[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by chibibike

I don't get why hack throws around these prices like I shouldn't do it cause it's an 800 dollar bike. a bike is a bike and it becomes whatever value all the components are together

Nope. Otherwise I would have been handed a check for $8,800 when I sold my tandem, and not $3,000. Of course, that bike was worth every penny. You're going to have the heaviest Campagnolo-equipped bike ever. Lipstick on a turd.

[photosbymark]

If you want to build up a bike, build a bike from the frame up and pick exactly what you want. You could put a Ferrari engine in a Ford Pinto, but its still a Ford Pinto. Yes you may have the best components, but what you have is a bike that really is probably ill suited for nearly every purpose. It's a bike that would be extremely difficult to resell, and if you could it would be no where near the money you would have in it. Such a build if you ever wanted to get anything near your money back, you would likely have to return the bike to stock to sell. Then sell the parts separately, a very time consuming venture and you still would not get your money back.

With what you would have in it, you would be much better off to decide what type of riding you want to do with the bike and order a frame that meets those requirements. Order your wheels and components you want, get them all in and then find a wrench to put it all together for you. You will have a better bike that's safe, better meets your needs, worth more at resale if for some reason you do need to sell, just as custom, lighter, and an all around better use of your resources.

BTW Hack Did you see the Mythbusters episode where they proved you can polish poo?? Other than that show though, why would you want to??

[Industry_Hack]

I didn't see that episode, but I also didn't miss it.

I recently bought a Subaru wagon, and want to race SCCA. I'm going to remove the interior to save weight, and I want to disable to RWD, as I really only need FWD. Can anyone help with this? Also, it needs more power - is there a more expensive motor I can adapt to the Subie transmission?

[Garilia]

Originally Posted by chibibike

well what is a good bike for riding on trails and also is fast on the road?

n +1

[photosbymark]

For the type of money you are talking, you don't need one bike. You need a solid road bike designed and optimized for road work, and a trail bike designed and optimized for off road. There is a reason there are different.

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by chibibike

well what is a good bike for riding on trails and also is fast on the road?

Apparently, a Trek Utopia is designed for that. Swapping the tires out for something a bit less aggressive might give a rider an edge on the road, but any other speed gains will only come from the rider, not from the bike.

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by chibibike

cost for bikes isn't an issue.

Make up your mind.

Originally Posted by chibibike

i prolly save for a couple months and I'll be ready. I could get it on with one of our paychecks but that would mean having to like not do anything we usually do and have a tight budget for a while and it's not worth it since my bike works and all.

Back to this:

Originally Posted by chibibike

it's just that I dont' just ride on one particular surface when i ride and even if i did like if I was just going to and from work one day I don't want to store two bikes cause my hubby has two so that's four bikes. that's way to much we dont' want to dedicate a room to store them and we're not gonna but bikes in some weird out of the way place that's going to be a real pain to take it out and put it back away for every trip so I want to make due with one bike for now at least so while I have only one bike I want to make it as much duel purpose as I can make it.

Your Utopia was a good balance between the two, but you keep trying to make it into a road bike, which isn't going to make the bike go any faster. Once you understand that, things will be a lot easier for everyone.

[photosbymark]

Your hubby must be a very patient man

[Garilia]

Originally Posted by chibibike

cost for bikes isn't an issue it's just that I dont' just ride on one particular surface when i ride and even if i did like if I was just going to and from work one day I don't want to store two bikes cause my hubby has two so that's four bikes. that's way to much we dont' want to dedicate a room to store them and we're not gonna but bikes in some weird out of the way place that's going to be a real pain to take it out and put it back away for every trip so I want to make due with one bike for now at least so while I have only one bike I want to make it as much duel purpose as I can make it.

I can understand this logic. A cyclocross type bike is probably the best for this use. Trek makes the XO1 and XO2, as well as the Fisher Cyclocross line of bikes, Lane, Erwin, Presidio, and Cronus CX.

While your Utopia is billed as one bike that does it all, you are finding out that it doesn't. The front suspension fork, even with lockout is probably still too mushy, and you can tell you're not getting efficient power transfer. Hence why you were wanting to change your fork. The components are lower end (hence why you're saving for Campy). And the handlebars should be drop bar style. That Utopia looks more like a 29er hardtail MTB than a dual purpose bike. Especially since while functional on the road, it isn't satisfying you on the road.

[Tedzo]

I would have to agree with Garilia, Chibi. A cyclocross bike is the way to go if you still want to go fast on the road. But I wouldn't put Campy Record on it. And why do you have to settle on only one bike when your dear husband gets two???