2015 Kestrel Talon Road Shimano 105
Will_Walker
Posts: 4
First time posting on forums. Need advice on this bike( http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M49FKDM/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=67FZ6VNVWLXE&coliid=I1LDHD4SMG40HE&psc=1 ) or similar bikes. I would like to keep the bike cost under $1500, so without any pedals, fitting, etc. I am new to road and am seeking advice so all comments are appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Will
Will
0
Comments
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Hi there,
That's an interesting first choice- I've heard of them before but it certainly looks unconventional.
Have you had a road bike before? Do you know what fits you? This is the most important aspect of a bike before any other features.
If you haven't had a road bike before I would recommend going to a reputable local shop where they can help you to choose the right size and get you going properly. Getting a $600 bike that fits you properly is far better than a $1500 bike that doesn't.
Good luck!0 -
Hi there,
That's an interesting first choice- I've heard of them before but it certainly looks unconventional.
Have you had a road bike before? Do you know what fits you? This is the most important aspect of a bike before any other features.
If you haven't had a road bike before I would recommend going to a reputable local shop where they can help you to choose the right size and get you going properly. Getting a $600 bike that fits you properly is far better than a $1500 bike that doesn't.
Good luck!
I have not owned a racing road bike before but have owned a cheap commuter road bike. So if I go to a good bike shop they can tell me if this bike is a good choice after it is fitted? What bikes would you recommend if I plan to ride 20+ miles a day on county roads and other poorly paved roads? The roads i plan to ride on are completely paved but not up to spec with a major highway. Thanks for the quick reply!
Will0 -
A dedicated bike fitting session on a rig to determine if that particular bike would fit you would be expensive and probably not the best approach.
To be fair, the bike that you've linked to probably wouldn't be so great over the rougher roads- it will have smaller tyre clearances and probably other concessions to comfort as it is designed more with aerodynamics in mind.
That being said, as long as the roads aren't really bad then most road bikes would do the job- I can't imagine most of the tarmac/ paved back roads in the US are any worse than the country lanes here in the UK. I personally ride a 2011 model Trek 1.1 (full alloy including forks) which I find fine even with 23C tyres on. Granted, 28C tyres do take the sting out of the occasional pothole I can't dodge, but its surprising quite what you can take a race oriented bike over.
If you have no interest in racing then go for a more 'sportive/ gran fondo' style of bike. These are now the most popular geometry and give a lightly more upright position than the out and out race bikes (not that an out and out race frame can't be adjusted to suit a more relaxed position). These bikes also tend to be able to fit wider tyres which will help you with comfort, and can usually fit 28C-30C tyres.
A few example names would be Cannondale Synapse, Giant Defy, Trek Madone (the class leader for comfort) Specialized Roubaix, BMC GranFondo etc. All of the above also have disk brake models which further increases tyre clearance.
Other bikes worth considering are the 'gravel' bikes such as GT Grade, which have most of the speed of a road bike but are also at home off the beaten track.
A good bike shop should have a selection of different styles to try from, and if you have a few different shops around then it could be worth going to each for their opinions. If you can test ride the machines then all the better as well- you need it to feel right.
Until you are confident that you would be able to judge the sizing of a bike online and that you have the know how to build and adjust it yourself I would stick to buying a bike from a shop. That way you have their expertise to fall back on, although definitely find reviews of the shops or opinions from other cyclists about that shop just to make sure they don't take you for a ride- pardon the pun. Most bike shops are good but like anything there are a few that are just out to make a quick buck.
Good luck!0 -
A dedicated bike fitting session on a rig to determine if that particular bike would fit you would be expensive and probably not the best approach.
To be fair, the bike that you've linked to probably wouldn't be so great over the rougher roads- it will have smaller tyre clearances and probably other concessions to comfort as it is designed more with aerodynamics in mind.
That being said, as long as the roads aren't really bad then most road bikes would do the job- I can't imagine most of the tarmac/ paved back roads in the US are any worse than the country lanes here in the UK. I personally ride a 2011 model Trek 1.1 (full alloy including forks) which I find fine even with 23C tyres on. Granted, 28C tyres do take the sting out of the occasional pothole I can't dodge, but its surprising quite what you can take a race oriented bike over.
If you have no interest in racing then go for a more 'sportive/ gran fondo' style of bike. These are now the most popular geometry and give a lightly more upright position than the out and out race bikes (not that an out and out race frame can't be adjusted to suit a more relaxed position). These bikes also tend to be able to fit wider tyres which will help you with comfort, and can usually fit 28C-30C tyres.
A few example names would be Cannondale Synapse, Giant Defy, Trek Madone (the class leader for comfort) Specialized Roubaix, BMC GranFondo etc. All of the above also have disk brake models which further increases tyre clearance.
Other bikes worth considering are the 'gravel' bikes such as GT Grade, which have most of the speed of a road bike but are also at home off the beaten track.
A good bike shop should have a selection of different styles to try from, and if you have a few different shops around then it could be worth going to each for their opinions. If you can test ride the machines then all the better as well- you need it to feel right.
Until you are confident that you would be able to judge the sizing of a bike online and that you have the know how to build and adjust it yourself I would stick to buying a bike from a shop. That way you have their expertise to fall back on, although definitely find reviews of the shops or opinions from other cyclists about that shop just to make sure they don't take you for a ride- pardon the pun. Most bike shops are good but like anything there are a few that are just out to make a quick buck.
Good luck!
OK, I will get back on and post some bikes that look good after talking to a bike specialist and test riding some bikes. Thanks for all the help! 0
