Tri4life

Here's the deal. Online, from Nashbar. Thinking of going with either an Alu w/Ultegra parts and better wheels, or a carbon with 105, and a couple more off brand parts. Both bikes are the same price, I don't have any specs on the weight. Which is the better overall option?

rms13

wait for a 25% off sale and get carbon/ultegra

Lazyass

It depends on what frames you're talking about.

Stucky

You really won't notice any substantial difference between the 105 and Ultegra. Get the one which has the better frame- which would probably be the aluminum- because low-end CF sucks (Although, with Nashbar; and considering that they're both the same price and the AL has a more expensive group, there's no telling of what quality the AL is....)

Slackerprince

It's a crapshoot, since you won't be able to ride them, first.
I'd go to Performance, instead.


S

92Esquire

My current road bike was a similar choice.

I could get a low-end carbon bike locally with a group I didn't want (105) or mail order an aluminum frame Salsa with the group I did want (SRAM Rival) for about the same price. Mail-ordered the Salsa and have really enjoyed the bike. Do your homework, spend a bit more for some components to fit if necessary (stems, bars, etc), and get the groupset you prefer. Hopefully it's 11-speed, so you can move it to a new frame if you upgrade that in the future.

bassogap

it was a full 10 years ago, but as I still ride very enthusiastically but do not race, I chose an alum cannondale with a carbon fork and dura-ace over a carbon/ultegra model....I still would....

rms13

Which aluminum bike are you looking at, Cavalo?

Tri4life

Yep, the Cavalo, both are 11 speed. Does anyone know anything about the Nashbar carbon or the Cavalo in general?

Stucky

Have you checked out Bikesdirect.com? You can usually get a lot more for your money there- and their bikes are quite good.

Ravenwing

I have the Nashbar carbon 105 and really like it. One thing: if you don't like the look of naked black carbon, its not for you. Myself, I like the way it looks...sort of a 'stealth' look. I've put just over 1,000 miles on it (got it in March) and its been rock-solid so far on the hilly terrain and badly paved roads around here. So far the only upgrades have been a set of Continental GP all season tires, and a Selle Anatomica saddle. Only my second road bike so I don't have much to compare it to. First bike was a Bikes Direct triple crank. Weighs roughly double what the 105 does.

Tri4life

I actually like the stealth look. When I first started seeing bike porn I thought it was a little plain but it's really grown on me. As an aside I'm lucky enough (well if you can call it lucky) to live in Massachusetts less than a 20 min drive from Hott Tubes who happens to be one of the better paint shops in the United States. Sure it's a ton of extra money... But it's always an option if I like the bike and want to be a pretentious D-bag. It would be replacing a 2006 Allez triple so I'm sure almost anything will be a huge upgrade as far as weight goes at this point.

shelbyfv

The AL Cavalo has a real threaded bottom bracket, better crank, better wheels. Ultegra vs 105 is an additional plus, but less important than the other factors, IMO. The downside to me would be that it has a standard as opposed to compact crank. If you are fit and/or it is flat where you live, that may be ok for you.

rms13

Just noticed that. Pretty strange for a bike at this price point in this day and age

shelbyfv

I think the 11 speed cranks now share the same BCD, so rings could be changed. Additional expense, though.

Stucky

Wow! A threaded BB is a big plus in my book. It likely comes with the standard crank, though, because compact options are kinda limited for threaded BB's.

I don't believe that is so.

Lazyass

I would get the aluminum bike no question. A standard crank would be a plus for me. And now it's less than $1000 with full Ultegra? Can't beat that.

rms13

They do. Better move is buy new compact cranks from UK and sell old on eBay and probably break even. If op even wants compact cranks

rms13

Compact cranks are limited for threader bottom brackets?

Tri4life

Not the least bit flat here... But I prefer a full sized crank for descending and what strait aways

GuitarBob

That's wrong...

bigdo13

I have a really nice carbon frame with 105 on it....I can say confidentally, pull the trigger man...I've done thousands of miles with that setup and it rides like a dream...granted its not a nashbar frame, but its probably not far off from that quality if maybe just a bit better/worse (its Troay carbon in UD weave)

I know a lot of roadie snobs turn their heads up at anyone riding carbon with anything less than Ultegra on it....lol, wait til I buy my next carbon frame and throw that super affordable Microshift Arsis group on it! They're gonna whine that much more....