Carrera TDF £199 today
Discussion
Type R Tom said:
So what’s the general consensus, this at £211 or sticking that money on a second hand bike on Ebay for the GF?
Tom,Once you add to checkout the price drops to £199.
Being a member of British Cycling drops it again by 10% to £179.
OK it cost me £28 this morning for the British Cycling membership, so £207 spent all in, but I have the benefit of that membership now too.
I don't think you'll get much better for £180 personally and it's new with a warranty.
Those Sora shifters aren't that bad. I've read it so often that people don't like them.
I recently did a 180km ride on my Allez with said shifters due to having a problem with my 105 equipped SuperSix. Granted they aren't 105 smooth, but they do the job quite well. I hadn't used that bike for about 6 months but after a few miles and a few missed shifts, I soon got used to the thumb shifters.
80sMatchbox said:
Those Sora shifters aren't that bad. I've read it so often that people don't like them.
I recently did a 180km ride on my Allez with said shifters due to having a problem with my 105 equipped SuperSix. Granted they aren't 105 smooth, but they do the job quite well. I hadn't used that bike for about 6 months but after a few miles and a few missed shifts, I soon got used to the thumb shifters.
Unfortunately the TDF Limited edition on sale isn't the same as the regular TDF. It's Shimano Tourney 7 speed...I recently did a 180km ride on my Allez with said shifters due to having a problem with my 105 equipped SuperSix. Granted they aren't 105 smooth, but they do the job quite well. I hadn't used that bike for about 6 months but after a few miles and a few missed shifts, I soon got used to the thumb shifters.
TheLemming said:
80sMatchbox said:
Those Sora shifters aren't that bad. I've read it so often that people don't like them.
I recently did a 180km ride on my Allez with said shifters due to having a problem with my 105 equipped SuperSix. Granted they aren't 105 smooth, but they do the job quite well. I hadn't used that bike for about 6 months but after a few miles and a few missed shifts, I soon got used to the thumb shifters.
Unfortunately the TDF Limited edition on sale isn't the same as the regular TDF. It's Shimano Tourney 7 speed...I recently did a 180km ride on my Allez with said shifters due to having a problem with my 105 equipped SuperSix. Granted they aren't 105 smooth, but they do the job quite well. I hadn't used that bike for about 6 months but after a few miles and a few missed shifts, I soon got used to the thumb shifters.
jamiebae said:
The cheap one has worse bits, but a compact chainset. The normal version has Claris shifters (much better) but a rubbish non-compact chainset so I'd say it isn't worth the extra. For £300 buy a Triban from Decathlon instead.
Ok then, the £199 LTD edition or the Triban at £300. I just want a road bike as an alternative to my heavy mountain bike with chunky rubber for doing a few miles to improve fitness. I'm not going to be doing megamiles but maybe 5-10 miles few evenings a week. I'll keep my mountain bike for the winter and off road canal towpaths.I've seen a few posts on various forums saying how bad the Triban wheels are. Well mine are fine and after nearly 600Km, mostly on the terrible roads in Liverpool with awful surfaces and speed humps on nearly every road, they're still running true. I suppose that being mass produced it's inevitable that a few that will be bad. But you won't be disappointed with the Triban, great bikes. Also if you need a small frame then they're selling off the old red Triban 3 which about £250 and has carbon forks, the newer version (the 300) has steel forks. Still a great bike though, they even have their own owners forum!
Fugazi said:
I've seen a few posts on various forums saying how bad the Triban wheels are. Well mine are fine and after nearly 600Km, mostly on the terrible roads in Liverpool with awful surfaces and speed humps on nearly every road, they're still running true. I suppose that being mass produced it's inevitable that a few that will be bad. But you won't be disappointed with the Triban, great bikes. Also if you need a small frame then they're selling off the old red Triban 3 which about £250 and has carbon forks, the newer version (the 300) has steel forks. Still a great bike though, they even have their own owners forum!
In all fairness, the wheels on mine weighed so much they nearly formed a critical mass. But I replaced them with RS11s for £80. Easy and significant upgrade.
I've had a Zelos for a few weeks now, which looks like an almost identical bike on paper.
Mine had a 120mm stem on which I've just swapped for a 60mm as it was a bit of a stretch for me.
