Back to road bikes...
Discussion
After about 13 years of being out the saddle I want to get back into road riding.
I used to have a Claud Butler Criterium back in the day, and for the £300 - 400 it cost me then it was a half decent bike and was quite comfortable for the odd 100 miler.
I've now seen Butlers going for the same price but would I be correct that they really aren't the best quality now?
Also, I've had a look at the Trek 1.5 (and a Specialized Allez but not sure of price) for £650 and this is really the most I want to spend considering I need new shoes/pedals/ helmet etc.
Now, is a Trek at almost double the price actually double the quality of bike over a CB and is it worth spending another £200 to go upto a Trek 1.7, just for Shim 105 and a few other bits?
I'd only be using the bike for 30-60 mile runs and not every week either. It's just to break up the running and gym work that I do.
Lastly, what are the benefits of having a double, triple or compact crank and cassette?
Many thanks and Happy New Year
I used to have a Claud Butler Criterium back in the day, and for the £300 - 400 it cost me then it was a half decent bike and was quite comfortable for the odd 100 miler.
I've now seen Butlers going for the same price but would I be correct that they really aren't the best quality now?
Also, I've had a look at the Trek 1.5 (and a Specialized Allez but not sure of price) for £650 and this is really the most I want to spend considering I need new shoes/pedals/ helmet etc.
Now, is a Trek at almost double the price actually double the quality of bike over a CB and is it worth spending another £200 to go upto a Trek 1.7, just for Shim 105 and a few other bits?
I'd only be using the bike for 30-60 mile runs and not every week either. It's just to break up the running and gym work that I do.
Lastly, what are the benefits of having a double, triple or compact crank and cassette?
Many thanks and Happy New Year
You really need to do your homework and shop around for the best deal. The spec of the Trek 1.5 and Specalized seem to feature Shimano Sora and Tiagra bits which is what I would expect to see on a £400 range bike. Having said that a quick search showed a 2008 1.5 for £540 and the Specalized for £480.
For £650 I'd be looking for either a frame with lots of carbon bits and good components or an aluminium frame with carbon forks / high end components (nice wheels, shifters etc).
If you have not done so already have a look at www.winstanleysbikes.com for whats available. You quickly get a feel for what is overpriced / low spec.
As to the question of what to spend on a bike. £400 is the minimum for something worth having but when stuff wears out you may be not be inclined to spend money upgrading or even fixing it properly.
I'm currently in the market for a bike around £650 and there is lots of choice of high spec machines.
As to the question of double or triple. How many gears do you need? If you are not at all fit and need to go up a lot of hills you will probably be glad if you went for a triple. I find a double provides all the ratios I need.
For £650 I'd be looking for either a frame with lots of carbon bits and good components or an aluminium frame with carbon forks / high end components (nice wheels, shifters etc).
If you have not done so already have a look at www.winstanleysbikes.com for whats available. You quickly get a feel for what is overpriced / low spec.
As to the question of what to spend on a bike. £400 is the minimum for something worth having but when stuff wears out you may be not be inclined to spend money upgrading or even fixing it properly.
I'm currently in the market for a bike around £650 and there is lots of choice of high spec machines.
As to the question of double or triple. How many gears do you need? If you are not at all fit and need to go up a lot of hills you will probably be glad if you went for a triple. I find a double provides all the ratios I need.
Thanks for that advice.
Talking to a chap in a bike shop, he was telling me that Trek have left off some 'better' spec components and increased the quality of the frames, i.e carbon forks and seat stem etc.
The Specialized bikes actually seem a bit cheaper, but with better components.
I'll keep looking.
Edit: This is the Trek I was looking at. You'll notice a lot of it is Bontrager stuff. Any good?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/15-double...
Blimey, I see that some Bianchi's are quite reasonably priced, too.
Talking to a chap in a bike shop, he was telling me that Trek have left off some 'better' spec components and increased the quality of the frames, i.e carbon forks and seat stem etc.
The Specialized bikes actually seem a bit cheaper, but with better components.
I'll keep looking.
Edit: This is the Trek I was looking at. You'll notice a lot of it is Bontrager stuff. Any good?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/15-double...
Blimey, I see that some Bianchi's are quite reasonably priced, too.
