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Which Carrera for a first road bike?

  • This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by gcoulter.
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  • June 18, 2015 at 12:16 pm #850785
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    gcoulter

    Thanks for the comments to
    Thanks for the comments to date.
    I was actually looking at the Decathlon website as well, the Triban 500 seems to get excellent reviews, currently £280.
    http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-road-bike-black-id_8331913.html
    They all seem to be good, and would happily pay a bit more if I thought I wouldn’t have to upgrade pedals or tyres almost immediately.

    June 18, 2015 at 11:38 am #850783
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    vonhelmet

    The Virtuoso has better gears
    The Virtuoso has better gears than either of those bikes and still only costs £300. The Vanquish has a carbon fork and costs £350.

    If you’ve got a Decathlon near you, then you should look there as well, as they have some great value bikes around your price range.

    June 18, 2015 at 10:22 am #850781
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    PhillBrown

    I own a Carrera Zelos that I
    I own a Carrera Zelos that I have had for nearly two years now… Although it’s the prettier black and yellow version from last year! It was my first road bike and I did 1000+ miles in the first few months of owning it – and loved it! I was riding with a triathlon club and could happily keep up with guys on their £x000’s worth of bikes.

    The groupset has held up really well to winter commuting, really wet weather riding and fun summer blasting too… Maintenance has been minimal but it still rides like the day I first climbed on…

    I would imagine that I’ve put close to 3000 miles on it now as its only used for commuting and the occasional evening spin… They are great, robust frames that take a good beating, but I can’t help realise how inferior it is to a “real” road bike when I climb on it after a few rides on a full carbon bike.

    The two bikes that you have listed are actually the same bike, just different colour. The frame geometry, wheels, groupset – all the same. It will be your preference to which you like the look of most…

    I think if I was buying one today, it would be:
    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-tanneri-limited-edition-cyclocross-bike-2015-black
    or
    http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-crixus-limited-edition-cyclocross-bike-2015
    Being a Cyclocross bike gives you extra clearance for larger (more comfortable) tyres and mudguards for the winter whilst also being able to accept raod tyres on the rims. It also means that if you feel the need to blast it along a gravel forest track and get away with it… you can. This bike also comes with a much better groupset for less money too! (they same money on the brakes as these are cantilever rather than calliper)

    If you are happy to buy a new Carrera, then do. Ignore the obvious comments to follow; “Buy a second hand better bike…” or “Stay clear of halfords…” Although both are very valid advice…

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