Doin Work son

Hey guys! Tax season is wonderful, especially since my birthday is coming up soon. In light of this, my wife gave me our tax return for my birthday (well, it should be here soon). I wanted to allot 12 to 1300 on a new bike for rain and back up, but hopefully get out cheaper than that. My question is: Should I buy a cheap full bike, or buy a frame set and build the bike up as a project? i would probably buy nicer parts and put them on my primary bike, giving the backup the "hand-me-downs." This may be pricier, but would serve two purposes. For those of you with backups thought, realistically, how often do you ride them? Would building a second bike as opposed to buy really push me way over my 12 to 1300 dollar limit?

Sir Real

What do you currently have and what are the "hand-me-downs"?

LowCel 

I ride my back up bike all winter, primary bike stays on the trainer. For rain bikes I generally buy a new bike and use my current bike as the back up.

richard4993

If you want to buy a new bike check out the new Trek models, I love the looks of those things. If not for the great deal I got for my specialized I would have bought a 1.2 or 1.5.

Doin Work son

Well, I have a specialized tarmac expert right now with mostly stock parts except some zipp 404's. So, I would be using "hand-me-down" specialized parts.

big_heineken

Since you already have a nice road bike, why not look for something different? Something like a touring bike or cyclocross bike. Nashbar's steel touring bike is a pretty good deal: https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...2_10000_202613. Or if you stretch it a little further, you could get a titanium cyclocross bike from Bikes Direct: https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/..._pro_ti_xi.htm. I am not affiliated with either company, they are just bikes that I would buy if I had the money.

Commodus

I don't think I would buy a touring bike or a cross bike for a rain bike, if your intention is to do some road training on it, but I would look for something that could easily take full fenders.

My Soma Smoothie is a perfect rain bike. Since you have take off parts to put on, perhaps look for something like that.

Bob Ross

This may be atypical because there are times I ride my rain/backup bike when it is neither raining nor is my primary bike indisposed...so I probably ride more individual days on the backup, yet almost always shorter rides...but fwiw I seem to ride my backup bike about one-third of my total annual miles.

rdubbz

I would avoid steel for a rain bike. not sure what you budget is but titanium or carbon fiber would be a better option. bd has those ti bike with rival that don't cost too much...

carpediemracing 

Unless you need to expand your stable's functionality, I'd get a similar/identical bike, or at least frame and shifting/fit stuff. So shifters, bar, stem, saddle, pedals, cranks (for q factor).

I'd much rather have two bikes where I can hop off of one and onto the other without having to make any mental or physical adjustments. Although one of my frames is being modified (to match my current frame), they both have virtually identical parts - shifters, derailleurs, cranks, seat post, seat. I have three sets of wheels for the two bikes. The only difference are the brakes, but they work so similarly that I haven't bothered changing them.

One difference - I'm experimenting with a new bar and therefore a necessary new stem. If I like it I'll buy another bar/stem for the other bike, otherwise I'll revert to the original setup.

I already have a beat up mountain bike (for salt/sand etc), track bike (for racing), and a tandem, so I don't need any more functionality in my stable.

Commodus

Steel is okay if you treat it and don't let the paint get all scratched up. Rust is really a non issue then. Certainly not enough to buy carbon or ti!

triumph.1

I have two bikes, both carbon and intended to use the crummy giant as a winter backup bike, but still use the more expensive bike because it is just a much nicer ride. The "secondary" bike gets used on the trainer once in awhile and I keep it in case I have to leave my "primary" bike at an lbs for maintenance. I don't know what my excuse will be when I buy a third bike.

rdubbz

I have a steel commuter bike (salsa la cruz) and tend to agree with you. I used frame saver on it and ride in the rain without any rust, but if i had a choice i would go Ti.

revchuck 

This is an easy one then. Get a Specialized Allez Comp E5 frameset and transfer the parts off the Tarmac. The frame dimensions are about identical, and the Allez Comp E5 is one of the better aluminum frames available. You might be able to get a good deal on a 2011 leftover. When I bought mine new last March, it was $500 plus tax. I transferred the parts over from my CAAD9 and really like the way it turned out.

