Road bike selection

[Hoddo]

Years back PH helped me select a MTB which has proved to be brilliant. I now need help with a road bike selection, budget approx £500. Thoughts on the below would be appreciated.

Genesis Aether 20
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/36397/Ge...
Not overly familiar with this brand but the spec and price look good. Anyone got any positive stories they could recite?

Boardman Road Comp
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Bianchi C2C Via Nirone
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/37069/Bi...

+ Usual suspects: Specialized Allez, Trek 1.2, Giant Defy.

Any others I should consider?

Edited by Hoddo on Sunday 8th July 18:17

[anonymous-user]

Worth a look:-
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-id_8167039.htm...

But I bet the Boardman is the best of the bunch, although more pricey
The Bianchi will be more 'forgiving' as slightly mort upright riding position
I'd go for the Bianchi!

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 8th July 18:08

[Jimbo.]

The Bianchi isn't brilliant VFM (non-series Shimano asp group set? No ta!).

Test road an Aether myself, and have an Equilibrium (exact same geometry, with a steel frame) myself: very nice. Comfy with not too bad a ride. 2011 Tiagra so 9sp (yesterday's tech) but still good stuff. Durable, dependable, easy to set up

Boardman: not idea! Well received, 10sp SRAM Apex so drivetrain-wise one of the most upgradable options should the need/want arise. Minor issue though. Best rims of the lot.

Of the usual suspects at the same price point (Specialized Allez, Trek 1.5/1.7 etc)...meh. Looked at them myself before blowing 1.5x the budget on the Equilibrium. You'll get Shimano Sora at best (not-so-nice IMO, with naff shifters).

Try them all however and go by what feels/fits best. No point having the bet bike in the world if it leaves you in agony after 20 miles.

[Hoddo]

Jimboka said:

But I bet the Boardman is the best of the bunch, although more pricey
The Bianchi will be more 'forgiving' as slightly mort upright riding position
I'd go for the Bianchi!

Should I decide to go with a Boardman what's the best option regarding the build? Get it shipped home and assemble myself? Get it done at Halfords then take it for a good service at a local bike shop?

[Hoddo]

Jimbo. said:

The Bianchi isn't brilliant VFM (non-series Shimano asp group set? No ta!).

Test road an Aether myself, and have an Equilibrium (exact same geometry, with a steel frame) myself: very nice. Comfy with not too bad a ride. 2011 Tiagra so 9sp (yesterday's tech) but still good stuff. Durable, dependable, easy to set up

Boardman: not idea! Well received, 10sp SRAM Apex so drivetrain-wise one of the most upgradable options should the need/want arise. Minor issue though. Best rims of the lot.

Of the usual suspects at the same price point (Specialized Allez, Trek 1.5/1.7 etc)...meh. Looked at them myself before blowing 1.5x the budget on the Equilibrium. You'll get Shimano Sora at best (not-so-nice IMO, with naff shifters).

Try them all however and go by what feels/fits best. No point having the bet bike in the world if it leaves you in agony after 20 miles.

Thank you.

Great to hear the positive review of the Genesis. I think I'm torn between that and the Boardman. The Genesis just feels a bit more special, even if the colour scheme is not the most desirable.

[anonymous-user]

Hoddo said:

Jimboka said:

But I bet the Boardman is the best of the bunch, although more pricey
The Bianchi will be more 'forgiving' as slightly mort upright riding position
I'd go for the Bianchi!

Should I decide to go with a Boardman what's the best option regarding the build? Get it shipped home and assemble myself? Get it done at Halfords then take it for a good service at a local bike shop?

All Halfords have to do is straighten the bars, put on the wheels/pedals/saddle.
The gears are even indexed in the factory.
Personally I'd trust Halfords 100% to do that! But give it a once over at home to make sure all is well (my last bike from LBS was given to me with loose head bolts, so do not believe the grumps who always say Halfords are rubbish & LBS are gods!)

[mcelliott]

Planet X Carbon Pro. Brilliant bike well worth considering.

[Hoddo]

mcelliott said:

Planet X Carbon Pro. Brilliant bike well worth considering.

Bit over budget isn't it? Or can you see some for sale around the £500/£600 mark?

[mcelliott]

Hoddo said:

mcelliott said:

Planet X Carbon Pro. Brilliant bike well worth considering.

Bit over budget isn't it? Or can you see some for sale around the £500/£600 mark?

Oh sorry Hoddo my fail, I didn't pay attention to your budget. The Carbon Pro SRAM Rival is going for £999 - I know this is a bit over your budget. It might also be worth looking at their 'clearance corner' section on the website - bargains to be had there, slightly shop soiled bikes but otherwise in very good condition.

Here is a link to the site:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FBPXPRORIV12/p...

[Hoddo]

mcelliott said:

Oh sorry Hoddo my fail, I didn't pay attention to your budget. The Carbon Pro SRAM Rival is going for £999 - I know this is a bit over your budget. It might also be worth looking at their 'clearance corner' section on the website - bargains to be had there, slightly shop soiled bikes but otherwise in very good condition.

Here is a link to the site:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FBPXPRORIV12/p...

Thanks Mcelliott. I'll take a look.

Any view on the previously mentioned bikes?

[mcelliott]

Hoddo said:

Thanks Mcelliott. I'll take a look.

Any view on the previously mentioned bikes?

Your list of the usual suspects - Trek, Giant, etc, in my opinion won't offer value for money. I don't know what it is about the quality of the lower range bikes from these manufacturers but they look a bit 'meh' to me. As regards the Boardman, I seriously looked at these before getting my Planet X and was very impressed with the whole range. A couple of my friends have bought them, albeit slighly higher up the range than your budget, but nevertheless they are very pleased with their acquisitions.

[Hoddo]

mcelliott said:

Your list of the usual suspects - Trek, Giant, etc, in my opinion won't offer value for money. I don't know what it is about the quality of the lower range bikes from these manufacturers but they look a bit 'meh' to me. As regards the Boardman, I seriously looked at these before getting my Planet X and was very impressed with the whole range. A couple of my friends have bought them, albeit slighly higher up the range than your budget, but nevertheless they are very pleased with their acquisitions.

Thank you. Adds weight to the decision.

[GBDG]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Crap!

[Hoddo]

Thanks all. Pulled the trigger on a Boardman Road Comp. Hope to get it tomorrow/Wednesday. I'll get some pics up when it arrives.

Edited by Hoddo on Monday 9th July 19:46

[TVR MAN]

Look forward to seeing your write up as I should be getting one at the beginning of next month. Will be interested to hear how you find the sizing.

[Jimbo.]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

...with good reason. Welcome to the world of BSOs: Bike Shaped Objects. Which is another way of saying it's a heap of st.

[lgw]

I had a very good training road bike from Ribble, you can juggle with the build spec which will alter the price but overall I have always found Ribble very good on price and competitive with other suppliers

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/pu/road-track-bike/s...