Which bike

,mnb

Im trying to decide between the following
The BeOne Storm at http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31039

The Viper Airplane Carbon Fibre Muscle at http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31506

The Focus Cayo 105 at http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Cayo_105_2009/5360037591/

The Lidl Alu Stratos http://www.lidl.ie/ie/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20092750.Road_Racing_Bike

i. what would you go for
ii. im concerned that by not getting properly fitted im losing out. im particularly interested in getting a bike i feel comfortable on cause ive had a bad back before (not from cycling though). should i just buy local in a place that does precise fitting instead of buying online.
iii. i wouldnt mind getting a second hand bike instead. apart from adverts and buyandsell and cycle superstore is there any good place to look for second hand.
iv. if i get a bike delivered where is a good place to get it fitted to me in Dublin that wouldnt mind doing this and wont charge too much.

This will be my second road bike. I use it for mainly for triathlons but also to cycle around nice places hopefully.

blorg

The Focus.

Húrin

IS there any way we can make all these identical threads into one?

,mnb

Ok lol. Well i someone can help with queries ii, iii, iv it would be great.

blorg

This one though is easy, it's the Focus.

blorg

Regarding (ii) Wiggle's sizing guide is pretty good, I am 6ft0 and rode a 58cm Focus Cayo if that helps (I would be borderline between the 56 and the 58.) Wiggle also do a 7 day test-ride where you can return the bike forfeiting only the £20 initial delivery charge if you are not happy with it for any reason, size or otherwise. Just confirm they are still doing it before you order.

Seriously though, the Focus is miles ahead of those other bikes. If you had put Planet X or Canyon (or indeed a Boardman) into the mix now, well that would be a different story

ednwireland

not really comparing like with lik ethough OP do you want to spen 900 euro or 1200 euro if your going for the latter then theres a lot of bikes in that price bracket, i'm looking in the 800to 900 euro bracket and theres a lot less choice

blorg

Worth considering is that the Focus does have quite an agressive racy geometry, I was fine with that but not sure re: the back problems. www.irishfit.eu sound very good for bike fitting, (€70, very thorough, video analysis of your pedalling etc.) you could buy the bike on Wiggle's 7-day return thing and then take it to him.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

Worth considering is that the Focus does have quite an agressive racy geometry, I was fine with that but not sure re: the back problems

I have a weak back and have found the Cayo fine. You can tweak the position to make it more back-friendly, e.g. move saddle back, use shorter stem, nice pile of headset spacers etc.

edit: in my own experience, the most important thing with a weak back is not to cycle when you're too tired, i.e. avoid excessively long rides. When you're tired your form goes to pieces and you can't hold yourself properly on the bike.

keano007

I'm kindof in the same boat myself and was also looking at the focus as an upgrade (I'm currently using a trek 1.2)...how would the following compare to the focus:

Argon 18 Krypton KR 36
Cinelli Willin’
Giant TCR Advanced 3
Ribble Sportive Racing
Time Speeder Veloce
Trek Madone 4.5
Wilier Mortirolo.*

All can be found at:

http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/news/article/revealed-our-top-road-bike-of-the-year-21018

Raam

The Stratos is getting quite popular. I've seen a fair few on the road in the last two weeks.

blorg

keano007 wrote: »

I'm kindof in the same boat myself and was also looking at the focus as an upgrade (I'm currently using a trek 1.2)...how would the following compare to the focus:

Argon 18 Krypton KR 36
Cinelli Willin’
Giant TCR Advanced 3
Ribble Sportive Racing
Time Speeder Veloce
Trek Madone 4.5
Wilier Mortirolo.*

All can be found at:

http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/news/article/revealed-our-top-road-bike-of-the-year-21018

All excellent bikes and indeed I would probably take most of them over the Focus, but they are also all much more expensive.

Ribble Sportive is the only one in the same price bracket AFAIK (if you removed the carbon wheels and specced it down to a more typical spec.)

Ryaner

Its is near impossible to buy the Ribble bike that was reviewed now as some of the components have since changed. Still looks like a great bike though.