|
|
Member
Posts: 35
Location: Perth
Offline
| Hi folks
I'm thinking it's time for a new bike that's more suited to triathlon's but still let me commute to work.
I currently have a Sora specced cheap roadie. My initial thoughts were to get a tri-bike but the more I think about it, the more I'm tempted with an aero road bike such as a Cervelo S1, due to wanting to use my new bike for more than just triathlons.
If I head down this route, my short list is currently:
Cervelo S1 or S2 (friend at work as the S2 and he's a quality cyclist so I'd feel a fraud if I got this, plus it's a liitle above my budget. S1 looks better value for me, but I might feel inferior next to my mate  )
Orbea Ora and Ora Pro: 2009 models look nicer imo than the 2010 ones but not sure if the Pro is worth the extra cash. Damn sexy though!
Felt AR4: Only seen this recently and it looks a well specced bike priced in between the Ora and Ora Pro.
What's everybody view's on going this route compared to say a Felt B16 / 12 or P2?
So undecided......
Nigel |
|
| |
|
New user
Posts: 4
Offline
| I'm asking myself the SAME question. I've heard a lot of good reviews about the cervelo soloist, and then just getting a pair of clip-on aero bars. Other than that... If you get any good reply's let me know 
-Melissa
|
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 87
Offline
 Silver member | I ride a Soloist to work every day that i don't run in. I have Vision aerobars. I use the forward seat position on the seat post to get an aero position. I love this setup and it can always be converted to a road bike if I quit doing the Tris. I don't think the setup is any less aero than a P3. I'll post photos if you want |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 859
 
Location: FL/Sweden
Offline
| Just keep in mind that they are designed to be ridden as a road bike, with the weight distribution around the center of the bike or slightly rearward. This means that you can definitely toss on some aerobars, but just make sure you're getting the shorty bars (ITU style) to allow you to keep your road position, yet still be comfortable in the aerobars.
Basically, it's a compromise, but a darn good one at that.... the only way to better this, would be to have a dedicated tri bike and a dedicated road bike, but since you want one bike to do it all.... |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 35
Location: Perth
Offline
| Great replies
I have a basic road bike, so I did think about getting a tri-bike instead of another roadie, but as most of my riding will be commuting, I would probably use the road bike more than the tri-bike which seems to defeat the purpoise of a new bike!
I'm not the greatest cyclist so can't get anything too good for me, so a mid-price aero road bike seemed to be the best compromise.
Still can't decide out of the 3 I mentioned before though........ time to head off to the LBS! We have plenty of Orbea dealers in WA (Western Australia, not Washington ) but not many Cervelo or Felt dealers, so might be tricky to find the S1, S2 and AR4 to try, but I'll give it a go!!!
Nigel |
|
| |
|
Master
Posts: 1496
Location: Riverside, IL
Offline
| I ride a Soloist Carbon (now the S2) with Profile Design Jammer GT aerobars. I have no complaints, thus far. It's been a solid bike, even on long distances. I've done 2 centuries and countless 80+ mile rides on it this season. The key is finding a comfortable saddle that works for you. I'm still searching for "the one".
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 149
Location: Surf City USA Huntington Beach, Calif.
Offline
| The A4 is a road bike with areo characterstics. The body postioning is that of a roadie and not a tri. |
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 579
Location: Austin
Offline
| I've been drooling over an S2 ever since I picked up my P2. Figure who doesn't need a road and tri bike...unfortunately I can only afford one carbon steed. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 35
Location: Perth
Offline
| Yeah, I'm drooling over the new S2 also. It would probably be the perfect compromise bike for me, but I reckon it's a little bit above my budget  And I'm not sure I want an S1 if I'm spending all that cash. (And, yes I know, I'm being a carbon weenie snob here!)
So, if the Felt AR4 isn't really built for tri's like the Orbea and Cervelos are, then my options seem to be an out of my price-range S2 or an Ora or Ora Pro. Unless anybody knows of anything else that will do the job?
Choices, choices..... |
|
| |
|
Elite
Posts: 2796
Location: Montague Gold Mines, Nova Scotia
Offline
| Are you planning to keep your road bike? If so, I would make that your commuter (with fenders, rack, lights, panniers, etc) and then decide whether you want road or tri for your new bike.
Shane |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 859
Location: FL/Sweden
Offline
| The Felt AR4 is designed with a road geometry, but so is the Cervelo S2. Both just have aero futures added to them. Other options would be Ridley Noah or Time RXR Ulteam (although substantially more expensive).
The Orbea Ora is designed with a tri geometry. I would no slap a pair of drop bars on the Ora... it's not designed to be ridden in that position and would probably not handle to well (slow and sluggish due the geometry). The Orbea Ora would be comparative to the P-series Cervelos or the B-series Felt's.
If you're intending to use these as road bike with ITU (shorty) aerobars, then pick the Cervelo or the Felt.
Edited by audiojan 2009-11-11 7:48 AM
|
|
| |
|
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: "Jersey Shore"
Offline
Silver member | gsmacleod - 2009-11-11 7:42 AM Are you planning to keep your road bike? If so, I would make that your commuter (with fenders, rack, lights, panniers, etc) and then decide whether you want road or tri for your new bike.
Shane What he said ^^^. I have the S1 for two years, no problems. Next bike will be a tri bike. So if you have a roadie, get a tri bike. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 35
Location: Perth
Offline
| Awesome thoughts guys, plenty to think about....
I do currently have a road bike, a cheap and cheerful one, but commuting is giving me plenty training on the bike, so a new bike might only get ridden once a week. This is why I was looking into something like an S1 that I know would be a compromise, but would be a good compromise for my needs.
The Orbea Ora here in Aus has the tri-geomotry but with drops and tri-bars attached rather than bar-end shifters. This is the reason I was looking into this, as I initially thought it would be the most suitable bike for both commuting and tris.
If I ended up with either the AR4 or S1/2, I would definitely be putting short jammer type bars on.
Think I definitely need to head down to the LBS - been putting this off until I actually saw the overtime payment which is funding this purchase!! But I'm now getting too excited to wait |
|
| |
Aero road bike thoughts?
