Full carbon road bike with Shimano 105 £850

Full carbon road bike with Shimano 105 £850

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Discussion

griffter

Original Poster:

3,981 posts

254 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Magic919

14,126 posts

200 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Too big.

dudleybloke

19,717 posts

185 months

Saturday 25th October 2014
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Looks good. I've always liked the look of those frames.

Barchettaman

6,280 posts

131 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Nice bike.
'Only' 10-speed 105.
Higher-end Decathlon bikes have an image problem for some people (not me).
It should provide years of faithful service.

j00pY

335 posts

135 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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I was looking at these in store last week. I love Decathlon clothing, all my stuff is 300 for commuting and 700/900 for weekend riding. Bike reviews on their website though seem to be a mixed bag. I think at my level, I'd find nothing wrong with the bike at all, but maybe an experienced rider could pick faults at it.

ndg

560 posts

236 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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griffter

Original Poster:

3,981 posts

254 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Thanks for views.

Well I've taken the plunge. Moving up from a 12 speed with downtube shifters (ok, via one of decathlon's finest red triban 300s) I'm expecting this to feel like it's from 50 years in the future. I'm also ditching the toeclips (at least on this and the triban).

It all started with the "full carbon for less than £400" a few months ago... (which I missed out on).

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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ndg said:
Well, I am convinced. They look like a nice firm to do business with, as well.

Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Sunday 26th October 2014
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Never been quite sure about the look of those frames, they look like a test rig for something. But objectively speaking, if it's as good as the Tribans, it'll be a really good bike.

griffter

Original Poster:

3,981 posts

254 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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I know what you mean about the frames ( ironically they look like they are from "the planet X"!), but that was part of the appeal. I like the traditional horizontal top tube and racier geometry over the triban. The blurb I've read suggests it's not built for comfort, and so should sit along side the triban nicely. My triban is a (large, comfort-oriented) 62 so I went for a 59 with the 700.

Planet X looks good too but geometry more similar to triban?

z4RRSchris99

11,218 posts

178 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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ribble have a sale on.

Matt_N

8,900 posts

201 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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That is one ugly frame!

sanguinary

1,344 posts

210 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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And it needs a good clean!

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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sanguinary said:
And it needs a good clean!
It's pretty shocking actually. Can't believe they used such a messy used bike for website artwork.



j00pY

335 posts

135 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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I thought the bike looked really nice in person.

I can't believe how dirty the bike is in the photos. Thats terrible. I also can't believe I missed that until now.

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

208 months

Monday 27th October 2014
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I probably would have had the Alur 700 aluminium one with 11sp 105 and direct mount brakes... but I hope you enjoy it!

griffter

Original Poster:

3,981 posts

254 months

Tuesday 28th October 2014
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It's arrived. All I've done so far is take out of the box to check for damage. Bear in mind my frames of reference are an '89 531-framed bitsa and a '12 triban 300.

First impression is WOW. Frame is indeed from outer space. Good quality, flawless finish and beautiful detailing in the flesh. Finishing kit and groupset (actually it's nota 105 crank) match the bike well. Internal cable routing is neat.

Only criticism so far is downright stupid packaging of shoes, cleats and a puffa jacket (unprotected) in the bike box. Could easily have ended up with damage.

I'll try and build it tonight.

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Wednesday 19th November 2014
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rdjohn said:
ndg said:
Well, I am convinced. They look like a nice firm to do business with, as well.
Almost as soon as I saw this bike from Planet X, then Wiggle reduced the price of the bike that I had originally been thinking about to match it - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-z6-2014.

Today was my first opportunity to get it out of the box and get the pedals and bars on. Wow, I am very impressed. The bike looks great in 3D and having watched a few videos online, I quickly managed to adjust it into the relaxed position that I need at age 63.

It is about 5kg lighter than my 20 year old Ridgeback hybrid but over the very short distance I have ridden it feels like moving from a Mondeo to a race car. Having read so many threads saying that a 105 gear sets was a minimum requirement, I did think that I may have made a mistake, but compared to handle bar levers combined with a poorly maintained bike generally, the Tiagra simply seems superb.

It will be next April before I get the bike back to my home in France and able to start getting some real enjoyment from it, but my first impressions are very positive. I only hope that I can improve to realise it's potential.


Dizeee

18,166 posts

205 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
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hornetrider said:
It's pretty shocking actually. Can't believe they used such a messy used bike for website artwork.

Correct me if I am wrong but that looks like a pretty serious Mavic wheel - Kysrium or better?

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 20th November 2014
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The wheels are Btwin branded 24mm rims, unlikely to be anything that special but functional nonetheless.