I am 46 years old and heavy (106 Kg [234 lbs]), and currently have a comfort oriented hybrid bike (a ??2005 Trek 7200 Multitrack) and would like to move to a road bike. I am also considering a higher end "fitness" bike (a road bike with flat handlebars from what I can see) but feel that I will end up buying both if I go down the fitness bike route. The fitness bike fits however with my current bike posture and comfort zone. I am a recreational biker and am currently out of shape but will try to work on that this summer. My aim is to participate in group rides of up to 30-40 miles. I will never race.
I am exploring various road bikes and so far have test ridden the Specialized Roubaix, Trek 2.3 Domane and Trek 1.1, and the Giant Defy Composite 3 and the Bianchi Vigorelli. I seem to fit 53-54 cm best but have also ridden 56 cm. Of these the Trek 1.1, Giant Defy and Bianchi Vigorelli seemed to fit reasonably well, however my ride on the Vigorelli was very brief (too brief to judge discomfort other than the saddle hurting). I wanted to like the Roubaix (one of them is on sale) but liked its feel the least (I also did not like the Trek Domane).
The idea of a steel bike appeals to me and the Bianchi Vigorelli in Celeste is visually attractive. Coming from a hybrid a hardcore racing oriented bike would be too much of a shock. How forgiving is the Vigorelli as a first road bike? I will likely ask the LBS to install an accessory stem to raise the handlebars and change the geometry to a more upright posture at least initially until I am more comfortable with the road bike. The fact that Bianchi allows installation of a bike rack suggests to me that this bike is not very hardcore. I am looking for a more relaxed bike.
Am I a little misguided about my attraction to the Bianchi Vigorelli or is this a reasonable first road bike? I will try to re-test the bike with a longer ride this time.
I am exploring various road bikes and so far have test ridden the Specialized Roubaix, Trek 2.3 Domane and Trek 1.1, and the Giant Defy Composite 3 and the Bianchi Vigorelli. I seem to fit 53-54 cm best but have also ridden 56 cm. Of these the Trek 1.1, Giant Defy and Bianchi Vigorelli seemed to fit reasonably well, however my ride on the Vigorelli was very brief (too brief to judge discomfort other than the saddle hurting). I wanted to like the Roubaix (one of them is on sale) but liked its feel the least (I also did not like the Trek Domane).
The idea of a steel bike appeals to me and the Bianchi Vigorelli in Celeste is visually attractive. Coming from a hybrid a hardcore racing oriented bike would be too much of a shock. How forgiving is the Vigorelli as a first road bike? I will likely ask the LBS to install an accessory stem to raise the handlebars and change the geometry to a more upright posture at least initially until I am more comfortable with the road bike. The fact that Bianchi allows installation of a bike rack suggests to me that this bike is not very hardcore. I am looking for a more relaxed bike.
Am I a little misguided about my attraction to the Bianchi Vigorelli or is this a reasonable first road bike? I will try to re-test the bike with a longer ride this time.