Trek 1.2 or Lapierre R-Lite 200?

colblimp

Hey all!

I'm just starting biking again after approx 30 years (I'm 41) and I'm not sure which bike to purchase. The link to the Lapierre is here:

http://www.theedge-sports.com/acatalog/Lapierre_RTS_Lite_200_745.00.html

I'm presuming I don't need to provide a link to the Trek...

I'll eventually be using the bike for triathlons (when I can swim and not drown!), but for now I want to get used to cycling again.

Which bike has the better spec? Which is better to 'learn' on? Which will last the longest? How do I know what size frame I'll need?

Any thoughts, advice, comments would be much appreciated.

Thanks in anticipation.:)

Raam

Hi colblimp, welcome to the board. Here are some musings...

The Lapierre has bottom end Shimano gears. They will change the gear, but they are not the best. The order, cheapest to most expensive, is like this... 2200, Sora, Tiagra, 105, Ultegra, Dura Ace. I think for the same price you should be able to get a better groupset than 2200.

The Lapierre has a triple so that will be useful for you for going up hill. When you get stronger you won't need the smallest ring anymore. You can also consider a compact crankset (two chanrings but not too big so easy to pedal uphill)

It's good that you are going for drop bars as they offer more hand positions and an overall sportier body position than regular flat bars.

Sizing: I'm 6'3" and ride a 58cm frame. Tell us your height and we can advise you. It is important to get the most suitable size.

Trek 1.2
http://www.worldwidecycles.com/p-191-trek-12.aspx
That trek has the same groupset and is a similar price. At that stage it's down to personal preference. Neither bike is necessarily better than the other.

However consider the Focus range. Here is one sample: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus_Variado_2008/5360032370/
This bike has a 105 groupset which will be much better than 2200, but the price is cheaper.

Feel free to ask as much questions as you like.

P

colblimp

Thanks for such a quick response, Raam.

I'm 5'11" tall, if that helps.

That Focus looks rather sexy, and, as you say, is better spec'd than the Trek or Lapierre with a better price. If I work out what size frame I need, is it just a case of ordering it online? I'm totally lost...

I'm presuming I'll be able to add aero bars to the bike down the road, once I get used to riding again?

Am I right in thinking that the Focus would be a good starter bike, especially with a carbon fork?

TinyExplosions

With Wiggle, they have the sizing charts on the site, which are usually pretty good. At 5'11" it says that you should go for a 56cm, but it's partially dependant on your inside leg. If it's under 32", I'd suggest the 54cm one. Just place your order and patiently wait for the delivery man -they come pretty much fully assembled -though you will need to buy pedals!

Freddy687

You should go to your local bike shop and try a few bikes for size.
At 5' 11" you fit smack in between the 54cm and 56cm frames in the Trek range anyway. This will give you better choice as the 54 will make you sit a bit straighter and the 56 a bit lower in the air.

The Focus is only in stock in a 54 so you should be fine with that.

I presume you know that a Trek are only sold through dealers and are not available for a sale online. I cannot see you getting a Trek in this country for that price unless you are willing to go up North.

colblimp

Thanks very much for your replies.

Are we agreed, then, that a 54 frame will be correct for my height? My inside leg is 32". Will I just go ahead and order it or would you all advise to try sitting on a couple of bikes at my LBS?

I think I'm going to give the two bikes mentioned in the thread title a miss as, like you say Raam, they both have the bottom end groupset. For less money I can get a better groupset and, by all accounts, a better bike.

So, I suppose my question is, will I go ahead and order the Focus? Is it the better bike out of the three?

Raam

For my money, the Focus is the better of the three.
Carbon Forks: perfect for the road
Aero Bars: yes, you can slap them on later

blorg

colblimp, if you are 5'11 with 32" inside leg I really think you should be looking at 56cm Focuses, I suspect the 54cm would be too small. I am 6ft and ride a 58cm Focus myself. They say themselves on the site:

M/54 28-30" 5'7-5'9"
L/56 30-33" 5'9-6'0"

You are WAY outside the range suggested for the 54 bike.

