Another what bike - first road bike approx £1,200
Discussion
Sorry for adding another what bike thread but just looking for suggestions on road bikes around £1,200?
I'm coming from a mountain biking background but am just about to get my first road bike. I've done a few road rides before but usually on borrowed bikes so I've decided to get my own.
I've been to two bike shops this morning for advice as I am not really clued up on group sets etc for road bikes. Both shops have recommended the same bike and speak highly of it indeed -
2013 Giant Defy Composite carbon - http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/20...
I've also been to the local specialized concept store and they recommended -
Specialized Tarmac - http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/Detail/13...
I was just wondering if there were any other bikes I should consider at this price point and how they would compare to the ones above?
I'm not so keen on the Giant, not sure why but I think I might have it in my head that the brand doesn't have much status if you know what I mean? Of course, if it is the better bike then I will buy it but like I said, I'm just wondering if there is anything else to consider?
Oh, and if it helps I will be doing 45-60 mile rides and possibly a 100 mile towards the end of the year.
I'm coming from a mountain biking background but am just about to get my first road bike. I've done a few road rides before but usually on borrowed bikes so I've decided to get my own.
I've been to two bike shops this morning for advice as I am not really clued up on group sets etc for road bikes. Both shops have recommended the same bike and speak highly of it indeed -
2013 Giant Defy Composite carbon - http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/20...
I've also been to the local specialized concept store and they recommended -
Specialized Tarmac - http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/Detail/13...
I was just wondering if there were any other bikes I should consider at this price point and how they would compare to the ones above?
I'm not so keen on the Giant, not sure why but I think I might have it in my head that the brand doesn't have much status if you know what I mean? Of course, if it is the better bike then I will buy it but like I said, I'm just wondering if there is anything else to consider?
Oh, and if it helps I will be doing 45-60 mile rides and possibly a 100 mile towards the end of the year.
"...but I think I might have it in my head that the brand doesn't have much status if you know what I mean?"
They make some of the best bikes in the business, AND just so happen to make a sizeable chunk of all bikes out there, irrespective of the name appearing on the downtube.
Out of those two bikes, I'd say the Giant: the Specialized has 9sp Sora, the Giant 10sp Tiagra (better drivetrain, better cross-compatibility between other 10sp Shimano group sets). However, it'd still be worth hunting around to see what else is out there.
EDIT: And don't get hung up on carbon fibre. The same amount thrown at an aluminium bike will get you (at a guess) nicer wheels or groupset. Up to you
EDIT x2: Some suggestions:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/volant/vo...
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/equilibri... (I have one. It's superb)
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_team.html (£1K, so £200 for pedals, tyres etc)
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPWHT/pla...
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT57RIV/pl...
They make some of the best bikes in the business, AND just so happen to make a sizeable chunk of all bikes out there, irrespective of the name appearing on the downtube.
Out of those two bikes, I'd say the Giant: the Specialized has 9sp Sora, the Giant 10sp Tiagra (better drivetrain, better cross-compatibility between other 10sp Shimano group sets). However, it'd still be worth hunting around to see what else is out there.
EDIT: And don't get hung up on carbon fibre. The same amount thrown at an aluminium bike will get you (at a guess) nicer wheels or groupset. Up to you
EDIT x2: Some suggestions:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/volant/vo...
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/equilibri... (I have one. It's superb)
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_team.html (£1K, so £200 for pedals, tyres etc)
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPWHT/pla...
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT57RIV/pl...
Edited by Jimbo. on Saturday 11th May 17:59
Edited by Jimbo. on Saturday 11th May 18:02
Cheers for the replies. Just been looking at the Boardman bikes on the Halfords site.
This seems like quite a good spec slightly over my £1,200 but the budget is a little flexible so that's not an issue - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Carbon frame, bb30, mavic rims and 105 group set.
Anyone have one of these or have an opinion on them?
This seems like quite a good spec slightly over my £1,200 but the budget is a little flexible so that's not an issue - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Carbon frame, bb30, mavic rims and 105 group set.
Anyone have one of these or have an opinion on them?
Mr Bishi said:
Cheers for the replies. Just been looking at the Boardman bikes on the Halfords site.
