Hi all,
New here, so I hope this is the right place to post.
Helping a friend research his first road bike purchase, I came across what seems to me to be two great $1000 options in his area: craigslist 2004 Trek 5900 SL reported to be in great shape with low miles (carbon frame, Shimano Dura-Ace groupset, $4800 MSRP back in 2004) or a LBS sale on a 2013 Trek Madone 2.1 (aluminum frame but supposedly similar geometry/aero-details as the higher-end Madones, Shimano 105 components).
I understand these are very different bikes, and everything would depend on the state of the craigslist bike, but assuming the 5900 was actually in great shape - which bike would you go for? (Other $1000 or less road-bike recommendations are also very welcome!)
I also know that my friend's choice must ultimately come down to whatever bike fits/feels right (and that buying a new bike from an LBS comes with the added benefit of getting a good fit right from the start), but I'm more curious about the general question - how would you rank 10-yr-old higher-end bike technology vs low- or mid-range today?
Very much a personal-curiousity question - my own first (and current) road bike was a $500 craigslist buy back in 2010, already 8 years old at the time but barely ridden (see user name - I gather it was a higher-end aluminum frame for it's time, race geometry I think, Ultegra components). I opted for it over the other bike I was considering, a new Trek 1.2 (Trek's near-entry-level road bike, Shimano Sora/Tiagra mix groupset). Maybe the Trek would have been more comfortable on long rides than the super-stiff Klein (but part of what won me over to the Klein - besides lower price - was it's responsiveness!), and I did have to spend extra to swap the saddle and handlebars to get a good fit, but I've never regretted my choice: I'm absolutely in love with my bike and it's needed very little work or parts replaced over the years (and a few thousand miles) of use. Not sure I can ever let go of it, but I might want to upgrade someday... (So I'm enjoying this research for my friend way more than I ought to - vicarious bike-shopping is fun!)
I'm fine with anyone telling me I made a terrible choice on my own bike purchase years ago, the feedback is helpful and it won't make me love my Klein any less , but I'd love to hear what people think about the general question: used higher-quality bikes vs new lower-end for those of us shopping on a tight budget? And more specifically, models my friend might consider - any info would be great, I've been learning so much through the process of helping him check out bikes. (And the roadbikereview forums have been a fantastic place to learn for people like me getting more into this sport, thank you all!)
New here, so I hope this is the right place to post.
Helping a friend research his first road bike purchase, I came across what seems to me to be two great $1000 options in his area: craigslist 2004 Trek 5900 SL reported to be in great shape with low miles (carbon frame, Shimano Dura-Ace groupset, $4800 MSRP back in 2004) or a LBS sale on a 2013 Trek Madone 2.1 (aluminum frame but supposedly similar geometry/aero-details as the higher-end Madones, Shimano 105 components).
I understand these are very different bikes, and everything would depend on the state of the craigslist bike, but assuming the 5900 was actually in great shape - which bike would you go for? (Other $1000 or less road-bike recommendations are also very welcome!)
I also know that my friend's choice must ultimately come down to whatever bike fits/feels right (and that buying a new bike from an LBS comes with the added benefit of getting a good fit right from the start), but I'm more curious about the general question - how would you rank 10-yr-old higher-end bike technology vs low- or mid-range today?
Very much a personal-curiousity question - my own first (and current) road bike was a $500 craigslist buy back in 2010, already 8 years old at the time but barely ridden (see user name - I gather it was a higher-end aluminum frame for it's time, race geometry I think, Ultegra components). I opted for it over the other bike I was considering, a new Trek 1.2 (Trek's near-entry-level road bike, Shimano Sora/Tiagra mix groupset). Maybe the Trek would have been more comfortable on long rides than the super-stiff Klein (but part of what won me over to the Klein - besides lower price - was it's responsiveness!), and I did have to spend extra to swap the saddle and handlebars to get a good fit, but I've never regretted my choice: I'm absolutely in love with my bike and it's needed very little work or parts replaced over the years (and a few thousand miles) of use. Not sure I can ever let go of it, but I might want to upgrade someday... (So I'm enjoying this research for my friend way more than I ought to - vicarious bike-shopping is fun!)
I'm fine with anyone telling me I made a terrible choice on my own bike purchase years ago, the feedback is helpful and it won't make me love my Klein any less , but I'd love to hear what people think about the general question: used higher-quality bikes vs new lower-end for those of us shopping on a tight budget? And more specifically, models my friend might consider - any info would be great, I've been learning so much through the process of helping him check out bikes. (And the roadbikereview forums have been a fantastic place to learn for people like me getting more into this sport, thank you all!)