[Hottody]

You know, the bike I ordered was a 58 and not at the Jenson Store in Corona. They did bring it in though a week or so ago and I test road the bike, and it felt generally pretty good. I just decided to go with a 105 equipped Scattante R570 from Performance Bike, as it is on sale for $899. Also, they offer 10% back in store credit with lifetime free adjustments. The effective price becomes around $799. So... for a couple hundred bucks more, with 105 and a 60mm frame I'm going that direction. Also Performance allowed me to put on layaway which allowed me to get a slightly better equipped bike.

Now...the Diamondback looks great and the best deal I've seen on a Tiagra Bike! Also, Jenson has some great deals on bikes not advertised on their site and the guys are very helpful. Going into the store and taking it for a quick spin is a great idea! Have the guys give you honest feedback on whether the bike fits you. Have fun!

 

[y2nicco]

You know, the bike I ordered was a 58 and not at the Jenson Store in Corona. They did bring it in though a week or so ago and I test road the bike, and it felt generally pretty good. I just decided to go with a 105 equipped Scattante R570 from Performance Bike, as it is on sale for $899. Also, they offer 10% back in store credit with lifetime free adjustments. The effective price becomes around $799. So... for a couple hundred bucks more, with 105 and a 60mm frame I'm going that direction. Also Performance allowed me to put on layaway which allowed me to get a slightly better equipped bike.

Now...the Diamondback looks great and the best deal I've seen on a Tiagra Bike! Also, Jenson has some great deals on bikes not advertised on their site and the guys are very helpful. Going into the store and taking it for a quick spin is a great idea! Have the guys give you honest feedback on whether the bike fits you. Have fun!

Thanks for the quick response and advice! This is my first road bike, so I don't need anything exceptionally fancy, especially since I am unsure whether I will be using the bike a lot one year from now! I almost pulled the trigger on a podium 1 (2012) on amazon for $700 until I saw the podium 2. I only looked on amazon because i have $600 worth of gift cards I have amassed over the past year. I haven't been able to find anything other than the 2012 podium line and a few schwinns on the site. I will check out the one you picked up!

Thanks again! I am interested in hearing how your new bike works out for you

 

[Hottody]

Yes..I understand as this is my first Road bike as well. I can't tell you how much research I have done, and getting the Podium 2 with Tiagra is a smart choice! If you really get into biking, you will appreciate the reliability and functionality of Tiagra vs Sora. I have to tell you, the Diamondback is a $1,000 bike for $599! The bike has a higher end hydro formed aluminum frame, carbon forks and reliable components! The bike looks even beter in person! If in a year you want to sell the bike, you should be able to sell for close to what you paid for it! Good luck, I'm so excited about getting into this sport, as running is a bit hard on my joints! Also, Temecula seems like a great place to ride! Have fun with it! I too will be interested on how things work out for you y2nicco. :thumbsup:

 

[y2nicco]

I'll surely keep you posted! I actually just ran across the podium 3 (2012) for $900 on amazon (on sale for 1k at Jensons with retail price of 1.2k). It seems to be comparable to the Scattante you bought, seeing how it has 105 instead of Tiagra components. Would you agree?

It is the same price as the Scattante (except no concessions like 10% back) but as I said, I have a ton of amazon gift cards, which would bring the bike to $300. I ordinarily would use the gift cards for something else but I dont need anything so whatever I get with the card, aside from a bike, will be an impulse buy! Thanks for your thoughts - I know you are new to road biking but you seem to know your stuff!

 

[JeffReigns]

I will say that you will not regret the Podium 2. I just recently got around to getting the rest of the stuff I needed(shorts, jersey, bottles+cages, flat kit, sunglasses) and took it on a 8 mile ride the other day. I had no problems, was pretty awesome. Cant wait to ride again!

 

[y2nicco]

I will say that you will not regret the Podium 2. I just recently got around to getting the rest of the stuff I needed(shorts, jersey, bottles+cages, flat kit, sunglasses) and took it on a 8 mile ride the other day. I had no problems, was pretty awesome. Cant wait to ride again!

