What Road Bike/Bargain Hunt!
Discussion
Well I have long promised myself a decent roadie, something to last me a long time with hopefully minimal upgrade. I am not a serious racer, though I enjoy events like L2B, and would probably consider the odd sportive or cycle tour. Something versatile basically. Budget is £1000 tops, preferably 105 or equivalent Campag/SRAM gear.
I appreciate we are in/near the end of the 2010 bargain bikes season, and whilst online bargains are great, I think it would probably be good to try and sit on one before buying, so bargains may be limited to bigger brands (ability to try locally). So far online I have seen-
Ribble Gran Fondo- Looks great, struggles for a decent groupset below £1k though, questionable Ribble service? Couldn't try one out before.
Planet X SL Pro Carbon Rival- £999, Sram gear which seems to be well reviewed, generally heard good things about Planet X service, again couldn't try one out before.
BMC Streetfire SSX01 2010, Evans, £999- Odd looking frame, never heard of them, but I can sit on one and there are still some in stock!
Specialized Allez Comp 2010, Evans, £999- Solid bet, I like Spesh stuff, base level frameset though?
My first physical search took me to a local shop today, who were all out bargains but started to sing the praises of the 2011 Giant TCR, over budget at £1175. They warned of failures of lower level carbon composite bikes, especially the likes of Boardmans, which I found surprising. They recommended sticking to Ali at this price, as the frames can often be lighter and more durable, if a little less compliant. Also the TCR has 2011 105 10 speed gears, which is apparently well worth having?
Any views on this as to whether its sales blurb or truth would be very welcome, along with any recommendations or help on my hunt! I could do with something before VAT kills me and I am stuck with new season prices...
Ta
I appreciate we are in/near the end of the 2010 bargain bikes season, and whilst online bargains are great, I think it would probably be good to try and sit on one before buying, so bargains may be limited to bigger brands (ability to try locally). So far online I have seen-
Ribble Gran Fondo- Looks great, struggles for a decent groupset below £1k though, questionable Ribble service? Couldn't try one out before.
Planet X SL Pro Carbon Rival- £999, Sram gear which seems to be well reviewed, generally heard good things about Planet X service, again couldn't try one out before.
BMC Streetfire SSX01 2010, Evans, £999- Odd looking frame, never heard of them, but I can sit on one and there are still some in stock!
Specialized Allez Comp 2010, Evans, £999- Solid bet, I like Spesh stuff, base level frameset though?
My first physical search took me to a local shop today, who were all out bargains but started to sing the praises of the 2011 Giant TCR, over budget at £1175. They warned of failures of lower level carbon composite bikes, especially the likes of Boardmans, which I found surprising. They recommended sticking to Ali at this price, as the frames can often be lighter and more durable, if a little less compliant. Also the TCR has 2011 105 10 speed gears, which is apparently well worth having?
Any views on this as to whether its sales blurb or truth would be very welcome, along with any recommendations or help on my hunt! I could do with something before VAT kills me and I am stuck with new season prices...
Ta
neil_bolton said:
Decent frame, or decent groupset/finishing kit.
Pick one.
You don't get both at that price any more I'm afraid
Define decent? It seems as though getting decent carbon may be an issue, but is 105 gear really that bad?Pick one.
You don't get both at that price any more I'm afraid
Wiggle's offerings-
Verenti Millook- £949, own brand, seems good value, well reviewed http://www.wiggle.co.uk/verenti-millook/
Giant TCR Advanced 2010- £999, Heard great things about this in the shop, Medium only though! http://www.wiggle.co.uk/giant-tcr-alliance-2010/
Olmo Equipe 105 2010- £899, Who are these guys?? 105 though, good stock of all sizes http://www.wiggle.co.uk/olmo-equipe-105-2010/
That's my hunting done for the night!
Wow, thanks for the response to this thread guys, Already it has been a great help! The number of choices is growing and growing at the moment and I am sure it will become difficult soon! Interestingly up until now I had overlooked the wheel situation, however at this budget I haven't seen one yet with wheelset worth north of £150, whether there is a best of these bad bunch I don't know?
I'm till very indifferent about the choice of Carbon or Aluminium, the £999 Boardman seems great value along with the Planet X in terms of Carbon bikes, but the frameset at this level may not necessarily be any better than an Ali bike? I am going to try and sit on a Giant Defy tomorrow, as if I am a medium on that (5ft 11) then the last few TCR Alliances at Wiggle seem like good value.
Not to discount the Aluminium bikes, the suggestion of the BMC Streetracer 2011 was a good one as that seems like decent value, and I still quite like the Velenti Millook too!
Decisions Decisions!
