Help me pick my second bike!

Hi Ladies,

I need opinions/suggestions/advice on picking out a second bike! I have a Felt F4 that I have really come to enjoy riding, but live right near a limestone path that I'd like to ride on early mornings/evenings and not have to worry about dodging traffic. I'm also interested in doing some border to border state touring next summer, so I'd like something that can serve both purposes.

So my questions....

Frame materials? Aluminum?
Disk brakes?
Flat bar/drop bars? Whats most comfortable on long rides?

I just finished my masters degree in June and this is my present to myself :) I don't have a ton to spend, but I'm flexible up to $1200ish (total). I'd like to purchase from my LBS if possible, they deal Specialized, Giant and Surly. But I'm open to the collective TE wisdom!

Happy riding and thanks for your advice!

Perhaps a cross bike? Steel?

I can't offer any other suggestions, but congrats on finishing your master's!

Steel is heavier than aluminum, but it's stronger and they can use thinner tubes so the final bike weight doesn't have to be heavy at all. Steel may be the oldest bike material but current building methods are far from antiquated; just take a look at what Luna is doing with steel! Steel tends to soak up vibration better than aluminum could be quite nice on a bumpy limestone path.

I have three bikes, one each steel, aluminum, and carbon. All very different bikes with very different uses.

Since you are thinking about touring: I've seen a couple of Kona Sutra at Turin Bike in Evanston. They look great!

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Originally Posted by Syndirelah

Thank you! I'm never writing another paper about anything, ever :)

My LBS was sort of against steel when I suggested the Surly, they seemed to think/say it was somewhat antiquated. Is it heavier than aluminum? I'm going to have to lug this thing up and down stairs, in and out of my car, etc. Also I wasn't sure if cross bikes were really well-suited for long hauls/trips?

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Your LBS deals Surly but is anti-steel? :confused: I wouldn't say steel is antiquated at all--it's timeless. :p I've never ridden a Surly, but from what other people say about them (which is almost exclusively good) it sounds like they'd definitely be worth checking out for your situation.

My new-to-me 2009 Jamis Satellite road bike is Reynolds 520 steel and it floats over rough roads, at least relative to my aluminum hybrid. According to the Jamis website, it weighs 21.4 pounds, which is plenty light for me. (I've never weighed it myself, so take that particular number with a grain of salt--they probably weigh the smallest frame and I have one-size-bigger, etc.)

What matters to me is I can easily carry it up and down stairs, and lift it over my head (for putting it on my car's roof rack). Of course, your mileage may vary. Steel bikes definitely come lighter (both from lighter alloys used to build the frame and lighter components on the bike), but that just wasn't a priority for me and the Satellite fit best in my budget.

[I still have 2 more years left in my graduate program--my new bike was just celebrating a measly (ok, prestigious) summer internship. ;) Congrats to you!]

I've become very fond of steel. I've had aluminum and carbon and now steel and love the look and ride of steel. FWIW, my new Luna weighs less than my carbon Trek Pilot. I've also just bought a carbon tri bike and for comparison, DH and I weighed the carbon bike and my Luna and my Luna weighs over 2 pounds LESS than the carbon bike. I realize they are two different types of bike but that throws the "steel is too heavy" argument out the window. I also think steel is a better choice for touring--especially if you are adding racks.

You have so many choices in bikes shops where you live and can go ride about anything you would like. Go ride different bikes and then decide. You might also want to check out North Central Cyclery in Dekalb. They carry 4-5 differents brands of steel frame bikes and only had 3 or 4 carbon bikes in the whole store.

Congratulations on your Masters! I can't think of a better way to reward yourself for your hard work!

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Originally Posted by Syndirelah

So my questions....

Frame materials? Aluminum?
Disk brakes?
Flat bar/drop bars? Whats most comfortable on long rides?

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My answers:

Steel - definitely. Aluminum - I wouldn't. Ti isn't in your budget for now.
Disk Brakes - If you want, but not necessary IMO.
Drop Bars - with Bar End shifters for durability.

Either a Surly LHT or a Cross Check should work nicely. A Trek 520 would be another good bet (but may be $1-200 above your range - IIRC they have gone up).

A cross or touring bike will work nicely. Of course, a hybrid would work too (but I wouldn't be comfortable riding long miles on one - some people are).

I have a Giant TranSend LX 2008 model, the denim blue one (i didnt get the Women's one). I love this bike, it's great on any kind of terrain (have taken it on single track, but gravel trails, potholed roads, pitted and grooved dirts trails, fire roads - its done well on all of those). Its a light bike, aluminum, and I do carry it up and down stairs just fine - not sure how easy it would be with a step through frame since I shoulder mine :)
With its sloping top tube, you get a bit more clearance than other bikes.
It already has fenders and a rack, and the LX has disc brakes. If I were touring on it, I'd change the habdlebars to drops; eventually I want to switch them out, anyhow, along with the seat (I prefer a firmer saddle). The longest ride Ive done on it is 50 miles, with some pretty good climbs, and I was comfortable on it the whole way. The gearing is great, with plenty at the lowend to help you climb even with a load. Although, the stock wooden rack is super classy looking, I'd switch it out with something different that can accomodate larger touring bags - I'm not sure how Giant measured the holes on the rack, but I have to kind of tweak my panniers to get them in there (but they're wicker looking, and cute, and match my wooden rack!)
Ive ridden it in downpours, and it handles well, fenders keep the water and crap from flying back on me, and other than a little noise from the disc brakes, she stopped just fine when soaking wet.
I have found the components great, especially at the LX level (they made like 4 different models) and the trigger shifters are awesome. I was worried when I first got this bike. It was my first "nice bike" and I was afraid to take it off the street. I thought I would mess up the fenders or not have enough clearance on them when in the dirt. But I was afraid for no reason - Im pretty aggressive on all my bikes, and this baby takes everything I throw at it!
Just my experience since youre near a giant dealer :)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...&id=1434726526

I just bought a Specialized Tri-Cross Sport. It's a combo of road, touring and cyclocross. I have had a road bike since 2006 and love it but am getting into touring and would also like some off road flexibility so this is a good one for me. It has drop bars which I prefer.