Also, the rear cassette, which is actually a free wheel is a 7 speed 14-28, on the compact chain ring there's plenty for going up hills but not much for coming down. I've bought a 7 speed 11-28 cassette which I'll be putting on some new R501 rims soon.
It's the first bike I've ridden since I was a kid and my first experience of a road bike. It's pretty solid to ride and is certainly nice enough for starting out on and getting my fitness up.
It's not as nice as a 4-500 quid bike, it's pretty heavy and has the thumb shifters. But it is half the price.
Mine had a 120mm stem on which I've just swapped for a 60mm as it was a bit of a stretch for me.
Also, the rear cassette, which is actually a free wheel is a 7 speed 14-28, on the compact chain ring there's plenty for going up hills but not much for coming down. I've bought a 7 speed 11-28 cassette which I'll be putting on some new R501 rims soon.
It's the first bike I've ridden since I was a kid and my first experience of a road bike. It's pretty solid to ride and is certainly nice enough for starting out on and getting my fitness up.
It's not as nice as a 4-500 quid bike, it's pretty heavy and has the thumb shifters. But it is half the price.
b19rak said:
Ok then, the £199 LTD edition or the Triban at £300. I just want a road bike as an alternative to my heavy mountain bike with chunky rubber for doing a few miles to improve fitness. I'm not going to be doing megamiles but maybe 5-10 miles few evenings a week. I'll keep my mountain bike for the winter and off road canal towpaths.
Had a good chat with the Halfords bike guy today. He basically said the LTD edition is a budget version of the TDF and that is a much better bike. I will have a look at the Triban bikes first thou as there is a Decathlon in Coventry. b19rak said:
Had a good chat with the Halfords bike guy today. He basically said the LTD edition is a budget version of the TDF and that is a much better bike. I will have a look at the Triban bikes first thou as there is a Decathlon in Coventry.
I've got a regular tdf. The upgrade route for it is "buy another bike" (I did - I'm up to 6 having recently sold one).TBH the regular TDF isn't a bad bike, its just all bottom of the line and overgeared.
The limited is heavier and lower spec across the board - I'd rate it borderline BSO territory. Not quite, but its a significant downgrade on an already low end road bike.
I've previously recommended the regular TDF (with a "get a triban instead" advice added) but I can't in good conscience advise anyone to buy the downgraded LTD edition.
TheLemming said:
I've got a regular tdf. The upgrade route for it is "buy another bike" (I did - I'm up to 6 having recently sold one).
TBH the regular TDF isn't a bad bike, its just all bottom of the line and overgeared.
The limited is heavier and lower spec across the board - I'd rate it borderline BSO territory. Not quite, but its a significant downgrade on an already low end road bike.
I've previously recommended the regular TDF (with a "get a triban instead" advice added) but I can't in good conscience advise anyone to buy the downgraded LTD edition.
I had a look at the Triban bikes today. I must say they feel a cut above the Carrera bikes. Dilema i now have is do i go for a BTwin 3 or 500se. They also do the same frame with a flat bar called the Fit. That is also tempting. Help me out guys, do i need the carbon fork on the 500se or should i save £80 odd quid and get the 3.TBH the regular TDF isn't a bad bike, its just all bottom of the line and overgeared.
The limited is heavier and lower spec across the board - I'd rate it borderline BSO territory. Not quite, but its a significant downgrade on an already low end road bike.
I've previously recommended the regular TDF (with a "get a triban instead" advice added) but I can't in good conscience advise anyone to buy the downgraded LTD edition.
The carbon forks really do help to smooth out the vibrations from the road surface and the 500SE hasn't let me down. Other peopele who have the 300 say pretty much the same but best thing to do is sit on the bikes and have a go. The 500 was a better looking bike in my opinion and the Sora chainset tipped the balance as far as I was concerned as I was originally planning on buying the 300.
As for the bars, well that's up to you. I like the drop bars as it gives me a multitude of positions to rest my hands, however I do miss the flat bars when I'm commuting sometimes but I much prefer riding a road bike over my old hybrid.
As for the bars, well that's up to you. I like the drop bars as it gives me a multitude of positions to rest my hands, however I do miss the flat bars when I'm commuting sometimes but I much prefer riding a road bike over my old hybrid.
Edited by Fugazi on Friday 25th July 15:03
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff