Racing Pushbikes..info....

**FTE217** · 05-03-2007, 02:24 PM

Hi Guys,

I am thinking about getting one of these light weight push bikes and hoping if anyone on the forums are into this ? for some advise and input.

I went into a shop here in Sydney the other day and was blown away how friggin hot bike design and technology has come along since my Repco/Speedwell/Dragster days

:
I can't believe how much these little jiggers are nowadays ! but they are trick.

Starting off I'm thinking the $1600 mark.....
Weight 8.5kg
Carbon forks,bars and head stem
Shimano 105 crankset etc

If there are any enthusiast's in this field should I go for something like the above ? or less or more ?
Thanks

xwgasaxe · 06-03-2007, 12:56 PM

I have a Giant OCR Zero which is a ripper unit C/W carbon front and rear forks and 18spd Shimano Ultegra. It was about 2k from memory 12 mths ago.

The new model has 20spd and is pretty horn so check it out.

**FTE217** · 06-03-2007, 02:21 PM

Thanks shall do....

**Fordman1** · 06-03-2007, 05:15 PM

Giant OCR is your best bet I think, good value for what you probably want it for.

I have an Opera 'Leonardo' (by Pinarello) Full Carbon Frame which I picked up cheap believe it or not for $5 grand (the frame is worth 5 big ones on it's own). It has 20 spd Ultegra and Ksirium SL Wheels. I love it.

My time trial bike is a Felt DA and has a 20 spd Dura-ace group set and Zipp 404 carbon race wheels - it's a monster !!

It's really 'roll your own' as far as bikes go - you can spend as much on a bike as you want.

I've heard of doctors spending 20 grand on bikes that they roll around the weekend on, before they stop for coffee with their mates in Melbourne.

Go Figure !! I wish I had that kind of money.

**FTE217** · 06-03-2007, 05:29 PM

hehe your telling me, Sydney's the same the money these guys spend is unreal then a coffee stop lol...it's like the claytons Harley riders lol....

Got to say once you go and feel these bikes there fantastic !

**Fordman1** · 06-03-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluedriver

hehe your telling me, Sydney's the same the money these guys spend is unreal then a coffee stop lol...it's like the claytons Harley riders lol....

Got to say once you go and feel these bikes there fantastic !

Yeah I love my bikes, I must say sometimes I prefer them to my car Lol !!

Walkinshaw · 06-03-2007, 08:05 PM

Giant OCR1 or TCR3 would be in your range. Also look at Trek 1500/2300 if you can stretch.

old_phoon · 06-03-2007, 09:55 PM

Roadies are ok..............................but
off-road is way more fun

: I ride/race downhill and cross-country.
Downhill bikes typically have 6"-10" of front & rear travel, dual suspension, large disk brakes (cable or hydraulic) and are heavy duty - typical weight is 40+lbs
www.santacruzbicycles.com/full.php?bike=v10 for a top DH race bike or
www.santacruzbicycles.com/full.php?bike=blurxc for a top XC racer. XC bikes are much lighter and more nimble, less travel etc.

Cheers
Frank

xwgasaxe · 07-03-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Yeah I love my bikes, I must say sometimes I prefer them to my car Lol !!

Mate !! Your bike garage must look as good as your car garage.

**Fordman1** · 07-03-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xwgasaxe

Mate !! Your bike garage must look as good as your car garage.

Garage ?

The bikes live in a carpeted spare room !!! Lol.....

loxxr6 · 07-03-2007, 05:51 PM

MY g/f took up triathlons not long ago and recently bought an Avanti Giro http://www.avantibikes.com (obviously you want a dude's model lol). She's pretty happy with it so far. I think it was somewhere in the vicinity of 2k (maybe more maybe less ?? - inc accessories).

Blackmans bikes in Parra did her a decent deal and the guy she dealt with (can't remember name) knows his stuff. They don't flog off only one particular brand for the hell of it either, they'll assess what you're after.

Bike Barn Parra are also ok too.

xwgasaxe · 07-03-2007, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Garage ?

The bikes live in a carpeted spare room !!! Lol.....

Thats what I call my bike garage.

I also have this old Giant MCR mike burrows which looks like some thing out of a sci fi movie.
I don't ride it anymore as everyone tries to race you which is hard when your on your way home from an 80k ride.

**Fordman1** · 07-03-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xwgasaxe

Thats what I call my bike garage.

I also have this old Giant MCR mike burrows which looks like some thing out of a sci fi movie.
I don't ride it anymore as everyone tries to race you which is hard when your on your way home from an 80k ride.

The old MCR.....Classic

When I first saw one I thought it was a superbike from the Olympics or something.

One of my mates has an MCR too, I tell him he needs to wear a body suit when he takes it out for Time Trials or Triathlons.......Lol..

