If you don't know much about bikes I'd say just go to your local name brand bike shop (not Wal-Mart!) and have them help you out. Probably pay from $300-$500 and yes it should be tons faster than riding an old beater MTB.
Nice, thanks. Assembly isn't an issue for me, I'm pretty handy and have biking friends.
Depending on how shitty your current bike is, it probably could cut like 20 to 30% of your time off.
Guess they are still making most bikes with rear eyelets according to my googlefu. I just want him to buy a caadx 105 because I really want that bike.
I love my 105
That's what I was going for before I ended up with the Giant. The Revolt ended up being cheaper, and could fit 45s. Love the 105 though, fucking awesome bike. If I did actual CX instead of Some Asshole Riding a CX Bike On MTB Trails, I'd have gone that way.
One thing that I really like that I overlooked was the double lever setup that you get with Mechanicals. I originally planned to take them off on day 1 but as it turns out they're fantastic for fast descending. I'm pretty sure you can't do that with hydros, otherwise I'd put XTs on my bike heh.I love my 105
Edit...May upgrade to hydraulic discs at some point though, or may just buy a road bike for the commute and swap the caadx back to knobblies
I may have exaggerated a bit but it would have to be better than an old beater MTB. Just skinny tires alone should make you faster. I don't know much about the bike you're riding now or the route you have to take to work either though. I'm very much about a "right tool for the job" approach to bikes though, so unless you are riding crushed gravel multi use paths the whole way or something I'm going to say road bike for pavement every time. Or if its like a greenway sort of paved path that's zero cars just bikes and joggers/walkers I could see maybe not bothering with a road bike, but if you are on streets then yes.
They have centerlock > six bolt adapters too.Shimano have started doing a 105 hydro brakes, compatible with the standard 105 drivetrain but hides a tiny oil reservoir in the hoods. Theyre suposed to be pretty good. The rotors are useless to me though as the shimano one is the centre lock style only, and my wheels have the standard bolt hubs. But thats no biggy. Could just swap out my levers and calipers. Will have to see in the new year.
Edit: I was after a new mtb early next year so that will decide what I do
This is excellent advice which I am going to follow. I will report back.
If you're in a money saving mood, you might just try and see if you can get smooth tires in a size that fits your rim. There's a lot of drag in knobby tires.
I get a pro tune-up every few months on my carbon bikes. I ride the ever living hell out of them (averaging 8-10 hours per week all year) and the little extra peace of mind is worth it to me. I'm a decent wrench but my LBS dudes have the magic.
The rest of the year its anodized aluminum.holiday cookies and candy pumpkins are my achilles heel this time of year.
Replace a chain once a year, check the brakes and true a wheel when it hops. Done.
