Road Bikes: How Fragile Are They?

noob
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noob
Edited Date/Time 1/27/2012 7:37pm
My mountain bike sucks to commute on. It weighs 28+ lbs, full-suspension without lock-out or a pedaling platform.

If I get a road bike, would I have to dodge every crack in road? What about a square edge lip to a driveway?



Also, would I be able to swap my SPD pedals onto it (so I don't have to buy new shoes)?
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noob
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noob 8/20/2009 12:51pm
8/20/2009 12:51pm
Question 3:

Cannondale, Felt, Specialized, Trek... this is probably too broad, but who makes the best budget bikes? I'd be going to a dealer to get fitted, but need to narrow down which dealers to visit.




Honda_Fan
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Honda_Fan 8/20/2009 12:58pm
8/20/2009 12:58pm
You need to get a hybrid style bike.

You break one spoke on a road bike and it's unrideable.

Pedals will crossover
noob
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noob 8/20/2009 1:18pm
8/20/2009 1:18pm
Honda_Fan wrote:
You need to get a hybrid style bike.

You break one spoke on a road bike and it's unrideable.

Pedals will crossover
Yeah, I'm considering "fitness" and cyclo-cross models. But I want to feel a big difference compared to my MTB... each of those are too similar either weight or riding position.
Scotty
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Scotty 8/20/2009 1:38pm
8/20/2009 1:38pm
Father in law just road his 4000 miles across the United States. He avg 100 miles per day. Nothing broke on his bike, just a few flats here and there. He said the Road bike is 10X's easier to peddle than my mountain bike and he can ride much further with way less energy expelled.. And this dude is 60 years old! As soon as my back heals up I'm going to be buying a road bike also.

The Shop

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twizzler
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twizzler 8/20/2009 1:43pm
8/20/2009 1:43pm
All of the bikes you have pictured above are good bikes for a regular rider or commuter. Pedals will swap to any crankset (mtb or road). Road bikes can drop off of curbs, bunny hop up curbs, hit cracks in the road, blast over rail road tracks, etc,,,etc...etc,. They are durable, you will have no troubles commuting on one. Go to the dealer pick a bike in your price range and have the bike fit done. And then go ride.
DoctorJD
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DoctorJD 8/20/2009 1:58pm
8/20/2009 1:58pm
twizzler wrote:
All of the bikes you have pictured above are good bikes for a regular rider or commuter. Pedals will swap to any crankset (mtb or road)...
All of the bikes you have pictured above are good bikes for a regular rider or commuter. Pedals will swap to any crankset (mtb or road). Road bikes can drop off of curbs, bunny hop up curbs, hit cracks in the road, blast over rail road tracks, etc,,,etc...etc,. They are durable, you will have no troubles commuting on one. Go to the dealer pick a bike in your price range and have the bike fit done. And then go ride.
What he said.
My bike has been pretty durable (alum. frame, CF fork, seatpost) and it's seen it's share of pot holes and cracks, etc. over the last few years.
noob
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noob 8/20/2009 2:11pm
8/20/2009 2:11pm
twizzler wrote:
All of the bikes you have pictured above are good bikes for a regular rider or commuter. Pedals will swap to any crankset (mtb or road)...
All of the bikes you have pictured above are good bikes for a regular rider or commuter. Pedals will swap to any crankset (mtb or road). Road bikes can drop off of curbs, bunny hop up curbs, hit cracks in the road, blast over rail road tracks, etc,,,etc...etc,. They are durable, you will have no troubles commuting on one. Go to the dealer pick a bike in your price range and have the bike fit done. And then go ride.
That's good to know! I assumed I'd have to give up curb hopping all together.
Honda_Fan
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Honda_Fan 8/20/2009 2:41pm
8/20/2009 2:41pm
Curb hopping on a full road bike?

I wouldn't try it on these newer wheels that only have like 12-15 spokes.
twizzler
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twizzler 8/20/2009 3:40pm
8/20/2009 3:40pm
Honda_Fan wrote:
Curb hopping on a full road bike?

I wouldn't try it on these newer wheels that only have like 12-15 spokes.
I said curb hopping, as in; dropping off of a normal curb. Not jumping off for height or distance. Use common sense obviously. 12-15 spoke wheels would surprise you in how strong and durable they are.
GuyB
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GuyB 8/20/2009 3:52pm
8/20/2009 3:52pm
Yeah, not sure I'd go for bunny hopping up curbs, either.

