buying a bike

Hopefully most people aren't aware of it, haitch! Is 18 the atomic number of Argon, or something?

anyone know anything about flying scots?

Should I buy this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270469942198&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_9952wt_909

tbh I can't afford it till later in the week, and even then I am borrowing against my salary in january for the job I got offered, however it is really pretty.

oh that looks niiiice. buy it, it's only money!

yeah, tht is gorgeous, another buy it from me!

I restrained myself ;_;

that said, it didn't sell, so if they re-list for <1500 ...

hey haitch been thinking baot buying a bike from wiggle or chainreactioncycles in teh uk even w/postage of about AU$200, so many cheap non-horrible roadbikes O_O. u thot about doing this??

like some no-name brand alu frame w/full ultegra deilvered for $1700

i sorta been leery about the online stuff partly because i wanna try before i buy and partly because of the no-nameness, jees most of it is miles cheaper than what you can get out here tho!

even for the more exxy stuff, like competitive cyclist is clearing '09 cervelos including like built-up S2s with dura ace everything for half what that'd be here

yuh true. the bmc carbon thing w/ultegra for $2877 is intersting to me.

http://i50.tinypic.com/29vx9x5.jpg

watch for local price to rise 20% due to cadel halo effect, lol

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Raleigh_Avanti_Carbon_Race_2009/5360045551/

could pull trigger on this one i reckon

wow really cheap. too small for me tho :(

have also been considering this:

http://www.bikes.com.au/p/514314/2010-mbc-r1-carbon-shimano-ultegra.html

same price practically, and local!

wwoow

srsly considering that

maybe when i get back from the OUTBACK

lol

u could have it delivered, what else are u gonna do out there!!

That is a nice bike! Much nicer than the Raleigh imho. Also, I don't think Wiggle does no-name bikes - which are you thinking of? Focus? I have one - it's ace, and fantastic value.

Hey Mark, I was thinking Cube. But after a bit of research it's obvs not a totally dodge bike co.

focus just got picked up for australian distribution and wiggle won't ship them over here any more. be interesting to see how much they land here for - the one in the ad i saw has deep-section carbon lightweights and super record so i assume that'll be pricey!

^^ha was just gonna say I tried to add a Focus bike thru wiggle and it didn't let me, that's why!

Cube are pretty decent - and (IMHO) one of the better looking brands. I'd be very comfortable buying one.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/focus-lzalco-excampy09-med.jpg

$6k for this on wiggle - will not land here under $12k if usual aus distributors are anything to go by

Do you have to pay substantial customs/VAT duties when importing an expensive item like a bike to Oz?

nah vat(gst) is only 10%. market forces i guess.

..wouldn't hav a clue about customs actually tbh

local distributors just seem to ramp up prices on full bikes, parts etc to a massive degree. saw dura ace pedals at bike shop near work for $500 the other week, can get same off PBK for $380. lol mark-up is hueg.

make that $280, even worse!

maybe considering a canyon once they start shipping to aus again (they're working on this apparently). brilliant specs for such cheap bikes!

this is really hott in the black
cheaper alu option

wilter what u think baout malviern star 'oppy' - they're all the same frame (cept for the pro model which has an integrated seat post) - so internal cabling and carbon dropouts for all. meant to be pretty racey!

What's the deal with bikesdirect.com and motobecane bikes?

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/road_bikes.htm

Why are they so cheap, what's the catch? Googling up reviews seems to suggest they are OK, but to check the assembly/greasing etc. before heading out. Thinking seriously about my first paycheque at the end of january.

What else is out there for around $2000?

Dude, get the Dura Ace Motobecane. It's even pretty. I had one when I was a kid (not a dura-ace carbon job obviously), it was a lovely bike.