Thanks for the feedback! Sounds like a great bike. I am going to Jensons to check the bike out tomorrow and see what they recommend for me. Keep enjoying it - I cant wait to start enjoying mine!

 

[Hottody]

Hi y2nicco, I look forward to hear how it goes for you! Wow, $900 for a Podium 3? NICE! I would say the Podium 3 may be a slightly better equipped bike than the Scatante, with a better frame! I did notice that the welds on the Diamondbacks are really very clean and well done! Better than the Scattante in my humble opinion. I did notice that the Podium 3 has a low spoke count, and many will say; bigger riders should go with a spoke count of at least 32 to help keep the wheel true. Of course, I would consult your local bike shop, LBS, on the subject. The forum is also a great place to ask questions and seek information!

It's great your going to Jenson! Try a few bikes and have fun with it, as most will tell you the "fit" of your new bike will be as important, if not more than the bike itself! My advice is get a bike that fits within your budget because you will likely want to get more gear, ie; helmet, shorts, jersey ect.

Many will tell you go 105 if you can afford it because it's allot cheaper than upgrading components latter. that said, I believe a Tiagra is a solid reliable group set, especially for weekend riders that don't plan on big time racing! Also, note, that 2011 Tiagra is 9 speed as opposed to 2012 Tiagra which is 10 speed like 105. Not a huge deal, but something to consider.

Find a bike, no mater what it is, that you will get excited about riding. May sound silly, but you should like the way the bike looks and makes you feel. Again, have fun...finding a new bike and researching the details of the bike, components and gear has been a blast for me.

 

[SolitaryRider]

Find a bike, no mater what it is, that you will get excited about riding. May sound silly, but you should like the way the bike looks and makes you feel. Again, have fun...finding a new bike and researching the details of the bike, components and gear has been a blast for me.

+1,000,000,000!!

That's the truth! Aesthetics plays a huge role in the enjoyment of cycling (and many other things, as well)- Someone who isn't into serious racing, probably wouldn't notice any performance difference between a $700 bike and a $2300 bike....but if they choose the one that they love (Love to look at; love to ride; love to sit on; love the feel of...) vs. one that's a "good bike", but which doesn't excite them emotionally.....that will make a HUGE difference, regardless of the price or weight, etc.

Sounds like a few people in this thread got some great deals on some fine bikes!

Kudos to you guys, and ENJOY!!!!!

 

[Hottody]

Good points SolitaryRider! I believe that I won't be racing, but I know how aesthetics play a role in my life. Even if you drive a crapy car, it feels better when it's clean! I just pruned, weeded and mowed my yard this morning! Afterwards, a took a few back back and thought, "that looks good"!

I'm buying a bike within my budget that looks good to me, and gets me excited about riding! A good bike is like a good wine, it's one that good to you!

Solitary, what are you riding?

 

[SolitaryRider]

Solitary, what are you riding?

:blush2: I have a $300 Mercier Galaxy SC2 from Bikesdirect...... :blush2:

I wanted something cheap, as I hadn't owned a bike for decades, and didn't know if I'd stick with it- or how I'd fare on these rural roads out here in the middle of nowhere, when I was used to riding in the city/suburbs when I was younger.....

Performance-wise, I'm very happy with this bike.

I remembered when I was looking to buy, it seemed that a lot of the bikes I was looking at were only available in colors/schemes that didn't appeal to me. This bike is like a candy-apple green, and I love it. I was to the point where I was going to go for a slightly more expensive bike from the same website...but tyhe more expensive one was only available in white or black, or something...and just didn't appeal to me.

I will likely upgrade next year, since I love cycling and am racking-up the miles....but I know that such is not a necessity- but just to improve asthetics. I know that going from this 25 lb. bike to say a 19 or 20 lb. one will likely make nowhere near the difference that me losing 25 pounds since i started riding, has made....