I know the 56 is not available any more on that 2008 bike but no point getting something that doesn't fit you.

colblimp

Hmmm, point taken blorg. I'll hold off then, I suppose it would be a lot of money wasted if the damn thing was the wrong size... Thanks muchly.:)

I think I'll go with your suggestion Raam, no point getting something of a lower quality when a higher spec'd bike would be cheaper...

blorg

From Wiggle, this Giant SCR1 might be a good choice for similar money- 105 groupset and available in your size (which will be either medium or large ) I'd guess probably medium- I have a large Giant myself.

Medium 5ft 6 – 5ft 11
Large 5ft 11 – 6ft 3

colblimp

Ah, nice bike but I cannot, under any circumstances, go over €700 - I've just been told by she who must be obeyed...

TinyExplosions

In that case this BeOne Storm 1.0 gives you the 105 drivetrain (minus the cranks), but comes in at €534, leaving you cash to upgrade bits, or get lovely kit

Gavin

BeOne Storm 1.0

105 drivetrain
Carbon fork
55cm size in stock
540 or so

edit - beaten to it !

blorg

colblimp wrote: »

Ah, nice bike but I cannot, under any circumstances, go over €700 - I've just been told by she who must be obeyed...

The Giant is only £30 more than the Focus, it's worth it to get a bike with 105 that fits. Wiggle's Euro conversion is a bit out these days too, it actually comes in just under 700 (albeit there would be £20 delivery and you would pay a bit more on currency conversion):

665.52 British pounds = 696.320142 Euros

Both the Lapierre and Trek you mentioned were over €700 too.

short circuit

I am 5'9 with a 33 inch in seam ... :eek: I know ... strange body proportions ... Wiggle guys came back with a recommendation of 56cm for the Focus ... But I am glad I went for the 54cm ... it fits much better ... and due to my lacking torso length .. I am now looking to get a shorter stem.

I think at 5'11 ... you are definitely looking at a 56cm ...

sy

Definitely 56 cm if you go for the focus. Enjoy

xz

blorg wrote: »

From Wiggle, this Giant SCR1 might be a good choice for similar money- 105 groupset and available in your size (which will be either medium or large ) I'd guess probably medium- I have a large Giant myself.

Medium 5ft 6 – 5ft 11
Large 5ft 11 – 6ft 3

I am 5'10" and have a Medium SCR4, I have had to swap out the standard 100mm stem for a 120mm, my set up is comfortable, but the bike looks too small for me. If I were you, going for a Giant, I would get the Large. Note, the frame is a compact road frame in the SCR Range. But from personal experience, they are bomb proof and the 4 is the lower end of the scale with 2200 components, which to be honest are durable and good enough for training spins or commuting, but I am in the middle of swapping it all out for 105 components, as I put in a lot of mileage on this bike.

FrankGrimes

I'm just under 6ft and when measured in a shop they put me on a Large Giant SCR 2.0 frame. Replaced stem with a shorter one mainly due to a back problem I had, but it feels like the right size bike for me though I could perhaps get a away with one size smaller but it seems the large is best.

xz - how much is the upgrading to 105 costing you? Just interested to know as I've a mate who is in a similar postion and I'm not sure if he'd be better off buying new online with the current exchange rate or upgrading components.

colblimp

Thanks for all your replies lads, appreciate it.:D

That BeOne Storm looks like a nice bike, how can they sell it so cheaply when it's 105 equipped? Would I go for a 55 or 57 frame with that? I'm presuming 55...

You're right blorg, the Lapierre and Trek are now both over my price limit, but only since my GF put her foot down about cash!

I think I'm gonna have to try a couple of bikes for size before I go ordering off the 'net, I just don't want to get the wrong size.