Shall be getting one of these next week (if Im lucky) :)

The Big Cheese
The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
edited November 2010 in The Crudcatcher
Been thinking about getting a road bike. I am using my cannondale a lot but in all honesty its too small for me and the seatpost is high... its doing my back in so am selling it on.. I am owed some holiday pay from work to the sum of £800. As a result I am thinking of getting one of these on Monday (if all goes to plan..)

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... ?&id=11904

Thoughts? I really like cannondale hence getting this a training/winter bike. I actually ride on the roads more than off road at the moment, so it would actually be something that get's used... I know it's basic, but that's all I need, and the frames are better than most out there.

Comments

  • D-Cyph3r
    D-Cyph3r Posts: 847
    i-dunno-lol.jpg


    They all look the same to me.
    My Hectik Custom Build Log
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    D-Cyph3r wrote:
    i-dunno-lol.jpg


    They all look the same to me.

    LOL - this is my dilemma... I know absolutely feck all about road bikes... I know the basics, and all I know is I really like the frame on this one, whereas most I don't :lol:
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Triple? Hang your head in shame.

    Looks alright, Tiagra's not all that good IME, the brakes are particularly bad, hopefully the Cannondale ones are better. Some lighter wheels would probably be my first upgrade.
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    njee20 wrote:
    Triple? Hang your head in shame.

    Looks alright, Tiagra's not all that good IME, the brakes are particularly bad, hopefully the Cannondale ones are better. Some lighter wheels would probably be my first upgrade.

    Whats wrong with a triple LOL :?

    You see I am clueless :)

    Yes, the wheels arent that great, but my mate is buying my dale for £300 so that will get me some new wheels - Merlin have some decent deals on Mavic Kyrsiums...
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Everythings wrong with a triple! ;-)

    Theres nothing actually wrong with a triple, but these days a compact and wider cassette gives a good spread, and better chainline etc, just like on the MTB basically! Looks better too!

    Ksyriums are a safe bet.
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    Yep, a quick search around and that seemed the consensus (Mavics)

    I wont make any other changes straight away, but I can't afford a top-end bike but this is a nice frame and a good base to start on. Can be upgraded over time.... but to be honest I may like it 'as is' and may not bother upgrading until things wear out. That would be the sensible option :lol:
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Sensible... but dull!
  • RevellRider
    RevellRider Posts: 1,794
    I'd at least run it through the winter before putting nicer parts on it.
    Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Epsilon.
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    njee20 wrote:
    Sensible... but dull!

    Meh! Who am I kidding... :lol:
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    Any roadie you see will sneer at the triple chainset but other than that it looks like a decent buy! Triples don't tend to shift quite as well as doubles at the front but other than that there's no major problem.
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    can you just replace the chainset? as easy as on an mtb? ie just adjust front mech?
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Some groupsets have double/triple specific shifters, although less common now. Front mechs are different though.

    So yes, sort of, new front mech and chainset!
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    Are you planning on getting clipless pedals and shoes to go with?
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    road bikes are gay.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    i will continue to think this until i move back to essex where i will love the new road bike i buy upon arrival.
  • Cferg
    Cferg Posts: 347
    Just take the big ring off and stick an e-Sixteen bash on it, problem solved.
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    BlackSpur wrote:
    Are you planning on getting clipless pedals and shoes to go with?

    Nope. Cant disengage with lefy ankle so shall be running it with track pedals. If anyone thinks that's odd....... tough. I want a bike for road use only, that I can train on and get some decent miles in on, hence getting a roadbike and not another MTB. ;)
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    Cferg wrote:
    Just take the big ring off and stick an e-Sixteen bash on it, problem solved.

    :lol:
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    Use a right SPD, unless people are on the pavement they'll assume you're using clipless both sides, like a proper man. Sorted.

    Does it weigh 12lbs? :-)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    njee20 wrote:

    Does it weigh 12lbs? :-)

    my dick? yes.
  • slowslowslow
    slowslowslow Posts: 488
    Agree about the chain, my road bikes always had doubles, but for a winter hack does it make that much difference?

    Tiagra are fine. Have run Sora (bottom of the range and 105(up from Tiagra) and both did the job. Again, for training you should not notice the difference. Looking at the list have you ruled out the Allez Elite, colnago and Trek? All similar but you might find one more sutable than the other.

    Also check they will take mud guards. i had a Roubaix elite that was redundent in winter as they would not go on. with all the salt you get on roads it will soon get into the frame and wreck havoc without......
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    njee20 wrote:
    Use a right SPD, unless people are on the pavement they'll assume you're using clipless both sides, like a proper man. Sorted.

    Does it weigh 12lbs? :-)

    It will no doubt be heavier than the Marin - natch.. :)
  • Ryan Jones
    Ryan Jones Posts: 775
    If I'd have felt flush that was my initial choice of road bike, mainly because it's a cannondale of course, but also decent spec for the money. In the end i went for a much cheaper decathlon hybrid, and as my first road bike i was blown away and would love to try a drop bar roadie.
    My Nukeproof Mega TR
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    I'd expect so, my Tiagra equipped Specialized Allez commuter is 21lbs, add lights, mudguards, PowerTap etc and it's not far off 23lbs.
  • The Big Cheese
    The Big Cheese Posts: 8,650
    I think the 'plan' is to get this, and over time (and after winter) to upgrade it to a decent standard, it's by no means a hack bike and I think that I will spend some extra monies on it in the new year (ie, new drivetrain and wheels).

    As my main focus is MTBing I didnt want to go out and spend £2k on a roadbike to not use it, but my fitness is so shockingly bad now I have been pounding the streets on my commuter cannondale. It makes perfect sense to get an entry level roadbike.

    I have also been thinking about getting some SPD-SL pedals/shoes as they are easier to get in and out of, not much monies either if I don't feel confident in them (which has historically been the case) although there is no way I can run flats on a roadbike :lol:
  • *AL*
    *AL* Posts: 1,114
    The Big Cheese wrote:
    I think the 'plan' is to get this, and over time (and after winter) to upgrade it to a decent standard, it's by no means a hack bike and I think that I will spend some extra monies on it in the new year (ie, new drivetrain and wheels).

    If you plan to upgrade over time have a hunt around for a CAAD 9 rather than the 8.

    My LBS had 2010 CAAD 9 Tiagra's for £800 and the 9 is a cracking frame, ripe for upgrading, it's BB30 too :wink:
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    njee20 wrote:
    Some groupsets have double/triple specific shifters, although less common now. Front mechs are different though.

    So yes, sort of, new front mech and chainset!
    Huh? that makes no sense.
    If his shifter is a triple shifter, and he has a triple chainset, then why not just do like on a mountain bike, but ass-backwards. Remove the granny ring, and set the limit screws.
  • VWsurfbum
    VWsurfbum Posts: 7,881
    sheepsteeth wrote:
    i will continue to think this until i move back to essex where i will love the new road bike i buy upon arrival.
    Who, What, Where, When?
    Kazza the Tranny
    Now for sale Fatty
  • njee20
    njee20 Posts: 9,613
    have also been thinking about getting some SPD-SL pedals/shoes as they are easier to get in and out of, not much monies either if I don't feel confident in them

    Easier than what? They're significant harder than MTB pedals to get in and out of.
    If his shifter is a triple shifter, and he has a triple chainset, then why not just do like on a mountain bike, but ass-backwards. Remove the granny ring, and set the limit screws

    I'm not totally sure frankly, there are trimming clicks on the front mech, which I think will only work with the appropriate front mech. It's just not really the done thing, although I'm sure it'd work after a fashion.

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