For the bike aficionados here, can someone recommend a very light road bike between $1,500 and $2000? I’m assuming I’m going to have to go aluminum in that price range, and that’s ok; this is just for group rides. I’m usually having trouble finding the weight listed on any of the road bike specs on line. Weight is very important because I’ll be doing a whole lot of climbing with my group this coming year. (p.s., my body weight is just about as low as I want to go, 5’7" 137). Thanks all!
The word light and $2000 won’t be very light . The size may help .
The word light and $2000 won’t be very light . The size may help .
Yeah, I get that. But that’s my budget. I may have to go used. I’m about a 52-53.
I would just go used carbon fiber. Get a good frame that fits. You can upgrade components as they wear.
I would just go used carbon fiber. Get a good frame that fits. You can upgrade components as they wear.
If I understand right with carbon fiber, though, it’s really hard to tell what kind of structural damage it might have, right?
I have bought a bunch of used carbon bikes. It’s buyer be ware for sure, but…
I buy bikes from people I have been either able to meet physically or can research them well enough to feel comfortable.
When buying I try my best to use PayPal and pay the fees just in case I don’t get shipped what was promised.
I inspect and do a coin tap on areas where I see paint chips. This isn’t fool proof but works for gross defects. You basically tap areas with the edge of a quarter that you believe are good then tap the area you are concerned about. If they sound the same then you should be good. If it is a dull sound it is likely damaged. Choose and area that is a similarly sized tube (acoustics will differ between tube diameters).
I have asked if I can take to a shop. If someone refuses then I pass. If no issue then sometimes I will and sometimes I won’t.
ST classified forums are good. I have bought Craig’s List and Facebook marketplace as well.
I look at pros closet allot and pink bike, but have never bought. If I was conservative I would probably go with pros closet.
You can check the value of the used bike on bicycle blue book. It will help with a private transaction. Everyone wants to think there bike is worth what they paid for it. BBB helps let them down easy.
Good luck!
No idea what the lightest would be but the Cannondale CAAD that you can afford would be a good bench mark to start comparing with.
If I was going to spend a lot of time in hills I’d think about a disc but you’d probably get the rim equivalent lighter.
In practice I get the feeling a lot of people are searching for their ideal bike then finding it isn’t in stock. So might be easier just to see what you can get and choose from that.
A lot of good info here. Thanks!!
No idea what the lightest would be but the Cannondale CAAD that you can afford would be a good bench mark to start comparing with.
From what I’m seeing so far too, that does seem like a good place to start.
happy with rim brakes I’m assuming? swift carbons cheapest ultravox with 105 at 7.94kg for $2299 from what I can see, could look at other smaller brands, lots of UK brands have cheaper bikes in that kinda price range that aren’t too heavy, just depends what it would cost you to import. I’d normally say canyon or giant but yet again their US options are really limited compared to UK (or what canyon used to be in the UK when they still shipped here…). try looking at places like pros closet maybe?
happy with rim brakes I’m assuming? swift carbons cheapest ultravox with 105 at 7.94kg for $2299 from what I can see, could look at other smaller brands, lots of UK brands have cheaper bikes in that kinda price range that aren’t too heavy, just depends what it would cost you to import. I’d normally say canyon or giant but yet again their US options are really limited compared to UK (or what canyon used to be in the UK when they still shipped here…). try looking at places like pros closet maybe?
It does seem that the UK has a lot better selection than here in the States for some reason! And thanks, yeah, I’m seeing some pretty good prospects on Pros Closet.
Emonda ALR. The frame is the same weight as the old Emonda SL frame (very light) and come in lots of part builds.
Echo that! CAAD is my first thought. Fine lightweight frame suitable for all road riding. Very, very reluctant to but used carbon anything unless it’s from someone I know.
I have bought a couple of used Giant frames in the past for good prices - they tend to overbuild their frames and it’s hard to damage them. Bought a stevens cx frame that cracked under the top tube after a season - was a relatively easy fix but the frame was simply underbuilt and cracked along a seam.
Emonda ALR. The frame is the same weight as the old Emonda SL frame (very light) and come in lots of part builds.
There is actually one on Pros Closet right now for $1700 that I’m looking at
https://www.theproscloset.com/products/trek-emonda-alr-4-road-bike-2019-52cm-1
Argon 18 Gallium CS Ultegra on merlin cycles is just over $2000, and seems to be pretty light (a different ultegra/duraace mix was 7.3kg claimed weight)… if that’s any help. I should add however that I ride a 7.8kg specialized tarmac (without pedals or bottle cages) and it climbs better than anything I’ve ever experienced, simply due to how reactive the frame is and nice it is to ride. It makes hills seem like fun, as you feel everything that you put in you 100% get back. If you can get a tarmac SL6 second hand you’re on to a winner in my opinion.
Giant Advanced 2 KOM goes for $2050 new and is a great carbon bike. Has Shimano 105 and weighs about 16.5 lbs. Definitely a great deal (if you can find one).
Echo that! CAAD is my first thought. Fine lightweight frame suitable for all road riding. Very, very reluctant to but used carbon anything unless it’s from someone I know.
Just to throw a spanner in the works, but as I understand it:
-lightweight aluminium isn’t necessarily more robust than carbon, especially when frames are a similar weight. Caad is light because walls are thin.
-aluminium has a shelf life and can become brittle.
-carbon can be repaired, aluminium can’t.
You could argue the case for aluminium being more robust only applies to the frames that weigh more. Bikes like the caad pushed the weight boundaries as a cheaper alternative to carbon. Having had a Caad12 it didn’t feel like it would’ve taken a hit anymore than carbon frames I’ve owned.
A giant TCR advanced would be light and robust. Not the most exciting but a solid workhorse that does everything well.
I wouldn’t rule out a used carbon frame (maybe not one from a lower cat amateur racer mind), but I also wouldn’t automatically assume a lightweight aluminium is safer.
I’ve got a specialized Allez I am going to post on ebay soon. It’s a 54. Has 10s Ultegra on it.
I used it sparingly as I mostly rode my tri bike.
PM me if you are interested. I’m going to list it for under 1k. It’s light and snappy. Probably a good fit for you. I have wheels to add if interested (aero).
The CAAD is a great choice. Most of the extra weight you have by going with a cheaper bike will come from the reduced cost of the components and ***their ***added weight. The frameset difference will be relatively small, particularly if you go with something as proven as the CAAD.
On the list of things that determines which frameset you choose, how well you think it will stand up to being hit in some weird way should be relatively low on the list. Pick a nice, reasonably lightweight frame, and then focus on the components. You can always incrementally make it lighter by slowly improving the components.
What’s the intended use of this bike?
If I were you, an used rim-brake 1st gen Scott Foil. A tad stiff, but a really light bike. This one here, without pedals but with a really heavy crank (~890 g) and a pair of wheels, is 15 lb 2 oz (6.9 kg) and a tad over $2k at theproscloset. You could probably buy something comparable for $1,500 from a private seller. Add Ultegra carbon pedals (260 g) and swap for a lighter crank, and that adds only 50 g at most. You could go lighter with tubular, but unless you are road racing, it’s just not worth it.