Entry level carbon WSD road bike?

I've just started researching road bikes. I've been riding an aluminum cyclocross bike with road tires and am hooked on road riding, so I'd like to drop a little weight and find a dedicated road bike that will be more comfortable for long efforts in the saddle. I've test ridden an Orbea Onix TDA and a Trek Madone 4.5 WSD. I liked the Trek's geometry a little better because of the taller head tube, but the Orbea was a sweet ride as well and felt much smoother.

Any other bikes I should check out? Personal recommendations mean a lot. I'm looking to keep the price around 2k or below.

[personal opinion]I would ditch the carbon for better components[/personal opinion] - You can get a fine alu bike with good stuff on it, I think it would make you just as happy. If it fits. Never mind if that is entirely not what you wanted to hear. But it's what I did.

I think a carbon fiber fork & carbon fiber seat stays make a huge difference on an aluminum frame - if you do decide to go with aluminum.

I am pretty happy with my Cannondale Synapse in carbon and I am also very happy with my 105/Ultegra mix.

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Originally Posted by bluebug32

Any other bikes I should check out? Personal recommendations mean a lot. I'm looking to keep the price around 2k or below.

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Cannondale is nice - they're coming out with new models next month (at least that's what I'm told), so LBS may want to get rid of instock bikes, you may get a good deal out of them if you want Carbon.

Full carbon bikes probably will set you back more than 2k...I think.

Other bikes you can check out - Cervelos, Jamis, Felt.

Jamis has some really nice bikes. Carbon seat stays and forks on a steel bike are great. I am partial to steel over carbon and alu bikes, but that's my personal opinion (based on 28 years of touring, commuting and racing, but personal all the same).

I have a Blue RD-1. It has a full carbon frame, with 105 componetry and fits right into the price range you're looking for. You should give it a try... it's a great bike.

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Originally Posted by tongue_tied

I have a Blue RD-1. It has a full carbon frame, with 105 componetry and fits right into the price range you're looking for. You should give it a try... it's a great bike.

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I've heard great things about this bike. It's difficult to find a dealer near me to do a test ride. How slack are the angles? Does it sit you in a more upright or aggressive position?

Blue geometry specs here

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Originally Posted by bluebug32

I've heard great things about this bike. It's difficult to find a dealer near me to do a test ride. How slack are the angles? Does it sit you in a more upright or aggressive position?

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I guess it's more "upright" than other road bikes - I spoke with one of the sales reps and it's a bike made to satisfy both sexes, so it's sort of a middle ground bike. It's stiff in handling and agressive to ride. I test rode a Specialized Dolce (?) in the same size to make sure that the Blue would work for me... I also couldn't test ride one because no one had the RD-1 in my size. The only real difference I noticed between the Specialized and the Blue was the length of the seatpost to the handlebars. I feel a bit more stretched on the Blue than on the Specialized, but I was almost too cramped on the Specialized anyway. I feel like I'm rambling, but if you want to PM me, I can talk more about it, in a more coherent manner (probably :] )

I vote... Orbea.:cool:

But, then again, I'm partial:rolleyes:. Below is a link to my roadie girl...
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ht=candy+sweet

I have been happy with my choice. My only regret is not getting the Diva (original plan). The stock got sold out long story short and for slightly heavier frame (and lighter price tag), the Onix was the ticket.

I got Candy primarily due to my old bike being the wrong frame size for me. But, I knew I did not want aluminum again. My aluminum bike did have a carbon fork, and carbon seat post w/Shimano 105 gruppo. So, good quality bike overall.

The aluminum with my roads were just not a comfortable combo. The nasty country chip and seal with the alum frame was like a tuning fork vibrating my teeth outta my skull. No more. Candy's carbon does exactly what it's suppose to in my op & expectation... suck the road right up... and keep it from beating ME up.

The Orbea Onix was just featured in one of the last few months Bicycling mags as great "bargain carbon" buys. It's the model you are looking at. My TDF was more w/the Ultegra sl gruppo. But, once you have the frame, you can always upgrade components later etc.

