Need Help Choosing Road Bike

[smittyjo]

I'm not sure why it's significant that you'll be moving to Hawaii with your bike--a road bike is a road bike, no matter where you go. If you think you'll want to ride on dirt roads and trails, you want to think about something other than a road bike.

Having said that, it sounds like you have some definite ideas of which bikes you're interested in, so my best advice is for you to go to a bike shop and try them all out--see which one feels best to you. It's a very personal decision.

Juju,

The reason that I mentioned my move to Hawaii is that I've heard that bikes are set up differently for hill riding than they are for flat terrain. I'm not sure if it is just a matter of set up or the actual frame geometry. Since most of my riding will be through the mountains, I thought I would ask.

[Bad JuJu]

The reason that I mentioned my move to Hawaii is that I've heard that bikes are set up differently for hill riding than they are for flat terrain.

Interesting! I've never heard this before--bikes being built up differently for riding hilly roads or riding flat roads. But I'm no expert, so just because I've never heard it doesn't mean it isn't true.

Maybe someone else, who knows something about this difference, can chime in. Anybody?

[SouthernBelle]

I wish I knew what the differences were! I live in the hills of tennessee. I don't think I've ridden more than a few feet in a flat!

I just got my Giant OCR C3 last week and love her. They are 20% off in August so you are running out of time in that regard. When the wrench was tuning her up for me, he said this is a last-a-lifetime bike.

[roguedog]

My igorant 2 cents...

While shopping around for bikes and overhearing all sorts of conversations.. I have heard that people do have a stable of bikes. Some they prefer for flats or pure speed and some that they prefer for hill climbing. I think it has something to do with the stiffness in the rear triangle or maybe with the whole frame.

Maybe because as you climb and you're standing, there's more torque on the frame (going out on a limb here) than if you were just pushing hard to go faster on flatland.

Hmm.. I wonder if this is less of an issue for women since we're typically lighter and just don't put that much force onto our bikes typically. I can see someone like Lance who's all muscle or somoene who's just a big guy who needs more resistance when they're pushing.

anyway,, this is just RD's hypothesis with nothing based on real knowledge.

Oh and I agree with everyone else.. ride, ride ride.. one will speak to you...Oh shoot somebody in another forum had a great quote... see if I can find it

[roguedog]

Ah.. found it..

They'll all make a bike you can ride.

Most of them will make a bike that will fit you.

Some of them will be lighter than others.

A few will make the gals in your Tuesday night group drool.

One will speak to your soul. Buy that one.

[smittyjo]

I wish I knew what the differences were! I live in the hills of tennessee. I don't think I've ridden more than a few feet in a flat!

I just got my Giant OCR C3 last week and love her. They are 20% off in August so you are running out of time in that regard. When the wrench was tuning her up for me, he said this is a last-a-lifetime bike.

I will be test riding a OCR 3 tomorrow and a Trek 2100. I just can't wait to get my bike and start riding. It's my b-day weekend and I really want to find a bike.I realize it just might not happen this weekend, but I'm hoping.Thanks to everyone for your input,

[Bad JuJu]

Have fun test-riding and good luck finding YOUR bike!

[slinkedog]

Hey Smitty... one thing you might consider is that HI is quite humid... an aluminum bike might stave off corrosion and rust. Don't really know... just a thought.

I also ride a Specialized Roubaix with an aluminum frame, carbon forks and seatpost. I love it!!

[HillSlugger]

Interesting! I've never heard this before--bikes being built up differently for riding hilly roads or riding flat roads. But I'm no expert, so just because I've never heard it doesn't mean it isn't true.

Maybe someone else, who knows something about this difference, can chime in. Anybody?

One of the obvious things would be gearing; lower gearing to make hill climbing easier. It's been pointed out to me that changing out a cassette is pretty easy meaning you could have one with lower gearing for hills and another with higher gearing for flats and speed. From what I can see it's an easy, 5 minute task to do the switch (see link) I know some of the girls here have done it.

A second possibility is that you probably wouldn't want a bike with a longer wheel base; those are mostly designed for comfort on the flats.

[Bad JuJu]

One of the obvious things would be gearing; lower gearing to make hill climbing easier. It's been pointed out to me that changing out a cassette is pretty easy meaning you could have one with lower gearing for hills and another with higher gearing for flats and speed. From what I can see it's an easy, 5 minute task to do the switch (see link) I know some of the girls here have done it.
A second possibility is that you probably wouldn't want a bike with a longer wheel base; those are mostly designed for comfort on the flats.

As I was midway up a hill on my ride this morning, and thinking how nice it is to have granny gears, I smacked my head and uttered a big "duh-uh." Of course that's it--gearing! If you're going to be climbing major hills, you want to think seriously about your gearing. As MDHillSlug pointed out, the gearing on most bikes can be changed, though it's not something I've done myself. You should definitely (1) learn a little bit about gearing, and (2) talk to the bike salesperson about getting the right gearing for you. (But first educate yourself so you won't be steered wrong by someone just trying to unload a particular bike.)

I'm not sure about the longer wheelbase issue. Touring bikes have longer wheelbases and they're generally meant for at least some climbing. You DO want a nice, light frame though, so you're not carrying any more ounces/lbs than necessary up those hills.

[Cassandra_Cain]

While pro's and racers may have different bike set-ups for mountain riding/events, I don't know many of the rest of us, mere mortals who do.

I mean beyond the obvious, which would be a different gearing/cassette set-up, what else are you going to do differently?

Granted as light a bike as possible is ideal but then there is a pretty linear relationship between cost of a bike and weight....more $$$ = less weight, mostly.