Odd dilemma...

[celerystalksme]

Alright...I'm trying to decide between WILDLY different bikes...

Look 595 Origin Team Pro
http://content.mtbr.com/images/Tradeshow/13/278/prodimg1.jpg

vs

Titus Racer-X
http://www.titusti.com/imgs/08/hires_Racer-X34.jpg

Of course, I want both. I'd LOVE to upgrade my roadbike...I'm currently on a Specialized Roubaix Expert Compact Rival. But I'd LOVE to get into mountain biking...I don't have a mountain bike right now. If I got the Look...I MIGHT be able to russel up some money to get a more affordable mountain bike...or I could sell the Roubaix and add that to whatever hobby money I could russel up and get a prett decent mountain bike.

Decisions, decisions...

[elk]

...didn't you just buy that Blue?...

[celerystalksme]

...didn't you just buy that Blue?...

yeah...the Blue is almost set to roll...got shorter cranks, my favored saddle, zero set back post, and preferred handlebars. nice bike right now...should be fantastic after i get my parts on it!

i got a GREAT deal on that cx bike which is nice...leaves more money for a roadbike upgrade or a mountain bike! :)

[rij73]

Hang on! You got the Blue 'cross bike? Where's that thread and how did I miss it?

The decision between getting a sweet new road ride (BEAUTIFUL Look, BTW) or a sweet new mountain ride should come down to how much time you will spend on each. Will you be a roadie who does an occasional dirt ride, or will your time be spent more evenly between the two?

My opinion: Since you are new to mountain biking, get the Look, sell the Roubaix, put together any money left, and buy whatever mountain bike you can afford. Best of all possible worlds! (I'm so jealous you have so much bike money!!!) :D

[celerystalksme]

Hang on! You got the Blue 'cross bike? Where's that thread and how did I miss it?

The decision between getting a sweet new road ride (BEAUTIFUL Look, BTW) or a sweet new mountain ride should come down to how much time you will spend on each. Will you be a roadie who does an occasional dirt ride, or will your time be spent more evenly between the two?

My opinion: Since you are new to mountain biking, get the Look, sell the Roubaix, put together any money left, and buy whatever mountain bike you can afford. Best of all possible worlds! (I'm so jealous you have so much bike money!!!) :D

the pics i posted after i got it stink! what a little while longer and i'll post an update thread with my new thompson seat post, shorter ultegra cranks, new specialized roubaix handlebars, and my specialized alia saddle.

i know know...not fancy like selle italia for fizik saddle, fsa kforce carbon bars, etc. but i like to stick with what feels comfortable!

as for the bike decision...you know...i REALLY want the look. right now i'm definitely a roadie with ZERO mountain bike experience. BUT...what's stopping me is that i'm afraid of fit. my little roubaix is SO comfy...such a perfect fit...makes me think that if i want to upgrade, i should get a s-works roubaix. but it's like...having a killer specialized roubaix is sorta like having a killer tricked out toyota corolla.

me want look...i think... :(

[Beane]

Why is the roubaix like a corolla? I'm assuming you mean that it would be a more economical choice than the look, but the S-works roubaix would still be at least $6,000 if I'm not mistaken, which is a lot to spend on a bike. And it's not like pros don't ride the roubaix. I think fit is certainly the most important thing about a bike... Have you ridden the look? Does it fit? If they fit equally well and you are just deciding whether or not to spend more for the cache of the look, that's one thing, but if the roubaix fits better, I can't imagine going for the look.

[Red Rock]

I agree with what everyone has said so far. I am not far from you in the situation. Meaning, I am looking into the mountain scene and have been a roadie my whole life. I got a LOOK a few years ago and LOVE it. When I first started to ride it, I thought I died and went to bike heaven. Its an awsome ride.

I will be testing a giant mtb this coming week to see if I should go with them.

Good luck on your decsion.