I've put fenders on it and use it as my bad weather bike, but I'm also using it for my first major event this year, Rouge-Roubaix. (The fenders will come off prior to the ride. ) My "main" bike is a Look 585, and I don't want to risk messing up that frame on the gravel...and with 32 spoke wheels and bigger tires, the ride's pretty nice on the Allez.

eippo1

I'd agree with revchuck on this one. It is a great deal for the Allez E5. I bought a used Sworks E5 (basically lighter than the Allez) and got parts for it last year. I went budget parts since I was keeping the nice parts on my primary bike where you'd go for nice new parts and then trickle down.

I made the mistake ATMO of doing what carpediem said and then had 2 bikes with identical geometry that rode very similarly. I ended up just riding the E5 all the time and leaving the Tarmac unridden. To get a little variety in my life, I'm selling the Tarmac and going with Ti w/ a slightly different geometry.

Mr. Cranky

I got a backup/rain bike to help keep my "nice" bike clean. Now I do probably 75% of my riding on the "backup" bike. Of course the rain around here has a lot to do with that. It's been one of the best investments I've ever made.

bikejrff

Richard,

I've seen your 2011 Allez at my local LBS and it is a bad ass lookin' bike. love the black and yellow.

surgeonstone

I use my good bike for everything, rain, snow/salt, hot, cold. Bike was $6500, 8 years old with original components save a couple ruined rims and in perfect riding condition. Also immaculate, looks new. Bikes are tough, get a good one and ride it till it stops. That will take a very long time.

moralleper

First question, why on earth are you letting the government use your money interest free? You really should change your W2 so you get to keep your money with you!

All that said get the nicest bike in your budget range. I personally would get something like a Salsa Vaya that is really versatile.

Rutnick

I have all my fits on my bike nearly identical whatever the brand is. I've never ever ever ever ever thought to myself....oh hell, I need to think about this because this shifter is sram and the other bike is shimano. Or that everything has to match perfectly.

saddle yes, Pedals same brand, cranks same length. Everything else is whatever.

Heck, I just remembered that my crit bike is rival with 175 cranks and my road racing bike is 172.5s with Red/force mix and my rain bike is shimano and my cross bike is 2cm smaller than my road bike and that my FS bike has 26" wheels but my HT is a 29er!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

some days it's best to say...this saddle is comfortable, this pedal I like and have the fitment the same. I race and don't think too much about OMG, this frame is .5 degrees more this way than the other one and how will I adapt to Red on one bike and rival on the other or 7800 on yet another! OMG! I just ride the dang thing.

Rutnick

something with fender and rack clearnance and room for bigger tires. 28mm minimum.

Soma Double Cross frame and fork is one thought. Vintage steel frame and fork from ebay or some other place is another.

It's a "rain bike". Don't spend too much for it.

RollCNY

I would think that $1200 to $1300 is insufficient to upgrade your current bike (especially if wheels are part of your plan) and buy a second frame. Even if you could get an Allez E5 for $500, what realistic upgrade parts are you getting for $800 that are really better than what is already on the Tarmac.

Find a frame you like, buy an inexpensive groupset from Ribble, some middle of the road wheels, and don't fart with the Tarmac.

Note: My advice is of marginal use as I am currently assembling my 6th bike in 2+ years.

banerjek

It's fine even if you don't treat it and you do let the paint get scratched up. The amount of rust is insignificant and not enough to cause trouble.

Andy_K 

Been there, done that.

When I got my second bike, it was supposed to be my "nice" bike and the older bike was going to be my rain bike, but the new bike was so much nicer that I hated riding the old one. I tried getting a somewhat nicer rain bike, but it still didn't work. Eventually I realized that living in a place where it rains for nine months straight most years, the rain bike should be my favorite bike and vice versa.

Andy_K 

Agreed. I've commuted on steel bikes that I left out in the rain all day while I was at work. I haven't used frame saver, and I haven't had a problem with rust. Even the spot on the head tube where the cables wore away the paint didn't rust for some reason. The biggest issue I have is that my stainless steel bolts have rusty heads.