80k ? Get into Iron Man Tri's and do a few 250 ker's when the freaks you train with want to 'attack' up EVERY little hill !!!

DirtyHarry · 07-03-2007, 06:37 PM

Bluedriver,

Check out the Diamondback Podium Comp:

Diamondback Podium Comp

Diamondbacks are usually good value, particularly compared to Trek, which have a definite name premium.

For the same price as a full-105 Trek, you could probably get a Diamondback Podium CR-10, which comes with Ultegra rear derailleur and a few other nice bits and pieces.

Diamondback Podium CR-10

Give Concord Sports Store a call (02 9747 2020). I usually find their prices hard to beat, with very good service.

mcnews · 07-03-2007, 07:26 PM

I was lucky enough to win a 2006 Avanti Kona in a competition. Is a lovely road bike.

I also bought an Avanti anniverary edition Ventura Mountain Bike that cost me about $700. This is I thought about the best available in that sort of price range. You need to spend more than a K I reckon for a real good MTB. I generally use the MTB for shooting to the shops and shorter rides, like less than 40km. While I use the road bike on longer trips on cycle routes etc. THe road bike is like cheating though it is so easy to maintain pace on compared to the MTB, just cuts through the air and weighs nothing. MTB is a better workout. I sometimes do 15km on the beach with tyres down to 25psi when I really want to hurt myself.

xbgs351 · 07-03-2007, 10:12 PM

The most important thing is to get a bike that fits you properly and to get one that fits you properly you need to know who the good bike fitters and bike shops are. If you were in Victoria I could send you in the right direction, but since you are in Sydney I have no idea.

Be careful with the Giant bikes as they don't come in many sizes, but you may be lucky and find that one will fit you nicely. When you get a bike they should put a headstem of the correct length to suit you as well as putting on handlebars of the correct width to suit your shoulder width and cranks of the correct length to suit your leg length. If they don't do any of these things alarm bells should ring.

It's good to see that you have a decent budget. I'm blown away at how good the low end bikes now are. For comparison a bike I bought around 12 years ago cost me $2200 (but was worth closer to $3k), was fully aluminium and had 8 speed downtube shifters. Don't forget to put some money aside for pedals, shoes, helmet and clothing. The Shimano SPD-SL pedals are very good and they are also very cheap.

So what are your plans? Do you want to race or just use the bike socially? Bike racing is great fun. I prefer to race my pushy than take my car out on the race track! There is something magical about blowing other people away using your own power.

**FTE217** · 08-03-2007, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xbgs351

The most important thing is to get a bike that fits you properly and to get one that fits you properly you need to know who the good bike fitters and bike shops are. If you were in Victoria I could send you in the right direction, but since you are in Sydney I have no idea.

Be careful with the Giant bikes as they don't come in many sizes, but you may be lucky and find that one will fit you nicely. When you get a bike they should put a headstem of the correct length to suit you as well as putting on handlebars of the correct width to suit your shoulder width and cranks of the correct length to suit your leg length. If they don't do any of these things alarm bells should ring.

It's good to see that you have a decent budget. I'm blown away at how good the low end bikes now are. For comparison a bike I bought around 12 years ago cost me $2200 (but was worth closer to $3k), was fully aluminium and had 8 speed downtube shifters. Don't forget to put some money aside for pedals, shoes, helmet and clothing. The Shimano SPD-SL pedals are very good and they are also very cheap.

So what are your plans? Do you want to race or just use the bike socially? Bike racing is great fun. I prefer to race my pushy than take my car out on the race track! There is something magical about blowing other people away using your own power.

Keep it coming fellas much appreciate it......
Thanks Dirty Harry will check out the place in Concord not far from me.
xbgs351 thankyou very much about the fitment leads,very important.
Plans you ask ?, well I used to go pretty hard when a young bloke and know what you mean blowing off the opposition from pedal power. Social first to get used to it,fitter and faster and then never know,I'll suss out the clubs at a later date though I notice certain shops have some kind of following.

xwgasaxe · 08-03-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

The old MCR.....Classic

When I first saw one I thought it was a superbike from the Olympics or something.

One of my mates has an MCR too, I tell him he needs to wear a body suit when he takes it out for Time Trials or Triathlons.......Lol..

80k ? Get into Iron Man Tri's and do a few 250 ker's when the freaks you train with want to 'attack' up EVERY little hill !!!

MCR !! yep thats the one, I am going to put it up on the wall one day as its such a far out design.

Yea I know 80K is only middle distance but I was training for the Half and my old man is crazy and has done over 10 Iron mans inc Kona.

Bluedriver: Great news that your getting into the bikes again after a bit of a lay off and like xbgs351 said allow a bit of coin for ancillaries and Happy riding!!