Ever since I got my P2K I have never once ridden my old, heavy, beat up REI Trionfo road bike even though there have been occasions - rainy days, group rides, long climbing days - when it made sense to leave the P2K in the garage. I recently got authorization from my wife to buy another bike, however, I want to spend a reasonable amount. Am currently thinking about a Cervelo SuperProdigy (as I love my P2K) but am open to suggestion for something that comes in around $2K with full Ultegra.
Also, does it make sense to order a road geometry bike with 650c tires just to avoid having to stock two sets of tubes and so forth?
For $2 K there is a lot of choice on the market. The Super Prodigy is as good as any in it’s price range and you’ll love the comfort of a steel ride. If you really want to be classy, you might consider getting it fitted with Campy instead of Shimano.
I’m a huge fan of the Giant TCR Composite bikes out there. I was at Performance Bike (http://www.performancebike.com) the other day and saw the TCR Composite, built up with Ultegra and Mavic Cosmos for $1799.99/plus tax. I’ve been looking a long time for one and if I hadn’t picked up a slightly used Giant TCR w/ Dura Ace and Ksyrium for $2100 I would have picked it up at Performance.
Giants are tough to beat as far as value per dollar. If you want to go the route of getting the absolute best frame, with the thought that it would be a bike to last you as long as you ride, consider a Kestrel Talon…I’ve seen it in Ultegra for about 2K…sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less…I don’t know what wheelsets come on it at that price though. Lifetime guarantee on that frame, and in full carbon, it’s tough to beat.
I’m certainly no expert on all the bikes and their prices, but I have owned a Giant, and a Talon is my workhorse everyday bike.
A TCR Composite with Ultegra for US$1800 is phenomenal! The one thing to watch out for with the TCR bikes is the geometry. They tend to have long top tubes and tiny frames, just like the “compact” description. If it fits you in one of the T-shirt sizes it’s an incredible bike. I wish the TCR fit me better because if it did I would be upgrading from a TCR-1 to a TCR Composite right about now. Instead I went with a Look KG386, which sits under me more solidly.
I have to ditto Kenney above. I bought a Klein Q Pro Carbon this Spring and absolutely love it-- it’s so zippy and responsive and at around $2000 it can’t be beat.
I just put some money down on a FELT F1R at R And A Cycles here in Brooklyn (randacycles.com). It’s a scandium frame, weighs about 2.5 lbs and when built up with full Ultegra costs a little more than 2K. The original price for the frame was $1995.00 but I got it on sale for $995.00
I looked at the Kestrel Talons but was told that the lifetime warranty comes with a $675.00 replacement fee, so I backed off on that. I was really considering a Look KG 361 too, but was told by a friend that they’re a little flexy if you weigh over 165 lbs. I guess I’m just a FELT loyalist, this is my second one.
I went with the Giant TCR Carbon with Ultegra (for about $2300 at my LBS) and think its a great ride.
I also rode the Kestrel Talon ,Trek OCLV,and Litespeed Tuscony. I liked them all, but not as much as the Giant. The size issue may not be as big a deal as some people make out, as Giant offers many different seatpoast/stem combinations to make the bike fit. If it fits you and you can get one for $1700 that would be a great deal!
I’m trying to be open minded about this but if you like your P2K so much then why do you want to go to road geometry. If it is because you want a more relaxed position or to ride with roadies then these are all great suggestions. There may be other reasons too. I don’t know how old your P2K is but maybe a new tri-bike would be a better choice. Then you could use the older bike for a beater.
Just something to think about.
jaretj
(This message sent with 100% recycled kilobytes!!!)
The local bike shop in my town sells Raleigh. They will sell you the Raleigh Prestige for around $1800, Dura Ace Components. It normally sells for 2300. It is a really nice ride. Go to raleighusa.com Embry’s Bike Division @ 270-259-3900. Ask for Joyce.
This may be less than you want to spend but I got a Lemond Buenos Aires with full Ultegra (steel bike) for $1200 on sale. It usually retails for like $1600. I have loved it. My tri bike is a softride rocket. For comuting and rides with steep hills (my lemond has a triple and I live in CO) I take the Lemond.
check out www.gvhbikes.com … get a custom built steel landshark with full ultegra for 1,995 ??? includes the wh-r540 shimano wheels. see for yourself. i have bought 2 road bikes from gary, he is amazing to work with. gary is dealer at gvh, and john is the builder at landshark. john requires a dealer to get a bike, but gary is the best to work with (and best prices by far).
if you can cough up some extra scratch, his upgrades are very reasonable too. if i had to choose one word to describe my landshark, it would be ‘magic carpet’.
why custom steel? ride is amazing. it will fit you with extraordinary precision. you can have it painted however you like - and landshark’s come in ANY design. weight penalty is next to nothing. very classy. landshark is built by the best (john built andy hampsten’s sled for his win at the giro). ride is amazing. oh… and ride is amazing.
you just need to get a ‘fit kit’ by your lbs, and john will use those measurements along with an interview to determine geometry and stiffness. gary does a great build, great shipping. no tax.
Well I have to agree with any earlier comment I read. If you are looking for a new bike, and are comfortable on your Tri-Bike, then that is what you should be looking into.
As for me, I ride a New Giant TCR Hybrid road bike, for road rides and Triathlons. It has all the perks of full Carbon, just not as pricey. Handles great and very smooth. Most people here on Guam ride Giant Composite and they love their bikes. You will have to play with Stem size, seat position, seat posts to get it tuned into you. Once you do though, it’s smooth riding.