Which Road bike should I buy?

[kjen]

I need help choosing my next bike! I currently have a Giant OCR1. I'm enjoying cycling and would like to "upgrade" to something newer. My Giant road bike has been great, I've had it about six years and I'm just wondering if any of you had an opinion on what bike brand to go with. I'm looking at another Giant (Avail), Felt, Orbea and Cannondale. Any thoughts on which bike would be my best bet for a road bike under $3,000? I'd prefer carbon and I'm not into group rides. I like to ride alone and ride for longer periods of time.

[Owlie]

If your current Giant (is it an OCRW?) works well for you and fits properly, the Avail Advanced may be a good. If it's not a W, go for the Defy if you want another Giant.

Giant and Felt are good bang-for-buck brands. However, go with what fits and feels best, with the best components, within your budget. You may also want to look at Trek. Cannondale tends, in my experience, to be a little on the expensive side, though if you can find old stock on sale and it fits, go ahead and try it.

[kjen]

Thanks for the advice. I have an OCR1 small frame men's bike right now and it has been a comfortable fit. I'm 5'7 and would like to have a women's specific bike but the colors in most women specific bikes are not to my taste at all. I've had a couple of people mention Felt as a good option but I don't know anything about the brand. I agree that Cannondale seems a bit pricey compared to the others that offer better components for less cost.

[Owlie]

Do you need a women-specific frame? What's your inseam?

There's actually very little difference between Giant's unisex and women's frames. I think the biggest thing is that they shave off half a centimeter of top tube (beyond short-reach shifters and perhaps narrower bars, which are easy enough to swap out, though it will add to the cost.) So if Giant's geometry works for you, go for it--and feel free to pick on the basis of color if that's the case. (And I agree with you on the colors. I want red and black, but no one puts it on WSD bikes. )

You could, for comparison purposes, look at Specialized, but they tend to be even more expensive than Cannondale.

[kjen]

So true, if it fits is really all that matters. My current bike is black/silver and red, I just prefer the darker colors, but it seems all the WSD bikes are all pastels which is frustrating.

Thx for the posts. I appreciate your feedback very much.

[zoom-zoom]

So true, if it fits is really all that matters. My current bike is black/silver and red, I just prefer the darker colors, but it seems all the WSD bikes are all pastels which is frustrating.

Thx for the posts. I appreciate your feedback very much.

Cannondale's women's bikes are decent colors...I'm on a men's frame, but their women's frames are very neutral and tend towards dark colors like navy and matte black. The closest thing to pastels are white and silver. No pink, lavender, etc. Only color on their website that's even remotely "girly" looking is turquoise.