Covet

[jrenaut]

On The Clymb today, a Spot Coyote – a fixie with a Gates carbon belt drive. And it’s orange!

By the way, I have no idea where that link will take you if you aren’t a member of The Clymb.

[KelOnWheels]

Aw yeah.

http://allcitycycles.com/blog/introducing_the_macho_man_disc

[Bilsko]

I think most of us would agree that its good to be cautiously optimistic about bikes that try to fit in more than one category, but from what I’m reading post-NAHBS, the new 2013 Hopedale from Geekhouse may just fit the bill.

I’m not sure if they’re going to be modifying the current Hopedale geometry that much – the current one is their flagship road frame, but details like providing clearance for 30s without needing new calipers are smart.

This is exciting for me because I’m looking for a new road bike, but am intrigued by CX options as well.

All of that said, the new Mudville SS Disc Belt Drive CX bike is the hotness:

[krazygl00]

@KelOnWheels 44684 wrote:

Aw yeah.

http://allcitycycles.com/blog/introducing_the_macho_man_disc

That’s really well thought-out. Great to see builders doing this sort of thing.

[Subby]

This is an insanely good deal, right ($1300 for an all carbon road bike)?: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/fuji/fuji_sl1.htm

The blue one is beautiful and I want to pull the trigger. Before I do I want to get feedback on the bike and components from anyone here.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2475[/ATTACH]

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Subby 45141 wrote:

This is an insanely good deal, right ($1300 for an all carbon road bike)?: http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/fuji/fuji_sl1.htm

The blue one is beautiful and I want to pull the trigger. Before I do I want to get feedback on the bike and components from anyone here.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2475[/ATTACH]

My wife has a Fuji hybrid…seems like a good bike for the money. I don’t have any experience with cheaper carbon, but at that price point, I wonder if AL would be better. Not saying it is, but it’s something I’d look into. Also, Performance has similar prices occasionally (they are probably Fuji’s biggest dealer), and they have a member points = cash program, so you could potentially buy pedals or lights or whatever with points just from your bike purchase. That, and free maintenance from Performance would sway me to purchase there rather than BikesDirect if I was looking at Fuji.

[DismalScientist]

With BikesDirect you need to know what you doing with regards to maintenance. Set up is generally not a problem if you are sufficiently savvy.
I bought a Cafe Sprint for the wife with no problems.
You may want to consider the Motobecane CF 200 or 300 (BD house brand) for an even less expensive entry into an all carbon bike.

Here’s another choice from the internet: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_533667_-1___202613

(Nashbar is Performance, although I don’t know whether Performance brick and mortar stores will give you any maintenance deals.) I own a Nashbar steel touring bike, with which I am happy, but I have swapped out the wheels.

[Subby]

Is the Fuji I listed considered an entry level bike? I know it is entry level priced, but I figured that it was marked down so heavily because it was a 2011.

I was a little more concerned about the components because I don’t how much better Ultegra is than 105, etc.. A friend of mine said its probably better to get the bike with the good carbon frame and less expensive components because you can always upgrade the components down the road.

WIFE WANTS TO WAIT TIL I GET HOME FROM WORK TO TALK ABOUT IT.

[Steve]

@Subby 45148 wrote:

A friend of mine said its probably better to get the bike with the good carbon frame and less expensive components because you can always upgrade the components down the road.

I’d say it’s more important to get the compelte bike you want. Buying things seperately is usually more expensive. Components really aren’t as easy to upgrade as lots of folks think, in my experience. They are expensive. Surprisingly, I think it’s easier to find a good deal on a quality used frame (or even new frame) than it is to find a good deal on good components.

[consularrider]

@Subby 45148 wrote:

Is the Fuji I listed considered an entry level bike? I know it is entry level priced, but I figured that it was marked down so heavily because it was a 2011.

I was a little more concerned about the components because I don’t how much better Ultegra is than 105, etc.. A friend of mine said its probably better to get the bike with the good carbon frame and less expensive components because you can always upgrade the components down the road.

WIFE WANTS TO WAIT TIL I GET HOME FROM WORK TO TALK ABOUT IT.

If you are interested in Fuji, check out the Performance sale that lasts through the weekend. I can’t speak for the bikes, but at least you have a “local” shop to go back to.

[vvill]

105 is more than serviceable, and on paper it’s a decent deal if you want full carbon. Don’t believe BD’s list prices though.

Just bear in mind that you can’t test ride it, and you obviously won’t have any LBS support included – any adjustments you have to get done will have to be paid for out of pocket. Warranty claims won’t be fun either.

Also in terms of specs: the wheelset isn’t great, the fork is not full carbon, and the seatpost/cockpit are just Fuji house branded aluminum. Brakes/cranks are not part of the 105 groupset. Not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with all that, but they perhaps don’t justify the carbon frame.

I think Performance is a decent place for a good value non-exotic road bike (Fuji/GT/their house brand/etc), especially when they have sales.

I’ve found that it’s better to get what you want and spend a few dollars more than get something just because it’s good value. It depends a bit on how much riding you do.

Component upgrades are expensive, although they’re cheaper if you do them as part of the point of sale at a LBS. I also imagine higher end shoppers on BD would be more likely to buy a bike there for the components and sell off the frame.

[vvill]

Also, from only a quick glance: this is a pretty good deal on carbon

[Subby]

@vvill 45152 wrote:

105 is more than serviceable, and on paper it’s a decent deal if you want full carbon. Don’t believe BD’s list prices though.

Just bear in mind that you can’t test ride it, and you obviously won’t have any LBS support included – any adjustments you have to get done will have to be paid for out of pocket. Warranty claims won’t be fun either.

Also in terms of specs: the wheelset isn’t great, the fork is not full carbon, and the seatpost/cockpit are just Fuji house branded aluminum. Brakes/cranks are not part of the 105 groupset. Not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with all that, but they perhaps don’t justify the carbon frame.

I think Performance is a decent place for a good value non-exotic road bike (Fuji/GT/their house brand/etc), especially when they have sales.

I’ve found that it’s better to get what you want and spend a few dollars more than get something just because it’s good value. It depends a bit on how much riding you do.

Component upgrades are expensive, although they’re cheaper if you do them as part of the point of sale at a LBS. I also imagine higher end shoppers on BD would be more likely to buy a bike there for the components and sell off the frame.

Okay – well that’s all pretty important. Definitely having second thoughts now. Thanks vvill.

[thucydides]

There’s something vvill said that I think needs augmenting. That’s the test drive. Personally I think it’s a real bad idea to purchase a bike without riding it first. One of the truest cliches in biking is that you really need to get a bike that fits. It can be hard to tell if a bike really works for you from specs alone. I bought a bike once for my wife as a gift and I knew her specs really well. She hated it and developed all sorts of hip and knee issues from it. Not my smoothest move. I’m not saying it’s always a bad idea to buy online from BD, ebay, whatever, but it is a good idea to test drive the same frame first (testing the same components is less important). This then gets into fairness issues for the LBS if you test their models and then order online, but I’ll leave that discussion for another time.

[KelOnWheels]

@vvill 45153 wrote:

Also, from only a quick glance: this is a pretty good deal on carbon

$1500 seems more reasonable for crabon with Sora, for sure: http://www.raleighusa.com/archive/2012-cyclocross/rx-12/

^^Ignore that link, it is RONG!

It is not Sora, Kel just can’t read and only looks at the pictures. http://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/cyclocross/rxc-13/

[Author]

Posts