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buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Mon May 31, 2010 10:52 pm
by booman_
Hey I just had a knee reco (x2) and now I need to get into cycling. I have read the other posts about buying a bike, I have also looked around and am tossing up between brands like Avanit, a Cannondale or a Bianchi.

I was pretty fit before I did my knee, I was running 15-20 km every second day and surfing most days, 25 years old 6'1 98kg was 82kg. So I want a good sturdy road bike low on maintenance that I wont have to upgrade. Price range max budget is about $4500 (i hope.I will probably (if my knee works out) get into racing and triathlons.

Any advice would be great. Don't flame me yet cos I dont know bike-politics. Any advice in general would be good as I am new to the scene and hope to stay in it for a long time.

Looking at Bianchi http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road- ... -6656.html FULL BIKE NOT JUST FRAME
or Cannondale http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 9-us-34741

These are just two I liked I dont know anything about their components ect.

OH ALSO ARE THOSE TACX MULTIPLAYER THINGS ANY GOOD?

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:40 am
by moosterbounce
booman_ wrote:OH ALSO ARE THOSE TACX MULTIPLAYER THINGS ANY GOOD?
I'm not going to comment on the specific bikes you are looking at except to say that at that price range, you won't be buying a dud. The brands you mention are all reputable and the best advice is to ride them all and see which feels the best. You may need to talk to the shop regarding wheels to ensure they are suitable (most wheels have a max kg rating).

As for the Tacx...I have a Fortius multiplayer thingy. I love it. Apart from my good bike, it is the best thing I've bought. I can choose a hard or slack ride, hill repeats, compete against a previous time (or another person), turn on weather (ride with a head or tail wind or in rain)...anything!! I've not delved too deep into the other available tracks as I've not yet seen the need. If the weather is cold/dark/wet/threatening, I will ride this without hesitation. As I'm in Perth - read FLAT - it is often the only way I can find anything resembling a hill. For some reason I avoid hills when out on the road, but I enjoy one of the hill repeat sessions on the trainer!!

I ride mine most days and totally enjoy it - much more fun than riding a straight trainer. There is another Fortius owner on the board who I'm sure will speak up soon :)

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 12:06 pm
by Missy24
Lets start with your looking at the 09 version of the Cannondale, I have the bike that pictured in the review.

Keep in mind that the 2010 Cannondale with those same specs come with 600grams less than the previous years model and a carbon steerer if I'm not mistaken which the 2009 model didn't have (and this is where they've saved the weight) and done it for the same price, but I think they also cut some weight from the original thick down tube.

The 2010 even looks lighter at first glance (cause it is) and more streamlined... stiff and climbs well, most bikes that are considered to be stiff are on the heavier side of things and this Cannondale certainly doesn't buck that trend.

Your weight isn't going to be an issue at 82kg, not for the wheels that are on there, perfectly fine.

Parts on the Cannondale are all good, you may decide to change your cranks at some point, for speed if you can't get enough out of whats already there. You may change the cassette for better functionability on climbs or TTing if your thinking of heading in that direction.

Its been rated as the best bike on the market, for value and price, because that's what it is great value, great price, great parts... and it doesn't have the same look as every other bike out there.

Are myself and all other Cannondale lovers upset? Yep... we are, wonder what a carbon steerer will cost me? I'm off then.

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:33 pm
by moosterbounce
Missy24 wrote: Your weight isn't going to be an issue at 82kg, not for the wheels that are on there, perfectly fine.
Ummm...OP said weight was 98kg was 82kg. I reckon wheels may be an issue - but if he's losing weight, then any issue will be short lived (hopefully :) ).

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:34 pm
by davidk
moosterbounce wrote: ...
I ride mine most days and totally enjoy it - much more fun than riding a straight trainer. There is another Fortius owner on the board who I'm sure will speak up soon :)
I have recently purchased a Fortius VR trainer, my first trainer, in fact.

On occasions I have tried exercise bikes, and despite having music to draw my attention away, it still bored me to tears.
So I figured if Im going to get an indoor trainer, I want one that stands a chance of keeping my attention and not boring me.

So far its kept my interest.
I enjoy cycling my favourite local rides, displayed on the screen using Google Earth images of the actual recorded path (called Real Life Training)
Ive tried a few of the VR rides - they are OK, and will offer me something different to ride if I want a change from the RLT rides
The Catalyst optioon looks interesting, to set up intervals etc
I have one Real Life Video (RLV) add on of a bike ride through the Black Forest in Germany - scenery is fantastic, but the climbs :shock: - Ill need to work on those!

All in all, Im glad I bought this trainer, the software has a few bugs here and there, but with some handy hints its very usable - V3 of the TTS software is being developed right now.

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:55 pm
by JV911
booman_ wrote:Looking at Bianchi http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road- ... -6656.html FULL BIKE NOT JUST FRAME
or Cannondale http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 9-us-34741
both are pretty racey (i.e. aggressive geometry)

might be better off with the cannondale synapsy or bianchi infinito. and then there's the specialised roubaix and giant defy.

all good, reputable, quality brands/bikes

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 2:56 pm
by Missy24
moosterbounce wrote:
Missy24 wrote: Your weight isn't going to be an issue at 82kg, not for the wheels that are on there, perfectly fine.
Ummm...OP said weight was 98kg was 82kg. I reckon wheels may be an issue - but if he's losing weight, then any issue will be short lived (hopefully :) ).
Oops, my bad, but no I stand by what I said, wheels should be fine, the wheels on this bike are decent and as long as he's not gonna turn it into a cyclo cross bike then it shouldn't be a problem.

