Advice on buying a road bike

deluna

I'm having a hard time deciding which road bike to choose. I don't want to spend more than 450euros. I've seen this Champion Mont Ventoux in the U.K. for £249 and like the look of it but don't know how good it is. I've never heard of the brand.
http://www.mailordercycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s6p2877&z=2487
I'd appreciate your opinions on it, the quality of the components etc.
Thanks

Quigs Snr

Hmmm, depends on what you are using it for. The first thing that stands out is that it appears to have a bell on it, yep, I am not imagining things, its a bell.... not a good sign. Spec wise its more or less on a par with many of the other bikes at that level, but that frame looks a little gimmicky. Personally I would avoid, brand name road bikes in that price range tend to be awful enough, so I would take steps to avoid the no-namers.

At that price point the bottom of the range Giant will be a similar spec but a proven name. You might find last years OCR4 somewhere (like I got for the missus), or the new bottom of the range SCR which is a good bit lighter and you would be better off probably, less of a risk anyway.

Its a false economy though, if you could stretch 650 for a specialised allez you would have a more upgradeable and far better designed bike that would see you through if you decided to keep the cycling going or wanted to do a few events, charity rides, even some racing. Bikes in your price range tend to be overweight and underspecced but more crucially not very upgradeable. A bunch of lads I know picked up bikes at that pricepoint last year for a triathlon and now they have nearly all upgraded to the next model.

You can sometimes get good value secondhand, a mate got a Giant TCR with a nice spec for 400 on the buyandsell, another mate got a pristine trek 1000 for 400 also. Better than buying a heap of dirt like that thing in your link.

This is only my opinion of course. There are 3 road bikes in my house, the girlfriends Giant OCR4, my Trek 5500 Carbon, and my custom build race bike. I use my bikes usually for long distance leisure and randonee events and recently racing) I used to have an old trek 1000 and it was almost as quick as the 2 carbon dream machines, i.e. I am the limiting factor for the most part. The OCR 4 runs nicely but weighs a ton plus the 7 speed cassette gives less options, can't be upgraded easily, the cheap wheels don't roll as well (noticeably so on a downhill freewheel - even compared to the trek 1000 I used to have which had cheapo wheels) and so on......

In summary if you are spending 400ish, try to go a couple hundred more for a specialised. If not pick up a giant, but a better option would be a second hand higher spec model, make sure you bring someone who knows their stuff with you though.

deluna

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I hadn't even noticed the bell, sort of puts me off too!! I think the second hand option would be the best if it means I can get a better bike for the money. I don't really want to spend more than about 450e. I'll be using the bike for commuting and maybe a bit of weekend cycling as well. I just want something reliable and faster than my mtb.

tywy

I dunno if this is what your looking for but I was in penny farthings the other day, saw a blue shogun flat bar road bike for €450. Not as light as the claud butler lavente but I think it might be what you're looking for. If you have a bag on your back drop handlebars can be quite uncomfortable. At least I think so. Another bike to look out for is the Claud Bulter Chinook, http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/cb/chinook.html it'd probably be suitable too...

deluna

I've had a look at the Levante and it seems like a really nice bike i'll check that shogun bike as well. I take your point about the flat bars. Has anyone tried the Orbea aos
http://www.hollymillcycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b0s206p1945&z=1902

I've seen it on a French website for 399euros I don't know how much delivery would be but i'm quite tempted.

tywy

The Levante has carbon forks and is pretty nice but has a nice pricetag of €650 too

oldboy

Hi ! Just a comment on the levante.

I've been using one (bought brand new) to commute to college in dublin since october 05 and its great. 10k round trip every day. I paid 650 too but it has been worth it.

I can't say I've ever had a single problem with it. Nippy n sturdy and the bars are fine and comfortable with me wearing a rucksack with laptop in the bag for college.

Stripped it down to the frame a few months ago and replaced the brake pads, cables, chain etc . Cleaned up everything else and put new tires (kevlar things due to punctures) on it and its as good as new.

I've enjoyed it from day 1. Mind you i only had a giant MTB to commute on before that so I have no scale of comparison with regards to other flat bar road bikes.

Hope it helps

tywy

I paid out €600 for a Specialized Sirrus and I love it too and would recommend it if it's in the OPs price range but sadly I don't think it is. I would recommend flat bar to the OP though, way more comfortable imo

Raam

tywy wrote:

If you have a bag on your back drop handlebars can be quite uncomfortable. At least I think so.

For what it's worth, I have drops on my bike and I carry a bag in/out of work most days. I like to have the option of using the drops. Normally I don't use them on my commute (prefer to use the hoods), but for my longer cycles at the weekend I use 'em.

At least with the drops, you have the option of not using them, but if you ain't got them in the first place...

Domer

What are Drops and Hoods?

Raam

Domer wrote:

What are Drops and Hoods?

the drops are the bottom part of the bars that you see on a road bike, i.e. the bit that curls down and back.
The hoods are on the top and run in the same direction as the drops, i.e not the "regular" bit of the handle bar. The brakes and gears are usually attached to that part

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=12631

Chips Lovell

Quigs Snr wrote:

The first thing that stands out is that it appears to have a bell on it, yep, I am not imagining things, its a bell.... not a good sign.

I wouldn't worry too much about the bell. UK law dictates that all new bikes have to be sold with a bell and reflectors on the wheels. A mate of mine bought a Bianchi from Evans Cycles recently and sure enough it came with a bell.

Quigs Snr

You sure about that ? Got the better half a Giant OCR4 from Wiggle 3 weeks ago and it didn't have a bell. Reflectors were sent in a seperate box though.

Either way, you know yourself, a lot of these no-namers bikes are pure dirt, better off avoid unless you happen to know they are a rebadged something else. Did see a girl I know do a duathlon at the weekend on what looked to be a Lapierre road bike with a flat bar. She was flying and spent less than 400 I think... If thats what you are into, Lapierres are a fine bike. Rode 320k in Kerry 2 weeks ago with a couple of lads on bottom of the race Lapierre Stech 200's. Not a bother on them.

Chips Lovell

Quigs Snr wrote:

You sure about that ?

Yep. Check here.