some road bike advice please ?

[cyberknight]

My new roadbike has SRAM Apex which is between Tiagra and 105 and meant to be good for newbies and inept females like me Meant to be easy to use, I am still trying to figure it out but I did only get the bike yesterday and have done about 8 miles so far

Went out on my sram apex equipped bike for the first club run today, they are very easy to use but as i have ridden for a couple of years with 2300 i kept reaching for the non existent thumb switch to change gear .

Once you get the hang of them or are starting from scratch they are great shifters and the 11-32 cassette mine came with is good cadence training as i found i was spinning a lower gear for the same speed.

 

[American Cyclist]

I just started cycling about a month ago or so and I bought a trek 7.5 and I love it. I ride on mostly back roads and some can get a little bumpy but the trek does great navigating the terrain. As I said I just started cycling and I already average 17mph on my 17.2 mile round trip journey to work with this bike. Only have about 60ish miles on the bike but havn't had any problems yet. Hope this helps.

 

[slowmotion]

If money is an issue, and it is round here, my two pennies would be to start sniffing around for last year's model in about November. For example, bikes costing about £800 seem to jump £300 every year, and all the manufacturers seem to be doing is adding pretty worthless bling.

End of rant......and breathe......

 

[blockend]

If you're buying second hand look at the whole package, not just the numbers on the kit. Is the frame in good condition, is there any crash damage, are the wheels tight and true, do the gears change cleanly or the chain skip?

Basic kit in good condition will work better than worn out exotica. Brake lever/changers can be particularly expensive to replace. Best buys are from a bike nut who keeps his gear pristine but must have the latest stuff, last year's spec new is also good value. Below that it's pot luck so save a contingency for new block, chain, bearings, pedals, etc.

 

[bricksmasher]

cheers guys, really appreciate all the advice, I am going down to have a look at one of these later, my friend says it looks a good bike so will see when I get there tonight

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/giant-tcr-1-ultegra-05/

should fit me well too, but will test it out

Thanks again guya

 

[Wankelschrauben]

No, I didn't - I had them upgraded before I even took the bike home - but I'm glad I made the choice I did. I use the drops a lot, and not being able to reach the thumb levers without moving my hand would be a serious irritation to me. I don't really see the point of having a separate lever when you can put the 2 close together, and you only need to move your fingers a centimetre either way to change up or down.

But it's all down to personal preference, of course.

I've had my doubts whether you've actually tried or perhaps even seen Ergo shift, or the competitors' equivelant by the way you were so against it. Some of your comments about the topic have been baffling to me, such as not being able to reach the controls without moving your hands from the drops, your above quoted comment has clarified the mystery for me.

http://www.campagnol...E10_catid_2.jsp

And

http://www.campagnolo.com/jsp/en/groupsetdetail/item_ergopowerSuperRec_catid_12.jsp

I have linked the basic Ergo shift, a Centaur 10speed shift and hood, and also the range topping Super Record Ergo Shift. As you can see, the shift lever is very similar to the 2nd shift lever seen on STI equipped bikes, the thumb shift sits in a position your thumb would rest if you were to ride on the drops covering the brakes, or ride on the hoods.

If you can't reach the shifters then you can't reach the brake lever, if your hands are large enough to reach the brake lever, the you can reach the shift controls. It's as simple as that.

Edited to re-attach links

 

[Pigo]

Going back a bit, I have a Trek bought second hand in march - im currently returning from 300 miles around the welsh coast (have put 1800 miles on it so far) I've had an absolute blast & the bike has behaved impeccably throughout! So IMO, the Trek is a winner!

 

[bricksmasher]

I loved my trek hybrid, but as it got stolen and treks are somewhat expensive as is a good brand and well recognised, I had trouble finding the trek 2.1 or 2.3 on ebay,

I just bought a road bike though is a Giant TCR Ultegra, was a good price and my cyclist friend recommended it and I had a test ride, I love it! I just now have to figure out how to fit the shoes to the pedals lmao, can tell I am a road bike newbie!!

 

[Alembicbassman]

What I got confused about was the age of the groupsets.

I bought 105 on a used bike that was 10 years old (8 Speed) didn't realise it was that old when I bought it.

My current road bike has 105 5600 10 speed (now superceded with 5700)

Ultegra was 9 speed for a long while, better off with current 105 than 9 speed Ultegra.