Depends where the rider is riding, if the roads are bad, then sure perhaps a different wheel will work better.

As far as a Mavic Aksium Wheelset goes, there will 100 reasons why a heavy rider can't use them and 100 reasons why a heavier rider can use them.

As far as Mavic Askium's go they are a good strong wheel, but once again 100 for and 100 against...
JV911 wrote:
booman_ wrote:Looking at Bianchi http://www.competitivecyclist.com/road- ... -6656.html FULL BIKE NOT JUST FRAME
or Cannondale http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 9-us-34741
both are pretty racey (i.e. aggressive geometry)
The geo of the Cannondale isn't THAT racey, its actually rather relaxed.

And the OP said that racing and Tri was a possibility for him if thh knee improves, he also didn't wan't to upgrade

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:10 pm
by JV911
Missy24 wrote:he also didn't wan't to upgrade
no need to with any of those - for example cancellara won the paris-roubai on a roubaix

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:17 pm
by Missy24
JV911 wrote:
Missy24 wrote:he also didn't wan't to upgrade
no need to with any of those - for example cancellara won the paris-roubai on a roubaix
The geo of the bike may not be agressive on what cancellera rode, but I'm sure you'll find that his position on the bike was agressive, his position isn't exactly that of someone whose out for an easy 200km on a sunday arvo.

What I was trying to allude to was that the Cannondale IMO can be used in a relaxed fashion or you can race on it, the geo doesn't neccessarily make the bike aggressive, ultimately its the fit to the bike and how low you can go that determines the aggressiveness of the bike.

I also didn't mean to insinuate that the bikes you mentioned would require an upgrade, I meant and should have stated that the Cannondale was a bike that could go from Sunday rec ride to early mornings crits and TT

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 7:33 pm
by Bandelero
Not a great review for the Cannondale.

If I was spending $4500.00 I would suss out importing a Cervelo RS with Ultegra. Might get close to your spend

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 11:36 pm
by nickobec
At $4k you are going to get a great bike

At that price point, it is less about value for money and more about perceived values and image.

You might find a similar specced Giant, Merida, Avanti etc (popular brands) at $3k, to a Bianchi, Cannondaleetc. (upmarket brands) $4k and a Merckx, Times, Willersetc (exotic brands) at $5k

But first I would take a step back, about spending $4k on your 1st bike. Especially as you are looking at getting into triathlons.

The Cannondale and Bianchi will make good road bikes and capable triathlon mounts, but to get really competitive with triathlon you will be looking at a time trial bike. (and another $4k).

I would suggest you buy a cheaper entry level bike with an alloy frame and 105 groupset for around $1500 and ride it for 12 months, use it for triathlons etc. before buying a better bike, because:
1: You will know what you want in 12 months times, road or TT and what improvements you need from your current bike
2: You should drop some weight by them, opening more options for frames and wheels
3: You can them semi-permanently attach the old bike to your Tacx trainer.

Tacx VR trainer, I own one and I did not use it for the first 5 months this year, because I was riding 250km+ each week in great weather and decent light, plus I was being lazy (spending to much time riding) to build a bike to semi-permanently attach to the trainer.

Now the weather and light has turned, I am back on the trainer using VR, Real Life Training by importing courses from my Garmin (a highly recommended purchase), RLV (real life video) and Catalyst. It is far easier to motivated me to ride the trainer than to ride in nasty weather or bad light. And the various options always give me plenty of choices,

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:51 pm
by tripstobaltimore
I too own the VR trainer, but I'm going to go the other way and say its not really worth it. I guess for me I don't really use any of the VR stuff, I just use the catalyst trainer (which I guess is good in itself, but if you have a garmin or whatever, not really worth it). If I had my time again, I'd probably just get a regular trainer and a power meter.

If you are interested I would sell mine (probably only used 5-6 times) for a decent price. Im in adelaide (not sure how much it would be to post, but could check).

Cheers

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 6:28 pm
by Aushiker
Hi

With respect to the Bianchi 928 there are a few 2009 models listed on http://BikeExchange.com.au. I saw a Bianchi 928 Compact in the LBS the other day which nearly had me converting from French to Italian. It was selling for around $6,000 but I see there are other 928 models more in your price range. Might be worth checking out BikeExchange for what is available in your area.

Image

Andrew

Re: buying bike after reco bianchi or cannondale? and Tacx

Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 9:19 pm
by Moo
Booman, I have been looking at the VR Trainers also.

I have found that you can get a Tacx Fortius Multiplayer T1930 (2010) for around AU$900 delivered out of Europe, a lot less than they are RRPing in Australia.

Not that I am recommending getting stuff from off shore when we have some great LBS's but maybe this is some leverage to get a great price on a unit locally