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Entry level road bike: B'Twin vs Merlin vs Mekk Pinerolo

Hi

I am looking to buy a road bike, as I am planning my first triathlon (already competent marathon runner and okay swimmer).

I have tralwed through a lot of road.cc reviews on entry-level road bikes!

Here is what I am considering at the moment

£350 Merlin PR-7 with Claris (down from £450)
£390 Mekk Pinerolo SE 2.0 with Sora (reduced down from £650)
£400 Merlin PR-7R with Sora (reduced down from £500)
£450 B'Twin 520 with Sora

Does anyone have advice on these optoins or suggestions for others?

Mekk looks like a big reduction from original price therfore maybe good value. But I know the B'Twin 520 is renowned for superb value.

Thanks all!

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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12 comments

Avatar
kenyond | 7 years ago
0 likes

I ride Mekk and its a lovely bike, Ive swapped it to tiagra groupo never had any issues with it 

Avatar
Stef Marazzi | 7 years ago
1 like

I'd agree and go with the Btwin 540, just got back from France and had a really up close look at them in Decathlon (Btwin is a Decathlon brand) - really, really nice bikes, spot on Frame for a starter bike, and 105 is lovely. You cant go wrong.

Avatar
mostly | 7 years ago
1 like

I would get this 

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/323873/products/cannondale-caad8-claris-8-...

Great frame £399. Bargain. 

Avatar
matthewn5 replied to mostly | 7 years ago
0 likes

mostly wrote:

I would get this 

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/323873/products/cannondale-caad8-claris-8-...

Great frame £399. Bargain. 

What he said. Classic frame - and you could gradually upgrade the groupset if you take to cycling.

Avatar
Vejnemojnen | 7 years ago
0 likes

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-technique-sora-2016/

 

the only retarded thing about this bike is the 11-28 cassette, which is annoyingly useless.

 

change it to a 13-26 or a 14-25. large jumps are making cycling a pita.

 

and you would never use the 11-12t anyway if you live on flatlands, on the slopes, just tuck in and lay along the top tube  1

 

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-hg50-9-speed-cassette/

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to Vejnemojnen | 7 years ago
0 likes

Vejnemojnen wrote:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-technique-sora-2016/

 

the only retarded thing about this bike is the 11-28 cassette, which is annoyingly useless.

 

change it to a 13-26 or a 14-25. large jumps are making cycling a pita.

 

and you would never use the 11-12t anyway if you live on flatlands, on the slopes, just tuck in and lay along the top tube  1

 

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-hg50-9-speed-cassette/

 

Totally disagree with this. Had 11-28 on my compact and now semi-compact and wouldn't swap it for anything. Missus on it since last week too and loves it already.

 

Can do anything from climbing at high cadence to sprint training. Never once felt it was a PITA. Shifts are smooth all the way. Been using Ultegra and Dura Ace so not sure if that makes a difference.

 

OP, agree with the guys above. Go eBay and post the bikes here for evaluation of not sure. I spent £550 on the missus' entry level Sora Bianchi new and it was pants. Had to change everything on it. Finishing kit was nearly as expensive as the original bike. Frame must have been good as it rode sweet after new wheels, bars, post etc. The Sora is bad though. 

 

Sold after a few months, she outgrew it way faster than expected. 

 

eBay all the way. I'd get something with 105 around £500 quid, then if I outgrew it, keep it for the winter bike, or just flog off for nearly the same money. 

Avatar
Vejnemojnen replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes

unconstituted wrote:

Vejnemojnen wrote:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-technique-sora-2016/

 

the only retarded thing about this bike is the 11-28 cassette, which is annoyingly useless.

 

change it to a 13-26 or a 14-25. large jumps are making cycling a pita.

 

and you would never use the 11-12t anyway if you live on flatlands, on the slopes, just tuck in and lay along the top tube  1

 

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-hg50-9-speed-cassette/

 

Totally disagree with this. Had 11-28 on my compact and now semi-compact and wouldn't swap it for anything. Missus on it since last week too and loves it already.

 

Can do anything from climbing at high cadence to sprint training. Never once felt it was a PITA. Shifts are smooth all the way. Been using Ultegra and Dura Ace so not sure if that makes a difference.

