I鎶 new to road biking, and am looking at getting a road bike in the very near future. Currently, I鎶 riding a friend鎶 Giant Perigree (downtube shifters). I was initially looking around the $1000.00 pricepoint. After a closer look at the budget, it looks like I might not be able to spend that much, unless some Christmas money can help out!
Is it better to get a bike you can afford even though it has Sora components and upgrade later? Or is it better to try and get a higher end bike w/ better components that you can 鎻紃ow?into? I was looking at the Trek 1000, and I鎶砮 read some posts about the limitations w/ the Sora shifters, and 8 spd cassette. Is it common to upgrade a bike even before taking it out of the shop? Is it cost effective to upgrade shifters, cassettes and rear de, right from the start? I鎶砮 been trying to find some good deals on ?4 bikes, most of the Treks seem to be cleaned out around here, one LBS does have an ?4 Specialized Allez Elite for 999.00 w/ full 105. Hopefully, its still around when I鎶 ready to put down some money. Thanks for any advice!
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What size frame, and can you deal with a triple
All of the following is predicated on the assumption that both bikes fit you equally well. If not, go with fit before components.
If I were you I would not get a bike with an 8 sp cassette. 9 or 10 sp seems to be what all the better gruppos use, so to upgrade, you would have to upgrade the cassette, the rear derailleur and the shifters at the same time. If you buy a 9 sp, you can upgrade one item at a time as it wears out. Then again, with ultegra going to 10 sp, I don't know how long 9 sp will really be compatible with higher end gruppos, so the advantage of upgrading piecemeal may not really be there for much longer. Still if you can swing it I'd go for the better bike, or try to find a used bike ( again ).
Edit: As to cost effective to upgrade right at the shop, I don't know, the only way to find out is to ask the shop. Some might do it for a reasonable price, others wont. But your shop can't buy components as inexpensively as Trek, Giant and Specialized, so my guess is that upgrading at the shop won't make much financial sense.
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IF the Specialized fits I would see if you can put what money you have now down on it to be sure it is yours and then pay it off as quickly as you can. I would guess if you can put $300-$400 down on the Allez they will hold it and let you pay off the rest for 2 or 3 months with no issue. I too would avoid the Sora.
(锕侊箒)~~~~---------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally Posted by dhfd
I鎶 new to road biking, and am looking at getting a road bike in the very near future. Currently, I鎶 riding a friend鎶 Giant Perigree (downtube shifters). I was initially looking around the $1000.00 pricepoint. After a closer look at the budget, it looks like I might not be able to spend that much, unless some Christmas money can help out!
Is it better to get a bike you can afford even though it has Sora components and upgrade later? Or is it better to try and get a higher end bike w/ better components that you can 鎻紃ow?into? I was looking at the Trek 1000, and I鎶砮 read some posts about the limitations w/ the Sora shifters, and 8 spd cassette. Is it common to upgrade a bike even before taking it out of the shop? Is it cost effective to upgrade shifters, cassettes and rear de, right from the start? I鎶砮 been trying to find some good deals on ?4 bikes, most of the Treks seem to be cleaned out around here, one LBS does have an ?4 Specialized Allez Elite for 999.00 w/ full 105. Hopefully, its still around when I鎶 ready to put down some money. Thanks for any advice!
Don't buy a bottom of the barrel bike with the idea of upgrading.You'll spend even more money,and still have a bottom of the barrel frame. There are a few sora equipped bikes that have a frame that is worth it,but they are the exception.
(锕侊箒)~~~~---------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally Posted by sydney
Don't buy a bottom of the barrel bike with the idea of upgrading.You'll spend even more money,and still have a bottom of the barrel frame. There are a few sora equipped bikes that have a frame that is worth it,but they are the exception.
Is the Trek 1200 a good bike to start out with, what's the difference between the SL (1000 & 1200) and SLR frame (1500)?
Originally Posted by dhfd
I鎶 new to road biking, and am looking at getting a road bike in the very near future. Currently, I鎶 riding a friend鎶 Giant Perigree (downtube shifters). I was initially looking around the $1000.00 pricepoint. After a closer look at the budget, it looks like I might not be able to spend that much, unless some Christmas money can help out!