Does anyone out there want to offer an opinion about what type of road bike I should upgrade to? I have a great Argon 18 Tri-Bike, so this is my chance to upgrade to a full carbon road bike to help build my base miles and time in the saddle.
If anyone feels strongly about Dura Ace over Ultegra - let me know. I won’t likely go with Sram or Campy as my Tri-Bike is Dura Ace.
I have found some deals on the web for the following - what would you do? ( I should mention that money is a factor and I would have to negotiate pretty hard to spend more than $3000).
Look 585 - full Dura Ace - $4400
Orbea Orca - full Dura Ace - $4300
Orbea Orca - Ultegra - $3000
Used - Look 486 - Ultegra - $2000 (billed as having low miles - and I know buying used is risky-but I have had good luck in past)
Lastly, the Look 486 is not the Tri style frame - it is an '05, but it does have the rear wheel pulled close to the frame. Anyone with experience on the 486?
Thanks for your help.
IMHO, there is no comparison between Orbea and Look. Look is in a class by itself. I rode an '05 486, and it is still one of my favorite bikes of ALL TIME. Norman rode it well in 04 at Kona to a win, as well as the whole Credit Agricole team in the Tour. The bike is an incredible all-arounder. Not as nimble as some, but when you put your head down and push, the THING GOES!
Look IS in a class of its own – but do you really want a Look as your training bike? It would be a little bit like wearing a full tux and diamond cufflinks to your weekly ballroom dance lessons where everybody else shows up in jeans and sneakers. No idea how hardcore you are in terms of riding in bad weather etc., but if you are like me (rain, mud, sleet no factor), go with a reliable “everyday” workhorse. That way you won’t spend an hour bawling each time road debris will put a chip into the frame. On your list, I’d go with the Ultegra-equipped Orca, but honestly, I wouldn’t buy new. I go to great lengths with respect to my race day bike: top-spec, no second-hand parts, etc. But as for my training bike, I look for value/gently used – and then ride it to death!
I hear what you are saying. I don’t know what I’ll do as the weather breaks here in Minnesota in a few months as fate placed a 585 Ultra in my lap this past fall and it is awesome!
To the OP, check the geometry as I recall that Orca’s are long across the top. I’ve enjoyed the short rides I took on them but I’d put the Look well above. To save some $$, you might be able to find a 565 around, I hear those were nice and they’ve discontinued for 2008.
I have a 06 (I think?) 486. I LOVE IT! I can’t say enough good about it. Its is more or less my training bike. I’ve got around 1500 miles on it so far and every time I ride it, I like it a little more. Its a great bike. Mine is full D/A. And its a great ride. I’ve done a few 7 hour rides on it and feel great coming off.
Don’t buy the 486. I broke both an 05 and a 06 model at the headstem and the bottom bracket came unglued on the replacement 07 model. The 486 is known to have quiality issues. Or maybe I was just the unluckiest Look rider EVER.
I have an '06 Orbea Orca w/ Ultegra and I love it. I picked it up at a great price when the new '07 Orca came out as a supplement to my tri bike training. The ride of the Orca is great. It soaks up all the road chatter, but feels solid powering into and out of turns. In addition, it looks awesome. This bike does everything I expected it would and more; I would not hesitate getting another Orca in the future.
However, I have no experiance with Look frames, so I can’t give a comparison.
But as with any bike, they are very individual in terms of fit and how you like to sit on the bike…