>From: kim39\@scws8.harvard.edu (John Kim)
Subject: Re: Help needed on new road bike!
Organization: Harvard University Science Center

edu> cd018\@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Alvin Kienming Liau) writes:
>	Hi! I am about to buy a new r. The price range
>is $1000 - $>I rode the Trek 2300 on a half century and fell in love with it,
>mainly because of the STIs. I am a mountain biker... thus I hate
>taking my hands of the bar to shift... Right now, I am looking at
>the Trek 2300. But how durable is carbon fiber ather bikes with steel or Al frames? Are there
>other bikes in  with STIs? 
>	Thanks.
>liau_ak\@max.cc.denison.edu

	Don't knbout price, but have you lookedor Specialized bikes?  Specialized has a 1992 carbon fibre with
600Ultegra STI 8-speed for about $1200 (I think), and if you can
find last year's Allez Epic with STI (Dura Ace only), it should also
be less than $1500.  I suspect thsi year's Epic carbon with Dura Ace
STI may be over $1500.

	I'd recommend the gestone RB-1, but it only comest's 7-speed.  However, it has
bar-end shifters, so you don't hthe bars if you're in the drops (disclaimer:  I've never tried
bar-end shifters and if I had to replace them, I would buy
downtube shifters instead to save money and weight).

	Since I think the Paramount 3 has RX100 and I think the
Paramount 5 has 105SC, I think the Paramount 7 has Ultegra so
I'll bet there is a 9 or 10 which has Dura Ace.  However, a bike
shop employee said Paramount's tend to run more expensive than 
similar bikes with the same component group.

	Also have you looked in your Colorado Cyclist catalog recently?
-CAse

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>>From cbnewsj!att!Teradyne.COM!lewa Tue Aug 11 13:04:04 1992 remote from mtsol
Received: from att.UUCP by cbfsb.cb.att.com (4.1/SMI-4.0)
	id AA18864; Tue, 11 Aug 92 13:04:04 EDT
>From: lewat Lew)
Subject: Re: MORE OPINIONS WANTED:  Trek 2100/2300 & C'zation: Teradyne, STD

Hi,

You wanted opinions on a C'Dale 2.8 and a Trek 2100/2300?  Well,
neither handles particularly well, and the Trek's break.  

2.8 Pros: Light weight for relatively low price
	  Decent geometry
	  Made in USA
    Cons: Poor handling.
 	  Once you crash, your frame breaks - can't repair
	  Uncomfortable

Trek Pros: Light weight for relatively low price
	   Made in USA
     Cons: AL lugset has history of breaking (at 135 pounds, I broke
	   my Trek 2000, which has the same lugset, at the head lug)
           I don't have an isolated story, BTW
	   Poor handling.  Not as bad as the 2.8, but close - very
	   scary on descents
	   Can't repair after crashes
	   Poor geometry - fixed seat angle for all sizes

My recommendations:
Bridgestone RB-1
	Pros: Steel - handles better than anything short of a custom
	      American job like a Mikkelsen, Eisentraut or Sachs
	      Geometry: best stock geometry on the market today
	      Repairable after you crash
	Cons: made in Japan
	      few Bridgestone dealers - low availability

Carbon: Giant Cadex series
	Cons: poor geometry for 980C - better geometry for CFR1s and CFR2s.
	      made in Taiwan
	      brand has "cheesy" reputation
	      still can't repair if you crash
	Pros: Good handling
	      Good ride
	      I have heard of every type of carbon bike breaking
	      EXCEPT the Giant series

I race cat IIIour ranks, there are far fewer carbon and AL
pieces of junk inld than in the IVs and Vs.  Stetitanium are the materials of choice.  The reason is that steel
handles better.  I can take turns with only one hand on the bars that
were a handful with two hands on my Trek.  You will be racing lots of
criteriums (the most popular race in this country), and a good
handling bike will help prevent you from crashing and give you the
confidence you need around corners.  The Bridgestone RB-1 is probably
the best handling production bike you can buy today.  The Trek and
C'Dales handling leaves ALOT to be desired - you cannot guide them
through corners like a steel bike.  If you don't believe me, buy a
carbon or aluminum bike, ride it for a year, and you will be lusting
for a steel or titanium wonderbike...

albert

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>From att-mt!micro!chuang Tue Mar  3 22:30:56 1992