than that.  I'm still looking to get clipless pedals and shoes. 

Whatever bike you get, make sure you get it fitted for you. 

[darylbowden]

Hmm, I really don't need for it to be really "modern" or anything.  I won't be competing and doing much of anything but just riding for fun and enjoyment.

What about these bikes?  Any of these worth a damn?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/810272171.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/bik/807023428.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/806932813.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/bik/806411854.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/bik/805501389.html

I don't know shit about bikes, but these seem decent for what I need, no?

[turtherlips]

My 2 cents:

If you want a bike mainly for commuting, I'd pick up a steel frame road bike. They offer a much smoother ride and are a lot more durable. They're generally older and a little cheaper. If you want to get into some more serious rides, aluminum bikes are great entry level. They offer a stiffer (faster) ride. They don't generally last as long due to fatigue. I personally either ride CF or steel. You can't beat the feel of a steel frame!

That said, the cannondale R400 looks like a decent deal. If you're a noob, getting a triple (3 chain rings in the front) is a good idea.

LA is pretty flat, I'd get a vintage steel frame and make it into a single speed. Less gears, more beers! 

[lazarus7]

http://www.trails-edge.com/retail/bikeparts/frames-road.htm

salsa la raza and build it up the way you like it....
steel baby....
plush and comfy....!!!
riding on old caad3 frame myself, looking for a new one, this ones almost worn out.....

[triangleforge]

Hmm, I really don't need for it to be really "modern" or anything.  I won't be competing and doing much of anything but just riding for fun and enjoyment.

What about these bikes?  Any of these worth a damn?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/810272171.html

The Trek 1400 is a decent older aluminum frame; this one appears to have gone through a few changes. Somewhere along the way someone removed the down tube shifters and fitted integrated brake/shifters (a good thing) but I don't see a front derailleur (and there's probably a single chainring up front) which isn't too much of a handicap, but a decent negotiating point to push the price down a bit. It's also really hard to tell what size the bike is from the angles the seller shot it & his/her lack of any size description. At 5' 10" you'll likely be in something around 54-56cm, but road bike measurement has gotten really funky over the past ten years and the best advice is to take along a friend who's got a mild clue about bike fit.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/bik/807023428.html

Nice enough Trek, newer than the 1400 above, but way too small for you at 50cm

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/806932813.html

A derby of the 1400 above.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/bik/806411854.html

The pick of the litter -- nice frame, good to very good components. If it's in good or better condition & fits you (see the friend suggestion above), 500 is a fair price or better.  I'd buy it.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/bik/805501389.html

A nice enough bike, and one that'd more than meet your needs (if it fits) though the price is not that special -- I haven't looked lately, but the R400 probably goes new for $800-900, and bikes depreciate worse than motorcycles once they roll out of the shop.

I don't know shit about bikes, but these seem decent for what I need, no?

All of these models if in good condition & if they fit would give you plenty of miles of good riding. If you're willing to look & be a bit patient (and hey, you're in LA, it's not like there's a riding season that's going to end in a couple of months) it shouldn't be hard to find a nice ride in your price range. Good luck!

[somegirl]

Looks like you got some great advice.  I also vote for the CAAD4 out of your list, btw.

For picking out bikes, I was given the advice to prioritize in this order:
1. Fit
2. Frame
3. Wheels
4. Remaining components

If you can, go to a LBS (local bike shop) and see if you can get fitted, or at least try out different frames to get a sense of what you need to look for.  You should be able to reduce the number of CL bikes you have to look at...there is no way you should be considering a 50 cm bike (I am 5'4" with 28 inseam and ride a 48 cm bike).

Take a good look at the bikes in the LBS, it will help you have a more discerning eye when you go and check out the used bikes.

Oh, and some LBS's carry used bikes too...it doesn't hurt to ask.

Good luck!

[x136]

For picking out bikes, I was given the advice to prioritize in this order:
1. Fit
2. Frame
3. Wheels
4. Remaining components

Agreed.

No matter how high-zoot of a bike you end up with, if it's a horrible fit, you're going to be miserable. No matter how fancy of components you put on a junk frame, it's still a junk frame. You can always upgrade wheels and other componentry later as you grow into the hobby/sport.

That CAAD4 looks nice if it's the right size. Good components for the price. The R400 is way overpriced (as are a lot of bikes on Craigslist), and the 1000 isn't a great deal. The componentry on both is very low-end, which isn't necessarily a bad thing (Tiagra is perfectly fine, despite being near the bottom of Shimano's range) if the price is right. The 1400 looks like it might be an interesting frame, but it's built up pretty oddly at the moment.

In addition to looking for used bikes on Craigslist and LBSes, if you have a college nearby, look for a bike shop near there targeted toward students. Those can be a good source of fair-quality, fair-priced, used bikes, and sometimes even used components. Flea markets can be hit-or-miss, but might be worth a shot if there's one nearby.

[Bick]

Look at the Surly Cross Check.  A good steel frame, for not a lot of money.

For commuting, a cyclecross my hold up a little better.

[NeufUnSix]

You might want to consider a Minelli if you can find one. Canadian built with Showa running gear. Decent bike for less than 400$; I have a hybrid that I did a lot of endurance riding on, aside from a worn shift action (common issue on them) it's held up well beyond 2000 miles and 8 years. I got mine with a superlow first for hillclimbing. A hybrid probably isn't what you need (it's a heavy duty frame with road-type tires in mountain bike width, so more rolling resistance on pavement), but I think they make road oriented models as well. I've stuck to hybrids over the years for ease of use and versatility so my experience with pure-road bikes is limited.

[ducpenguin]

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/810272171.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/bik/807023428.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/806932813.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/bik/806411854.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/bik/805501389.html

No
No
No
Yes...Depending on fit - Good components!  You need something that is going to last and I personally wouldn't go with anything under Shimano 105 status.
No

I hear alot about steel frames...I found that LeMond builds a great frame!  Half steel and half CF; stiff with give.
I would agree with Ms. Incredible and get fit in a shop.  Height isn't the concern...it is the length of your inseam.  You also want to try and get something with clipless pedals, but this just increases the cost of the bike, cause you then need to buy the shoes.
Good luck!

[stateprez]

Yes...Depending on fit - Good components!  You need something that is going to last and I personally wouldn't go with anything under Shimano 105 status.

I used to have those Cane Creek's for training wheels.  They are fairly stiff for budget wheels.  They even held up on my cross bike for a while.

The CAAD 4 is a good stiff and light aluminum frame.  Check for dings- the tubing is fairly thin (specifically towards the center of the top and down tubes), also I've seen more than a few Cannondale's with corroded paint from sweat.

Edit:  Make sure it will fit.  That's a standard frame, so it won't fit as wide a range of people like compact will.  Probably need it to be a (54-56) if you don't have unusually short/long legs/torso.

[x136]

Probably need it to be a (54-56) if you don't have unusually short/long legs/torso.

I'd be hesitant to even give a "probably" range. I'm only three inches taller, and I ride a 59-60cm. It's pretty safe to say that 50cm is too small and 64cm is too big, but other than that, it could be anything.