Bike

[TsPoet]

Carbon frame with lower end components or
Aluminum frame with higher end components?

I've been riding every bike at every LBS within 50 miles. I've found two that I really like:

Specialized Roubais Elite (05 = the 06 Comp components)
Full Carbon, mostly Ultegra with some 105 components. Smooth and comfortable. Lousy flexy wheels. 9 speed triple

Orbea "Lobular"
Mostly Aluminum, carbon seat stays and post and carbon fork. Full Ultegra. 10 speed compact double.

The Orbea is $400 more, but I'd have to buy new wheels for the Specialized. The Orbea is a couple lbs lighter. I also had a lot of pedal stear with the Orbea - but that has to be my fault and I hope I'd learn.

A little about me - used to do singletrack mtb 15 years ago. 2 years ago discovered performance recumbents and road riding. Love to do TTs on my recumbents (they are often allowed). But recumbents are rarely allowed in road races and never in crits. I want to try to race. But, I will *never* win, and probably never get out of citizen's class. I'm 40 and overweight and I haven't ridden an upright bike in 15 years. I want a bike that will help me do as well as I can, without making me look like an idiot on a bike way above my abilities and I don't want to have to buy a new one in a year if I decide I do have some ability.

Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Sue

[Brina]

I really like my full carbon bike. I got the Ruby comp with full 105s, but for 06 the 105 is now a 10-speed. I have had lots of wrist and shoulder problems over the years (including an unhealed broken collarbone) and the smootheness of the carbon just makes riding so much more comfortable. I figure it is easier to upgrade components as time and money allow than to have to go through the whole purchase experience to upgrade to carbon in the future.

[maillotpois]

Go for the Orbea!! Aluminum well made is nowhere near as "harsh" as older version bikes. With carbon seat stays/form/seatpost you will have a cushy ride.

And Orbea v. Specialized? Nothing against Specialized (which sponsor Levi whom I love!), but the Orbea cache (I don't know how to do the accent!) is priceless!!

What sort of terrain do you ride? If you are doing a lot of steep, sustained climbing, the compact may not be enough. But it probably would be fine. I just don't know where you ride (and once you click on "reply" to a thread, all of the information about where the original poster is from vanishes!).

[Selkie]

I vote for the Orbea, too, even though I don't really care for the feel of aluminum frames (I've got two Specialized Dolces which are my "bad weather"/workhorse bikes. My steel darlings--Bianchi & Luna---only venture out in perfect conditions!!). My vote is premised on the overall package---components, wheels, compact crankset, manufacturer rep., etc, and my personal bias against carbon because of my almost certainly baseless fear of carbon frames failing.
As you probably figured out, my preference is steel. I can't comment on a carbon frame's ride, as I've never climbed aboard one. Plenty of gals here ride carbon and love 'em.

[songlady]

I have the '05 Roubaix Elite Triple and love it so far. :D The smooth ride and the comfort factor are the two that really sold me, it's my first road bike. Unfortunately I am currently injured, but hope to be back flying on it again soon.

[Wisconsin]

Hi,
I know what you are going through as I just made my first bike purchase last week. I never made it to ride the Orbeas, because it was more than my Pilot and I decided I really wanted carbon. I also liked the giant ocr in the carbon. I decided to buy my 2005 Trek Pilot 5.0 which is full carbon with Ultegra and 9sdp triple. It does have great bontrager wheels and cranks and so far I'm really pleased. I read a lot and went with the theory of buying the best frame you can afford as you can always swap out components. I also was really hoping to get into a carbon frame for the comfort in the long run. Lastly it is what bike feels best.
Good Luck!
Wisconsin

[TsPoet]

Thanks, all, now I'm more confused than ever :D
Emotionally, I like the Orbea. More chance I'll look like a fool on it.
I'm going to start over - and ride them both again and ask more questions.
The Orbea was built specifically for a guy who rode it a week and came back and got a more expensive bike. It has 50/34 compact on it - so he had it geared on the low-end. I suspect that would be good for me and make up for the "hills" around here - which are more than the coast and less than Colorado.
Also, after reading Rivendell's site, I'm going to try a bigger bike - both of these are 54s - Rivendell says everyone buys too small. Both of these are great deals because they are the last of the 05s - with any luck they will both sale and I won't be able to buy either.

Thanks! when/if I buy a bike, I'll post it.

[Nanci]

I'd go for the Orbea. You _can_ replace the components, but who ever does? Especially when, if you don't do it at the time of purchase, they are _so_ much more expensive.

OTOH, wheels are supposedly the best upgrade you can make on a bike- so you'd be doing that anyway!

But really, do some more test rides and pick the one you love the most.

Nanci