Barracuda-Azzurri any good??
Discussion
Hi all, relative newbie here so go easy 
I'm looking to get myself a road bike to do some basic fitness work on, I've been having a skim around at whats available but am very unsure about what suits my needs best. The bike will be used for some flat riding and also some mountain work (nothing too serious) I've spotted the bike below and was wondering are these bikes good, light, will they last etc...is this a decent price etc... or am I completely barking up the wrong tree here, should I be looking at second hand bikes instead?
Any advice welcome
Thanks
https://www.holcroscycles.com/productdetail/23/48/...
ETA: budget is very restricted so please keep any suggestions in the reasonably priced bracket < £250
I'm looking to get myself a road bike to do some basic fitness work on, I've been having a skim around at whats available but am very unsure about what suits my needs best. The bike will be used for some flat riding and also some mountain work (nothing too serious) I've spotted the bike below and was wondering are these bikes good, light, will they last etc...is this a decent price etc... or am I completely barking up the wrong tree here, should I be looking at second hand bikes instead?Any advice welcome
Thanks
https://www.holcroscycles.com/productdetail/23/48/...
ETA: budget is very restricted so please keep any suggestions in the reasonably priced bracket < £250
Edited by patmahe on Wednesday 13th August 11:58
The equipment really wouldn't be great or durable for that price. You might be better off getting a s/h starter Trek or Giant with low miles (off Ebay or various cycling forums), as they have stronger components and spares will be easy to get.
That said, the starter Boardman in Halfrauds is said to be extremely good value at around £250.
That said, the starter Boardman in Halfrauds is said to be extremely good value at around £250.
When you say mountain work I assume you mean hills on road, not off road mountain bike terrain? A road bike is really just that, you don't want to be riding trails or anything bumpy/muddy/gravelly on it.
The bike in question......... If you want a cheap "racing" bike then it is, but it won't be very good, it will be heavy (although it is hardly going to be the heaviest bike in the world), but more importantly the components will not be that reliable. You will end up with wheels out of true, brake cables seizing or breaking, gear changes stripping, front and rear mechs packing up and probably breaking chains. Thats before you get on to bearings/freewheels etc. Plus the complete incompatibility of parts with aftermarket quality components.
It's up to you, if you want to ride it for 6 months and chuck it away then it will probably do you ok, if you want a bike that you will be able to improve as you improve forget it, and if you want a bike you can keep as a winter trainer, or sell on to fund a next step up bike forget it.
Assuming your budget is under £200 you could build one off Ebay using a good but used frame and components for about that price just. Or again on ebay or one of the forums (try another cycling forum, terrible greenies but some bargains to be had, I got lifetime banned when they found out I owned a Porsche
) you should pick up a complete quality but basic road bike for your budget, probably not italian but a general solid bike with basic but quality shimano components and mavic rims.
At least with a quality used bike if you decide it isn't for you you can move it on again without losing much.
The bike in question......... If you want a cheap "racing" bike then it is, but it won't be very good, it will be heavy (although it is hardly going to be the heaviest bike in the world), but more importantly the components will not be that reliable. You will end up with wheels out of true, brake cables seizing or breaking, gear changes stripping, front and rear mechs packing up and probably breaking chains. Thats before you get on to bearings/freewheels etc. Plus the complete incompatibility of parts with aftermarket quality components.
It's up to you, if you want to ride it for 6 months and chuck it away then it will probably do you ok, if you want a bike that you will be able to improve as you improve forget it, and if you want a bike you can keep as a winter trainer, or sell on to fund a next step up bike forget it.
Assuming your budget is under £200 you could build one off Ebay using a good but used frame and components for about that price just. Or again on ebay or one of the forums (try another cycling forum, terrible greenies but some bargains to be had, I got lifetime banned when they found out I owned a Porsche
) you should pick up a complete quality but basic road bike for your budget, probably not italian but a general solid bike with basic but quality shimano components and mavic rims.At least with a quality used bike if you decide it isn't for you you can move it on again without losing much.
Cheers guys am now looking into decent second hand starter bikes. And dont worry by mountain work I meant roads that go up mountains, not trails. I used to cycle quite a bit, 11 miles to and from training 4 times a week always enjoyed it, so want to give it a try again. The old fitness levels ain't what they used to be but I can only start from where I am.
wildoliver said:
Depending on your attitude towards having the latest kit, theres some good bargains on classic bikes on ebay these days, plus they will always sell on easily.
Hi wildoliver,Could you make a few suggestions as to what I should look for. I have no problem with the age of the bike as long as its sturdy, reasonably cheap and pretty light - I hate cycling a heavy bike.
£25-50 should see you something british, say an old holdsworth, raleigh or dozens of other unfashionable (although the old raleighs are quite cool) but nice to ride bikes. Something special like a curly hetchins (my dream bike) would be way out of budget, for no good reason other than it's kind of cool.
£50-200 should see you something a bit nicer, probably italian, look under olmo/ciocc/columbus/colnago/bianchi/pinarello also type in campag* and when you get the options choose bikes or frames.
The thing to remember is that the bikes you will be looking at will be quality bikes with quality components, if your looking used you want to be getting either mid to high end shimano, or possibly campagnolo, although campag parts tend to increase the value of a bike massively, and while I am a campag tart I can't honestly say they are any better than shimano, shimano is good kit, just a bit soulless. You want to be looking for a good quality steel frame, minimum quality 501 tubing, 531 or better ideally.
