Anyone into road biking????

[ASUMach1]

Hey everyone,

So I've been into mountain biking for the past few years, and now I think I want to venture into the world of road biking. As I'm looking at road bikes I have no clue what is good, bad, or anything else. In doing my research I seem to be finding that either the Trek 1.1 or 1.2 or the Specialized Secteur or Allez Triple seem to be good entry level road bikes.

Can anyone on here help me out and give me advice on what is good or bad based on their own personal experiences? Any help is appreciated!

[ASUMach1]

Ultimately that is the plan, but I was curious if anyone on here was an avid road biker or had just started getting into it (like I'm doing) and had any advice they could pass along.

[asullivan]

Ummm I'd get tha' snake proof ones.....And a shotgun rack fer trolls.... errr that all.... umm.. yea... that's it,,,

Oh,, Trig says get "train'in wheels" too.....

[Cyclist Dude]

Congrats on becoming a well-rounded cyclist! Road biking is great, especially when the weather is foul and you can't ride the trails (depending on your part of the country).

As far as bikes go, get what's comfortable to you. Try the major manufacturers out as they tend to give the best bang for the buck (Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc.) Within the basic pricepoints, most component specs are going to be very similar among the brands, but each manufacturer uses a different geometry on their frames which will give a different fit and ride feel.

As far as component spec, I'd recommend goint with at least a 9 speed on the rear, and either a double or compact double crank. Triples are nice in that they give you a really wide gear range, but the shifting on the front end is really finicky with triples. Compacts (either a 50x34t or 50x36t) are great if you live somewhere really hilly. Standard cranks (53x39t) are good if you're nice and fit and really want to go as fast as possible.

That's the basic spiel I used to give folks when I worked at a shop. The most important thing is to get the bike that's comfortable for you. Then worry about component spec and everything else.

Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. Good luck, and stay safe out there on the road! By the by, what kind of mountain bike do you have?

D.