Author Topic: 2013 summer tour bike  (Read 5940 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline StIvesCyclo

2013 summer tour bike
« on: February 22, 2013, 10:53:00 am »
Hi,

I'm going on a (road) tour of spain in the summer, and I'm thinking about getting a new bike.  Been looking around at a few 2013 models and the 4 below are what I've come up with as possible options.  I know the allez elite is the most expensive bike, but does this necessarily make it the best?  I've heard good things about the trek 1.2 so I'm looking for some more opinions.

Let me know if you've bought/tested any of the above and your thoughts on specialized v trek for a mid level road bike.

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/43458/Specialized-Allez-Elite-Road-Bike---2013.html
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/43459/Specialized-Allez-Sport-Road-Bike---2013.html
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/43934/Trek-1-1-Compact-Road-Bike---2013.html
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/43936/Trek-1-2-Triple-Road-Bike---2013.html

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Thanks,

Ben

Offline RussSeaton

Re: 2013 summer tour bike
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2013, 12:37:27 pm »
Based on the bikes you listed, I assume this Spain tour is not loaded.  A vehicle will be carrying any gear.  Overnights will be at motels.  Spain has mountains and lots of little roads that were just thrown down on whatever ground was there.  Meaning they are steep roads.  Gears as low as possible will be appreciated.  Even if you are not carrying any gear.  Pretty sure the low gears on all of these bikes can be lowered by putting on a new cassette.  32 or 34 tooth rear cog.  And the triple crankset bike can have the inner chainring changed to a 24 tooth.  Compact cranksets with a 34 chainring and 32 or 34 rear cog will get you a low of about 26 or 28 inches.  Low enough.  The triple will get lower.

Trek or Specialized, either side of a coin.  Both are large conglomerates making most of their bikes in China.  Both use the same parts from Shimano to equip their bikes.  The bikes you listed are 8, 9, or 10 speed cassettes.  Sora, Tiagra, and one grade lower than Sora are the derailleurs, shifters, cranksets, brakes, etc.  I suspect all will work OK.  Never notice much difference.  8 and 9 are kind of older technology now.  Parts are still available.  But 10 speed is more current  Does this make a difference?  Probably not.  The most expensive Specialized bike has Tiagra 10 speed.  So its parts are higher end than the other bikes.  Thus it costs more.