I'm on a 90's peageot steel road bike, down tube shifters, original biospace crank and that feels like rocket at times so a modern one with "clicky" must be fantastic, though i do like being able to trim the front mech.
I'd put some money aside for decent pedals. Long rode rides give me numb feet in the mtb shoes.
Don't buy a road bike until you have sat on a few - as hinted above getting the size right is much more important than on MTBs. Each also has its own unique geometry some of which will suit you, and some won't, and a 56cm frame will differ in size between manufacturers. Don't get hooked by carbon, many aluminium or steel bikes give as good or better rides. The general principle is to get the best frame, and then upgrade wheels, transmission etc as and when.
I'm on a 90's peageot steel road bike, down tube shifters, original biospace crank and that feels like rocket at times so a modern one with "clicky" must be fantastic, though i do like being able to trim the front mech.
Ooh which one? I have an old Pug Triathlon 531 in pink and brown! Still feels pretty quick when out on the roads but spends most of the time attached to the turbo trainer.
Get Di2, the front mech trims itself, which makes me grin a lot 🙂
Edit: ... and on the subject of newbie bikes, my sis got a Boardman and brother in law got an PX RT-57. Both very happy with their purchases. Echo most of the advice above though, fit is all important as you'll spend a lot of time in the same position. That Cannondale looks pretty tidy.
I wont be doing club rides etc.
Don't rule them out, what's wrong with getting up early on a Sunday, riding 25 miles to a coffee shop with friends, eating cake, riding home, sprinting for the town sign then getting home in time for lunch?
Club rides are the best bit of road bikes! You get to tap into a long history of previous club runs, to find every single good cake shop within a 30mile radius.
+1 for club runs and cake! Though having new blobby jr does make getting out for a few hours on a Sunday morning more than a little tricky, been ages since I've been on one.
Bregante if you don't mind I'd love to take you up on your offer. Just a spin to the big roundabout and back etc. I am sceptical over the alu but this may help.
Because you can feel the difference in pickup/speed/lightness etc etc. I want something that urges me to ride/want to ride more.If I rode a Carrera off road I'd enjoy my ride alot less than on a SC TRc
how amusing, esp if you not ridden a road bike before... i understand the wanting the bling thing and feeling proud of how it looks.
just get the bike you like the look of and the brand you feel you want to 'wear' / be seen on.
Depends if I 'luck in'. The only frames I've kept longterm tend to have had 'Santa Cruz' on the downtube so a manufacturer of sorted frames wouldn't go amiss..
I've got a Santa Cruz Stigmata frame you can have for song.....