This seems like quite a good spec slightly over my £1,200 but the budget is a little flexible so that's not an issue - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Carbon frame, bb30, mavic rims and 105 group set.
Anyone have one of these or have an opinion on them?
Reasonable wheels - more than good enough for your first (second, third...) road bike. Ditto the 105 groupset. This seems like quite a good spec slightly over my £1,200 but the budget is a little flexible so that's not an issue - http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Carbon frame, bb30, mavic rims and 105 group set.
Anyone have one of these or have an opinion on them?
The frame'll be fine. Boardmans aren't crap to begin with, and compared to the Giant, the differences will be small, and un-noticeable for your first road bike beyond the obvious (fit). Chances are it's made by Giant (or at least emerges from a factory that also knocks out frames for many other big names).
They're good bikes. I know a few (strong!) people with them, who've nothing but praise.
What's going on? This is PH, and no one has suggested anything 3 times the OP's budget!?
A curve ball option, (which is slightly over your budget!) is to hang on a few weeks for one of these: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/hoy-bik...
The spec for the money looks great. Be interesting to see what the finished product looks like once it hits the shops.
A curve ball option, (which is slightly over your budget!) is to hang on a few weeks for one of these: http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/hoy-bik...
The spec for the money looks great. Be interesting to see what the finished product looks like once it hits the shops.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b65s6p4321/CANNONDA...
I love Cannondales though so I am a bit biased, but that is a great bike for the money
I love Cannondales though so I am a bit biased, but that is a great bike for the money
There are plenty of £1100-1300 bikes available from 2012 in the sales. This time last year many were north of £2k.
If you can live with the terrible shame of riding last season's model you'll get some excellent bargains. You'll get 105/Ultegra instead of Sora/Tiagra and the frames will be worth upgrading the wheels on in future.
Just have a look around Evans, Wiggle, ChainReaction etc.
If you can live with the terrible shame of riding last season's model you'll get some excellent bargains. You'll get 105/Ultegra instead of Sora/Tiagra and the frames will be worth upgrading the wheels on in future.
Just have a look around Evans, Wiggle, ChainReaction etc.
Fluffsri said:
Now this is a nice looking bike!
Frame
Ribble Gran Fondo Carb Road Frame L (55cm C-Top)
Headset
Ribble Headset Branded Ribble 1 1/8" Hidden (ITS) 45 x 45
Groupset
Shimano 105 (5700) Black 10 Spd Double Groupset
Show Groupset Data
Wheels
Mavic Cosmic Elite Clincher Wheels Pair M10 Shim
Handlebars
ITM Alutech 6061 (31.8) Bars Black 42cm
Handlebar Stem
ITM Alutech 6061 (31.8) Stem Black 100mm
Headset Spacers
Trivio Headset Spacers Alloy 1 1/8" Black 10mm
Saddle
Selle Italia X1 Man Saddle Black
Seatpillar
Ritchey Pro Seatpillar Wet Black 31.6 400mm
Tyres
Yaw Nitro Rigid Tyre Black/Black 700x23mm
Inner Tubes
Yaw Butyl Inner Tube 700x18/25 SV42mm
Handlebar Tape
ITM Cork Embossed Handlebar Tape Black
Price excluding Pedals: £1,332.90
What's pictures and what's listed are two different bikes! For example, the wheels pictures are probably Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLs, whereas the ones in the spec list are these:
http://www.mavic.com/en/product/wheels/road-triath... Then there's the (listed) Shimano 105 groupset vs. the Campagnolo (range?) pictured, etc, etc.
Still good, but just be wary with the "spec may vary" disclaimer. Especially when the pictured bike (which is meant to grab you attention) probably comes in with another £500ish worth of parts that you wouldn't be getting!
EDIT: And be wary of budget creep. With the bike listed, you'll still need pedals (£50ish) and tyres (another £50ish: the ones listed are utter tat). £100 straight off.
http://www.mavic.com/en/product/wheels/road-triath... Then there's the (listed) Shimano 105 groupset vs. the Campagnolo (range?) pictured, etc, etc.
Still good, but just be wary with the "spec may vary" disclaimer. Especially when the pictured bike (which is meant to grab you attention) probably comes in with another £500ish worth of parts that you wouldn't be getting!
