Fancy a new road bike

[Parrot of Doom]

I think after 20 years service to me (and probably about 10 to its previous owner) its time to hang my Mercian Audax up on the wall and replace it with something else. I fancy spending about £600 or thereabouts on a half-decent road bike.

It would be used for 10-20 mile daily rides, nice and comfortable, nippy when required. Gears on my current road bike are 52/42, 21/12 (IIRC), I'd like something a little more relaxed than that as its pretty flat here and I don't use the big ring much. Obviously I want decent branded components, nothing that's going to break, and the bike has to be good-looking too

I need to get back into shape, I'm not using my MTB enough to do that right now (usually ride with a mate but he has a new job meaning he can't ride at nights like we used to), and my Mercian isn't that comfortable for me.

Ideally if I can lose a few stone and improve my performance back in the direction it was taking when I was in my early 20s, that would be lovely, and at some point I'd want to spend some serious money on a really nice bike. Therefore this will be a "good, nice, but not the end-of-discussion" bike, if you know what I mean. Any recommendations?

[Parrot of Doom]

The Felt F85 looks nice. I might have a drive up to Merlin to check that out, although I got my Commencal from Merlin and they took bloody ages to build it...

[Parrot of Doom]

I also like the look of the Ribble 7005:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mount...

According to their site, prices starting at about £520.

Edited by Parrot of Doom on Monday 11th October 22:59

[Parrot of Doom]

I'm probably going to go up there today, unless I change my mind.

[Parrot of Doom]

Going up there early this afternoon. Any tips? Important upgrades from the base spec?

[Parrot of Doom]

Nice little showroom, not much to see, about 10-15 bikes on display. The one I went to see looks gorgeous, far nicer than anything in Evans (whom I visted on my return).

The bloke who measured me up was nice enough and a knowledgeable chap. I think the 56cm frame is the one for me, however with the 100mm stem my arms were locked straight when holding the brake levers. I naturally wanted to hold the corners of the bars, a good few cm back.

Not sure what that means. I think I might pop over to that place in Oldham that sells Cube frames, to see what they have.

Also, 3 week build time. That sucks.

[Parrot of Doom]

This is what I've specced on the Ribble site:

Ribble Winter 7005 Horizontal Frame Blue 56cm (C-Top)
CSN BlackStorm Mguard eyes Winter Forks 1 1/8" ITS
Ribble Headset Branded Ribble 1 1/8" Hidden (ITS) 45 x 45
Shimano Tiagra 9 Spd Double Groupset
Shimano 4500 BB Cups (Tiagra 4500/4550 double/triple) Eng
Shimano Tiagra 4500 Brakes
Shimano 9 Spd HG50 (Sora/Tiagra) Cassette 12-23
Shimano 9 Spd HG53 Chain (Sora/Tiagra 9/Deore)
Shimano Tiagra Double 4500 9 Chainset 170 39/52
Shimano Tiagra 4500 9 Double Front Gear Braze-on
Shimano Tiagra 4500 9 Spd Rear Gear Short
Shimano STI Levers Tiagra 4501 with Cables Double
Pro-Lite Pair Wheels Como Clincher Black 8/9/10 Shim
Deda Big Piega Oversize Handlebars 42cm
Deda Quattro 31 (Oversize) Handlebar Stem 120mm
Prorace Ponza Saddle Black
Alpina Alloy Seatpillar 27.2 350mm Black
Vittoria Zaffiro Rigid Tyre 700x23mm Blue/Black
Prorace Inner Tube 700x20/23 SV42mm
Deda Cork Ribbon Handlebar Tape White
Shimano Clipless Spd-SL R540 (105) Pedals Silver

£633.90

Good deal, or not?

[Parrot of Doom]

Good tip, thanks. I just ordered it. 56cm frame, Tiagra groupset (although not hubs), 70mm stem. White handlebar tape and blue/black tyres.

Total cost is £593.90.

Hopefully when I collect it (10-20 days) it'll be a nice day, and I can ride it the 30 miles from Bamber Bridge to my house Although maybe a 30 mile ride on a new saddle isn't a good idea...

[Parrot of Doom]

The paint is beautiful. I just sat on my old road bike, it felt ancient in comparison

[Parrot of Doom]

Picking it up tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will be as nice as it was today.

[Parrot of Doom]

Fantastic. I'm amazed at how much more comfortable it is to ride than my old bike. Not so much the position (I think I need a more angled stem, the handlebars feel a little low), but the way it soaks up the bumps. On my old frame you can feel everything - on this, its like having suspension.

I have to adjust the rear mudguard at the caliper as its too close to the wheel, and the chain isn't quite straight on the middle gears, but all round I'm very happy with it

[Parrot of Doom]

I decided to drive and collect it. Yesterday would have been great, today was pretty windy however, and I didn't want to be uncomfortable and wet on a new bike.

Edited by Parrot of Doom on Thursday 21st October 16:47