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Newbie with lots of choices and cannot decide which is best!

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  • September 7, 2014 at 7:45 am #22326
    Cheekyjohn

    Well where to start really, doing the Cyclescheme thing and choosing a road bike, as I already own a MTB and can’t justify spending a small fortune on another only to throw it down a mountainside, after all that’s what there made for isn’t it? I want to ride the roads anyway. I’ve not ridden a road bike for a number of years and I fear I’m having the ” mid lifer ” and want to don Lycra and pretend I’m the next Wiggo etc. The thing is the more research I do the more confusing it becomes. I’m going to spend the full £1000 but will have to budget in pedals and shoes into this as my MTB has flats.

    Is it me or am I being cynical but every LBS I go into seems to slag off every other brand apart from obviously the ones they are selling? I’ve been into 3 now in my area (Bolton) and the first tried to sell me the Raleigh Revenio 2, the next said Raleigh were not what they once where and tried to sell me a Forme, saying basically buy it because its local! He was also very disparaging about Ribble bikes and also Decathlons own brand, now doing said research these bikes where getting pretty decent reviews? So I’m bloody confused now. The third LBS I went into then tried selling me the Giant Defy 2. As far as I’m concerned all these bikes seem ok. I’m pretty keen on using a LBS so can access there after sales service and have a human being to interact with!

    Now I know these questions have probably been asked a thousand times on here before so I will thank you in advance for reading all this blurb and actually taking the time to offer any help or advice.

    Many thanks John the Newbie!

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  • October 1, 2014 at 6:52 pm #813363
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    Cheekyjohn

    Still no bike!!!
    Still no bike!!! Unfortunately still hunting (did I mention I was in no rush!) anyway I’ve sort of whittled it down to 5.

    http://www.evanscycles.com/…/trek/madone-21-h2-compact-2014-road-bike-ec0…
    http://www.evanscycles.com/…/hoy/sa-calobra-003-2014-road-bike-ec051523
    http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/58105/Merida_Ride_Carbon_93_2013_Bike
    http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/66607/Giant_Defy_0_2014_Bike
    http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p73908/Giant-Defy-1-2015-Road-Bike.aspx?gclid=CKLFzoSPjMECFazItAodriIA5Q

    Please help……………arghhhhhh my brain is saturated with bikes! Really like the look of the Merida but its “only” Tiagra where the Giant Defy 0 is Ultegra but is at top end of budget? Plus the Hoy bike does look stunning and understated! Can you now see my problem. I want them all!!!!! :”( :”( :”( :”(

    September 13, 2014 at 11:25 am #813361
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    Cheekyjohn

    What do the good people of
    What do the good people of road cc! think of the Sensa Romagna Special at Merlin bikes? Great group set nice looking bike? 😕

    September 12, 2014 at 9:35 pm #813359
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    Cheekyjohn

    I think last comment says it
    I think last comment says it all really.. Buy a bike that is going to make you want to ride the bloody thing! Even if it is grim outside! I visited Ribble Bikes then Merlin cycles today to do some more research, thought Merlin was a better place to shop and got more help from the guys there. Ribble’s showroom is very small and only has around ten bikes to peruse. Ok I know they used to have a good shop and have decided to operate out of an industrial unit. Obviously financially it makes sense for them to do this. But so does Merlin but they had a very nice shop to peruse clothing, helmets, shoes etc as well as having tons of different bikes to look at, and at bloody good prices as well, Ribble bikes do look nice but so did a lot of the Merlin bikes, I think the more personable approach is a better way to do business and on that note I would be more likely to use Merlin as they were far more helpfikwhen listening to my needs, will keep you posted as with my research and eventual purchase!

    September 12, 2014 at 11:35 am #813357
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    Hoester

    Choose whatever bike makes
    Choose whatever bike makes you happiest.

    Its not always the ‘best in test’. Lets face it, if you really get into it, it won’t be the last bike you buy. If you buy a bike purely based on facts and reviews, but it doesn’t get your juices flowing when you look at it in the garage, you won’t ride it as often.

    My favourite bikes have not been my most expensive, best specced or best performing bikes.

    Look at reviews/specs/opinion by all means, they’re great for forming a shortlist. But don’t let the mind totally overrule the heart.

    September 12, 2014 at 9:35 am #813355
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    daddyELVIS

    A mate got a CAAD8 – really
    A mate got a CAAD8 – really rates it – I think they come in under the £1k mark.

    September 11, 2014 at 9:02 pm #813353
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    Simon E

    Blue_Brevatto makes some very
    Blue_Brevatto makes some very good points.

    As others have said, bikes are uniformly brilliant nowadays, we’re incredibly spoilt for choice. Yes it’s true – most frames are made in a small number of factories in Taiwan while the components are equally effective.

    The important thing is that you buy the bike YOU really want to ride. 9 or 10 speed, this chainset or that is not the most important aspect.

    There is no problem buying it from one shop (because it’s the bike you want) and getting it serviced, new parts etc at another (because they treat you properly).

