Whats a respectable road bike brand?

Question

I'm a complete newbie to bikes so don't really know what to look for. I'm doing a 250-mile charity bike ride in a few weeks, most of which will be on road- so a road bike? The only thing is comfort- most of the road bikes I've seen have killer seats. I know a few of the other guys have racing bikes, and I need to be keeping up with then. So can anyone reccomend a FAST and COMFORTABLE bike?? Thanks.

Answer 1

My favorite bikes are from the Cannondale line, but a set up on any of the "respectable" brands can run a pretty penny.  Are you planning to continue riding after the charity ride?

If so I think the best deal would be a Cannondale Six-13 with Ultegra parts.  This is a great combination of speed, comfort and value.  If money isn't an issue then you have more options, but the Six-13 is a great bike ( I race on one with Dura Ace parts).  

I ride a Specialized Toupe saddle and it is really comfy!

Good luck, Have fun!

Answer 2

you will not be keeping up with your friends, unless they are waiting for you, even on a $10,000 Pro-Tour ready bike. in fact, you'll be lucky to finish the 250 miles without the assistance of the sag-wagons, given you haven't begun training, and only have a few weeks! you haven't developed your cycling muscles, nor the stamina to go that distance. as far as bikes go, there are plenty of makes out there. but more important than the brand is the fit. get fitted at your LBS! they stock reputable brands, and can assist you with getting a bike that fits you and your budget. your perception of the "killer" seats is apparantly only visual. saddles are designed to support you at your sit bones, and minimize rub with your moving legs. hence the low profile. a properly fitted saddle is more comfortable than it appears, and won't cause as much chafing as those plush, cushy models will on a long ride!

Answer 3

I can't offer too much help on the best road bike brand - given the cost, the choice of drivetrain, frame componentary & frame geometry - can get a bit over my head. Alas, I'm a hybrid rider & can only admire them from afar.

But I do know that saddles can be easily changed over to suit your individual comfort level.

Answer 4

Look for one of the "relaxed geometry" road bikes, also called plush bikes. Even though they are a bit more upright than racing bikes, they still perform very well. Giant OCR, Trek Pilot, Cannondale Synapse, and Specialized Roubaix come to mind. There are others.

Also, lots of padding on the seat does not guarantee butt comfort. You need a "seat that fits your meat," where your weight is on your sit bones, not on tender, soft tissues. Unfortunately, it's not an easy process to find that seat. If you get a new bike, try the seat that comes with it. If that isn't comfortable, go to your local bike shop for help. Personally, I ended up with the Terry Liberator men's seat and then upgraded to the Terry Fly when I wanted something a bit lighter.

HTH

Answer 5

cannondale, specialized, trek thats all i can think of right now (i don't like road biking dirt jumping FTW)

Answer 6

Think about doing this charity ride NEXT year.

That'll give you a few wks + a yr to find the right bike and train for it.