Entry-level road race bike?

[Julibird]

Open ended question: I am planning on racing next season with a cat 4 women's team - a few crits and some longer road races with climbs. I have my dream bike already (Orbea Diva '08) - and I don't want to crash her.

What bike would serve me as my experimental race bike? It has to be light, probably aluminum, with mid-level replaceable components. It will also be my rain bike in training rides.

I am able to get a slight employee discount on Specialized, Scott, K2, and Schwinn, but I want to widen my search and also look at used bikes.

Any ideas, ladies?

[Bluetree]

On my team the Cannondale CAAD 9 is a popular (alternative) race bike with race wheels on. Most of them will not use their high-end CF bikes in a crit, although they do ride them in road races.

[parity]

Never ridden one but you could check out the Specialized Allez:

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkM...9Allez&eid=115

Aluminum is going the way of steel. Eventually it will be retro and you'll be cool with the hipsters. And people will be saying Aluminum is Realuminum?

[bmccasland]

Derek‘s Gold Masterywow gold Guide, ...... <snip>......craft.

Methinks this has absolutely NOTHING to do with Julibird's quest for a second racing bike.

(reported to Admin)

[fidlfreek]

Do yall think I could transform my Bianchi into one of these? http://www.bianchiusa.com/08_lei_elena.html

Switching out to a standard double, (new left shifter too) and getting some snazzy wheels....

I will not be taking my nice new Look 585 to the crits I'm thinking about doing this summer....

Whatcha think?

[ehirsch83]

I say if you have the great, fast, responsive,stiff carbon bike then RACE IT!!!

Why race something that is slower to respond and with less power transfer? You are out there to race, so take those great race tools you have and use them!!!!!

[kermit]

Do what I did. Just bought a single speed, bike #3. I am looking forward to the ride. I have the carbon hotness for whatever, including sprint tris. Just wanted something different. $320 bucks, can't beat the price. I got a Windsor Clockwork from bike direct.

[TxDoc]

If I were you I'd just race with the Orbea.

[celerystalksme]

Cat 4 crit? You're gonna wreck at some point. So don't ride anything you can't easily replace financially. If you can replace the Diva without sweating it, just race it.

Otherwise, look for a cheap CAAD9 or CAAD8 or even CAAD7 frame. You're good to go. Believe it or not, this affordable aluminum frame will likely outperform your more expensive carbon Diva in a fast paced, technical criterium.

[ehirsch83]

There is a possibility in wrecking in any crit/road race- cat 4, or a 1-3. Or if they combine you with men. The point of a race bike is to race it, that is why they are stiff, fast reacting,etc. Why buy it if you are not going to reap the benefits from it? You want to train heavier, race light(point of race wheels). Why go train light and then race heavy and less responsive??

Instead of wasting money on a 2nd bike, save that money in case you need to replace your frame at some point- or use it to travel to more races and have more fun!!