Red Rock

[celerystalksme]

Why is the roubaix like a corolla? I'm assuming you mean that it would be a more economical choice than the look, but the S-works roubaix would still be at least $6,000 if I'm not mistaken, which is a lot to spend on a bike. And it's not like pros don't ride the roubaix. I think fit is certainly the most important thing about a bike... Have you ridden the look? Does it fit? If they fit equally well and you are just deciding whether or not to spend more for the cache of the look, that's one thing, but if the roubaix fits better, I can't imagine going for the look.

i have not ridden the look...they don't have my frame size in stock...and, of course, they won't cut the seattube down to my size unless i buy it (integrated seat post). but the look's geometry is pretty similar to the roubaix. but is it similar enough to fit super comfortably, i hope so!

what i mean about the corolla comment is...i mean, s-works, non s-works...it's still a specialized...you know, like the walmart of bike manufacturers. specialized outsells everyone...they're ubuiqitous.

[sundial]

...as for the bike decision...you know...i REALLY want the look. right now i'm definitely a roadie with ZERO mountain bike experience. BUT...what's stopping me is that i'm afraid of fit. my little roubaix is SO comfy...such a perfect fit...

Just my two cents......

You are just into your cycling season as a newbie and I think you may want to take your time to really think about this. Give yourself some time to determine what you really need in terms of performance and fit rather than what you want. If the Roubaix does not fit you, then getting a new or different bike is a reasonable choice. If the Look is catching your eye only because of looks.......;)

Depending on your region, you may be able to road bike up to 4 seasons. Last year I was able to ride my Roubaix all year except for 2 weeks in February (and some time off for overtraining). With that being said, I also bought a mtb, a Specialized Rockhopper, to exercise my german shepherds on the roads. (I have since sold it and bought a Specialized Epic.) I rode my mtb from last October to May of this year and finally hung it up only because the trails became overgrown with funny foliage and the deer flies were thick this year. If you live in a region where you have 6 months of road riding or less, than adding a mtb might be in your best interest. Check with your local bike shop and see if they can rent out a mtb for you to try or check and see when Specialized is coming to your area for the test rides. Mtb'ing is really addictive but it's not for everyone. You might learn that you prefer the roads over the trails.

Before considering your next bike purchase, talk to a mechanic and learn the ins and outs of the Titus and the Look. Mechanics sometimes know the dirty little secrets of different brands and how well the bike holds up to use and abuse.

Hope this is helpful and good luck with your choice. If I could, I'd ride my mtb everywhere. I prefer it over my Roubaix. :)

[rij73]

...having a killer specialized roubaix is sorta like having a killer tricked out toyota corolla.

You stole that from the Fat Cyclist! I thought that was pretty funny, though I wouldn't necessarily put down Specialized. The only reason I didn't want one is only because they are everywhere! I like having a bike that's "different" which is why I went for BLUE.

I still say if the geometry is REALLY close -- close enough to fix with a stem change, go for the LOOK. But, be really sure... Don't they have another model with the same geometry and a standard seatpost that you can test ride???

[celerystalksme]

You stole that from the Fat Cyclist! I thought that was pretty funny, though I wouldn't necessarily put down Specialized. The only reason I didn't want one is only because they are everywhere! I like having a bike that's "different" which is why I went for BLUE.

I still say if the geometry is REALLY close -- close enough to fix with a stem change, go for the LOOK. But, be really sure... Don't they have another model with the same geometry and a standard seatpost that you can test ride???

yeah, i totally stole it! i laughed so hard when i read that because it's so true!!!!! lol

i like bikes that aren't everywhere as well. as for geometry...it's REAL close...the main difference being wheelbase if i remember correctly...

i'll have to go see if they have a 585 in my size...

[celerystalksme]

welp...i have purchased one of these bikes! :)

[Zen]

Gee, I can't tell...what kind of bike is the first photo? ;)

[celerystalksme]

Gee, I can't tell...what kind of bike is the first photo? ;)

I'm not sure...the frame appears to be trying to help by urging me to look. But where?!?!?! I don't know WHERE to look?

I think it's a Huffy?

[aicabsolut]

The Look is uber sexy. I love the Roubaix (I had a Comp frame that needs some Calfee magic and an S-works frame). The S-works is so nice, but you know, the Expert level frame is still pretty sweet. It's a step up from the comp. But then there's the new SL2, which will be awesome. Still, despite my Roubaix love for the fit and everything, I would not pass up a hot 595 if I wanted it and had the $$.

[tulip]

Specialized bikes are quite nice. Not at all like Wal-Mart of bike manufacturers. Not sure where that came from.

