New Bike

eggie

Hi All

Its been a while since I used to ride but i'm taking it back up again and will be purchasing a bike in the next few weeks. I will be getting something quite decent as dont to be upgrading again in the near future.

I was looking on the website of cyclesuperstore.ie and have picked out the below as my choices to date. I will make a decision on which I'm going for later.

As I have been away from the game for some time things have changed and I would appreciate some input / advice.

1. Which of the following models would be best?

-Giant Defy 1 Bike
-Lapierre RCR 700
-Lapierre R-Lite 500 Bike
-Pinarello FP1 Road Bike Sora
-Pinarello FP1 Road Bike Veloce

I have a favouritism towards one of these but would like some opinions.

2. What are Cyclesuperstore like to deal with? Will they throw a few freebies or extend discount etc?

3. What cycle clubs / routes around Dublin area are worth looking at?

Thanks for any replies

Eggie

kenmc

For the money you are looking to spend you would get a carbon bike e.g. focus cayo or planetx SL on the web.
The RCR700 is a flat bar whereas the other 4 have dropped bars, so you're not in the same category with that one - intentional?
I'd avoid the Sora, aim for at least '105' in the Shimano groupsets - dunno what the equiv in campag is, you'll need to wait for the resident fanboy to come along.
Cyclesuperstore are good to deal with, they usually offer a 10% discount - join up online and you have it when buying the bike. But as I said for the money you're spending you'll get a lot better value online.

Smithzer

Eggie,

I'm in the same boat as you was up with http://www.slanecycles.com/ last weekend, my mate was buying a Cervelo, they were very helpful and know there stuff around fitting. I'll be going back up to get
http://www.slanecycles.com/productdetail.aspx?id=3207&subid=273&catid=66
Or
http://www.slanecycles.com/productdetail.aspx?id=790&subid=273&catid=66

When I get mu funds in order.

eggie

I'm prob gonna buy one of the below, is there a huge difference between them or merely aesthetics ??

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie


Pinarello FP1 Road Bike Sora
Pinarello FP1 Road Bike Veloce
Pinarello FP2 Road Bike 105

Thanks

Eggie

kenmc

Defo the 105 over the sora.

blorg

There is a difference, 105 is a big step up from Sora on the Shimano side.

Lumen has used both Veloce and 105 and IIRC he reckons 105 is a lot better.

Veloce would certainly be better than Sora though, often considered above Tiagra below 105.

Note there are two different frame/fork/finishing kit combos there, the FP1 and FP2. The FP2 being better.

Chips Lovell

I had a feeling when I saw your first post you wanted a Pinarello.

The FP1 frame appears to be essentially the same as the FP2, except the latter has Pinarello's fancy Onda carbon forks on it, as opposed to more conventional carbon forks on the FP1. Net result is that the FP2 is around 100g lighter.

I'd steer clear of Sora if you have the budget to do so, which means you've got the choice of 105 or Veloce. I'd rate them in the same bracket, so really it's down to whether you prefer Shimano shifters or Campag. I also see that there's a €400 price difference between the two, so you'd have to weigh that up too.

Actually, just looking at the Cyclesuperstore website, I also see you've got a fourth option, since you can get an FP2 with Veloce for €200 less than the 105 model. If I wanted a Pinarello in your price bracket, that's the one I'd go for.

scottreynolds

Smithzer wrote: »

Eggie,

I'm in the same boat as you was up with http://www.slanecycles.com/ last weekend, my mate was buying a Cervelo, they were very helpful and know there stuff around fitting. I'll be going back up to get
http://www.slanecycles.com/productdetail.aspx?id=3207&subid=273&catid=66
Or
http://www.slanecycles.com/productdetail.aspx?id=790&subid=273&catid=66

When I get mu funds in order.

http://www.slanecycles.com/productdetail.aspx?id=3143&subid=273&catid=66

I got that from Slane and its lovely.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

Lumen has used both Veloce and 105 and IIRC he reckons 105 is a lot better.

Actually I've changed my mind. This has nothing to do with the fact that I'm about to sell a Veloce-equipped bike. :pac:

I think the 105 just worked better because it was the 105 bike's first time out, and at the time my Veloce groupset was mucky.

I currently have bikes with Veloce, 105 and Ultegra, and there is really no difference, except that the clean, lubricated ones work better than the dirty ones.

Veloce is several hundred grams lighter than 105, and prettier.

However, I think I'll make future decisions on Campag vs Shimano vs SRAM on the basis of brifter design.

So it'll be SRAM, 'cos I haven't tried that yet.

Chips Lovell

Lumen, is it the 2008 or 2009 Veloce you have? The more recent version is much better since Campag reintroduced the same shifting mechanism across their groups. They had kind of downgraded their lower end shifters for a couple of years.

Lumen

el tonto wrote: »

Lumen, is it the 2008 or 2009 Veloce you have?

How do I tell?

Chips Lovell

Lumen wrote: »

How do I tell?

2009 shifters have longer brake levers and a bigger nub on the top. The main mechanical diffeerence is that they allow multiple upshifts (i.e down the cassette), whereas the 2008 shifters only allowed one at a time (like Shimano)

Lumen

el tonto wrote: »

the 2008 shifters only allowed one at a time (like Shimano)

Thanks, I must have 2008 then, 'cos I have to press the nub multiple times to upshift mutiple cogs.

eggie

Thanks for the info guys.

