Are Road bikes worth it and how much should I pay???

[TM383]

First off, hello to everyone! I was searching the web for a site just like this one, where I can talk to other women!

Secondly, I need info! I have been riding my mountain bike (my only bike) on the road (because I am scared of actually doing a mountain!) for the last couple of weeks for fitness (I am thinking of doing a triathlon). Its really not that comfortable but I figured I would get used to it. Someone recently mentioned that I would be more comfortable and be faster in a tri if I purchased a road bike. How true is this? Is it a big difference?

And, if getting a road bike is a good idea, which one is good and wont cost me alot of money (alot being a thousand dollars).

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Tamara

[tygab]

hi - I will give an abbreviated answer for now... I am a relative road newbie and a tri thinkingaboutbee at this point... so others probably have more detailed info.

yes, there is a huge difference between mtn and road bikes, and if you are thinking about a tri then you probably would be happier on a road bike. A road bike is usually -quite a bit lighter -more responsive in terms of handling (I guess I think of it this way - shocks and suspension on a mtb is designed to smooth out the roots and rocks on the trail, while the light thin frame on a road bike is designed to let you have road feel) -eats up the miles in a way a mtb won't.

Not to throw you for a loop but there are actually special tri bikes. Usually only very serious triathletes get into these though. A true tri bike will be more aerodynamic than even a road bike is but sacrifice a little on the handling side. You are not allowed to draft in triathlons in part because of this. However, road bikes with a set of aero bars usually suit most who do triathlons for fun.

As for finding a good quality bike for up to 1k it can be done. But you will need to be an informed consumer to spot the right bargain. Learn a bit about the components and decide which ones you are willing to hunt down. Check Craigslist if you have one in your area, and find out when the local shops have their sales. And try the bikes before you buy. A fit and even short ride is very good to know if it's the right bike for you. And yes, I think you will be very happy once you find that right bike.

ok I have to go to sleep now. this staying up til 1 thing is no good for me... HTH and I am sure you'll get other very good answers.

[light_sabe_r]

I have been riding my mountain bike (my only bike) on the road (because I am scared of actually doing a mountain!) for the last couple of weeks for fitness (I am thinking of doing a triathlon). Its really not that comfortable but I figured I would get used to it. Someone recently mentioned that I would be more comfortable and be faster in a tri if I purchased a road bike. How true is this? Is it a big difference?

And, if getting a road bike is a good idea, which one is good and wont cost me alot of money (alot being a thousand dollars).


First HI!!!

I have a hybrid... It's kinda accross between both a mountain bike and a road bike. Doesn't cost as much as a Roadie but it does the job if you're commutting or training. But It's heavy and slows me down.

If you want speed and you want to be able to climb road hills fast then I HIGHLY recommend testing out a roadie. (I did! I want one so BADLY now!)

Think about how heavy your mountain bike is. Then divide it in three and you're looking at probably what a roadie feels like at least. ^_^ Or at least that's what a few bikes felt like to me. lol

The other thing is the WHEEL size. Unless your mountain bike has 700cc wheels (which is rare I think there's 2-3 brands in the world that carry 700cc mountain bike wheels) you don't roll as fast or as quickly.

The wheels on a roadie are thin and don't have much resistance. See all those knobbly things on your mountain bike tyres? They're to cause friction between you and sand, dirt gravel etc so you don't go sliding all the way down the mountain. So unless your roads is in desperate need of work by your local council then they're just slowwing you down.

th downside to roadie tyres is they puncture easily. Like REAL easily. BF has blown three tyres in the last 2 weeks!! O_O



http://forums.teamestrogen.com/forumdisplay.php?f=40

This link on the boards leads you to all the bikes that the women on these forums have tested (or at least are drooling over... like I am) or bought. Check em out.

Finally you mentioned your mountain bike isn't that comfortable. How long have you had it? Were you fitted to it correctly? Is the saddle right for you? If you have no idea what I'm saying read LOTS of the stuff in here and you may get an idea of why it's uncomfortable and what you can do to change it. ^_^

Good luck in the tryathlon!

[emily_in_nc]

One way to get a better road bike for a lot less is to buy used. It can be difficult to find odd sizes (very small, very large) though, and you'd definitely want to be able to test ride any bike you're considering buying used as a newbie, since fit is so important. Once you know the size/geometry that you need, buying off eBay, TeamE For Sale/Wanted section, craigslist, etc. become possibilities - but I wouldn't do it as a newbie.