I'm till very indifferent about the choice of Carbon or Aluminium, the £999 Boardman seems great value along with the Planet X in terms of Carbon bikes, but the frameset at this level may not necessarily be any better than an Ali bike? I am going to try and sit on a Giant Defy tomorrow, as if I am a medium on that (5ft 11) then the last few TCR Alliances at Wiggle seem like good value.
Not to discount the Aluminium bikes, the suggestion of the BMC Streetracer 2011 was a good one as that seems like decent value, and I still quite like the Velenti Millook too!
Decisions Decisions!
shalmaneser said:
esuuv said:
Don't they're horrific. And that's from someone who sells them.Buy the BMC, Specialized are crap value at the moment and the BMC frame is lovely. Just move fast because they won't stay around for long!
Well here's tonights browsing experience, two entirely different bikes and approaches-
1. Evans Cycles- Go in, ask to have a sit on the BMC Streetfire SSX01 in M and L, as I think I am sized somewhere between the pair. They are very helpful in there, and one lad owns a slightly higher level BMC and gave a great description of it and comparison to other bikes, generally very positive. Offered a test ride for when it's daylight, and should I choose to buy, a session on a Turbo and some spent actually setting up the geometry on the bike. As for the bike, felt comfortable the minute I sat on the large, they seemed to think that was a good choice. Fit and finish seemed good and it felt very light. The helper/BMC owner did mention they are a pretty stiff bike, but I guess a carbon post could sort this. My choice from these guys would be the Streetracer 2011 at 1034, same frame with the 2011 105 gear as that seems popular.
2. Halfords- Typically I hate Halfords when it involves any sort of customer service requiring in depth knowledge. I was there for the £999 Boardman Team Carbon, and sure enough I got to sit on one in a large size. The bars were initially stretched out too far, but the helper set them back to factory and I got comfy straight away. Hugely impressed by the finish of the frame, it looks great and the kit used on the bike seems to be decent spec too. The guy admitted he wasn't a road rider, but rated Sram gear in terms of maintenance and said they had never had any problems with weak frames etc. Quite helpful to be fair, obviously no offers of geometry setup here though...Stock levels seem good and I don't think I will find a better bike for that spec in Carbon. But then I am a brand snob.
Oh and to further complicate things, I just got a 20% off list price voucher for Wiggle in the e-mail valid for a few days.....
1. Evans Cycles- Go in, ask to have a sit on the BMC Streetfire SSX01 in M and L, as I think I am sized somewhere between the pair. They are very helpful in there, and one lad owns a slightly higher level BMC and gave a great description of it and comparison to other bikes, generally very positive. Offered a test ride for when it's daylight, and should I choose to buy, a session on a Turbo and some spent actually setting up the geometry on the bike. As for the bike, felt comfortable the minute I sat on the large, they seemed to think that was a good choice. Fit and finish seemed good and it felt very light. The helper/BMC owner did mention they are a pretty stiff bike, but I guess a carbon post could sort this. My choice from these guys would be the Streetracer 2011 at 1034, same frame with the 2011 105 gear as that seems popular.
2. Halfords- Typically I hate Halfords when it involves any sort of customer service requiring in depth knowledge. I was there for the £999 Boardman Team Carbon, and sure enough I got to sit on one in a large size. The bars were initially stretched out too far, but the helper set them back to factory and I got comfy straight away. Hugely impressed by the finish of the frame, it looks great and the kit used on the bike seems to be decent spec too. The guy admitted he wasn't a road rider, but rated Sram gear in terms of maintenance and said they had never had any problems with weak frames etc. Quite helpful to be fair, obviously no offers of geometry setup here though...Stock levels seem good and I don't think I will find a better bike for that spec in Carbon. But then I am a brand snob.
Oh and to further complicate things, I just got a 20% off list price voucher for Wiggle in the e-mail valid for a few days.....
Raven Flyer said:
JayPee said:
But then I am a brand snob.
At a grand, there can be no snobbery. Plenty of big name companies make mediocre bikes for your £1000 but there are also some excellent bikes for that money. When I can buy a good Cervello for a grand, I will buy one.
Until then, I'll enjoy my Boardman TC and it's very easy to enjoy such a great bike.
Well my search has been forging on in the hope of a bargain, though funding has been shifted to Automotive pursuits and Christmas which is why I have been hesitant. That along with the fact that I had missed the majority of tasty 2010 bikes by this point, leaving bikes that despite being reduced were still not really any better then the typical prices of a Boardman or Planet X Carbon Rival. I expect I shall hold off for a wee while now and pick one of either of these up with the hope that they will still be priced under a grand when I do!
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