Which would you get?

[irf]

Quick background, couple of years ago wanted to lose some belly fat, rode my sons bike for about 400 m and collapsed on the road! Just lay there like a fish out of water.

Anyway, carried on with that, got better so thought I'd buy a bike for myself and went to Halfords (less then 2 miles away) and ended up with my first mistake, a hybrid.

Built mileage up to my best of 33 miles which I was quite chuffed with and then nearly got run over by a guy who was coming out of a side road and just looked straight through me! Put me off and didn't ride.

Fast forward to today and I'm feeling the love again, only done a couple of 10 mile rides so want a road bike as I think that'll also give me some incentive to get out there for longer rides. Would love to build up to a 50 miler by summer.

Budget is severely restricted, under £400 but found some bikes which I thought looked good. My problem is, I don't know anything about them apart from pretty colours!

See what you think.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/b...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-z100-2016/

https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/cube-peloton-2015-Q...

https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-pr...

Also, any sales to watch out for from Boxing Day?

Thanks for any help.

[Agent XXX]

it certainly wouldn't be the Halfords pile of crap Boardman

[roadman]

Agent XXX said:

it certainly wouldn't be the Halfords pile of crap Boardman

agree with that


I also would go with Cube because of triple chainset

Merin seems a tad heavier so id go with the Felt

[C0ffin D0dger]

I got a Cube Hybrid, very god bike and offered much better value for money than other manufacturers could offer. On that basis I'd go for the Cube however they're all going to be subtly different in their frame geometry and one may suit you better than another. If you can test ride any of them then I'd suggest doing so.

[iguana]

None seem 'bad' but a clean used bike would give you a lot more(*) bike (*lighter, better wheels, gear set etc) for your money, I've bought new before & did last yr, but also I've just bought a year old bike looks like it's been mainly indoor turbo trainer used, pretty much as new, £900 new £355 on eBay, plus SPD pedals & postage was still sub £400, with a slightly higher budget I just missed out on a £2k bike at just sub £600.

Really need to check sizing etc before you buy & a good inspection before you particularly with your cash, I followed half that advice, I knew sizing but did buy unseen, however from a reputable proper bike shop so felt fine doing it that way.

If it has to be new & small budget, I quite like the Giant range, defy 3 & 4 are on a reduced price now as Defy range now in general is end of line. Easy uprated to higher spec wheels & gears as yr experience or budget grows.

[NatAsp]

Agree re Peloton - relaxed geometry and triple chainset is perfect for a newcomer with weight to lose. I had the Peloton Pro as my first road bike and the triple chainset really helped me up the climbs - made a big difference. Personally if I had your budget I would be buying a Btwin from Decathlon, superb value for money and you can go and test them out at your local shop, chat to someone about sizing etc.

Can one of the above posters enlighten me as to what specifically about the Boardman renders it a "piece of crap". To my very simple mind, it looks like a decent frame/fork with Claris gears. Assuming it's a given that all bikes at this price point come with crap wheels/tyres, I can't work out what's wrong with it? Brakes?

[Agent XXX]

NatAsp said:

Can one of the above posters enlighten me as to what specifically about the Boardman renders it a "piece of crap". To my very simple mind, it looks like a decent frame/fork with Claris gears. Assuming it's a given that all bikes at this price point come with crap wheels/tyres, I can't work out what's wrong with it? Brakes?

Halfords special = crap

[Gren]

iguana said:

None seem 'bad' but a clean used bike would give you a lot more(*) bike (*lighter, better wheels, gear set etc) for your money, I've bought new before & did last yr, but also I've just bought a year old bike looks like it's been mainly indoor turbo trainer used, pretty much as new, £900 new £355 on eBay, plus SPD pedals & postage was still sub £400, with a slightly higher budget I just missed out on a £2k bike at just sub £600.

Yep. For that same sort of money I sold my 16 month old Defy 0 a few months back. Full Ultegra (upgraded parts), and another couple of hundred spent on tweaks. Spotless bike and a couple of kilos lighter than these.

[NatAsp]

Agent XXX said:

Halfords special = crap

I said specifically, if you don't mind? Which components are crap compared to other bikes at that price point?

[Agent XXX]

NatAsp said:

I said specifically, if you don't mind? Which components are crap compared to other bikes at that price point?

Its a Halfords brand cheap POS. These have nothing to do with the proper Boardman bikes, the Boardman 'Elite' range. They just use his name and apply it to poorly made cheap chinese crap. On a par with Carrera.

[NatAsp]

Agent XXX said:

Its a Halfords brand cheap POS. These have nothing to do with the proper Boardman bikes, the Boardman 'Elite' range. They just use his name and apply it to poorly made cheap chinese crap. On a par with Carrera.

Not seeing any material facts here I'm afraid. However, it has become clear that you are not basing your opinion on any, which is what I suspected. Thanks for clarifying.

[irf]

Appreciate the replies, thank you.

On a separate note, with regard to sizing. I know for my height (5' 10") I'd be looking at a 56 size but one thing confuses me.

I see a lot of people with their seats quite extended, something about aggressive geometry and being streamlined. I'm assuming these people get a size smaller which enables this? What's that all about? Should I at my level just ignore this? Would like to know what it's about though.

Thanks again.

Edited by irf on Tuesday 20th December 13:47

[TwistingMyMelon]

Halfords bike looks fine

I would go Cube, owners love them and they always look great

Personally I would find a good local (or localish) shop and use them

[Agent XXX]

NatAsp said:

Not seeing any material facts here I'm afraid. However, it has become clear that you are not basing your opinion on any, which is what I suspected. Thanks for clarifying.

Would you buy one?

[mcelliott]

The Felt would make a very good buy, i had the f75 did 19000kms on it great little bikes.

[Your Dad]

Leisure Lakes have a Specialized Allez on sale @ £350, also only in 54cm like the Felt:

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/46503/products/sp...

[boyse7en]

Agent XXX said:

Its a Halfords brand cheap POS. These have nothing to do with the proper Boardman bikes, the Boardman 'Elite' range. They just use his name and apply it to poorly made cheap chinese crap. On a par with Carrera.

Boardman's carbon-framed bikes (as bought in Halfords) seem to be highly regarded by many of the test riders in magazine and online reviews.

[Stupeo]

What about a B'Twin from Decathlon? Great reviews and good prices IMO.

[lauda]

Agent XXX said:

Would you buy one?

I did. And it's been fantastic over the several thousand kms I've done on it. It seems no worse in any tangible way than my Specialized which was twice the price.

And they're made in Cambodia, not China

[irf]

Thanks for the suggestions, think I'll give a call to some of them tomorrow. Like the suggestion of the allez but it says it weighs 15kg on the link. Surely a mistake?