Budget Road Bike Recommendation

With the gearing options you get from a modern 2x10 drivetrains.....it has become an unnecessary item. 34x28 can get you up some pretty steep climbs on the road bike. Remember it takes so much less effort to climb on a road bike than on a mtn bike.


In addition the road triples don't seem to work as well as doubles.

But this is only my opinion. Others may think differently.

 

My MTB is a 2x10 so that doesn't bother me. I doubt it would on a road bike.

 

Agreed, 3x9 or 3x10 road bike drivetrains don't work so well. If you have 10spd, you only really get 8 or 9 usable before you get chain rub on the FD. 2x is FAR superior to 3x when it comes to a roadbike. I still say Single Speed not fixed. Find the middle ground on what you are comfortable with on the MTB and get the gears accordingly for the SS. I ended up with 44x16 and use it all over SoCal including Newport Coast, RSM/Portola, etc. Best part, NO MAINTENANCE!

 

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cross_cx2.htm
What about this model? Almost in your price range. Nothing fancy, but will get you around.

 

modern 2x10 with compact will take you pretty much anywhere on a road bike....short of some pretty extreme climbing...

 

My geared MTB is a 2x10 and I like it. Any reason I can't switch the bike to a double crank in the future?

 

I was looking at this one last night. I like the CX option which allows me to take fire road short cuts here and there.

 

Cost starts to add up.....new derailluer F & R, New front shifter, new chainrings or cranks.

 

I agree on 2x10 with a steel frame for your needs. As another guy with creaky knees, steel (or carbon) will make you a lot happier as the miles go by than aluminum, scandium, etc., and even more so if you go with a cross setup. Something with connections for a rack or two might be helpful too so you don't have to carry a bunch of stuff on your back.

If this ended up selling at the initial price, it would be just about right:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2011-Masi-S...21186853144?pt=Road_Bikes&hash=item337fc38918

Heck, several companies offer steel framesets for around $500 brand new, so you for a used bike ought to be able to cobble something together in your price range easily enough.

 

Hey so I havent used this guy myself, but from what Ive heard hes very professional and fixes bikes up good. Hes prices are very reasonable. Youd probably be able to bring back a bike for a bit cheaper but with him you get a bike that for sure works.

Heres the yelp reviews:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/hb-bike-shop-huntington-beach-2


and heres his website:
http://hbbikeshop.com/home

 

^^^^ Wow!!! That looks like a very cool place lots of good deals!

 

That's a decent looking bike, but it wouldn't be much good on dirt. The gearing is really tall, either the crankset, cassette, or both would need to be swapped. That and the aluminum frame with 700x30c tires would beat you up pretty fast.

 

I still have my aluminum, Canondale CAAD (some#), 9 speed with Ultegra and Dura Ace parts. Continental toughskin tires. It has a compact crank. It's yellow and black. Only downside is that its 50cm. I'd sell it for $500.

 

Look for tire clearance if you want to take in on dirt. Small Block 8's roll well and work for dirt and pavement, but still eat up space in your fork and rear triangle. I've probably got a couple lying around if you want to give them a try.

 

Aren't some (or more?) triple front shifters and derailleurs convertible to 2X? I'm pretty sure that's what my 105's do.
I think to go triple to double you usually need new cranks and rings. Still, not totally cheap.

 

I can highly recommend Bikesdirect.com. I have ordered about 12 different bikes from them and they are always as described. Two times, UPS dropped boxes and the large chainrings had bent teeth, but a single email is all it took for them to immediately ship out a replacement.

If you are wary about sizing and don't have the minimal skills to put a bike together and adjust it...probably not the way for you to go. If however, you can determine your size based on provided geometry and can slap a bike together and make minor derailleur adjustments this, in my opinion, is a sound option.

I picked up this budget roadbike from them in January. At the time it was on sale at $699 (tax shipping included).

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/ventnoir_xii.htm

 

Buy a vintage road bike with ultegra and up, or even campy stuff. Put in new tires grips and pedals and you'll be set. Should come in under 300 plus your new purchases