Guys, what are the pros and cons of this bike (click the "Description" tag for info, spec etc.), which I am pretty close to getting via the cycle to work scheme (which effectively gives a 40% discount via tax relief):

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Killer_Bee_2010_Ltd_Edition/5360045262/

I should clarify it's for off-road use - may sound duh but enough people seem to end up with MTBs when they're just pottering around on tarmac...

http://i47.tinypic.com/2s7apgj.jpg

Got paid a bonu$ considering this^

that looks a treat

but is it silly to have goodish components on a steel frame IN THIS DAY AND AGE?

why would that be silly?

heh just meant wrt frame weight. Think I'll do this.

ha i just bought a tt frame/fork/hs for really cheap. i wont have to race my cx frame in time trial after all, just transfer over parts, plus ive got a deep junk bin.

http://www.performancebike.com/images/performance/products/large/30-0789-BLK-SIDE.jpg

not very aero (the rear cutout is only cosmetic) but affords a decent position (steep seattube, slack headtube, shortish headtube).

a bunch of my friends that race cross use the scattante cx frame just cuz it's so dang cheap. it's like the mac mini of bicycles

Hey guys. It's been a while. I wish I could say I was as adventurous & committed as some of you, but the harsh winter has me trapped inside & getting my bike fix on the recumbants at my gym (a dubious replacement to be sure).

My purposes itt are this: This year, preferably before the onset of Spring, I plan to buy a used road bike - something fairly recent & of decent mechanical standards. Money is tight for me at present & as such, this will likely be more of a stopgap bike than anything: something more modern than my '76 Flandria (which I will be converting into a fixie) & a suitable step up for my second year w/ the sport, but also a bike that I will likely replace down the line a bit, money permitting, as I become more knowledgeable of technical matters and such & can either pick out "the bike" or, better yet, customize my own over time. So the "stopgap bike" should be of a level of quality and of recent enough manufacture that I could use it as a starting point for the process of upgrading components and what not.

I should mention that the biggest obstacle I have encountered thusfar in my search is the general availability of bikes which would be suitable for my height (I'm 6.2, my inseam is 33.5"/85 cm, and have thus gathered that the appropriate frame size range would be 60-62 cm/ 24".

I'm looking for something in the $3-700 range, but could possibly go up to the $1-1200 range if I find something I just can't say no to. FWIW, I currently live in Toledo, OH, tho I make regular trips back and forth to NYC & I plan to relocate back east sometime this Spring - so, I'm generally looking in the N. Ohio & mid-Michigan markets, but could conceivably work something out for the NYC general area.

The reason I am posting this right now is that I have a line on this bike: http://toledo.craigslist.org/bik/1584797046.html & would appreciate any general opinions & such on the bike & if it would be suitable to my needs. I'm going to go to dude's house & take a look at it this week & I would like to be able to bust out the wallet on the spot if it passes the rideability test.

thanks guys!

that CAAD is a precursor of what cutty was riding round on recently and what i have (and am0n too) - light and stiff alu frame. i love mine. give it a ride to see how smooth the ride is - might be a bit harsher than later models.

i'd ditch the TT bars tho, makes it look like a fuckin praying mantis!

i might leave this to the other americans as i don't really know what's available for your budget in the US.

thanks haitch. That u guys were sporting similar stuff is a big point in favor of this.

ive it a ride to see how smooth the ride is - I will, for sure. The problem with this, tho, is that my single point of reference for road bike rideability is my Flandria, which I love to death, but which is also over 30 years old! So, really, any pointers on things to look for while test-riding would also be appreciated.

You're tall but I wonder if you're THAT tall, or rather if you need a bike that big. My roadie is a 58cm Focus and I'm 6 foot with 34" inseam and it's a tiny bit big for me (a 57cm would have been great).

Ask if it's ever been crashed (hopefully as he's a triathlete rather than a cycle racer, it won't have been - check the headtube and the front end of the downtube for deformation). Check for any noises or clunks as you ride. Does it look well maintained beyond the superficial? Are the wheels true? The pedals - do you own/will you buy the necessary footwear for them, or just remove them (maybe ask for a discount and he can keep the pedals).

The aero bars - you realise these are integral, and if you wanted regular drops you'd have to buy new bars, shifters, cables etc? This is a specific TT/tri bike and would be illegal in regular road races.

My roadie is a 58cm Focus and I'm 6 foot with 34" inseam and it's a tiny bit big for me (a 57cm would have been great).

^ i'm about 6'1" but otherwise this pertains to me as well, could've gone with a 57

Might be worth playing with the Competitive Cyclist fit calculator:

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/za/CCY?PAGE=FIT_CALCULATOR_INTRO

I prefer a more oldschool style, straight top tube just below an emasculating nut cracking height. My Mercx is 59cm and my Surly 61cm. I'm a shade below 6'2" with maybe a slightly longer than average leg and shorter torso.