 

OP, agree with the guys above. Go eBay and post the bikes here for evaluation of not sure. I spent £550 on the missus' entry level Sora Bianchi new and it was pants. Had to change everything on it. Finishing kit was nearly as expensive as the original bike. Frame must have been good as it rode sweet after new wheels, bars, post etc. The Sora is bad though. 

 

Sold after a few months, she outgrew it way faster than expected. 

 

eBay all the way. I'd get something with 105 around £500 quid, then if I outgrew it, keep it for the winter bike, or just flog off for nearly the same money. 

 

how many sprockets does your cassette have?  1

 

A 11spd 11-28 is very different to that of a 9spd. 

the two extra cogs make the transition between gears smoother.

 

I always have a very unpleasant feeling when I have a good cadence, feel great pedalling, and when I switch gears, the next cog is 2teeth different, as opposed to 1.

 

For someone, who is not very strong with incredible power, two teeth jumps are actually noticeable and hindering.

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to Vejnemojnen | 7 years ago
0 likes

Vejnemojnen wrote:

unconstituted wrote:

Vejnemojnen wrote:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-technique-sora-2016/

 

the only retarded thing about this bike is the 11-28 cassette, which is annoyingly useless.

 

change it to a 13-26 or a 14-25. large jumps are making cycling a pita.

 

and you would never use the 11-12t anyway if you live on flatlands, on the slopes, just tuck in and lay along the top tube  1

 

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-hg50-9-speed-cassette/

 

Totally disagree with this. Had 11-28 on my compact and now semi-compact and wouldn't swap it for anything. Missus on it since last week too and loves it already.

 

Can do anything from climbing at high cadence to sprint training. Never once felt it was a PITA. Shifts are smooth all the way. Been using Ultegra and Dura Ace so not sure if that makes a difference.

 

OP, agree with the guys above. Go eBay and post the bikes here for evaluation of not sure. I spent £550 on the missus' entry level Sora Bianchi new and it was pants. Had to change everything on it. Finishing kit was nearly as expensive as the original bike. Frame must have been good as it rode sweet after new wheels, bars, post etc. The Sora is bad though. 

 

Sold after a few months, she outgrew it way faster than expected. 

 

eBay all the way. I'd get something with 105 around £500 quid, then if I outgrew it, keep it for the winter bike, or just flog off for nearly the same money. 

 

how many sprockets does your cassette have?  1

 

A 11spd 11-28 is very different to that of a 9spd. 

the two extra cogs make the transition between gears smoother.

 

I always have a very unpleasant feeling when I have a good cadence, feel great pedalling, and when I switch gears, the next cog is 2teeth different, as opposed to 1.

 

For someone, who is not very strong with incredible power, two teeth jumps are actually noticeable and hindering.

 

Yeah there we go.. that's the difference. I'm on 11 speed. My bad.

Sora is definitely going to be 9 speed, and many others. Sorry, wasn't thinking!

Avatar
Jimthebikeguy.com | 7 years ago
0 likes

Problem with trying to buy a bargain 2nd hand as your first roadbike is that you dont yet know enough about bikes to know a bargain. So buy new and buy the btwin but go up a bit and buy the af700 cos its a steal.

Avatar
huntswheelers | 7 years ago
0 likes

Any are okay...... Best of the bunch which I have worked on.......   B'twin 540....  The Mekk is okay but not worth it's top money...and the Merlin are alright....for me and going on build quality and finish.....  B'twin

Avatar
londoncommute | 7 years ago
0 likes

Sorry for the cheeky post (I don't seem to be able to send PMs) but I don't suppose you're in London and are after a small?  I was mulling over selling my Boardman Team Carbon which would be a nice alternative to the above options.

Avatar
Acm | 7 years ago
1 like

at £400, I'd have a look on eBay, there are some absolute steals if you're prepared to put in a little extra effort to get something a couple of years old. Buy from someone local who's prepared to let you have a look at the bike first, and check everything's working, that the frame doesn't have any damage and there's no massive wear to the rims or any bearings. If there is something wrong, consider the cost of fixing it

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