so i am signed up for a few centuries this year and have been looking for a road bike. last year i rode b2vt on my tri bike and full disc. i got a lot of nasty looks (from roadies), as i was passing them uphill lol.
i'm ready for a road bike and thought i was SOL until i got on my friends 52cm wsd madone 4.5. i (ignorantly) didn't realize that a 52cm womans specific frame would be smaller than a mens 52cm. my last road frame was a 48cm cannondale systemsix (which was slightly large for me).
so i got home and started looking at 2 brands. i don't have a price limit, but i tri bike and touring bike. i don't want to break the bank as i also want a fat bike and a single speed in the near future.
https://www.diamondback.com/airen-5-carbon#
db bike
http://www.lapierre-bikes.co.uk/gamme/2015/road/endurance/pulsium-500
lapierre
http://wheelsinmotion.us/images/library/features/trek_madone_wsd4_women_geo_13_f.jpg
trek madone 4.5wsd
https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7284/8736770237_c53e483997.jpg
cannondale systemsix 48cm
i'm not a wiz when it comes to figuring out geometry. but it appears that i'll fit on the 50 or 52cm diamondback or the 49cm lapierre.
diamondback pros:
i really like the matte baby blue and how it doesn't have the brand name on the frame.
disc brakes are a plus in new england weather
i believe i can slap some 30-34mm tires on there and ride this on hard packed trails or some cross racing?
diamondback cons:
it won't take my carbon easton rims (40mm)
cost 100 more than lapierre
it seems like the wheelbase and top tube length (at least on 52cm is longer than the cannondale)
thru axels
thought: i think i will prob fit better on the 50cm diamondback?
lapierre pros:
rim brakes, thus i can use my carbon wheelset on this (not sure how important this is, since i don't road race)
lighter than diamondback
100 bucks cheaper than diamondback
lapierre cons:
ugly color scheme. if purchased, i would sand the frame down and repaint it
another small caveat. i may purchase a premier tactical in 2018 (when they come out with the 650). thus rendering my current tri bike useless and be on training/trainer duty. i won't have a need for the carbon rims and i can't expect the resale to be to good on a wheelset that has 2k miles and is 4 years old, thus making it slightly more appealing to have the lapierre.
honestly, the most important thing is FIT. it's near impossible to find any of these bikes at local stores to try. so the only thing i can go off is that the 48cm cannondale was slightly big on me (i didn't like the shoe/wheel overlap) and that the trek madone 4.5 wsd appeared to be a decent fit (ridden with speedplay cleats on shimano pedals though).
thus, i'm seeking the help of ST.
thanks in advance.
p.s.- as i finish writing this, it seems as if it makes more sense that i purchase the diamondback (if so, which size. 50 or 52)
i'm ready for a road bike and thought i was SOL until i got on my friends 52cm wsd madone 4.5. i (ignorantly) didn't realize that a 52cm womans specific frame would be smaller than a mens 52cm. my last road frame was a 48cm cannondale systemsix (which was slightly large for me).
so i got home and started looking at 2 brands. i don't have a price limit, but i tri bike and touring bike. i don't want to break the bank as i also want a fat bike and a single speed in the near future.
https://www.diamondback.com/airen-5-carbon#
db bike
http://www.lapierre-bikes.co.uk/gamme/2015/road/endurance/pulsium-500
lapierre
http://wheelsinmotion.us/images/library/features/trek_madone_wsd4_women_geo_13_f.jpg
trek madone 4.5wsd
https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7284/8736770237_c53e483997.jpg
cannondale systemsix 48cm
i'm not a wiz when it comes to figuring out geometry. but it appears that i'll fit on the 50 or 52cm diamondback or the 49cm lapierre.
diamondback pros:
i really like the matte baby blue and how it doesn't have the brand name on the frame.
disc brakes are a plus in new england weather
i believe i can slap some 30-34mm tires on there and ride this on hard packed trails or some cross racing?
diamondback cons:
it won't take my carbon easton rims (40mm)
cost 100 more than lapierre
it seems like the wheelbase and top tube length (at least on 52cm is longer than the cannondale)
thru axels
thought: i think i will prob fit better on the 50cm diamondback?
lapierre pros:
rim brakes, thus i can use my carbon wheelset on this (not sure how important this is, since i don't road race)
lighter than diamondback
100 bucks cheaper than diamondback
lapierre cons:
ugly color scheme. if purchased, i would sand the frame down and repaint it
another small caveat. i may purchase a premier tactical in 2018 (when they come out with the 650). thus rendering my current tri bike useless and be on training/trainer duty. i won't have a need for the carbon rims and i can't expect the resale to be to good on a wheelset that has 2k miles and is 4 years old, thus making it slightly more appealing to have the lapierre.
honestly, the most important thing is FIT. it's near impossible to find any of these bikes at local stores to try. so the only thing i can go off is that the 48cm cannondale was slightly big on me (i didn't like the shoe/wheel overlap) and that the trek madone 4.5 wsd appeared to be a decent fit (ridden with speedplay cleats on shimano pedals though).
thus, i'm seeking the help of ST.
thanks in advance.
p.s.- as i finish writing this, it seems as if it makes more sense that i purchase the diamondback (if so, which size. 50 or 52)