New road bike decisions, poncey Italian brands preferred...

[jamiebae]

While searching for a bike for my wife I managed to accidentally start looking at road bikes for me... I currently have a Genesis Volant 00 which has been mildly upgraded with Claris shifters to replace the 2300 ones it came with, plus tyres and brake friction material, but it's still an entry level 8 speed machine with a compact chainset and not the lightest in the world.

I spotted these three which look like decent value, as well as having the essential café credibility.

http://www.wiggle.com/cinelli-saetta-105-2013/

This gets me a carbon frame, 105 bits and although it's the most expensive it's also the most heavily discounted which counts for something when man-maths is involved

http://www.wiggle.com/bianchi-c2c-impulso-105-2013...

Slightly cheaper is this one, which isn't carbon, but does have a triple chainset which would be a big selling point when you're not that fit and live in the Alps but as it's a 50 39 34 the it just has some extra pointless gears in the middle! On the plus side it's a Bianchi (and I'm a massive tart) but the negative is it's red and I don't like red that much.

http://www.wiggle.com/cinelli-experience-105-mix-2...

Finally this is another 105 equipped option, the cheapest of the lot and with internal cable routing too, but I wonder if the other options are a better bet for not a huge amount more cash.

Of course anything I buy will be treated to new tyres and pedals on arrival. There is a Sora equipped Bianchi but I think the 105 kit is well worth the extra.

http://www.wiggle.com/bianchi-c2c-nirone-7-sora-9-...

Any advice would be much appreciated!

[jamiebae]

Or how about this Ridley (not Italian I know...)

http://www.wiggle.com/ridley-fenix-7005-special-ed...

More 105 bits and reasonably heavily reduced in price too.

http://www.wiggle.com/mekk-2g-poggio-p25-105-2013/

No idea if this is any good, but carbon and 105 bits for £750 seems like a tempting proposition though.

[jamiebae]

It's not a case of needing to save longer, more that I want something now, but can't bring myself to spend more than £1k, and the carbon Cinelli is going to be very close to that once I've paid for delivery and the Swiss taxman has taken his cut.

The more I think about it this Ridley looks good, even though it's not as smart as the others, and the Bianchi looks a bit silly. I do like Bianchi tops though, and would need one of their bikes to pull one off...

http://www.wiggle.com/ridley-orion-105-special-edi...

[TKF]

I would say the Ridley. Couldn't be less poncey and you're very unlikely to see another about. But then I'm biased...

[craigthecoupe]

you could hunt around for a reduced bottecchia? not going to see many of them on the road, bit of budget creep, but there might be something else online?
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/1679495/products/bottecc...

[jamiebae]

It needs to come from somewhere who will ship to Switzerland without charging VAT, and not charge a fortune for delivery, like some German websites who want €120 to send a bike from Berlin to Zurich...

[Mark83]

My first road bike was a Bianchi C2C Via Nirone Veloce.

Loved it. Very comfortable bike. I did a couple of century rides on it without discomfort compared to my current Focus Cayo Evo 4.0 which gets a little uncomfortable after 60 miles despite a bike fit.

[julianm]

Watch out if you`re offered a cheap Bianchi/ Dura Ace
- http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/11011234.Valuable_...

I don`t know if you`re interested in `classic` bikes but you could get a lovely 90`s Merckx or similar for that money, which will hold it`s value. Good luck with the search.

[jamiebae]

There was me almost about to press the button on the carbon Ridley and everyone is suggesting the Bianchi which I'd pretty much ruled out!

I'm guessing carbon would be lighter which given the number of mountains around here is probably a plus point, but are the frames of the carbon options (Mekk, Cinelli, Ridley) going to be rubbish at this price point? Most of these bikes are £1-1.5k at UK retail price so I expect any would be good, but I don't want to buy something now and then regret it.

[yellowjack]

I can't help with recommendations, but one thing I did notice is a bit of dodgy 'auto-translate' on the Wiggle description of this Cinelli...

http://www.wiggle.com/cinelli-experience-105-mix-2...

wiggle.com said:

The Cinelli Experience has had a face elevator for 2013

Presumably that's meant to read "face lift"

[Jimbo.]

TKF said:

I would say the Ridley. Couldn't be less poncey and you're very unlikely to see another about. But then I'm biased...

Good call. Quite fond of Ridleys. Just a shame I can't afford the bloody things!

[jamiebae]

Just found this....

http://www.wiggle.com/eastway-rd10-force-2013/

Very tempting indeed, I like the idea of discs and it looks like a very decent spec for the money too. Any thoughts?

[SoliD]

Can't offer any real advice, except to say my Ridley has been absolutely faultless in the year i've owned it. Great ride, and served me well. Know a couple of others with them and all say the same thing.

[anonymous-user]

Disc brakes make a lot of sense, it takes heat away from the rim which will prevent a blow out on long winding descents (ask Tony!) but my fear is that too many manufacturers have slapped disc mounts on existing forks without much additional stress design so right now the force going through the forks is somewhat of an unknown which could be a bit.... iffy....