Posted: 6/20/2008 7:57:05 PM EDT
| I just started a year ago, I get in roughly 300 miles during the weekdays and who know how much on Sat and Sun. I'm currently sporting an old school 1980's model Schwinn Paramount and am looking to upgrade, any suggestions? I'm currently leaning towards a Cannondale CAAD 5 or a Fuji. |
| I just picked up my 1st road bike this weekend. I picked up a Giant OCR2 with 80 miles on it for 300$. I really could not afford it but I could not pass the deal up. Plus I might be getting a new job that's within biking distance. I can't wait to get some miles on it. |
I've been riding and racing for 22 years and mostly on very high-end bicycles. I have never ridden a road bike as nice as my Soloist Carbon. Their bikes are very well engineered for strength, stiffness, and aerodynamics. Seat and head tube angles remain constant throughout the range of sizes - something not characteristic of most cycling lines. Every Team CSC rider on a Cervelo rides a stock frameset. Think you can buy the same frame that Lance rode in the mountains or to win the long TT? Good luck. Cervelo doesn't publish bike or frame weights because they feel that most companies either lie or make disingenuous comparions (different components from stock). In 2006, Tour magazine (German publication) went through the Tour de France peloton and weighed one of each team's bikes, size 56cm, as ridden in the tour and the Soloist Carbon came out as either the lightest or second lightest - I can't recall. Cervelo currently offers 3 models lighter than their Soloist Carbon: the R3, R3 Superlight, and Soloist Carbon Superlight. Cervelo's time trial/triathlon line has consistently dominated the ranks of Hawaii Ironman qualifies with more Kona racers on Cervelos than the next two most popular brands combined and almost as many as the next three brands combined. Again, stiff aerodynamic frames with an emphasis on fit and function make the difference. With a product line of 9 models, Cervelo has 8 engineers on the payroll - at last check, about the same number of engineers as Trek has. How many different models does Trek have? Not saying that Trek doesn't make some really nice machines, but... I realize that I may come off as a bit of a zealot and that there are other good bike companies out there, but if Cervelo is making it, I'm buying it. ETA - I also ride a Cervelo P2C. Before my SLC and P2C I owned an aluminum Soloist and a P2SL (also alu). I consider them as good as any bike that I had ridden before my SLC and P2C. Young pro tour riders in Europe are racing on stock Soloist Team (alu) frames right now. That's how good even the lower end Cervelo gear is. |
| Sorry about that guys, I've been waiting so I won't lock the thread by replying too soon. What I'm looking for is something lighter, more high tech and to be quite honest, cooler looking. Right now, I'm doing lots of distance work so that is a key factor but at the same time I'm pretty young at 18 so I like to get in a good and tight low profile, I mostly ride alone as well so wind is a constant factor. I have never been fitted but know that the Paramount I am currently sporting is way too small for me. As for the looks, The bike is purple with what used to be red dots which have now faded to pink. I have pretty good riding equipment to include a Specialized Decibal helmet so I'm lookign for a less vintage bike to match. Even after buying a new bike I'll keep the Schwynn for sure, it's just that it has been beaten, laid down and has probably seen well over 10K miles between me and the past 5 owners. |
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CAAD 5 is a great choice for the level of riding you are doing. While I haven't much time on the Cervelos, they seem to be a bit stiffer and better suited to time trialing, not long-distance comfort. Geometry of the Cannondales is still a bit toward the racer but not nearly as much as the newer models. My main road bike is a CAAD4 with an Alpha Q Sub4 fork. With a Fizik Arione saddle, it works fine for double century weekends as well as 250 mile weeks. And that is commuting, not just road warrioring so it has some cargo in addition to my 160 pounds. |
More comfort = running 25c tires vice 23c or dropping pressure by 10psi. I was plenty comfy putting in 1200 miles on my P2 and Soloist last year in July in addtion to running 130 and swimming 17 during the month. If you want comfort and can drop $4K, try the Cervelo RS. Evolved from the climber's dream R3, the RS sports a higher head tube and longer rear-center. Curved, spaghetti-thin seat stays really soften the ride. Extra bonus - RS comes with a complete SRAM Force gruppo. I've built up 2 of them so far - great bike for those not looking for a race fit. |
It's cheap, stiff, lightweight and held up to all the abuse I and our crappy roads can throw at it. There's nothing like 'old school Paramounts. The red one in this picture was custom built-to-measure for me in 1974. $660 delivered complete with Campagnolo tool kit. 
