Full carbon road bike for 400 quid. What could go wrong?
Discussion
lukeyman said:
I went to collect mine yesterday and they couldn't find my reservation! Apparently the 'warehouse' had cancelled it.
Most annoyed.
Plus we've probably got a parking ticket too. Sigh.
It really annoyed me as I had placed my order when the bike was still in stock, had I known I'd have just had it delivered and worried about the delivery and being home later. Emailed a complaint and posted a message to their Facebook page, guess which one they replied to?Most annoyed.
Plus we've probably got a parking ticket too. Sigh.
Just ordered one on Homebase, received a confirmation email too. If something has cocked up again I will be forced to write a strongly worded email.
So thanks to those who mentioned that they were back in stock!!
SHutchinson said:
I'm a bike novice, so I'm looking for some guidance. What are the most logical sensible direct upgrades for this bicycle? Carbon seat post? Carbon handle bars and stem? Different crankset and/or bottom bracket?
One of the really, really good things about this deal is that there is very little you 'need' to upgrade on it.It looks like they are shipping the bike with Vittoria Zaffiro tyres, which are one of the best training tyres on the market, we're going into autumn/winter so no need to touch those.
Wheelset is fine, Shimano R500 are OEM spec on bikes at a much higher pricepoint than this, they're well-liked wheels.
Sora is fine. OK, it's nine speed but that comes with certain advantages too - chains and cassettes are cheaper than 10-speed. The old-style Sora STi levers with the downshift button weren't liked by many, these are the newer-style paddle ones, just like mechanical Dura-Ace.
The gearing has a really good spread, plenty of bottom and top end.
The only major real 'upgrade' out of the box that one could consider, in my view, is the crankset. Square-taper, whilst perfectly servicable and efficient, is old(er) technology. You can make an argument for a Hollowtech II bottom bracket and crank - Sora or Tiagra - but would you really notice when riding? Don't think so, but it would look 'better' on a full carbon frame. Would I bother swapping out the crankset? Maybe, if this Ventura was going to be my #1 best bike, and after the current BB had worn out. If I were buying it as a winter/rain hackabout training bike, I definitely wouldn't bother.
Budget dual-pivot brakes, like this has, are transformed by a switch to better brake pads (KoolStop or similar). That would be the only thing I would upgrade out of the box - having put my SPD pedals on, of course. A small part cost wise making a real upgrade to the oberall package
The saddle is cheap but it may fit your seatbones perfectly. If not, then it's time for an SQ Lab saddle.
Edited by Barchettaman on Tuesday 19th August 15:13
Also, the supplied freehub is 8/9/10 speed only. Defo a Taiwan made frame, the sticker says so! Impressed so far with out of the box assembly - even grease on the skewers (not much on the freehub though), crank arm bolts are *really* tight.
My choice of brakes is Clarks Elite CPS240 - £14 delivered for 2 pairs holders and 4 pairs of these great shoes.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/clarks-55mm-cal...
My choice of brakes is Clarks Elite CPS240 - £14 delivered for 2 pairs holders and 4 pairs of these great shoes.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/clarks-55mm-cal...
If you reserved it at £400 then if you take the email from the reservation with you then you'll pay the £400, it'll appear on their tills as £500 though so you will have to tell them. (I picked mine up at lunch time then went back and got my £100 back after I checked what the price was supposed to be)
Mine never got delivered!! I got in touch with Argos and they chased it up and apologised that the bike was still in the warehouse and was now going to be delivered tomorrow....... Now the problem is, I arranged for someone to be in today BETWEEN 07:00 & 20:00!!!!!!! Tomorrow I'm struggling.
lukeyman said:
Theoretically mine arrives tomorrow... I did get an order confirmation from Homebase. But then since when does email confirmation mean anything!
After the cock up with my reservation at Argos I'm thinking the same. I'm not going to believe I have one till it arrives on Thursday despite the confirmation email from Homebase... 
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