Full carbon road bike for 400 quid. What could go wrong?

Full carbon road bike for 400 quid. What could go wrong?

Author
Discussion

LordHaveMurci

12,034 posts

168 months

Friday 11th December 2015
quotequote all
jamiebae said:
LordHaveMurci said:
Holy thread resurrection!

Anybody know if you can fit 105 5800 calipers on these using original shifters, cables etc? If so, is it any easy enough job?

Been offered an unused pair at a reasonable price, seems like a worthwhile upgrade?
Yup, will work fine as long as they're not the 'direct mount' version.
How would I know the difference?

jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Friday 11th December 2015
quotequote all
LordHaveMurci said:
jamiebae said:
LordHaveMurci said:
Holy thread resurrection!

Anybody know if you can fit 105 5800 calipers on these using original shifters, cables etc? If so, is it any easy enough job?

Been offered an unused pair at a reasonable price, seems like a worthwhile upgrade?
Yup, will work fine as long as they're not the 'direct mount' version.
How would I know the difference?
Direct mount has two bolts/mounting points, regular just has one bolt in the middle to attach to the frame.

jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Friday 11th December 2015
quotequote all
99% sure they're the normal ones so you'll be fine. You can't actually see the fixings, but the way they're standing suggests they're not direct mount.

LordHaveMurci

12,034 posts

168 months

Monday 14th December 2015
quotequote all
Sorry, another 105 question for the knowledgeable ones. Will a 5800 105 11sp chainset fit these as they are only 9sp? Anybody know what ratios the std chainset is (I'm not home to check & quick Google doesn't help)?

richardxjr

7,561 posts

209 months

Monday 14th December 2015
quotequote all
Yes, using an English threaded BB. Compact 34-50t.

jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Monday 14th December 2015
quotequote all
LordHaveMurci said:
Sorry, another 105 question for the knowledgeable ones. Will a 5800 105 11sp chainset fit these as they are only 9sp? Anybody know what ratios the std chainset is (I'm not home to check & quick Google doesn't help)?
Will it?

I thought there were 7-9 speed chainsets and 10-11 speed ones as the 10/11 speed has a narrower chain?

richardxjr

7,561 posts

209 months

Monday 14th December 2015
quotequote all
That doesn't matter Jamie.

jamiebae

6,245 posts

210 months

Monday 14th December 2015
quotequote all
richardxjr said:
That doesn't matter Jamie.
http://www.chainreactionhub.com/bicycle-components/1518-chainrings-buying-guide

This link disagrees, there's a line in there saying "NOTE: Chainrings for different gearing setups may not be interchangeable – rings for 10- and 11-speed transmission are narrower than 9-speed ones to accommodate the narrower chain. If in doubt, replace like with like or carefully the specs of your intended replacement to ensure compatibility. "

I wasn't sure either way but I had read that I couldn't fit a 105 chainset to my spare bike which runs an 8 speed drivetrain, even with the correct BB fitted.

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 15th January 2016
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Just sold my year old unridden £400 bargain bike for £350! Not too bad in the scheme of things

LordHaveMurci

12,034 posts

168 months

Friday 15th January 2016
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Jimboka said:
Just sold my year old unridden £400 bargain bike for £350! Not too bad in the scheme of things
I feel better then, done a fair few hundred miles on mine now smile

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
LordHaveMurci said:
I feel better then, done a fair few hundred miles on mine now smile
I saved a fortune buying a bike I didn't need for a bargain price! Will stick to the Bromptons..

ywouldi

749 posts

236 months

Sunday 7th February 2016
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LordHaveMurci

12,034 posts

168 months

Sunday 7th February 2016
quotequote all
ywouldi said:
Argos had one on eBay this week @ £399, theres another for auction, was below £100 when I saw it, wonder what it will sell for?

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 8th February 2016
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LordHaveMurci said:
Argos had one on eBay this week @ £399, theres another for auction, was below £100 when I saw it, wonder what it will sell for?
Mine sold for £350+ - fees of course!

Type R Tom

3,859 posts

148 months

Thursday 7th May 2020
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I was only looking at my GF's bike yesterday and thought about this thread. Her bike is still going strong and until Covid19 was being used every day. It did need some components changed recently as they were wearing out (commuter bike not really well looked after) but the frame is still sound. Very light bike and an absolute bargain.

(sorry, can't help with the question)

jsadler95

3 posts

30 months

Tuesday 14th September 2021
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Apologies for the thread resurrection. I've been offered a recently serviced one of these for £350 which has been recently given a new 11-32 cassette, chain and tyres and was bought last year. I'm looking for my first casual road bike, one that I can use for commuting as well as occasionally getting in some cardio each week. Is this bike well worth the £350 if it's in good condition? Or should I go with something like that Carerra Zelos brand new?

I appreciate any advice!

SHutchinson

2,040 posts

183 months

Tuesday 14th September 2021
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jsadler95 said:
Apologies for the thread resurrection. I've been offered a recently serviced one of these for £350 which has been recently given a new 11-32 cassette, chain and tyres and was bought last year. I'm looking for my first casual road bike, one that I can use for commuting as well as occasionally getting in some cardio each week. Is this bike well worth the £350 if it's in good condition? Or should I go with something like that Carerra Zelos brand new?

I appreciate any advice!
Have you read the thread? The Carrera Zelos gets mentioned a few times. Now, you must understand the thread is many years old, but the general point is that the Argos carbon fibre bike was better than the Carrera Zelos that was available at that time.

I liked this bike when I had it, but it did start to creak from the bottom bracket. Luckily some losers fixed it for me by breaking into my garage and stealing it.

jsadler95

3 posts

30 months

Tuesday 14th September 2021
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SHutchinson said:
Have you read the thread? The Carrera Zelos gets mentioned a few times. Now, you must understand the thread is many years old, but the general point is that the Argos carbon fibre bike was better than the Carrera Zelos that was available at that time.

I liked this bike when I had it, but it did start to creak from the bottom bracket. Luckily some losers fixed it for me by breaking into my garage and stealing it.
Yeah I read the thread, I only saw Zelos mentioned once saying it looks cheaper than the Ventura alongside the clear implication that £400 was a steal for the Ventura bike at the time. I guess I'm just curious whether that's still the case or something like the Zelos now at £340 is better than a second-hand one of these at £350. I'm not after spending much really as it's purely for doing like 30-50 miles a week cardio and probably 20 miles commuting a week. Just not sure whether I'm better off getting a second-hand good value bike or something brand new.

Some Gump

12,671 posts

185 months

Tuesday 14th September 2021
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Bottom brackets: they all do that sir!

Can't comment on This specific bike but in general, the price of 2nd hand bikes is mental at the moment. I'd not be overly put off by the lack of discount vs new back then, more "what else could i buy 2nd hand for 350 quid?"


whatever you do, hope you like riding it. It's a slippery slope, buying a road bike smile

Type R Tom

3,859 posts

148 months

Tuesday 14th September 2021
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My wife still loves her's and till she got too big (pregnant) still rode it every day to work. Hasn't needed a bottom bracket but did get a new cassette and chain recently. Sorry, can't comment on the price!