EDIT: And be wary of budget creep. With the bike listed, you'll still need pedals (£50ish) and tyres (another £50ish: the ones listed are utter tat). £100 straight off.
Edited by Jimbo. on Saturday 11th May 22:25
Edited by Jimbo. on Saturday 11th May 22:27
at the £1,200 price point I would be looking for a decent Alu frame that would allow to upgrade wheels etc. You should be aiming for Shimano 105 groupset (or equivalent), I would not get too hung up on the wheels as at £1,200-ish you won't get a great set - in fact even when you spend £3 or £4k you still get s
te wheels as the manufacturers know they are the first things riders replace.
If it were my cash I would be considering these;
Felt F75
Canyon Ultimate AL
GIANT TCR
Cannondale CAAD
Trek Domane - personally I am not a huge fan of Trek but I know a few guys who ride them and rave about them, and there is no getting away from the fantastic reviews the Domane gets from the cycling press.
There are dozens of other options but if I were spending £1,200 this is what I would be looking at, in the above order......
HTH - btw, give it a year and you will be looking to spend £3k+ on a bike......
te wheels as the manufacturers know they are the first things riders replace.If it were my cash I would be considering these;
Felt F75
Canyon Ultimate AL
GIANT TCR
Cannondale CAAD
Trek Domane - personally I am not a huge fan of Trek but I know a few guys who ride them and rave about them, and there is no getting away from the fantastic reviews the Domane gets from the cycling press.
There are dozens of other options but if I were spending £1,200 this is what I would be looking at, in the above order......
HTH - btw, give it a year and you will be looking to spend £3k+ on a bike......
Jimbo. said:
What's pictures and what's listed are two different bikes! For example, the wheels pictures are probably Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLs, whereas the ones in the spec list are these:
http://www.mavic.com/en/product/wheels/road-triath... Then there's the (listed) Shimano 105 groupset vs. the Campagnolo (range?) pictured, etc, etc.
Still good, but just be wary with the "spec may vary" disclaimer. Especially when the pictured bike (which is meant to grab you attention) probably comes in with another £500ish worth of parts that you wouldn't be getting!
EDIT: And be wary of budget creep. With the bike listed, you'll still need pedals (£50ish) and tyres (another £50ish: the ones listed are utter tat). £100 straight off.
Yeah I'm aware the the picture doesn't match the spec. I meant the frame and forks looked pretty awesome. Your right about the budget creep through, going to be easy to keep bumping it up. I have in mind £1,500 for bike, shoes and pedals etc. http://www.mavic.com/en/product/wheels/road-triath... Then there's the (listed) Shimano 105 groupset vs. the Campagnolo (range?) pictured, etc, etc.
Still good, but just be wary with the "spec may vary" disclaimer. Especially when the pictured bike (which is meant to grab you attention) probably comes in with another £500ish worth of parts that you wouldn't be getting!
EDIT: And be wary of budget creep. With the bike listed, you'll still need pedals (£50ish) and tyres (another £50ish: the ones listed are utter tat). £100 straight off.
Edited by Jimbo. on Saturday 11th May 22:25
Edited by Jimbo. on Saturday 11th May 22:27
I really appreciate the advice and recomendations its really helpful. I'm still thinking of getting a carbon frame despite the majority of the recommendations being to go aluminium. My thoughts here are that I can always upgrade the other components as the brake/wear out.
I believe Ribble are mail order? Is there any way to look/test ride them before buying?
Mr Bishi said:
I'm still thinking of getting a carbon frame despite the majority of the recommendations being to go aluminium.
Not all carbon frames are equal. Same goes for Al.Around the £1200-1500 mark you are getting very good Al or bottom end carbon. And that's before you even factor in the difference between components.
But as I said before those are RRP prices. Online retailers are desperate to get rid of last year's stock. Bias alert because I have this bike with Ultegra. But for a grand you get 105 components with a peloton proven frame and plenty left over for some tasty wheels. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-damocles-special-ed...
I had the same dilemma recently. Ended up with the Giant defy 1 in Aluminium, it fitted me better (6' 5" with 36" inside leg) than the other bikes at similar price, also came with 105 as standard. Happy so far, if I get better I might consider carbon, although I think I'll update to some Harry Rowland wheels first and see how things pan out, copes with distance with ease.
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