Buying road bike

[RoadRaven]

Nev...trik...

Where are yoooooou?

[tulip]

Maybe she's gone down to Italy to the De Rosa factory for some test rides

[RoadRaven]

Ah… de Rosa… when I first joined TE I was in love with de Rosa bikes and drooled all over them as I made a thread drift…

Now I know more about racing bikes, I wouldn’t get a de Rosa… but I still lurve the purty seductive dreamy curves they have….

[3weight]

Hey RoadRaven~
What kind of bike would you suggest for a first year racer?
Thanks!

[tulip]

Ah… de Rosa… when I first joined TE I was in love with de Rosa bikes and drooled all over them as I made a thread drift…

Now I know more about racing bikes, I wouldn’t get a de Rosa… but I still lurve the purty seductive dreamy curves they have….

It's just something...Italian, sexy, but not for the long haul. But oh, a de Rosa once in your life...mmmmm

[tulip]

Hey RoadRaven~
What kind of bike would you suggest for a first year racer?
Thanks!

You didn't ask me, but...one the fits!

There are so many good bikes out there. Get one that fits; it'll be better than the fanciest bike that doesn't fit.

[RoadRaven]

Ah, well, I don't like to give advice on this type of question, and if you do a little search around the site you'll find loads of recommendations.

Tulip has hit the proverbial nail on the head though - get a bike that fits - thats the essential component.

My first race bike was a Scorpio RA300
I now race on an EMC2 FemetapePro, and a Giant TCR2

I think the best advice I can give you is to buy a mid-range bike. An entry-level is not enough and you will find it wanting. Until you are sure this is what you want to do, you also don't want to spend loads.

If money was no object, I would suggest you found a Cervelo in your frame size...
But frame size is the key. Think about about the type of racing you want to do.
If it is criteriums, you will want something responsive
If you race on loads of hills, then you will want a light frame
If you do time trials, then the weight of your bike is not so much a factor as how aero you can make it.

Now, my Giant has a semi-aero frame but it is not a time-trial bike per se. But it fits me well so we have added components to make it ideal for me... a bladed seat post, bull horns, aero bars and bar-end shifters, aero wheels...

Lots of women here ride Specialised, but I don't like them.
Lots of people have Treks (probably a Lance influence) but again, I don't like them.

Having said that - Specialised and Trek both have good bikes...

Hmmm, what am I trying to say?
Try riding different types of bikes - different brands, different styles, different specs.
Focus on a frame that fits you well - everything else can be added to/changed.
Read what people have said here, reviews in magazines, talk to your LBSs, and to members in your racing club.
Check out what the pros choose to ride (or more importantly, what they DONT ride)

And have fun doing it.

[3weight]

Thanks for the advice, ladies! It pretty much comes down to personal preference. Time to do some test riding!
Thanks again!

[RoadRaven]

pssst... 3weight... you do know one bike is not enough, don't you...
... you do realise this is only the beginning....??

[3weight]

Oh, I already know it's a slippery slope.....this will be my fourth bike.....

[Geonz]

So you have four bikes now??

[3weight]

I have three bikes. Looking for the fourth!