USA-made road bike for under $2K?

[LanterneRouge]

I have a flat-bar road bike and am looking to buy a "real" road bike.

I'd like to support the US economy by buying from a company that still employs US laborers. So far, I've looked into semi-custom Terrys, Gunnar/Waterford, Crumpton, some Trek, and Calfee. All have lovely bikes made in the USA, but they seem to be significantly over my budget. Is it possible to buy a USA-made road bike and spend less than $2,000?

I'm flexible when it comes to frame materials. Initially, I swooned over the idea of carbon, but in reality, do I really need it? Probably not. I ride 2-3x per week for fun and I do about 6-8 organized fun rides for charity each year. In other words, I'm not planning on entering the Tour de France anytime soon. Aluminum or other metals will probably suit my needs.

If it's not possible to purchase a new bike under $2,000, I'm also open to used bikes, but my first preference is to buy new.

Has anyone bought a USA-made bike and how do you like it?

[OakLeaf]

Bradley frames from Franklin start at $1020. You ought to be able to build one up for $1000 with inexpensive components, if that's what you really want to do. Of course, if you want as many as possible of your components USA-made as well, you'll be spending quite a bit more. You could do wheels, hubs and seatpost from American Classic - I don't know about anything else.

I honestly don't know anyone who rides a Franklin frame, but they've been in business quite a long time and have a good reputation. American Classic is good stuff, though the only components of theirs I have are from the 1980s.


ETA: Here's a list someone made up: https://joecruz.wordpress.com/usa-made-cycling-gear/

[goldfinch]

Rodriguez bikes are made in the US and they have a model that is about $2000. http://www.rodbikes.com/

[LanterneRouge]

Any thoughts on steel vs. aluminum vs. carbon?

[Owlie]

For your budget, I'd go steel. You're more likely to be able to get that than carbon, and the ride on steel is more comfy.

[Catrin]

Steel, hands down

[Trek420]

Rodriguez bikes are made in the US and they have a model that is about $2000. http://www.rodbikes.com/

Rodriguez are great, Davidson too. Here's another far from exhaustive list i blugged on my blog: http://madeinusareviews.blogspot.com...-bicycles.html

Thank you TE for helping me keep it semi current.

[LanterneRouge]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions.

Thanks for the list Trek420--that will be a good starting point for me.

So, what's the deal with steel? Does it absorb shock better? I have been riding for over 3 years now, but I'm not a bike expert. I just get on my bike and ride. Steel is heavier than aluminum, so, does that affect performance at all? There seems to be so much emphasis on bikes being lightweight.

Muirenn- I'm on the Left Coast, in So Cal. But if you know anyone in my area that is looking to sell a used or past-model USA-made bike, I'm interested. I'm 5'7. I haven't measured my leg length in a while, so I forgot what it is. My hybrid is a 17" and the last time I tried to get fitted for a Trek road bike I *think* I was a 50 or 51 cm.

[Owlie]

My steel CX bike (stock) is about 22.75 pounds without water bottle cages or pedals (but with wheels, disc brakes, etc). That's pretty light for a stock steel frame. Custom gets lighter. I think Catrin's custom steel bike is about the same as my aluminum road bike. Yes, my cross bike is a little slower than my road bike, but I think that's down to the bigger, lower-pressure tires and the gearing (it's geared quite low), not the frame material.

Aluminum is light, inexpensive and stiff. It doesn't flex, so if you go over a bump or a rough road surface (chip seal, for example), it transfers all those vibrations to you. Steel flexes a little, and that flex helps absorb vibration.

If you want used, you might have some luck finding an old Cannondale. I think up until 2009 they were making their aluminum bikes in the United States. More aggressive aluminum frames don't seem to have the vibration issues that the relaxed ones do. The boyfriend has an R2000 from 2004 (it says "Handmade in the USA" in HUGE letters on the chainstay), and doesn't have any problems with road buzz.

[java]

Rodriguez bikes are made in the US and they have a model that is about $2000. http://www.rodbikes.com/

I love my Rodriguez Rainier. I use it for commuting and organized rides. The steel and a custom fit made all the difference for me.

[LanterneRouge]

Does anyone have (or know someone who has) a Seven bike? I ordered their catalog and I am really liking this company's outlook on biking, business, and life in general. Their emphases on building a quality bike AND taking care of their employees were refreshing to read about.

Has anyone heard any friends' testimonials on whether they're happy with their Seven? Their bikes are all out of my budget, but I might be open to expanding my budget or possibly buying one used. All of their bikes are custom, so I'd still have the issue of ordering a bike without ever having test-ridden it.

[OakLeaf]

I have two friends with Sevens ... a woman pretty close to my size (roughly 48-49 cm frame) and an average sized man (I'm not sure but probably in the neighborhood of a 56 cm frame). Both of them were super happy with their fit, and they were measured by different shops. What I don't know is how well Seven trains their affiliate shops ... I'm going to have to say that quality of the fit is going to be pretty well dependent on quality of the measurements. But given that these two people were measured by different shops in different states, that speaks well for the program.

That's going to be WAY out of your specified budget, though...

[tulip]

Does anyone have (or know someone who has) a Seven bike? I ordered their catalog and I am really liking this company's outlook on biking, business, and life in general. Their emphases on building a quality bike AND taking care of their employees were refreshing to read about.

Has anyone heard any friends' testimonials on whether they're happy with their Seven? Their bikes are all out of my budget, but I might be open to expanding my budget or possibly buying one used. All of their bikes are custom, so I'd still have the issue of ordering a bike without ever having test-ridden it.

You are in a whole different league now. Sevens are amazing bikes.

[indysteel]

Everyone I know who owns a Seven loves it. You might PM TE members 7rider and nscrbug. They both have a Seven.

[eofelis]

Does anyone have (or know someone who has) a Seven bike? I ordered their catalog and I am really liking this company's outlook on biking, business, and life in general. Their emphases on building a quality bike AND taking care of their employees were refreshing to read about.

Has anyone heard any friends' testimonials on whether they're happy with their Seven? Their bikes are all out of my budget, but I might be open to expanding my budget or possibly buying one used. All of their bikes are custom, so I'd still have the issue of ordering a bike without ever having test-ridden it.

I have friends (a couple) who have 2 Seven bicycles each. One set is steel road bikes with couplers. The other set is ti cross-type bikes with couplers. They are all sort of radical looking road bikes with almost step through frames (these are older riders). They have travel cases for these bikes and they pack them up and take them all over the world. Yes I am envious of their travels. As an aside: they were in Christchurch NZ the day the earthquake hit a couple of years ago. Their bikes, packed in their cases, were left in a hotel that they had to vacate in a hurry. They were refugees for a couple of days until they were evacuated out of the country. They didn't get their bikes back until a few months later when people could go back into that building. Quite the story.
Anyways, they are very happy with their bikes.