Now the new Tiagra is 10 speed like the current 105 and Ultegra

Technology trickles down. Sora now has external BB bearings just like 105

 

[lulubel]

I've had my doubts whether you've actually tried or perhaps even seen Ergo shift, or the competitors' equivelant by the way you were so against it. Some of your comments about the topic have been baffling to me, such as not being able to reach the controls without moving your hands from the drops, your above quoted comment has clarified the mystery for me.

http://www.campagnol...E10_catid_2.jsp

And

http://www.campagnol...ec_catid_12.jsp

I have linked the basic Ergo shift, a Centaur 10speed shift and hood, and also the range topping Super Record Ergo Shift. As you can see, the shift lever is very similar to the 2nd shift lever seen on STI equipped bikes, the thumb shift sits in a position your thumb would rest if you were to ride on the drops covering the brakes, or ride on the hoods.

If you can't reach the shifters then you can't reach the brake lever, if your hands are large enough to reach the brake lever, the you can reach the shift controls. It's as simple as that.

We weren't talking about Campag. The discussion was about Shimano Sora vs Tiagra/105.

My OH has Sora on her bike, and I can't reach the thumb levers from the drops. I've just asked her (she has bigger hands than me) and she confirmed that she can't reach the thumb levers from the drops either.

When I'm riding on the drops, I brake by hooking the end joint of my index and second finger around the bottom end of the lever, and change gear by nudging the end of the relevant lever with my index finger. The ends of my thumbs are about 4 inches away from where the thumb levers are on Sora shifters.

 

[Wankelschrauben]

True, you haven't slagged off Campag this time, however you have done in the past and you continue to slag off any Ergo shift system claiming you can not reach the shift controls.

I ride on the drops a lot, and like to be able to change through the gears without moving my hands.

and again...

use the drops a lot, and not being able to reach the thumb levers without moving my hand would be a serious irritation to me. I don't really see the point of having a separate lever when you can put the 2 close together, and you only need to move your fingers a centimetre either way to change up or down.

Effectively you are reviewing a shift system that you haven't ever actually used or experienced, you are passing on 2nd hand knowledge as if it is your own or worse, factual knowledge.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Did you try the Sora shifters for any length of time, lulubel? I have Sora on one road bike and Tiagra on the other and I find the Sora thumb clicks to be more intuitive than the Tiagra shifters. I now miss them on the Tiagra equipped bike.

Ah so not everyone has STi levers on their road bikes I am glad as the bike I am waiting to take delivery of has thumb shifters on the flat part of the bars.

 

[John the Monkey]

Effectively you are reviewing a shift system that you haven't ever actually used or experienced, you are passing on 2nd hand knowledge as if it is your own or worse, factual knowledge.

If it soothes your ire, I understand that Campag place the thumb levers in a location that can be reached from the drops and/or hoods. An entirely sensible design choice.

As for Shimano, on the last Sora levers I spent any time with, this was not the case. (Perhaps they redesigned after 2007?) I could operate them from the hoods, not from the drops (although the brakes and shift to larger cogs were both operable in the drops).

 

[lulubel]

True, you haven't slagged off Campag this time, however you have done in the past and you continue to slag off any Ergo shift system claiming you can not reach the shift controls.

Effectively you are reviewing a shift system that you haven't ever actually used or experienced, you are passing on 2nd hand knowledge as if it is your own or worse, factual knowledge.

In response to your aggressive post, I have never made any comment on Campag shifters. I have never used them, handled them, or seen them close up.

My comments are purely based on the Shimano Sora shifters on my OH's bike and, as I said in my last post, if my thumb was 4in longer - if I was a chimpanzee, maybe? - I would be able to reach the thumb lever from the drops.

Since all you seem to want to do is accuse me of comments I haven't made, I'm going to ignore your posts from now.

 

[lulubel]

As for Shimano, on the last Sora levers I spent any time with, this was not the case. (Perhaps they redesigned after 2007?) I could operate them from the hoods, not from the drops (although the brakes and shift to larger cogs were both operable in the drops).

Exactly the same situation for me, John. And I agree, it could be possible they redesigned after 2007, and my OH's bike (which was bought in 2008) was fitted with old stock.