I second (third?) used bikes...
Trevor said:
I have been riding mountain bikes recreationally for about 7years, and I'm thinking about getting into road biking. What is a good road bike for around $1000? Thanks in advance.
Advertising not withstanding, road bikes really haven't changed that much in the last 25 years. It's a pretty perfect machine already, so incremental improvements are all you'll get now. Seven speed bikes from the late 80's to early 90's take a price hit that is all out of proportion to the performance you give up over a more modern bike.
Right now I'm riding a late 80's (I think) Otero SL, from a small shop in Spain, that I bought for $250 at an LBS. You can check it out at the bottom of the photos thread in the Retro-Classic forum. Top-quality steel frame, Campy drivetrain with Suntour brakes, and a sweet ride. I'm running a 6-speed 14-26 or 7-speed 13-26 freewheel with a 53/39 crank. Weighed 22 pounds with robust clincher wheels, I haven't weighed it with sewups yet, but I expect about 21. That's with pedals and cages.
Outdated? Yes, but 8-speed would get me a 12, and 9 speed gives me an 11. None of which I'll ever use. And I can get freewheels for $25 at a used / vintage shop here in town.
I picked up a nice tubular wheelset at a local bike swap meet for $5. Riding older bikes means that I get great deals on parts, and I get a lot of stuff for free, when we replace "that old junk" with "the new stuff" at the shop.
The best bang-for-the-buck is probably in the late 80's Japanese bikes. Miyatas, Nishikis, Centurions, Panasonics, and Bridgestones. Look for Tange #1 or Prestige tubing, or triple and quad-butted Ishiwata, and Shimano 105 or 600 components. Don't spend over $200, and that's for a really clean bike. The Centurion Ironman Expert and Master and Bridgestone RB-1 were probably the most successful amateur racing bikes ever sold in the US, in terms of sales and wins. The Centurions can often be had for $150 out of the local newspaper. Bridgestones command a premium, because of the Grant Petersen / Rivendell connection, but I've never met an unhappy RB-1 owner.
Put a few thousand miles on the bike. If you decide you love road riding, which I think you will, you can then pop for a new bike. I'd go custom at that point.
--Shannon, offering marginally informed opinions from:
San Diego, CA