However there is a downside, while you will be getting a good quality bike, it will be old tech, this means while the frame (make sure it has a proper bolt in rear mech hanger, not designed to take a slide in rear mech, but I doubt you will find one of these) will take modern components, and while the brake calipers are compatible with anything modern, and the bars and stem and seatpost and seat are all ok, if you do want to upgrade your wheels you will not easily find screw on rear block wheels these days, likewise rear mechs.
Basically as soon as you need to upgrade your wheels or gearset/chainset you will have to upgrade all of them, but this isn't too expensive, a pair of campag khamsin training wheels are sub £100 (and look nice) 10 speed rear mech off ebay about £20, 10 speed compatible front mech and crankset £40, and chain £20, then you just need a set of ergo shifters, cables and downtube bosses which will cost you £65-200.
So basically you could buy a nice bike to ride now for about £100-200 and enjoy it, then when your ready to upgrade spend another 200-250 and you will have a bike with a full modern groupset.
Assuming you've had bikes before then it should all come pretty easy for you, basically I left the bike scene when gears were on screw on rear blocks, and came back when they had moved to cassettes, now it is nearly impossible to find anything for block based bikes, and to be honest the cassettes are a bit easier to use plus everything is noticably lighter these days.
Hope that helps a little. Basically the rule of buying used is buy a nice frame that is upgradable, and try to make sure all the parts you wouldn't need to update are nice so you can save costs there.
I don't buy new bikes, I only buy old broken or run down bikes and restore them, consequently my hobby pays for itself, however there is a mid point where you buy a restored or tidy bike and either don't lose much or anything on the whole process.
£50-200 should see you something a bit nicer, probably italian, look under olmo/ciocc/columbus/colnago/bianchi/pinarello also type in campag* and when you get the options choose bikes or frames.
The thing to remember is that the bikes you will be looking at will be quality bikes with quality components, if your looking used you want to be getting either mid to high end shimano, or possibly campagnolo, although campag parts tend to increase the value of a bike massively, and while I am a campag tart I can't honestly say they are any better than shimano, shimano is good kit, just a bit soulless. You want to be looking for a good quality steel frame, minimum quality 501 tubing, 531 or better ideally.
However there is a downside, while you will be getting a good quality bike, it will be old tech, this means while the frame (make sure it has a proper bolt in rear mech hanger, not designed to take a slide in rear mech, but I doubt you will find one of these) will take modern components, and while the brake calipers are compatible with anything modern, and the bars and stem and seatpost and seat are all ok, if you do want to upgrade your wheels you will not easily find screw on rear block wheels these days, likewise rear mechs.
Basically as soon as you need to upgrade your wheels or gearset/chainset you will have to upgrade all of them, but this isn't too expensive, a pair of campag khamsin training wheels are sub £100 (and look nice) 10 speed rear mech off ebay about £20, 10 speed compatible front mech and crankset £40, and chain £20, then you just need a set of ergo shifters, cables and downtube bosses which will cost you £65-200.
So basically you could buy a nice bike to ride now for about £100-200 and enjoy it, then when your ready to upgrade spend another 200-250 and you will have a bike with a full modern groupset.
Assuming you've had bikes before then it should all come pretty easy for you, basically I left the bike scene when gears were on screw on rear blocks, and came back when they had moved to cassettes, now it is nearly impossible to find anything for block based bikes, and to be honest the cassettes are a bit easier to use plus everything is noticably lighter these days.
Hope that helps a little. Basically the rule of buying used is buy a nice frame that is upgradable, and try to make sure all the parts you wouldn't need to update are nice so you can save costs there.
I don't buy new bikes, I only buy old broken or run down bikes and restore them, consequently my hobby pays for itself, however there is a mid point where you buy a restored or tidy bike and either don't lose much or anything on the whole process.
wildoliver said:
I only buy old broken or run down bikes and restore them
I bought an MBK Triathlete (12 spd) brand new in 1988 (essentially it's a Motobecane Jubilee), but it now needs restoring and I don't want to throw it away.A few months ago the crank arm snapped at the bottom bracket (giving me mega road rash), and I've not done anything to it since, other than removing the bent Michelin wheels. The frame is "inexternally brazed", and has Sachs Huret gears, Wiessman drilled brake levers, Christophe clips, Maillard pedals, etc, and some other really nice features.
Interested in having it for nowt? Or should I bin it?
(sorry for the thread hijack)
jacobyte said:
wildoliver said:
I only buy old broken or run down bikes and restore them
I bought an MBK Triathlete (12 spd) brand new in 1988 (essentially it's a Motobecane Jubilee), but it now needs restoring and I don't want to throw it away.A few months ago the crank arm snapped at the bottom bracket (giving me mega road rash), and I've not done anything to it since, other than removing the bent Michelin wheels. The frame is "inexternally brazed", and has Sachs Huret gears, Wiessman drilled brake levers, Christophe clips, Maillard pedals, etc, and some other really nice features.
Interested in having it for nowt? Or should I bin it?
(sorry for the thread hijack)
Are either wheel any use? About the only part I'm desperate for at the moment is a pair of decent wheels!
Oliver
No probs, I can pack it up for you.
The wheels should be fine, they just need truing after the aforementioned arse-over-tit moment.
Your condition of payment can be whatever you feel is appropriate when you see it.
Also, if you don't already know it, visit the very interesting www.velobase.com
PM me your details and we'll get it all happening.
The wheels should be fine, they just need truing after the aforementioned arse-over-tit moment.
Your condition of payment can be whatever you feel is appropriate when you see it.
Also, if you don't already know it, visit the very interesting www.velobase.com
PM me your details and we'll get it all happening.
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