    I too would recommend opting to spend a little less than your budget and get some tools, spares, clothing and so on.

    September 11, 2014 at 7:40 pm #813351
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    Comrade

    I’ve just gone carbon after
    I’ve just gone carbon after … 6 years on aluminium ; Mekk 1.5 poggio sora cost £600. I am now on compact, and still have the Giant triple SCR2. I bought the bike for what I think is a good price and will upgrade once the bits wear out. Good luck!

    September 11, 2014 at 4:14 pm #813349
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    Cheekyjohn

    Well still not decided yet
    Well still not decided yet where and what to purchase! The favourites at the moment are the 2015 Giant Defy 1 @ £900. Hoy Sa Calobra 003 @ £850. Orbea Aqua @ £880, or the B’Twin Mach 700 @ £850? Or a Ribble machine! 8| 8| 8|

    September 8, 2014 at 8:36 pm #813347
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    Tintow

    If you’re coming from MTB and
    If you’re coming from MTB and haven’t tried road riding for a while, you could do worse than cover your bases and buy a CX bike. These are really versatile bikes that can do really well on the road with 28/25 road tyres, great off-road with CX tyres and also take mudguards for use as a winter bike.
    Given what you say about your riding ability, you won’t be able to tell the difference between a CX with road tyres and a road bike but you’ll gain lots of flexibility – plus if you don’t take to road riding you have a fast off-road bike to have fun on.
    You can get a really decent CX bike well within the CTW scheme budget and still have money left over for SPD pedals (put these on your CX and half-n-half’s on your MTB) and some SPD shoes and road tyres.
    If you’re lucky and have a decent Halfords nearby, the Boardman CX Team gets great reviews but there’s plenty of choice in this segment.
    Happy hunting!

    September 8, 2014 at 3:12 pm #813345
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    Cheekyjohn

    Very good comment. I’ve
    Very good comment. I’ve considered going to one of he many LBShops in my area and accepting the fact they haven’t got the same stock and pricing abilities over the bigger chains. But getting that bike fit and set up properly for you is important I think. I have now called in 3 locals and 2 chain stores and feel there wasn’t much between them. Some felt bloody awful and some ok but none outstanding yet! I’m in no rush so will carry on with research etc. I’m calling into Geoff Smith Cycles (Bolton) tomorrow. It gets good recommendations locally so will give some feedback on here. Fingers crossed!

    September 8, 2014 at 2:53 pm #813343
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    Blue_Brevatto

    One way to narrow your choice
    One way to narrow your choice would be to decide you want the option of fitting fatter tyres (say up to 28mm). Or that you want to fit a full length mud-guards. Or even that you want to be able to use a pannier if the need arises. If you want all three options you will immediately reduce the field by >90%.

    My experience from buying my first road bike was that in hindsight I simply didn’t know enough about road riding, bike handling, feel and my own skills to make an informed choice. And I’m not sure what I could have done at the time to have changed that – it’s only after owning and regularly riding several different bikes that one can get on a bike and say within a few minutes “No that feels odd” or “Yes this corners better than that one”. Even now I’m not sure I could do that on a test ride “round the block” of the LBS. Where this is going is that I think you should recognize that it is entirely possible that in a year or two you will look back and realize you didn’t make the perfect choice. There is uncertainty in the process and you need to recognize that. A poster in a different thread spoke about this in the context of obsessing over internet deals but it’s the same idea – you can’t be certain you have found the perfect choice beforehand so don’t fret over it – just find a LBS which can give you a good bike-fit and where you feel you’re being well treated and accept that your choice will be limited by their stock.

    In the same vein it’s also worth thinking about NOT spending the maximum you can afford. Buy something cheaper, push it to its limits (or yours) and ride it into the ground. When it’s knackered (which might only take a year with heavy use) you can either upgrade or do another Cyclescheme from a more informed position.

    September 8, 2014 at 12:38 pm #813341
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    notfastenough

    Well in that case just buy
    Well in that case just buy the one that looks the fastest. No, seriously. Buy the one that will drag you out of bed on Sunday mornings to thrash the knackers off it, because that will have infinitely more effect on your performance and enjoyment than any of the myriad small differences between what are all good bikes.

    September 8, 2014 at 11:12 am #813339
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    Cheekyjohn

    Yes I haven’t been into
    Yes I haven’t been into Cyclesurgery yet but have heard ok things of them. Evans do a price match also so at least you can’t lose out

    September 8, 2014 at 9:42 am #813337
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    notfastenough

    There’s at least half a dozen
    There’s at least half a dozen Ribbles on the club run, all very well liked by their owners.

    I find Cycle Surgery to be ok, certainly better service than I’ve experienced from Evans. Then again, if you do want to buy from Evans, just challenge them to match the price. They might, or they might throw in some freebies instead.

    September 8, 2014 at 5:36 am #813335
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    Cheekyjohn

    Replying to “do you have a
    Replying to “do you have a brand in mind?” No not really just want the right bike for the right money. Ribble bikes are an option for me because they are only down the road from me. Still very undecided what to get! But thanks for the comments

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