But I'll just be getting better aesthetics. Like, for instance, on my bike, the stem is really cheesy. For some reason, having a quality stem to look at, even though it will not make a dime's difference in the bike's handling...will just make me "feel" better..... Ditto the cheap-looking Sora shifters, with their cheesy plastic gear indicators and thumb tabs. They work just fine...no complaints.....but, having better quality ones would just be nice. Although it seems hard to justify spending maybe $1000 more for such things....I think the cumulative effect of having a nicer bike with nicer components will add up to an even better riding experience. (I've got my eye on the Motobecane Le Champs....)

I figure it's kind of like cars..... I love my 3/4 ton 4x4 extracab truck. Don't really "need" to drive it 90% of the time....could get by with a car that gets good gas mileage instead of 13MPG...but I just love driving the truck, and don't want to drive anything else. I love the way it drives; I love being seen in it (Probably doesn't impress anyone, as it's a '99...)..I love that it's big and tall and I can see over all the cars.....it's comfortable....it's just me...so I gladly spend more to drive something I love. (I'd even bought a little car that got good gas mileage a while back...but never drove the darn thing. It'd get me from point A to point B just fine, and cheaply...but it just wasn't me...and wasn't any fun...didn't give me that good feeling...wasn't something that'd make me say "That's beautiful" when I looked at it- I felt like a schlub driving it...I felt like a member of a herd that I didn't belong to, and that I'd be ashamed to be identified with)

Such things are important. I'd never go into debt to have a nice car or a bike or even a fancy house...but when it comes to things I can afford to buy outright, I try and get the ones I really like....and lucky for me, that does not mean the ones that are in vogue/popular or the most expensive.....

Well.....I'll bet this was more info than you ever wanted!

[Hottody: "I'll never ask HIM a simple question again!"]

 

[LAW.S.T]

:blush2: I have a $300 Mercier Galaxy SC2 from Bikesdirect...... :blush2:

I wanted something cheap, as I hadn't owned a bike for decades, and didn't know if I'd stick with it- or how I'd fare on these rural roads out here in the middle of nowhere, when I was used to riding in the city/suburbs when I was younger.....

Performance-wise, I'm very happy with this bike.

I remembered when I was looking to buy, it seemed that a lot of the bikes I was looking at were only available in colors/schemes that didn't appeal to me. This bike is like a candy-apple green, and I love it. I was to the point where I was going to go for a slightly more expensive bike from the same website...but tyhe more expensive one was only available in white or black, or something...and just didn't appeal to me.

I will likely upgrade next year, since I love cycling and am racking-up the miles....but I know that such is not a necessity- but just to improve asthetics. I know that going from this 25 lb. bike to say a 19 or 20 lb. one will likely make nowhere near the difference that me losing 25 pounds since i started riding, has made....

But I'll just be getting better aesthetics. Like, for instance, on my bike, the stem is really cheesy. For some reason, having a quality stem to look at, even though it will not make a dime's difference in the bike's handling...will just make me "feel" better..... Ditto the cheap-looking Sora shifters, with their cheesy plastic gear indicators and thumb tabs. They work just fine...no complaints.....but, having better quality ones would just be nice. Although it seems hard to justify spending maybe $1000 more for such things....I think the cumulative effect of having a nicer bike with nicer components will add up to an even better riding experience. (I've got my eye on the Motobecane Le Champs....)