I ordered yesterday, ended up going for the Pinarello FP2 - Ultegra SL. Was initially going for the veloce but was out of stock and not in the colour I wanted, vain I know but I like what I like i suppose.

Looking forward to getting back at it. On a side, anyone experience using the Ultegra SL ?? New to me tbh.

Cheers

Eggie.

Chips Lovell

Be sure to post some pics when you get it. Looks very nice.

blorg

Ultegra SL is second from the top of the Shimano range, almost as good as Dura-Ace, arguably works just as well with just a little more weight. Nice bike.

Lumen

Really lovely looking bike.

Did you get it from CSS in the end?

eggie

Yeah CSS. Easy to talk to and deal with.

Hungrycol

blorg wrote: »

Ultegra SL is second from the top of the Shimano range, almost as good as Dura-Ace, arguably works just as well with just a little more weight. Nice bike.

I reckon the SL is now third in line after the new Dura-Ace looking Ultegra 09 was launched recently. Unless they're replacing the SL gruppo completely after only, what, a year in the market?!

I do like the new Ultegra 09 mucho mucho.

blorg

Hungrycol wrote: »

I reckon the SL is now third in line after the new Dura-Ace looking Ultegra 09 was launched recently. Unless they're replacing the SL gruppo completely after only, what, a year in the market?!

I do like the new Ultegra 09 mucho mucho.

SL is gone completely in the new line, it is straight Dura-Ace, Ultegra again (e.g. new Ultegra replaces both Ultegra SL and old Ultegra.)

scottreynolds

blorg wrote: »

SL is gone completely in the new line, it is straight Dura-Ace, Ultegra again (e.g. new Ultegra replaces both Ultegra SL and old Ultegra.)

I can feel a new groupset coming in between Ultegra and DuraAce again but this time distinctly named. Oh yes, DuraAce 7900 is the second level group if you include Di2

Chips Lovell

Speaking of which, there's a new Campag groupset on the way. Athena. It'll be 11 speed and sit between Chorus and Centaur.

scottreynolds

eggie wrote: »

Yeah CSS. Easy to talk to and deal with.

Cool---- its good to hear people using their LBS. Its worth it. Some people who buy from the internet get a raw deal when its comes to servicing warranty etc. I say some, cause I bought from Slane cycles in September, and today I took the bike up there for them to look at the headset. They told me I had destroyed it and promptly replaced if for free. So a LBS is always going to be better. I know its 1hr 45min from my home but I regard it as a LBS.

Chips Lovell

How did you destroy your headset?

Big fan of Slane too myself. Been ordering a lot from them recently and they've been very helpful.

Lumen

el tonto wrote: »

Speaking of which, there's a new Campag groupset on the way. Athena. It'll be 11 speed and sit between Chorus and Centaur.

Ah, 11 speeds for shinycrankophiles.

scottreynolds

el tonto wrote: »

How did you destroy your headset?

Big fan of Slane too myself. Been ordering a lot from them recently and they've been very helpful.

Not 100% sure how I broke it. Alot of riding. Seal got penetrated and bearings rusted out. A shame really but its done 5,000km since Sept (with Dec / Jan off) so I'd expect a few issues. I honestly only went up there so they could diagnose the problem cause I didn't trust the advice i received down here and down here a replacement would be silly money. I was stoked when they said it needed to be replaced and we have done it for free.

Unforunately I still spent more money up there cause stuff was cheap.

rottenhat

el tonto wrote: »

Speaking of which, there's a new Campag groupset on the way. Athena. It'll be 11 speed and sit between Chorus and Centaur.

Ah, the return of Athena - back in the day Athena occupied the place in the hierarchy that Centaur does now, and Centaur was their short-lived mountain bike group. I suppose new trademarks cost money....

eggie

scottreynolds wrote: »

Cool---- its good to hear people using their LBS. Its worth it. Some people who buy from the internet get a raw deal when its comes to servicing warranty etc. I say some, cause I bought from Slane cycles in September, and today I took the bike up there for them to look at the headset. They told me I had destroyed it and promptly replaced if for free. So a LBS is always going to be better. I know its 1hr 45min from my home but I regard it as a LBS.

Agreed, I'd rather deal with people who I can talk to face to face by name rather than send e-mails and make phone calls to departments that may not even exist. If I need any services or advice in future I know who to go back to without getting messed about. Thats worth a few extra quid alone imo.

scottreynolds

eggie wrote: »

Thats worth a few extra quid alone imo.

Absolutely

---

Well said. CSC is a good shop.

eggie

Collected the bike today, might get out on it tomorrow, where? God knows - prob around Phoenix park as its about the only place I wont get lost. Always have the Garmin though to get me home if I change my mind.

They ordered an FP2 with Ultegra, however, Pinarello sent it with 105, I said it was fine and took it anyway. Considering I was originally interested in the Veloce there wasnt much difference and I put the extra cash saved to a nice pair of Sidi's - dearest pair of shoes I ever bought:eek:

Chips Lovell

Wow, nice. Very nice. I love Pinarellos.

And those shoes, holy cow.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

And those shoes, holy cow.

Gotta get me a pair of them!

Chips Lovell

So blingin':