I just discovered this model, it definitely makes my short list for sport bikes that I can recommend to folks. Stable wheelbase, bars where most folks can actually use the drops, and room for fenders/rack like the old sporting bikes from the 80s. A lot of stuff has come and gone in cycling, this bike embraces the few good things that have happened over the past few years like compact frames, threadless stems, sensible tire width, and good indexing.



http://www.trekbike.co.uk/2006/?sec=overview&MainCatID=1&SubCatID=39&RangeID=0&ID=176

If it were mine, Id likely flip the stem over though.

That bike looks the sex! lol phwoar.

Quote from: M3ta7h3adThat bike looks the sex! lol phwoar.

It would be a good candidate for you as its meant for real live people, not just flyweights. Not everybody is flexible enough for a full racer tuck, but most folks benefit from the added hand positions of drop bars.

If I was building you a bike from scratch, Id probably start with a Soma Smoothie ES frame and bullet proof cheap Tange chrome fork, then lace up your rims with 36 spokes rear and 32 front on some Openpros or similar. Ultegra barends with Deore mech and a Ritchey compact front crank. Dang, now I want to build a bike.

Theyve got one of these in my LBS.  Looks quite nice, although the forks scare me

My two issues with bikes that cost over Ã,£500 are, how long before someone tries to nick it? and is it really worth the money for what you get out of it?

I admit you have to pay for quality but arent there better things to spend the money on?

Actually the Aldi bike I posted a link to in bargains a few weeks ago had very similar wheels to those in fc9ks post

Quote from: maximusotter

Quote from: M3ta7h3adThat bike looks the sex! lol phwoar.

It would be a good candidate for you as its meant for real live people, not just flyweights. Not everybody is flexible enough for a full racer tuck, but most folks benefit from the added hand positions of drop bars.

If I was building you a bike from scratch, Id probably start with a Soma Smoothie ES frame and bullet proof cheap Tange chrome fork, then lace up your rims with 36 spokes rear and 32 front on some Openpros or similar. Ultegra barends with Deore mech and a Ritchey compact front crank. Dang, now I want to build a bike.

lol now I want to pay you to build me that bike lol If only I had money to burn!

Ã,£400 ish... + the additional cost of labour and other gubbins needed to put it together

i deffo need a bike next year.

Ã,£50 jobbies with road tires i was thinking

Quote from: funkychicken9000Theyve got one of these in my LBS.  Looks quite nice, although the forks scare me

(Image removed from quote.)

weve dissected that bike to death in the geekly domain of rec.bicycles.misc.

Theyre selling it as a "commuter". LMFAO! Its really a high zoot winter training bike. For a commuter, a used quality touring bike kitted out with fenders, rack, and lights is better. For a town bike, something with internal gearing or even just a single gear is nice.

You can throw a lot of money at a bike, but the happy point where you get a great bike is around $700 or $900 if you build yourself, as its more expensive to source your own bits.

After speccing out that imaginary bike for M3ta7h3ad, I really started craving a fully geared durable road bike with old timey chrome forks and bar end shifters--the simplest and most durable of each particular component to do the job. No more. :lust:

Theres definitely a Soma Smoothie, or Surly Pacer in my future, unless I can find a vintage 80s "sport" frame to build up. Something like an Audax bike. 8spd cluster of course for durability, and some vintage Retrofriction shifters of course.

The Long Haul Trucker is also nice, and a great deal at $400. Id have to get some sexy vintage cantis to mount on it.

Edit: Id have to use these Cane Creeks as theyre teh sex!

Quote from: redi deffo need a bike next year.

Ã,£50 jobbies with road tires i was thinking

For commuting to university?

Careful. They know students will be looking for bikes to get around so around Sept - Nov they start accepting anyones old crap back for part exchange... where as they may have considered either saying no, or selling it on for Ã,£25 or something, expect to pay Ã,£60ish.

Of course.... sometimes there are decent bike shops and youll see bargain bikes, old raleigh racers and stuff for anything from a tenner upwards. But yea... seen the bike shops around cardiff at that time and stuff I normally see hidden at the back of the shop and going for Ã,£25 comes out front... gets shined up and has a 100% markup applied at september.

Quote from: SeriousMy two issues with bikes that cost over Ã,£500 are, how long before someone tries to nick it? and is it really worth the money for what you get out of it?

I admit you have to pay for quality but arent there better things to spend the money on?

Actually the Aldi bike I posted a link to in bargains a few weeks ago had very similar wheels to those in fc9ks post

My thoughts exactly - I suspect its probably down to the low volume production etc - I could turn out parts out of much more expensive materials than they use on some of these bicycles and they would cost me about 1/5 of what they sell for - the fact that everyone hasnt got access to the tools or machines required is where they can begin to stick the arm in so to speak - I have seen motorcycle titanium nitride coated forks for sale cheaper than bicycle forks - and the motorcycle ones are a LOT better made.

Quote from: SeriousMy two issues with bikes that cost over Ã,£500 are, how long before someone tries to nick it? and is it really worth the money for what you get out of it?

I admit you have to pay for quality but arent there better things to spend the money on?

Actually the Aldi bike I posted a link to in bargains a few weeks ago had very similar wheels to those in fc9ks post

Youre one of those folks that have a bike shaped object to say that you own a bike, no? Some of us actually ride them and appreciate quality. Did my daily SS trainer cost a ton of cash? Nope. About $400 in parts, and something similar off the shelf would run $800 or so.

sh*t bikes from the *mart are expensive in the long run. Id easily wear one out in a week with my miles. Crap ball bearings, spokes, hub cones, brake pads, rims, bb races, welds--why even buy a bike shaped object, when you can get a bike? You dont have to break the bank, theres always used quality stock out there.

but finding it in a place where i dont even know where teh nearest music shop is.

any old crap will do, as i will probably leave it somewhere after i move out. anything like from 1998 onwards will have enough for me to blast it 15mins each way to an from uni everyday.

i dont mind if the gears break either, ill prolly leave it in a middle to high gear so i can get the best speed out of it

Quote from: redbut finding it in a place where i dont even know where teh nearest music shop is.

try your local market - they have 500 pound bikes going for about 20 quid in some london markets - cant think where they get them from though!

obviously some poor sap has had his bike nicked.

i remember when someone did over the lbs, they cut through 2 fences, drove into their carpark and loaded up the entire stock.