Good luck!
Emily

[Nanci]

If you only have one bike that you are going to ride on the road, it should probably be a road bike, not a tri-specific bike. I think it's nice to have both kinds- road and mountain. Even if you just ride easy trails, you can't do that with a road bike, and the mountain bike _can_ go on the road, but things will be so much easier and more fun if you have a skinny tire bike.

You do see mountain bikes at triathlons, but infrequently. But if that's what you have, and you want to do the tri- go for it!!

Nanci

[KSH]

Your situation is similar to mine.

Back in September 2004... I decided I want to start doing tri's. It was then that I realized that I needed a bike.

I went into the shop and looked at hybrid's and road bikes. A tri bike crossed my mind briefly, but they were out of my price range.

So, after looking at hybrid's and road bikes, I decided I would take the plunge and go with the road bike, as it seemed a bit more "serious" as far as competition in tri's goes.

I have not regretted that decision!

My budget pretty much dictated what bike I would get, so I ended up with a Trek 1000 ($600). 3,200 miles later... I am still riding that bike an average of 80 miles a week!

I *dream* of having a really nice road bike AND tri bike someday... and honestly, I hope get a tri bike to prepare for my Ironman (2010 is my year!).

But, a road bike is a great place to start... you will do just find in sprints and olympic distances with it... AND you can ride in groups and not get nasty looks. :D

To learn more about tri's and all the details about the equipment... check out the "triathlon" section on this board and check out: www.beginnertriathlete.com.

GOOD LUCK!

PS- What should you expect to pay? For a new road bike, the price will start around $600 and go UP from there! I wish I had been able to spend another $500 on my bike, so I could have gotten better gearing on it. My gearing is a pain!

[freshsushi]

I really don't know much about Triathelons, but since it's August and almost fall, mabey you could hold off on purchasing a bike until September - since cycling season is almost over, you can probably get a really good deal on a road/tri bike from your LBS. If you can still find a leftover model from last year, that will probably be a good deal too...

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome to TE! :) I cannot be of a lot of help, since i am new to biking. I did however discover that one can indeed buy a very nice road bike for well under $1,000. I bought a Trek 1000 which I love (it was about $650). I looked at 3 other models and all were under $1,000. Yes, there are bikes I drool over, but my budget only allows me to drool, not actually buy. :p

[mimitabby]

First HI!!!

The other thing is the WHEEL size. Unless your mountain bike has 700cc wheels (which is rare I think there's 2-3 brands in the world that carry 700cc mountain bike wheels) you don't roll as fast or as quickly.


Good luck in the tryathlon!

Hey, I have to disagree with you on wheel size. There's nothing that says you need that size wheel to go the fastest.
I know some darn fast women bikers on road bikes with 650's.
(they're height challenged, okay? :D )

and you can find a road bike for UNDER 1000 dollars, I am certain.
good luck

[Melstar]

First off, hello to everyone! I was searching the web for a site just like this one, where I can talk to other women!

Secondly, I need info! I have been riding my mountain bike (my only bike) on the road (because I am scared of actually doing a mountain!) for the last couple of weeks for fitness (I am thinking of doing a triathlon). Its really not that comfortable but I figured I would get used to it. Someone recently mentioned that I would be more comfortable and be faster in a tri if I purchased a road bike. How true is this? Is it a big difference?

And, if getting a road bike is a good idea, which one is good and wont cost me alot of money (alot being a thousand dollars).

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Tamara

Hi!

You could get a hybrid (which are heaps cheaper) and fit them on with "skinny" road bike like wheels. You could even do that for your mountain bike. The new wheels themselves would probably give you noticeable improvements. Keep your off road wheelset, and you have a great multipurpose bike!

As for comfort, mountain bikes and hybrids allow you to adopt an upright position, so this is more comfortable. Road bikes allow you to get into a more horizontal body position which is more aerodynamic, but when I first started out, i had all sorts of back, neck wrist, triceps...etc pains, although your body will soon get used to that position after a while. So a road bike isn't necessarily more comfortable per se.