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I went to the first one in Monterey last March and was hoping to go to Colorado in a couple of weeks, but can't make it. We also just had E-ride here at Final Kick so I got to catch up with some of the guys from Cervelo. I'm hoping to finally make Interbike this year - work and lack of leave from racing IM Louisville last year precluded my attendance. |
| Aww! You guys are killing me with those beautiful bikes. I've been for the last year rolling on a sams club brand frankenstien I piecemealed together. Gonna ride it into the ground. Countless hundreds of miles later and still going strong. hed |
+1 Absolutely. I have a couple of friends who have bikes that cost more than my car, and maybe get out on them twice a year. What's the point? The best bike is the one you ride. |
No doubt, but if you have the engine... I just hopped in my second criterium in 20 years last night on one of these. Absolutely the best bike that I have ever owned or ridden, except for the Superlight version, that includes Pinarello, Merckx, Kestrel, Softride, Cannondale, etc.  Mine has the stock Easton Circuit wheel on front and a PowerTap SL sewn into an Open Pro hub on the back, not fancy climbing wheels. The race was a local training race series, Cats 1-5. I pedalled that SLC to 6th place. Not too shabby for a 40 year old triathlete who had not road race since college, especially since the race came down to a field sprint (triathletes don't sprint). |
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I ride a specialized roubaix pro and couldnt be happier, I do not get as many miles in as some do but I ride a metric every thursday with a guy from base and a 30mile training ride of almost all climbs every week at a minimum. remember bikes are just like rifles in many respects you want to pay enough for quality but there is no substitute for saddle time. If you are putting in 300 miles during the weekdays in addition to weekend rides like you say, you are riding more miles than any one I have known, that is a crapload of saddle time even if it is all flat and you are hauling ass. I have about 3500 miles on this bike specifically and it is my second specialized, I will go right back for another roubaix when I want a new road bike especially for distance riding, although I would look hard at Cervelo in addition to a specialized transition if I wanted a Tri-Bike. also shop components as well as the bike manufacturer some people swear byh the new sram stuff while others like me are happy with Dura Ace, I am one of those guys who finds what I like and tend to stick with it though for whatever reason specialized is not spoken of all that highly, I guess because they are not as expensive but IMO they are top notch.  -Mike |
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In general and as a company, how does Trek compare to some of the brands mentioned? Specifically the 7.3 FX WSD Is this a good value bike? |
That depends on two things 1. What your intended use is (moderate cycling for fitness, serious off-road, triathlon, etc) 2. How well the bike fits you |
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http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b247/kylemckinney/bike/DSC01167.jpg She's a 2003 model, with 105 components. Super sweet! Unfortunately she is stuck on a fluid trainer until next July. I have to laugh, because she's almost exactly half the weight of my old steel mountain bike that I used to ride!! |
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Plus prices are going up $200-$300 next model year. |
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http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd119/jimf0rce/DSCN0044.jpg I Like my Trek (US made) and I'm bias to Dura Ace |
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Cervelos are nice a friend of mine is on Team CSC and has raced them all this year in Europe and the USA although next year the team will be Saxo bank and they will have Specialized and the team is excited because Specialized offers more models like Cyclocross bikes for winter and vibration damping for Paris-Roubaix and rougher races. Like I said before Specialized is a good choice. |
I'm curious as to who your friend is. Riis came to Cervelo 5 years ago and asked them to supply bikes to CSC because Cervelo was producing the most innovative bikes on the market and they still are. Cervelo was (and still is) a very small company, though they dominate the triathlon market. Riis wanted their bikes badly enough that he was willing to accept a very small sponsorship package from Cervelo. When CSC pulled their sponsorship of the team, Riis needed to pull in more $$ to run the team and Cervelo could not match Specialized's deep pockets. There isn't anything wrong with Specialized - they make great bikes, but I would put the SLC-SL or R3 up against any Specialized road bike and the P3C is far and away the most aero TT/tri bike on the market today...at least until Cervelo releases the P4 very soon. |
Jason McCartney, Coralville IA. I rode with him tonight until dark in a small group, those Cervelos do well on dirt and gravel too  The rest of us were on cyclocross bikes.
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Nice. Wasn't he racing for a domestic team on the US circuit a couple years back. I think I remember his name coming up in the film "Pro". You must be a strong cyclist to ride in that crowd. |
Me climbing to the top of Beech Mtn,Nc. The bike is a Bianchi C Freccia Celeste with Mavic Ksyium SL's full Campy Record 10 speed.  My BMC MTB  I agree with the guy who said it is the rider and not the bike.However,if the OP truly is riding 300 miles during the week plus more on the weekend he should be fit as hell. We don't have a Cervelo dealer local to me so I am not familiar with them.I am sure they are fine bikes and that alloy Soloist looks to be great for the money.I would just find something that you can get a good fitment on.Personally I like the geometry of Bianchi's reparto course bikes so that is more than likely what I will stick with. |
| I ride a recumbent--Bacchetta Corsa. I put 1500 miles on my bike this summer, about half as much as I drove, and I don't commute to work. Rode my first century in August, and then 150 mile 2 day event for MS. It's fast on the flats and downhill, but shows its weakness up hills. Thankfully Ohio is fairly flat. It has 650c wheels, and also accepts 26" wheels for a great deal of flexibility if I ever want wider tires for gravel trails I may encounter on a Pittsburg to DC ride. I've been cycling for a year, and absolutely love it. |
I've considered riding the C&O Canal from DC to Cumberland, and then the Greater Allegheny trail to Pittsburgh. I would need a different (hybrid, cyclocross) bike with wider sturdier tires. Have you done that ride before? |