Jay (Eire)
12512
You’ve hit the strongest market for bikes in the US ever I’d say. The manufacturers and the shops can’t match demand, it’s pretty amazing.
I think you’ll be fine with the 105. I have a aluminum gravel bike that I use mostly for commuting but also ride a little longer on it too. It has 105 and honestly it’s good enough for anything (my road bike has Dura-Ace Di2), and if you wish you can always upgrade later.
Don’t forget you’ll need to buy pedals, and you may want to change the saddle. So there’s another few hundred dollars easily.
One of the biggest upgrades from the stock bike that most people do is wheels. Obviously that’s something easily done at later point and if you’ve got a decent base (frame) a good set of wheels will make a noticeable difference down the line.
Take you time and find the right bike, it may take a little while given the stock issues at the dealers but you’ll get there.
Here’s my roadie, just after this mornings ride. Cervelo S5 on Enve 4.5s.
I haven’t tried that —
It syncs with my iPhone — the Garmin app — and offers more data than I know what to do with!
Garmin/Strava
If the watch syncs with your Garmin App, then you need only change the setting on the Garmin App (check in settings for something related to partner apps) and sign-into your Strava account. The two "speak" immediately after your ride uploads to the Garmin...
I've been doing to a little research for my first "decent" road bike.
What are you riding if you don't mind me asking?
Is there a budget in mind?
It’s a good time to be buying a road bike I think. I upgraded in late 2015, it would have served me better to hold off a year or two as by then there SRAM had introduced it’s electronic shifting and disc brakes and wider tires had become the norm. Those t...
I'd like to keep it under $2K if possible...
I'm kind of dipping a toe into this world. I've spent the past 1.5 years taking spin class religiously and absolutely fell in love with it. Unfortunately, I don't see spin classes coming back for at least another year so I dusted off my clunky mountain bi...
That’s really great, that the spin classes have given you the push to get outside and ride.
I think $2k is a reasonable budget given you are just getting into this. Like most watches and cars bikes take a big hit once you take a new one out of the store so keep in mind that with this budget you could get a lot more bike by going used. Check out ...
Keeping under $2K
If that's your objective, then I'd suggest getting to know the folks at a good bike shop. While not advertised, many handle consignment sales for customer who are upgrading. So that rider who had a great $7K bike that 5-7 years old, may be upgrading and t...
Thank you so much for the awesome tips, gents.
For around my price range, I was thinking that disc brakes and Shimano 105 gear train would keep me busy for a while considering the kind of riding I will do. You are both emphasizing putting more $ into the frame, preferably carbon, and that brings up a ...
You’ve hit the strongest market for bikes in the US ever I’d say. The manufacturers and the shops can’t match demand, it’s pretty amazing.
I think you’ll be fine with the 105. I have a aluminum gravel bike that I use mostly for commuting but also ride a little longer on it too. It has 105 and honestly it’s good enough for anything (my road bike has Dura-Ace Di2), and if you wish you can alwa...
Thank you. A bit of a hard ride though.
These early efforts at “aero” roadies didn’t seem to be that forgiving. I’m close on swapping it out for something more forgiving (and with discs so I can run wider tires too), if not this year then definitely next.
Wide tires
So long as the frame can take it, you can run 28mm on a rim brake frame without issue. The other thing to check is your tire pressure. I'm also on a VERY stiff aero frame (if I ride over a penny, I'll can tell if it's heads/tails). With that said, I'm cur...
Disc
...but if I was buying anything new, I'd opt for disc....it's the future and, for the extra few grams, it's more reliable and safe - particularly on major descents or in wet conditions. Regardless, that Cervelo is a beauty.
For sure. That S5 is 5 years old and as I mentioned in the initial response to the OP I bought it too early.
The following year disc brakes (and with them wider tires) were more common. So, any new bike would definitely be disc. (I also ride MTB, and of course discs are common there for years. I do like the reassured breaking). I’ve never played much with tire p...
Always happy to talk bikes...
....with anyone - including all sorts of spec, alternatives for drivetrains, etc. Pics of my whip are attached. ...
This bike is so beautiful I would be happy just to look at it.
I'm very much a novice when it comes to anything cycling but would you mind sharing what kind of drivetrain you chose for this bike?
Drivetrains...
Thanks for the compliment. It's one of my true "loves". When I first purchased this bike, the vast majority of funds into the frame (it's pretty much the only thing you cannot upgrade). I chose Shimano Ultegra Mechanical. Last year, I upgraded to the new ...