But most importantly, get a great fitting bike... just like you would for your lingerie.:D

~E~

[HappyAnika]

Hello! As far as "comfort" on a road bike, I feel that's based on what you're used to. A friend of mine said she had a hard time bike shopping and comparing bikes because she just couldn't get over how *different* a road bike felt compared to a more upright bike, such as a cruiser or mtb. She wasn't comfortable on the road bikes at all and tried to warn me of this before I went shopping. Me on the other hand, I used to ride my ten speed all over the place and was perfectly comfortable on it. The last two years I had ridden a mtb occasionally, but when I started testing road bikes I felt perfectly comfortable on them from the get go. They are built for speed and I like speed :D . (I'll also mention that my DH did his first triathlon in June and let me tell you I saw all sorts of bikes being used for the 16 mile ride, just about everything except a unicycle!).

[Triskeliongirl]

There is no question you want a road bike, and you can save a pile of money buying used. However, as a newbie you need a proper fit. One solution may be to see if there is a shop in your town that sells used bikes. Another option is often shops have bikes that are one, or even several seasons old that they will heavily discount. A last option is cycling clubs with classified sections. While you can't be fit, you can at least test ride a prospective bike since it will be in your local area (same goes for craigs list) wherease ebay bikes, while a good value, are unlikely to be test rideable.

On wheel size, its not the wheel size, its the combination of wheel size and gear that makes you go fast, so while you need to be in a different gear on a smaller vs larger wheel, there is negligible difference in power transfer. However, tire weight and tire width do have a big imapct on speed, lighter and skinnier (for the most part) is better, which is why a road bike will be better than a mountain or hybrid bike.

[eclectic]

FYI for what it is worth
In the under $1000 range the 2 entry level road bikes that got the best reviews in Bicycling Magazine are the Trek 1000 and the Specialized Sequoia (both run around the $7-800 range)

I am into touring and not racing so I got the Sequoia for a little smoother though heavier ride. it has seat suspension and "Zertz" on the front fork (Zertz help absorb the road chatter for a smoother ride w/o full front suspension like on a mountain bike)

I would seriously look at the Trek if I was more into speed than comfort - it was listed as the best road bike for under $700 in Bicycling Mag June 2006 page 94

Just my opinion
I LOVE my road bike and although hybids are versatile and my BF rides one AND rides it well and fast (I shudder at thinking of trying to keep up w/ him if he gets a road bike) I would NEVER give up my road bike - I keep my old mountain bike around for when I need it on rougher terrain

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you plan on riding on lots of gravel or dirt roads you might not want to have the very skinniest road bike tires- look into getting a road bike that will take slightly wider tires like 25 or 28's- you won't get so many flats on gravel or rough surfaces.
Skinniest non-knobby tires are definitely faster on smooth roads though.

[TM383]

Wow, I think I have learned more from reading all these replies then I have searching the web for the last few days! This stuff is hard to figure out when you are new.

I am so glad that I got a diverse set of reactions and opinions. I feel like I can better picture what I really want. I think that the bottom line is that I want to ride on the sidewalks and across the street, I am not sure if riding in the street is my thing. Ok, so I am terrified of getting hit by a car! So, I am thinking of looking into a hybrid. I dont think a road bike would be a great choice if I know that I will always be on sidewalks.

Secretly, I am hoping that I will be browsing a bike shop (sorry, LBS! LOL) and come across a killer deal on some amazing $2000.00 road bike that just happened to go on sale right as I walked by for $250.00!!!!

Ok, so I am dreaming!

Thanks again for all the info!!

[Kitsune06]

something I'd suggest is getting thinish (1.25-1.5") smooth tires/tubes and putting those on, and outfitting your mtb with bar ends. I only say this because if you're running on rough roads, or commuting, I'd think you'd be able to appreciate the extra tire width and shock to the bike... things you wouldn't have with a rigid roadie.

I would love to make the speed-demon leap to roadies, but I live down two rough gravel roads, and even my 1.5" tires tend to be squirrelly and weird on them... Not the place for a slick, light, graceful and delicate road-gazelle.

For now, my rough'nready little mtb will have to do, but honestly, I was completely comfortable aside from hand fatigue (those bar ends got a little hard on the hands after awhile... probably wouldn't have been so bad with better gloves) and butt fatigue (got a brooks saddle for that) after a 40 mile ride this summer.... and that was WITH fat, nubby tires.

Never underestimate the ability of proper components to improve your ride.

okay, too many typing errors, time to go home and to sleep!

