Race Bike Short Top Tube long head tube

Bozabyka
Bozabyka Posts: 252
edited March 2013 in Road buying advice
Im looking for a new frame, its going to be used for TTs and some sportives.
Ali is my preferred material.
I have tried a Caad9, great bike and a bad fit.
What should I buy?

Comments

  • chrisvanderkaap
    chrisvanderkaap Posts: 323
    scott speedster
    giant tcr 1
  • mattmaximus
    mattmaximus Posts: 132
    I also looked hard at cannondales before concluding that the geometry just didn't work for me.

    I ended up getting a Merckx emx series bike, which was perfect. If carbon is an option you might find a emx-3 frameset at a good price. The alu amx-1 doesn't come as frame only AFAIK but it's worth a look.
  • Bozabyka
    Bozabyka Posts: 252
    Thanks
    Whats a suitable frame if I go carbon?
  • mattmaximus
    mattmaximus Posts: 132
    The other frame which suited me (almost identical to the merckx) was the focus izalco ergoride. there were some good deals on 2012 bikes recently, don't think they sell it frame only. the other bike i tested was the spesh roubaix: decent fit (top tube a tad too long) but IMHO a slightly disconnected ride and not overwhelming VFM.

    the roubaix has a huge number of fans, however, and may work. The exact same geometry is available in alloy, called secteur. apart from that I'd only be guessing but a search for 'sportive' bikes will unearthed the usual suspects.

    FWIW i am a believer in the competitivecyclist fit calculator and you can narrow the field down considerably using that and online geo charts if you're willing to put in the time.

    Hope that helps, good luck.
  • mattmaximus
    mattmaximus Posts: 132
    BTW, and not discounting the value of doing ones homework online, i wouldn't recommend you buy without a test ride, even if it means a bit of an effort to get to somewhere that sells the right bike. geometry can only tell you a part of the story about how a bike will feel to ride.

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