If you're aiming to spend this kind of dough, why not go custom? Get a sweet IF or Seven or even Luna. They'll beat the pants off any stock bike no matter how expensive it is.

[celerystalksme]

Specialized bikes are quite nice. Not at all like Wal-Mart of bike manufacturers. Not sure where that came from.

If you're aiming to spend this kind of dough, why not go custom? Get a sweet IF or Seven or even Luna. They'll beat the pants off any stock bike no matter how expensive it is.

specialized bikes are perfectly fine. i have a roubaix expert. for the most part, i love it! but i want to upgrade to something a little lighter, little stiffer, little more aggressive. thus, my search for a new bike. my comment about it being the wal-mart of bikes is because specialized bikes are ubiquitous like wal-mart! they outsell everyone by leaps and bounds (except one other manufacturer, trek). owning a specialized is like owning a chevy or ford or toyota. nice enough...functional...but common and unexciting.

as for going custom...i'd choose a maker like IF/Seven/Serotta/Roark/Crisp if i wanted titanium...but not carbon. if i wanted custom carbon...i'd go Parlee/Rugamer/Guru/Cyfac(!!!!!). but i don't think i can drop that much bank on a bike...some of those frames are over $7K for the frame alone...which can put the full cost of the bike WELL over $10K if you want. (btw...that didn't stop me from seriously considering a Parlee or Cyfac...but then i came to my senses.)

so...i'm left with stock bike. i LOVE the look of the white Look 595. and it is allegedly one of the finest frames regardless of price, regardless of custom or stock layup. reputation as a good all-rounder...great climber, great descender, stiff, light, nimble, not too harsh. i'm sold!!!!

so i got the Look 595...should arrive this Friday! :)

[bboston88]

I really don't see as many Specialized bikes as I would think around Atlanta. I certainly don't think they are a Toyota of bikes. They are no Colnago either, not that that's a bad thing. Hope the geometry works for you on the Look. I have a Ruby now and it's fine for me at this point. Until I start hitting the podium at races the gains made w/upgraded equipment would likely be quite minimal. I'm working on the engine, not the train so to speak....That said, let me know if you decide to sell the Roubaix!

[celerystalksme]

I really don't see as many Specialized bikes as I would think around Atlanta. I certainly don't think they are a Toyota of bikes. They are no Colnago either, not that that's a bad thing. Hope the geometry works for you on the Look. I have a Ruby now and it's fine for me at this point. Until I start hitting the podium at races the gains made w/upgraded equipment would likely be quite minimal. I'm working on the engine, not the train so to speak....That said, let me know if you decide to sell the Roubaix!

i had my Look dealer to a quick fitting...and they said it should be perfect based on my measurements and the major dimensions of my roubaix compared to the Look. so that should work out!

as for my roubaix...i am selling it! i have a local buyer dropping by tonight...and one other interested local buyer if it doesn't sell tonight. if i can't sell locally, i will let you know! :)

[alpinerabbit]

Geez girl, you already have a nice roadie, maybe not a porsche but certainly a pre-owned BMW, to enjoy. SRAM and all... carbon... yeah MTB is an entirely different experience so I'd go for that if you have too much pocket money.

[celerystalksme]

MY LOOK 595 IS HERE! UPS WEB SITE SAYS DELIVERED!!!!

now...if there only some way to cut out of work early!!!! LOL

[aicabsolut]

Nice.

BTW, I think you should go with SRAM and get the white hoods. And white saddle of course.

If you're really OCP, you can get these:
http://media.rei.com/media/kk/1267077e-94ec-4a17-bc4b-c740967368f3.jpg

[elk]

aren't you a MR. celerystalksme??

[celerystalksme]

aren't you a MR. celerystalksme??

why yes i am! thank you! :) felt embarrased to correct people. it's like when you go somewhere and everyone starts calling you by the wrong name...and suddenly you've become jacob to all these people! LOL

[Tri Girl]

Congrats on your new Look. How does it ride? Do you LOVE it???? :confused:

[celerystalksme]

Congrats on your new Look. How does it ride? Do you LOVE it???? :confused:

I'm still building it up. With a little luck, I'll be done tomorrow! So far...I LOVE it. Beautiful!