I figure it's kind of like cars..... I love my 3/4 ton 4x4 extracab truck. Don't really "need" to drive it 90% of the time....could get by with a car that gets good gas mileage instead of 13MPG...but I just love driving the truck, and don't want to drive anything else. I love the way it drives; I love being seen in it (Probably doesn't impress anyone, as it's a '99...)..I love that it's big and tall and I can see over all the cars.....it's comfortable....it's just me...so I gladly spend more to drive something I love. (I'd even bought a little car that got good gas mileage a while back...but never drove the darn thing. It'd get me from point A to point B just fine, and cheaply...but it just wasn't me...and wasn't any fun...didn't give me that good feeling...wasn't something that'd make me say "That's beautiful" when I looked at it- I felt like a schlub driving it...I felt like a member of a herd that I didn't belong to, and that I'd be ashamed to be identified with)

Such things are important. I'd never go into debt to have a nice car or a bike or even a fancy house...but when it comes to things I can afford to buy outright, I try and get the ones I really like....and lucky for me, that does not mean the ones that are in vogue/popular or the most expensive.....

Well.....I'll bet this was more info than you ever wanted!

[Hottody: "I'll never ask HIM a simple question again!"]

nice long answer, kinda like what I am going through now.
I keep changing my mind on what I reallt "need" or "want"

 

[SolitaryRider]

I guess it's a matter of what you're used to/comparison, too. I mean, compared to the single-speed boat anchors and department-store 10 speeds I had as a kid...this $300 BD bike is the best bike I've ever had...but after seeing all the bikes on threads like these.....I want a better one!

 

[SolitaryRider]

nice long answer, kinda like what I am going through now.
I keep changing my mind on what I reallt "need" or "want"

I think bikes are a lot like cars, in the sense that you never truly know what you have till you've lived with it for a while. Some people put a lot of emphasis on going to the LBS for test rides...and that can be a good thing... but I know that you don't REALLY get the feel of a bike until you've lived with it. [More so for inexperienced riders like myself]

I think too, that how one bike feels will also be dictated by what you're used to riding....

To me, I think one just gets used to what they have- anjd maybe over time, after owning several different ones, they hit upon one that just really stands out; one that really "clicks" with them.

I'd imagine, for recreational riders, such as myself, the differences between bikes isn't even that critical- as long as they all fit well. Which is why I agrtee with Hottody, that getting what appeals to us is probably one of the biggest factors.

 

[Hottody]

I enjoyed reading your post. Great analogies you posted SolitaryRider! I bought an 2003 Saab Convertible used, because I could pay cash for it, and it made me feel good when I drove it! Like you, I'm sure others were not so impressed but it makes me feel good! Of course the relatives tell me I should have bought a Toyota or something along those lines, but I figured if I was going to spend around 7 grand for a car, I should enjoy it. For some, the enjoyment comes from a car like a Toyota that is practical and reliable. I suppose... like with a bike, one should find something that appeals to ones personal sensibilities.

Your points are good... one can buy something that is inexpensive and or in budget and get more enjoyment then spending more money just because you can!

 

[SolitaryRider]

Thanks, Hottody!

You sound just like me....we can have some fun and get some enjoyment out of even the seemingly mundane aspects of our lives [A car is more than just transportation; a bicycle is more than just an exercise device]....and yet remain practical and keep a nice balance!

That Saab convertible does sound like a fun car.....especially if it's a stick!

We only pass this way once......ya GOTTA get some enjoyment out of the things ya buy and the things ya spend a good deal of your time using! (The nice thing about paying cash for stuff, is that you tend to realize the value of money when you actually hand a pile of cold hard cash over to someone...so you tend to be more careful/put more thought into what you're buying. Toyotas might be decent cars...but I just can't imagine anyone getting excited about them! I've never yet heard anyone say "Gee, honey, I'll be glad to go to the store, it'll give me a chance to drive the new Corolla!" )

 

[Hottody]

Well quess what Solitary, my Sabb is a stick! And yes...that makes it so much more fun! To funny!

 

[PJ352]

Interesting thoughts here, so I wanted to comment on a couple...

I think bikes are a lot like cars, in the sense that you never truly know what you have till you've lived with it for a while. Some people put a lot of emphasis on going to the LBS for test rides...and that can be a good thing... but I know that you don't REALLY get the feel of a bike until you've lived with it. [More so for inexperienced riders like myself]

I think both are true. Even to the inexperienced, test rides offer the opportunity to get a sense for the fit/ feel, ride and handling of a bike - albeit to a limited degree.