Hit a rock just right, and you can get a flat. As long as you hit most things at a right angle, you're okay. You don't want to do extreme side-loading of the wheels.
super rat
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super rat 8/20/2009 4:00pm
8/20/2009 4:00pm
The real question is are you gonna get all dressed up in a multi color matching spandex outfit?
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GuyB 8/20/2009 4:02pm
8/20/2009 4:02pm
Nope, none of my stuff matches.
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ZEDHED 8/21/2009 8:46am
8/21/2009 8:46am Edited Date/Time 11/15/2010 6:33am
noob
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noob 8/21/2009 10:58am
8/21/2009 10:58am
Yeah, I'm considering a cyclo-cross bike. The problem is, all the ones in my price range are around 25 lbs. That doesn't sound like a big enough change from my MTB. I want to glide to work instead of chugging (although the lack of suspension bob is probably gonna be the biggest difference).
super rat
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super rat 8/21/2009 11:12am
8/21/2009 11:12am Edited Date/Time 4/17/2016 1:41am
Wrench Science has this bike for 3200, just over 15lbs. That's a good deal.




Here's somthing to think about...


I've bought a lot of bikes and I've never once regretted spending to much on one but I've felt plenty of times I wish I would have sent a little more. throw down some coin right off the bat and you'll have a bike that you'll be happy with for years to come. Now get out there and ride fatso.


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ZEDHED 8/21/2009 11:33am
8/21/2009 11:33am Edited Date/Time 11/15/2010 6:33am
noob wrote:
Yeah, I'm considering a cyclo-cross bike. The problem is, all the ones in my price range are around 25 lbs. That doesn't sound like a big...
Yeah, I'm considering a cyclo-cross bike. The problem is, all the ones in my price range are around 25 lbs. That doesn't sound like a big enough change from my MTB. I want to glide to work instead of chugging (although the lack of suspension bob is probably gonna be the biggest difference).
noob
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noob 8/21/2009 11:36am
8/21/2009 11:36am
Thanks Rat, but that's triple my budget.

I'd like to spent under a grand, to start out. But if I decide to loosen my budget, I'd like to get one of these:



It's ~$1500, 19.74 lbs, carbon seat stays, seat post, and fork.
noob
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noob 8/21/2009 11:40am
8/21/2009 11:40am Edited Date/Time 8/21/2009 11:42am
ZEDHED wrote:
If I had a disk brake compatible frame, I'd just get a 29er wheelset with 700c tires... but my frame is V-brake only. Right now, I have 1.4 inch slicks on my 26" wheels.

Again, buying a complete 29er MTB would be a lot of money for not much of a difference.

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ZEDHED
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ZEDHED 8/21/2009 11:43am
8/21/2009 11:43am Edited Date/Time 11/15/2010 6:33am
super rat
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super rat 8/21/2009 11:45am
8/21/2009 11:45am
noob wrote:
Thanks Rat, but that's triple my budget. I'd like to spent under a grand, to start out. But if I decide to loosen my budget, I'd...
Thanks Rat, but that's triple my budget.

I'd like to spent under a grand, to start out. But if I decide to loosen my budget, I'd like to get one of these:



It's ~$1500, 19.74 lbs, carbon seat stays, seat post, and fork.
Felt makes a nice bike, but if you have any pride at all you don't want to be seen on a tipple ringer.

What size are you? I have a nice rocky mountain with full ultagra that I'd sell for 12hundy, it's a 54
super rat
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super rat 8/21/2009 11:49am
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noob
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noob 8/21/2009 11:52am
8/21/2009 11:52am
super rat wrote:
Felt makes a nice bike, but if you have any pride at all you don't want to be seen on a tipple ringer. What size are...
Felt makes a nice bike, but if you have any pride at all you don't want to be seen on a tipple ringer.

What size are you? I have a nice rocky mountain with full ultagra that I'd sell for 12hundy, it's a 54
I'm 6'2" 205 lbs... guessing I need something in the 62cm range

Not much pride at all, and I might want the granny gear to tow my kid(s) in a trailer.
noob
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noob 8/21/2009 11:54am
8/21/2009 11:54am
ZEDHED wrote:
I'm down for buying used, but I want to get properly fitted by a shop.
Matt414
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Matt414 8/21/2009 3:56pm
8/21/2009 3:56pm
As for bikes holding up. I ride on a full carbon Tarmac SL2 with carbon wheels around 300-400 miles a week. No problem. And as far as breaking a spoke, well yes it happens. I broke a spoke yesterday and rode another 20 miles without a problem. I've jumped plenty of curbs in the middle of races, ran over other bikes, crashed, been crashed, etc, and no problems. Plenty of dirt roads, fire roads stuff like that with carbon bike and carbon wheels, no problems. They are much stronger then people think.
twizzler
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twizzler 8/21/2009 10:19pm
8/21/2009 10:19pm
Exactly, Matt knows the drill! I put 120 miles on my Tarmac and 100 miles on my 29er this week. Got a front flat on my 29er today and nursed it home 4 miles riding on the sidewall of the tire and the rim. Rim is an Edge carbon, it held up fine.

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