Edited by Nitro... on Wednesday 31st December 15:07
Hi,
For £650 you should get a decent bike, especially at this time of year. The usual advice is to go for the best frame and then upgrade the other components as they wear out, so you're probably looking at an Aluminium frame and my preferance would be for one with carbon forks. As you say some of the Bianchi's are reasonable, I've been riding a Bianchi SL Aluminium frame with carbon seat stays & forks for the past 3yrs and it's still a good bike.
Personally I'd look for shimano 105 brakes/gears if possible and not worry too much about things like chainset/bars/saddle. The saddle you'll probably change yourself anyway at some point. A double will be fine for most riding from what you say about fitness, I'd guess you'd only need a triple if you're climbing 1:6's on a regular ride.
You'll get an idea of what's decent from websites like Bikeradar.com, just don't get discouraged by how they always seem to rave over the £1k+ bikes, there are plenty of good bikes around in your price range.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/...
and as mentioned in another thread, Ribble Cycles are worth a look as well. They've had up & down reputations but currently seem ok, and their bike packages are undoubtedly good value - personally I'd say better than the likes of Trek.
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/
finally - the focus/giant ranges at wiggle are also worth checking out....
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/d/Cycle/7/1/1/
For £650 you should get a decent bike, especially at this time of year. The usual advice is to go for the best frame and then upgrade the other components as they wear out, so you're probably looking at an Aluminium frame and my preferance would be for one with carbon forks. As you say some of the Bianchi's are reasonable, I've been riding a Bianchi SL Aluminium frame with carbon seat stays & forks for the past 3yrs and it's still a good bike.
Personally I'd look for shimano 105 brakes/gears if possible and not worry too much about things like chainset/bars/saddle. The saddle you'll probably change yourself anyway at some point. A double will be fine for most riding from what you say about fitness, I'd guess you'd only need a triple if you're climbing 1:6's on a regular ride.
You'll get an idea of what's decent from websites like Bikeradar.com, just don't get discouraged by how they always seem to rave over the £1k+ bikes, there are plenty of good bikes around in your price range.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/...
and as mentioned in another thread, Ribble Cycles are worth a look as well. They've had up & down reputations but currently seem ok, and their bike packages are undoubtedly good value - personally I'd say better than the likes of Trek.
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/
finally - the focus/giant ranges at wiggle are also worth checking out....
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/d/Cycle/7/1/1/
for £685 you can get a Boardman Team from Halfords? Ultegra shifters and Mechs, Truvativ Rouler cranks, a smart ally frame and full carbon forks with some nice ritchey finishing kit. i'm biased because i bought one. it came in a box, i gave it to a friend who builds his own bikes (wheels and all) and said "build this for me" and its a great ride, very fast and quite comfy. i can guarantee that you will not get better for the money.
the Comp is down from £599 to £499 and is a mix of tiagra, truvativ and textro.
sure they come from halfords but only in the same way that you can buy an ipod from tesco?!?
the Comp is down from £599 to £499 and is a mix of tiagra, truvativ and textro.
sure they come from halfords but only in the same way that you can buy an ipod from tesco?!?
^^^^What he said!^^^^
Boardman are about the best spec you can find for their given price range. I have a Boardman Comp '08, and it is my 1st road bike, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but it feels great, really fast and stiff. I mainly do mountain biking, but as I live in the fens I bought a road bike to get fit without dragging my full sus MTB round the roads.
At the time I was torn between the Boardman and a Giant SCR 1.5 '08, but went for the Boardman as it had 10% off. I also looked at the Trek 1.5 '08 and Specialized Allez '08 but found them to have lower spec.
Pop to Halfords and have a sit on a Boardman. If it fits, go for it.
(although that Trek 1.5 '09 looks
)
Boardman are about the best spec you can find for their given price range. I have a Boardman Comp '08, and it is my 1st road bike, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but it feels great, really fast and stiff. I mainly do mountain biking, but as I live in the fens I bought a road bike to get fit without dragging my full sus MTB round the roads.
At the time I was torn between the Boardman and a Giant SCR 1.5 '08, but went for the Boardman as it had 10% off. I also looked at the Trek 1.5 '08 and Specialized Allez '08 but found them to have lower spec.
Pop to Halfords and have a sit on a Boardman. If it fits, go for it.
(although that Trek 1.5 '09 looks
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