Which Bike Should I Get?

Looking at Bianchi Via Nirone :http://www.everybicycle.com/2011-bianchi-via-nirone-7-105-road-bicy...

 

Cannondale Synapse 6: http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/road/performance-road/synapse/2011-...

 

Bianchi Imola http://www.bianchiusa.com/bikes/gran-fondo/imola/

 

They are all within a couple hundred dollars in price. Unfortunately only the darker colors of the Cannondale are in stock at the places I have looked and after getting hit, would prefer lighter, brighter colors such as a celeste and white Bianchi...But then I think a celeste and white Bianchi would scream "steal me" a little louder than a Cannondale?? But that's just an assumption.

 

So, as mentioned in a previous post, my old 70s Spanish road bike and I were hit by a car this weekend and it is dead. Even before that I thought I wanted to use that as a commuter and get another bike just for riding.

I recently did part of the north shore century ride and realized several things:

A. It was heavy, need something lighter for long rides and or hills

B. I need a bike with clicker pedals but don't want that to be my only bike

C. I need more than 5 gears for said rides

D. I really want brake shifters

 

So I started looking at bikes and like both the Via Nirone and the Cannondale and have ridden them both. They are both nice but I still have only been able to ride the Via Nirone in a 55cm, I rode the carbon Bianchi in my size but not the actual Aluminum Via Nirone. The Cannondale was obviously not as nice of a ride as the higher end carbon Bianchi but the carbon is out of my price range and doesn't really interest me that much. I still want to try the 57cm Bianchi but have not found one in the city as of yet so I don't know what to do about that.I'm about 5'11", 170 lbs and felt the 57cm Bianchi and the 56cm Cannondale were both good fits.

 

The plan is to get an older steel bike as a commuter to replace my old one but might consider just getting the Imola which is steel and using it for both and just getting two different sets of pedals.


Money, in this economy is an issue so value is important.

 

And does anyone know why the Imola with the steel frame is essentially the same price as the Via Nirone with the aluminum frame and presumably lighter?

 

Whatever I get I am pretty convinced that I am going to replace the brakes with Shimano Ultrega...I feel if I had those brakes at the time of my accident, I may have been able to avoid that accident all together.

 

Any advice would be great.


I don't do anything competitive and usually don't ride over 40 miles and have yet to do anything over 60 miles in one day but again, that was with old school pedals, on an old school tank of a bike with only 5 gears so in theory, I am hoping with a newer lighter, more ergonomic bike, a 100 miles will feel more like that 60 miles...I am hoping anyway.

 

Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on September 27, 2011 at 7:04am

Have you considered used bikes? There are some amazing bikes on craigslist right now between $1000 and $1400. You'd be able to purchase a top of the line carbon bike (if that's your thing) or custom steel.

 

I like buying used because i feel like my money goes a lot further. Plus you don't have to pay tax (which will be significant on a +$1K bike), you can easily haggle, and have plenty of time to test ride in a low pressure atmosphere

Permalink Reply by John Wayman on September 27, 2011 at 7:09am

I have actually been looking at used bikes for my steel commuter.

 

I don't really want to buy a used carbon bike and am a little skiddish in buying used Aluminum as well. Perhaps these are fears that are outdated but I just don't trust a used carbon bike. Aluminum I could be sold and would definitely consider steel used but then I am looking at a million different scenarios and it typically seems like bikes go rather quickly on CL...Plus, I can use a credit card if I buy new.

Permalink Reply by Len Krietz on September 27, 2011 at 10:28am
Without this thread getting to be a "you should buy this bike because I have one" type of discussion, I do have a Synapse Alloy 5 and love it.  If you do choose the Synapse route - it's your money and butt, I would suggest going up to the 105 group (it's on the alloy 5 and also on the bianchi via nirone)  The price of most aluminum, 105 group road bikes are about the same $1300-1400 - unless you go mail order.  The 105 group shifts sweet supposidly very close to the Ultega group. I rode the synapse in a few 70 mile rides this summer and had great experiences.  If you could get an '11 model (of any road bike) I would suggest it since I noticed this year many manufactures are using a Tiagra cog set (nothing really wrong with it) withg the 105 group.  The '11 models (at least for the Synapse) have the 105 cog set (titanium rather than steel I believe).
Permalink Reply by John Wayman on September 27, 2011 at 5:07pm

I don't know if I have seen the 5s in any of these stores.

 

Again, I have never actually ridden a 57 Via Nirone but the 55 didn't handle as well as the 56 Synapse 6. The Via Nirone is way cooler looking but...The shifting I am not as concerned about as the braking...I think that was my downfall in the last crash.

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