Which road bike - advice needed
Discussion
Hello everyone.
After years of mountain biking I am looking to get a road bike, primarily for fitness (am climbing Mount Blanc next year for charity). I don't want anything too fancy at this stage, and have narrowed it down to three choices of which I would apprecaite your comments and opinions (as I know very little about road bikes):
2010 Specialised Allez Sport : http://www.dalescycles.com/2010_specialized_allez_...
2009 Boardman Comp: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
2009 Merida 903: http://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/products.php?plid=m...
The Merida is more expensive but my LBS is closing down and has one at 25% off. The spec does seem good, especially the wheelset but even so the Boardman looks incredible value. I'm contemplating the Specialised because I have one of their MTBs which is great, plus this bike is a 2010 bike and therefore has the latest technology.
Much thanks, TT
After years of mountain biking I am looking to get a road bike, primarily for fitness (am climbing Mount Blanc next year for charity). I don't want anything too fancy at this stage, and have narrowed it down to three choices of which I would apprecaite your comments and opinions (as I know very little about road bikes):
2010 Specialised Allez Sport : http://www.dalescycles.com/2010_specialized_allez_...
2009 Boardman Comp: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
2009 Merida 903: http://www.leisurewheels.co.uk/products.php?plid=m...
The Merida is more expensive but my LBS is closing down and has one at 25% off. The spec does seem good, especially the wheelset but even so the Boardman looks incredible value. I'm contemplating the Specialised because I have one of their MTBs which is great, plus this bike is a 2010 bike and therefore has the latest technology.
Much thanks, TT
go for the boardman. great spec, some nice ritchey bits and 105 is very precise and positive shifting, i have an 08 team and its so fast its unbelievable. it really is a good bike despite the "halfords special" tag some snobs give it.
the merida has the bling factor but tiagra is a bit wet and lacks the positive shifting of 105
as for the allez, they are not the same good value as they were a few years back and there are some lower end components now creeping onto the bike. plus you just dont need a triple chainset on a road bike.
the merida has the bling factor but tiagra is a bit wet and lacks the positive shifting of 105
as for the allez, they are not the same good value as they were a few years back and there are some lower end components now creeping onto the bike. plus you just dont need a triple chainset on a road bike.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 16th June 19:15
Having just bought a correctly fitted Roubaix Elite I have to say it's a fantastic bike.
I asked the bike shop owner what he thought of the Boardman bike and he advised "It's a good bike, great value for money. It's biggest problem is that the Halfords staff cannot set the bike up correctly"
he seems to have a few coming to him for repairs and setting up. Maybe if you do buy one get it set up again before you take it out.
That lidl bike looks great value. I agree though that the frame isnt the same quality as the chainset. Maybe upgrade to last years Carbon frame.
Having bought my bike at a proper indelendant bike shop run by riders and racers I'd try and find a shop locally and buy from them. The service is worth the effort.
(btw, my local bike shop was no more expensive that at Evans but they fitted it correctly, set it up and ensured I had all the right bits thrown in which saved me nearly £200)
I asked the bike shop owner what he thought of the Boardman bike and he advised "It's a good bike, great value for money. It's biggest problem is that the Halfords staff cannot set the bike up correctly"
he seems to have a few coming to him for repairs and setting up. Maybe if you do buy one get it set up again before you take it out.
That lidl bike looks great value. I agree though that the frame isnt the same quality as the chainset. Maybe upgrade to last years Carbon frame.
Having bought my bike at a proper indelendant bike shop run by riders and racers I'd try and find a shop locally and buy from them. The service is worth the effort.
(btw, my local bike shop was no more expensive that at Evans but they fitted it correctly, set it up and ensured I had all the right bits thrown in which saved me nearly £200)
this "halfords can not set up a bike correctly" line is utter bulls
t and i find it really annoying. halfords employees vary from store to store just like any other chain of shops, and local bike shops are no better. i know a shop in bristol who can not set up hydraulic disc brakes for all the money in the world.... as much as i like to support independants, the service, range and prices can be no better than larger chains.
i know lots of people who bought boardman bikes, hten just took them to the LBS for a post build check, paind about £20 to find that there was nothing wrong with the bike and still walked away with a bargain.
sorry for the moan but i could tell a lot of stories about bike shops, particularly in brristol, with moody staff, nonchanlant service and a "i work in a bike shop thus i am better and know more than you" attitude... handing these pricks their arses on the trails is more than satisfying....
t and i find it really annoying. halfords employees vary from store to store just like any other chain of shops, and local bike shops are no better. i know a shop in bristol who can not set up hydraulic disc brakes for all the money in the world.... as much as i like to support independants, the service, range and prices can be no better than larger chains.i know lots of people who bought boardman bikes, hten just took them to the LBS for a post build check, paind about £20 to find that there was nothing wrong with the bike and still walked away with a bargain.
sorry for the moan but i could tell a lot of stories about bike shops, particularly in brristol, with moody staff, nonchanlant service and a "i work in a bike shop thus i am better and know more than you" attitude... handing these pricks their arses on the trails is more than satisfying....
Thanks for all the comments, think I will go for the Boardman.
I had another look at the Merida on Saturday and it looks not as great as I thought. Aside from the obvious componentry differences, I like my bikes to look right and the Merida has white-edged tyres and white grip-tape which looks all unbalenced to me when combined with the black colour of everything else.
I had another look at the Merida on Saturday and it looks not as great as I thought. Aside from the obvious componentry differences, I like my bikes to look right and the Merida has white-edged tyres and white grip-tape which looks all unbalenced to me when combined with the black colour of everything else.
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