I’m relocating to phoenix but will still be managing my office in Orlando. Going there monthly. Needless to say taking my shiv will note make sense. I thought about buying a road bike and keeping it locked in my office. I ride a shiv large. Do not have my coordinates readily available. I roads a robaix about a year ago and it felt great , but I do not remember the size and cannot afford that for this purpose. So I was thinking Tarmac.
Is there really that much difference in price between a Roubaix and a Tarmac with similar specs? I’d have thought that spec for spec that they’d be about the same or similar price.
Basically any road bike from alloy/105 upwards would do fine as a few rides a month type of bike. which Specialized has in the Allez model range.
That was interesting. I just went through a dealer and made the best deal for a new bike for my brother. You can find the best deal online or even on sale downtown.
Buy a sectuar it is the aluminum version of the rounaix I think - same geometry and the weight won’t make any difference as a commenter / second ride. I have one a paid 800 for and it was a great buy!
I travel a decent amount for work and fly my CX bike out in a soft case. Usually get away with an extra checked bag fee. Simple bike to work on, and opens up off road opportunities for some interesting rides.
My vote will be find a good used bike locally or on the forum here. Put the word out to some of your friends/teammates, at a local group ride, cycling cafe, bar, I am sure someone knows a guy who wants upgrade to a new bike and offset the cost by selling his current bike. Start a WTB thread with what you are looking for, size, and what you are willing to spend, you will get lots of interesting offers in a couple of days.
You don’t say how long each trip will be. Is it a couple of days or a week?
How much riding do you plan on doing?
If buying new and sticking with the Specialized trend I am picking up on my choice would be the Allez, c2 build. I would put on a spare set of 23m wide rims I have and 25c tires and forget that is aluminum.
Agree, I have the new Allez and it is pretty awesome. I have a full Ultegra 6800 build w/ pedals. Love it. Super stiff and has the same geometry as the Tarmac. All in I was 2200-2300 or so I think.
I looked at the Tarmac but too pricey. I’ve raced on it and don’t go super long but hammer out 40-70 on the regular. Ride it about 10hrs a week. People may say the aluminum is a harsh ride or whatever but I really don’t notice it all.
I had a transition before my shiv. It can be rough riding aluminum. I went to the shop and looked at the Tarmac with 105. 2000. Problem is it has an FSA Gossamer crankset. That came on my shiv and I replace the thing since it was clicking all the time. So that would be an additional cost after the fact. I’m looking at an allez with FSA lighting crankset and 105 componants. 1799.
Went with a CAAD 10. Felt better when I rode it and 400 less coin. Couldn’t find anything used I liked.
I’ll be riding it 2-3 times every week I’m in town which will be at least once a month.
Good purchase. I had a caad 5 before my last 2 carbon road bikes and could never tell the difference between it and the newer carbon in terms of ride quality. Throw a carbon seatpost on there and the difference will be even less. For a ~2k the caad series is a great bike.
I got to test it on some brick cobble style road, the allez was a little too rough, the caad was good to go. I’m still not use to riding roadies though. The shifting is different to me.
what about one of those ritchey steel road or xc bikes (or similar)? they pack up into smaller box/bag thing to avoided the bike check fee. don’t see used ones for sale too often… mostly because i don’t think people want to part with them.
I plan to ride with some of the better road groups around. I’m not training for a race currently ;).
CAAD 10, good choice, and enjoy the change to the roadie. They can become addictive.