Still, I think the effort is worthwhile, because (if nothing else), it gives the consumer an opportunity to sift through the field and make an educated buying decision. S/he might not know every nuance of the chosen bike, but there's a chance the test rides gave them some insight on how it compared to others.

I think too, that how one bike feels will also be dictated by what you're used to riding....

IME there's no question this is true. My first 'serious' road bike was a mid-80's Bianchi Limited, with the requisite Italian race geo, thus twitchy handling. Between the tight handling, leather saddle and plastic bar tape, today's bikes ride like limo's, so when I read posts with members complaining about the ride quality of the current crop, I chuckle. It's all relative, as they say....

To me, I think one just gets used to what they have- and maybe over time, after owning several different ones, they hit upon one that just really stands out; one that really "clicks" with them.

Generally, I agree. That Bianchi I mentioned was a tad too big for me, so it never felt quite right. That said, I don't think I got used to it as much as I lived with it. Settled, in other words. My next bike was a high end custom steel, and the overall differences in fit, ride and handling were stark.

I'd imagine, for recreational riders, such as myself, the differences between bikes isn't even that critical- as long as they all fit well. Which is why I agrtee with Hottody, that getting what appeals to us is probably one of the biggest factors.

Aside fro aesthetics (which I agree carry a level of importance) the essentials of getting the right bike are it meeting a riders intended uses and matching the right geo to a given rider (fit). No 'buying up' is going to substitute getting those two right, so I often say I'd prefer riding a well fitting Sora equipped bike than an ill fitting DA equipped bike.

Lastly, the term recreational riders is very broad. I know fairly casual recreational riders that log maybe 50 miles (or less) weekly, while the avid among us log a couple of hundred, plus. But truth be told, the differences even a few thousand (dollars) can make doesn't translate into 'that much' of a performance increase. So, as another poster mentioned, oftentimes it becomes a question of want versus need.

 

[LAW.S.T]

I think bikes are a lot like cars, in the sense that you never truly know what you have till you've lived with it for a while. Some people put a lot of emphasis on going to the LBS for test rides...and that can be a good thing... but I know that you don't REALLY get the feel of a bike until you've lived with it. [More so for inexperienced riders like myself]

I think too, that how one bike feels will also be dictated by what you're used to riding....

To me, I think one just gets used to what they have- anjd maybe over time, after owning several different ones, they hit upon one that just really stands out; one that really "clicks" with them.

I'd imagine, for recreational riders, such as myself, the differences between bikes isn't even that critical- as long as they all fit well. Which is why I agrtee with Hottody, that getting what appeals to us is probably one of the biggest factors.

Oh dear, that means you might be immune to upgratis ?
I have unfortunately carried over some bad habits from building PCs so I am pretty fickle about parts

 

[SolitaryRider]

Oh dear, that means you might be immune to upgratis ?
I have unfortunately carried over some bad habits from building PCs so I am pretty fickle about parts

No, no! I'll likely upgrade to a better bike next year- if for no other reason, just to experience the difference. I think I'll have a good idea of exactly what I want, from having logged some miles on my cheapo bike. I just hope that after spending the moolah....I experience enough of a difference to think it was worthwhile......

Hey, I have a friend who's worth millions...and he rides a $149 Wal8Mart bike- so I feel like I'm ahead of the game with my $300 bike already!

 

[SolitaryRider]

PJ, I remember those steel bikes from the 70's and 80's..... I was almost going to buy a retro bike before I discovered BD. Glad I didn't, now! The differences between those bikes and today's bikes is a good illustration of how seemingly small differences add up to a whopping improvement. It's because of that, that I can imagine that maybe the difference between my cheapo bike and something like a le Champ might be about the same jump in quality.

(It almost sounds like I know what I'm talking about, doesn't it? Well...I guess it must be from reading all of your posts!)