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

[GG89]

I've just reserved one of these, can't go wrong at that price.

It will be my first road bike, not really got a clue how to set one up properly so is it worth taking to a good LBS to assemble it for me?

[jfdi]

Well, just back from a ride with the mrs jfdi on her new super cheep carbon. First impressions -

I've had a short run on it and would say for the money it can't be beaten. Yes it's not as light and quick as my canyon ultimate AL but then it's a quarter of the price however compared to my winter specialized allez, it's lighter, better equipted, smother, quicker and cheaper. So what it doesn't have a specialized badge on it, it is a better bike.

Very happy with the purchase, now if homebase would just like to do 20% off bank holiday weekend and there are any left then would anyone like to buy a specialized allez

One word of warning for all you new owners, when you build it tighten everything up. Most of the bolts were barely more than finger tight.

[Usget]

GG89 said:

It will be my first road bike, not really got a clue how to set one up properly so is it worth taking to a good LBS to assemble it for me?

Either that, or spend a couple of hours on Youtube learning. Bikes are a lot simpler than they look and you'll be glad you took the trouble to do so.

From what people have said, I wouldn't ride it as it comes out of the box - as is to be expected, it's assembled for transit, not for riding.

[GG89]

Usget said:

GG89 said:

It will be my first road bike, not really got a clue how to set one up properly so is it worth taking to a good LBS to assemble it for me?

Either that, or spend a couple of hours on Youtube learning. Bikes are a lot simpler than they look and you'll be glad you took the trouble to do so.

From what people have said, I wouldn't ride it as it comes out of the box - as is to be expected, it's assembled for transit, not for riding.

I'd like to do it myself but I don't really have the time or the tools at the moment. Called a respected bike shop near me and asked them how much, they asked what bike it was and I told them. They checked it up online and said it was a corker for so little money, £50 for them to build.

Edit to add: I called the shop back and they said that the 22 inch will almost certainly be too big for me

Back to the drawing board...

Edited by GG89 on Saturday 16th August 13:29

[jfdi]

Tools (4mm & 5mm Allen keys) are provided, you'll just need an 8mm Allen key for the crank bolts as they were very loose. Really is 20 minutes tops to put together instructions are provided.

How small are you? the 22" (55cm) is fine for me at 5'11" and my wife at 5'7"

[GG89]

I'm 5'8 1/2 with 30inch inside leg.

[jfdi]

A 22" will fit perfect then.

[GG89]

Wonder why he's saying it is too big..

Pity there's no way of trying one before buying.

[HOGEPH]

Worst case return it and get the other frame size.

"You know you're in safe hands with Argos, our products have a 30 day money back guarantee. If you change your mind, just return it unused, in its original condition with your receipt to any Argos store within 30 days, we'll either exchange it or give you a full refund."

[jfdi]

Definitly won't be to big, fits my wife perfect. Still pleanty of adjustment for the seat to go lower, or massivley higher. If the reach is to big (which it won't be) then it's got a long stem on it so you could easilty change for a shorter one for about £15.

[anonymous-user]

HOGEPH said:

Worst case return it and get the other frame size.

"You know you're in safe hands with Argos, our products have a 30 day money back guarantee. If you change your mind, just return it unused, in its original condition with your receipt to any Argos store within 30 days, we'll either exchange it or give you a full refund."

In this case :-

† Excluded from our 30 day money back guarantee

• Click on the product name for details of the pricing footnote on this item.

‡ Reduced special offer price. This only applies when items are bought together in one transaction.

[jfdi]

There's none of the symbols on the page exculding it from the 30 day return, however boxing it back up will keep you entertained

[BoRED S2upid]

jfdi said:

There's none of the symbols on the page exculding it from the 30 day return, however boxing it back up will keep you entertained

Just wheel it back into the shop. The number of things I've taken back unboxed, used etc... No questions asked full refund given you can't go wrong with Argos.

[anonymous-user]

jfdi said:

There's none of the symbols on the page exculding it from the 30 day return, however boxing it back up will keep you entertained

If you add it to your basket for pickup etc, then it says it's excluded

[Napper]

I've ordered the 22" today and I'm 5' 9". It's going to be delivered on tuesday...." Looking forward to it already.

Re: Argos. My other half has just bought an exercise bike from there. Tried to assemble it earlier and the holes in the handlebar stem didn't align with the holes in the socket it was inserting in to. I rang up and they told me to take the stem back only. I took it back and when checking it against the replacement it looked exactly the same dimensions. So I tried the stem I returned in the body of the spare bike in the store and the holes line up. The store duty manager and an assistant had ripped the packaging to bits when they were getting parts out of the box. He just told me to bring the main body back and he'll exchange it. When I said it'll not be packaged correctly but would be better than the bike they had pulled to bits, he just said that's no problem..........
If he's true to his word that's another thumbs up for Argos.....

[Napper]

I've ordered the 22" today and I'm 5' 9". It's going to be delivered on tuesday...." Looking forward to it already.

Re: Argos. My other half has just bought an exercise bike from there. Tried to assemble it earlier and the holes in the handlebar stem didn't align with the holes in the socket it was inserting in to. I rang up and they told me to take the stem back only. I took it back and when checking it against the replacement it looked exactly the same dimensions. So I tried the stem I returned in the body of the spare bike in the store and the holes line up. The store duty manager and an assistant had ripped the packaging to bits when they were getting parts out of the box. He just told me to bring the main body back and he'll exchange it. When I said it'll not be packaged correctly but would be better than the bike they had pulled to bits, he just said that's no problem..........
If he's true to his word that's another thumbs up for Argos.....

[Gizmoish]

BoRED S2upid said:

jfdi said:

There's none of the symbols on the page exculding it from the 30 day return, however boxing it back up will keep you entertained

Just wheel it back into the shop. The number of things I've taken back unboxed, used etc... No questions asked full refund given you can't go wrong with Argos.

Yep, shop monkeys don't care, it just goes back to the warehouse in the next delivery wagon.

[yellowjack]

JMAK2804 said:

We have been looking for decent budget road bikes for the last few weeks and have been tempted by the various Halfords sales on the Boardman range.

We resigned ourselves to waiting until next year and doing the Manchester 100 on our hybrids! Seen this thread yesterday and can't believe the price of this bike! Me and my brother have ordered one each, also my nectar card gets me another 70 quid off- brand new full carbon road bike for £330! Result.

We pick them up next Wednesday, will post back with our findings!

Gizmoish said:

What's this about the nectar card discount?

Any chance of an answer on the Nectar discount question???


Please!

[Barchettaman]

Pretty important assembly point:

For the non-drive side crank arm bolt - the bolt that attaches the LH pedal arm to the bottom bracket i.e. the spindle at the bottom of the frame - use Threadlock (Loctite Blue or similar) prior to tightening it up with the 8mm allen key.

Drive side (RH) doesn't need it.

The LH bolt may well work loose otherwise.

[Fugazi]

^This^
I've searched and tried every discount possible and none work... I've reserved one for pick up at a local store giving me a few days to see if there was anyway to drop the price anymore, (bloody students, always scrounging )