Sweet bikey dreams!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So, I'm looking at the subject title of this thread again: "Are Road bikes worth it and how much should I pay???".
Seems to me the answer to the first part depends on whether you will be riding in conditions where a road bike would be an advantage. If you are just putting around town on sidewalks, it seems to me a road bike would not be actually needed. A road bike tends to make you ride in a bent down position, which is good for faster speed and for riding long distances. It might not be what you want for just riding around your neighborhood.

The answer to the second part (how much should I pay?) depends on how fancy a bike you want, what kind, or how many added features, etc. Your top priority should be to get a bike that is COMFORTABLE and FITS you properly and one that serves your specific riding needs. Think about what kind of riding you want to do. Don't buy a bike just because it's a good price. If getting a good price is your priority, then lots of people have gotten great bargains in all kinds of wonderful new and used bikes, but later found that the bike did not fit them very well, or didn't serve their specific needs. No bargain at all, if riding it is unpleasant.

If you do not plan to ride fast or ride for long distances on smooth roads, I don't see a need to get a road bike. If shorter trips and varied rough pavement conditions are part of your routes, consider a hybrid (with slightly sturdier tires that will smooth your ride) and a more upright sitting position (which can be comfier for short distances). I would suggest getting a mountain bike only if you plan to ride on rough trails and rocky off-road areas, or on steep rough hilly terrain.

I rode a borrowed hybrid for a month before I got my own (road) bike, and the hybrid was quite comfortable and well suited under many different conditions. Hybrids also might be generally a little cheaper to buy than a "road bike".

We have a hybrid that is great (a 10 year old Trek) which we have set up for doing errands around town- a nice basket in front, medium thickness tires (not skinnies, and not fat knobbies mtn bike tires either, but rather 700c x 28c), and albatross style handlebars which are VERY comfortable and rather upright. Yet this bike can go FAST if needed, and can handle all kinds of long rides and any kind of road conditions, paved or gravel. It's a GREAT all-around bike.

Just some thoughts on different kinds of bikes for different needs...

[RoadRaven]

OK TM... I know the ladies here are trying to helpful, but let me tell you how it is...

You need a mountain bike for your off-roading - absolutely...

You need a bike for commuting, depending on how much stuff you need to carry... something sturdy with gearing and pedals for traffic and maybe pannier bags or something on it.

You need a light fast bike for road-racing, with race wheels, slick tyes etc stripped to the essentials only - I don't even have a puncture kit on mine (cause if you have a go at racing, you'll probably develop a taste for it)

If you want to do enduro rides, then you need a lightweight but strong bike, perhaps with a "bento box" and a bigger seat bag to carry your bits.

If you do TTs or triathalons, you'll want a bike set up with aero bars, aerodynamic rims etc, made for speed...

And of course, a general training bike... the one that has all the emergency stuff attached, the workhorse...

So I am guessing you need about 6 bikes... maybe only 4, depending on what type of riding you want to do...

Yours
Road (tongue-in-cheek) Raven

(BTW, I have 3 bikes at the moment - mountain, training, road race... my RR bike doubles as my TT bike, but am hoping to get a TT specific bike early next year)

[CR400]

Yes they are. It will be way easier to get the mileage you need for a tri and faster. I actually didn't even know you could use something other than a road specific bike anyway. The bottem end of the racing range is about $800, like a Trek 1000 of a fuji newest. These are technically considered entry-level but they'll get the job done, you actually matter more then the components on the bike in the results you get. I have told many people that take a good or pro rider and they can beat most people on top of the line bikes even on entry-level parts.

The high end bikes are from about 5 or 6k and up. Most bikes seem to fall between 1,200 and 3,800.

[RoadRaven]

These are technically considered entry-level but they'll get the job done, you actually matter more then the components on the bike in the results you get. I have told many people that take a good or pro rider and they can beat most people on top of the line bikes even on entry-level parts.


I agree, CR - We have an A grader (thats the top level cyclists in our graded club - graded on ability not age) who came about third or fourth overall in an individual TT on his mountain bike with slicks on... no aero bars or anything (he was in between bikes having just come back from overseas). A good example of how the equipment can make a difference, but its not that huge if you have real talent.

I would always advocate getting a bike specific to your riding, but don't stress if you don't have all the bells and whistles... as Lance wrote...

"Its not about the bike"


PS... I still never-the-less think we all need about 6 bikes... :p