My next thing to do will be add a carbon bar and stem. Yea... more $ if crashed, but I'm so sold on carbon's cush, I'm willing to risk it for even more comfort.

FWIW.

:)Good luck shopping!
Miranda

p.s. It was Orbea's geometry that made me drive 5 hours round trip to test ride one after a local fit... after one ill fitting bike (my old alum bike), I did not want a brand that was another... Orbea's are just made for me (read: bike literally disappeared underneath me on parking lot test ride--a cycling 1st ever in my life--a happy thing).

Hey, Miranda, thanks for sharing so much about your new bike! I love that pink and white. I test rode the Onix Dama TDA and really liked it. It was the first carbon bike I had ridden and was blown away by how plush the ride was. I tested the 49 and it felt like I was a touch stretched out. I test rode a Trek Madone WSD right after and liked the more upright position (taller head tube), but felt that it wasn't as plush as the Orbea. I have the same chip and seal and pot hole filled country roads, so comfort is key to me.

I didn't ever expect to be looking at a new road bike so soon. I signed up for the LiveStrong century next month and have always just ridden my aluminum cross bike on the road. It's never been a perfect fit, however, and I suspect that the long top tube is doing bad things. I had it fit last season, but I still get some major pain in my IT band and on the opposite side of my leg that's nearly excruciating by the end of a long ride. So, to me, fit is really key with my new bike. My dilemma right now is that I have a LBS that specializes in fit, but only carries Cannondale, Felt, Specialized, and Giant. I would like to buy from them so that I can get a really good fitting and so they can swap out parts, etc. and be sure that this bike is good for me. They will also let me demo bikes for a week at a time. The Orbea and the Blue dealers aren't close, so it would be a shot in the dark and getting a good fitting might be more difficult.

How long was the stem of the Orbea you test rode? Did you calculate the total reach on the Orbea vs. the Madone (handlebar reach, stem, top tube, saddle setback)?

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Originally Posted by Ana

How long was the stem of the Orbea you test rode? Did you calculate the total reach on the Orbea vs. the Madone (handlebar reach, stem, top tube, saddle setback)?

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I'm not sure. Will have to look into this. You're saying they may not be that different in terms of frame geometry? I know the Trek has a taller headtube.

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Originally Posted by bluebug32

I'm not sure. Will have to look into this. You're saying they may not be that different in terms of frame geometry? I know the Trek has a taller headtube.

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I'm only talking about the reach (horizontal) to compare since they feel different to you :) I wonder if the reach is the same but the angle or head tube length make the difference of more upright or "closer reach" for you.

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Originally Posted by Ana

I'm only talking about the reach (horizontal) to compare since they feel different to you :) I wonder if the reach is the same but the angle or head tube length make the difference of more upright or "closer reach" for you.

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I'm pretty sure that's what's going on because the ETT is pretty much the same length.

Pretty much where I'm at now is that the bike shop that does an excellent fitting and that I've been going to for a long time (and they told me that they would include a complete 3+ hour fitting that analyzes everything on the bike if I buy it there) has been letting me take bikes home to test. They sell Giant, Specialized, Look, and Cannondale. The fit and the shop support is really important to me, so I'm hoping to find something that works there.

I still find Orbea, Blue, and Scott intriguing, but if I bought one I'd have to travel to buy it (also limited test ride possibilities), and I wouldn't have the same support and fitting. Big decisions!

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Originally Posted by bluebug32

I still find Orbea, Blue, and Scott intriguing, but if I bought one I'd have to travel to buy it (also limited test ride possibilities), and I wouldn't have the same support and fitting. Big decisions!

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I think you're going to get a decent bike for $2K regardless - yes, you get the carbon frame with Blue for that price which is definitely a perk, but I think an even bigger perk is the comfort in knowing your local bike shop and the work they do for you. If you plan on buying a new bike every few years, this is also something to consider.