So after many years away from cycling, I'm thinking about getting back into it. I want to get back in shape, and my knees and shins can't handle running. I always used to bike a lot, but slacked after college (common story). I switched to mountain bikes because I was doing a fair bit of trail riding, and it was easier to find a bike to fit me. I have tremendously short legs for my height. I am 5'6", and my inseam (to the floor) is only 28". My girlfriend is 5'1" and has the same inseam. (she steals my pants!)

Anyway, it looks like I finally found a bike to fit me. Giant (I used to own a Giant mountain bike) now makes road bike frames with a sloped top bar (much like a mountain bike). Their small frame is still a bit too tall (I have zero clearance, and you're supposed to have an inch), but it's liveable, and the top bar isn't so short that I feel cramped.

I have been looking at the OCR 3 (the entry level bike at US $600) but I don't like the shifters on it, because you can't shift from the down position. The next one up is the OCR 2 (US $820).

Now to the dilemma: the model year is just about to switch over, and of course next year's models offer better stuff for about the same money. Here are the choices:

2003 OCR 3: $550 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2003&bikesection=8830&range=138&model=10657)
Straight CrMo fork, 24 speed Sora gearset, 1" threaded headset
2003 OCR 2: $750 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2003&bikesection=8830&range=138&model=10656)
Straight CrMo fork, 27 speed Tiagra set, 1" threaded headset, Mavic rims

2004 OCR 3: $600 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2003&bikesection=8830&range=138&model=10737)
Curved aluminum fork, 27 speed Sora gearset, 1 1/8" threadless headset
2004 OCR 2: $850 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030.000.000/030.000.006.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2003&bikesection=8830&range=138&model=10736)
Curved composite fork, 27 speed Tiagra gearset, 1 1/8" threadless headset, XCR rims

So which one should I go for? Money is not the major object, but I don't want to overbuy. My riding skills aren't anything to write home about at this point, and I won't be racing or anything. Opinions or alternatives are appreciated.

Sorry, can't really help you with a road bike purchase.


Full_Clip owns a Jeep Wrangler mountain bike.

Not that anyone cares, but this decision has been made. I jumped on an EBay auction for a 2002 OCR 2 and got it for $560.

Nice. Glad you found something! I can relate with the sizing issue. I'm inseam challenged and spent quite a while looking for something in a 48cm that looked like it'd fit. Unfortunately what I picked out wasn't available anywhere to test ride so I had to order it on faith. We measured my 15 year old custom frame and compared it to the Cannondale CAAD7 I was looking at and it looked good so I went for it.

I am absolutely smitten with it. I've had it just over a month and I've put on 700 miles.

It's got Campagnolo Record 10 speed with Ksyrium wheels, Cinelli Solido/Solida bar and stem. Weighted in at 16 lbs. 7 ozs.

My new baby:

http://www.sunflower.com/~rorwig/images/cannondalesm.jpg

Originally posted by kage
Not that anyone cares, but this decision has been made. I jumped on an EBay auction for a 2002 OCR 2 and got it for $560.

D-oh! Sorry that I came to this late. I would have told you to go with option two, because of the 1 1/8" steerer. 1" steerers are going the way of the dodo bird, which means that you run into difficulties with stem selection if you have a 1" steerer.

There are shim kits that come with stems, but personally, I'm not a shim kind of guy.

Sounds like a good deal on the OCR, however. Good luck.

Kevin

Originally posted by JayhawkRS
It's got Campagnolo Record 10 speed with Ksyrium wheels, Cinelli Solida/Solida bar and stem. Weighted in at 16 lbs. 7 ozs.

Nice ride!

A little short in stature, though! At least that keeps them light! (I have a '99 63cm Litespeed Ultimate which comes in at 19.5lbs as I have it set up right now...)

whats the standard inseam vs. height?

Originally posted by DrD


Nice ride!

A little short in stature, though! At least that keeps them light! (I have a '99 63cm Litespeed Ultimate which comes in at 19.5lbs as I have it set up right now...)

63cm? Woah. I'd say you're at least a couple of inches taller than I am! :lol:

Jayhawk, very nice bike selection. I went with Specialized though, Allez Comp because yours was < > that much out of my pricerange. :)






Yes, sarcasm is lost on the intarweb

Nice bike Jayhawk. That bike is so far over my head I get a nosebleed just looking at it.

scaryfastskier: I don't know what the standard proportion is, I just know it's way longer than mine. I have the same torso length as my friend, who is 5'10". Given that I'm asian, we often have short legs, but I'm fairly extreme even for us.

Originally posted by JayhawkRS
Nice. Glad you found something! I can relate with the sizing issue. I'm inseam challenged and spent quite a while looking for something in a 48cm that looked like it'd fit. Unfortunately what I picked out wasn't available anywhere to test ride so I had to order it on faith. We measured my 15 year old custom frame and compared it to the Cannondale CAAD7 I was looking at and it looked good so I went for it.

I am absolutely smitten with it. I've had it just over a month and I've put on 700 miles.

It's got Campagnolo Record 10 speed with Ksyrium wheels, Cinelli Solida/Solida bar and stem. Weighted in at 16 lbs. 7 ozs.

My new baby:

http://www.sunflower.com/~rorwig/images/cannondalesm.jpg

Sweet ride!:banana: I have a 1998 Crack'n Fail R1000, Ultegra 9 speed, Cinelli bar, etc... Unfortunately it had an early demise due to my stupidity with a roof rack and a low overhang. It weighed 17.4 and was a 60cm.

Originally posted by koolaideprived
Jayhawk, very nice bike selection. I went with Specialized though, Allez Comp because yours was < > that much out of my pricerange. :)

The Allez Comp is a nice ride. I have an '03 frame, speced with Shimano 105 (black), Mavic SSC brakes and Ksyrium wheels. It's my commuter bike. I love the compact geometry, and I got the frame (with fork, headset) for $300 shipped to my door. It was pretty hard to pass up at that price.

The weekend/fun bike is a Trek 5900 w/Dura Ace, FSA carbon crank and Ksyriums.

Kevin

Originally posted by mbiker97


Sweet ride!:banana: I have a 1998 Crack'n Fail R1000, Ultegra 9 speed, Cinelli bar, etc... Unfortunately it had an early demise due to my stupidity with a roof rack and a low overhang. It weighed 17.4 and was a 60cm.

Crack'n Fail? Boy I sure hope not. :) Even though I'm well aware of the nature of aluminum and it's propensity to fail given enough time. The old "steel may fail, aluminum will fail" saying.

A friend of mine drove his car with roof rack and bikes attached into a parking garage. Can we say oops. Damaged the rack but his bikes amazingly enough survived.

Sorry to hear that yours didn't. :(