Specialized Sirrus Elite

R&R

Like a lot other posts I'm looking to spend my max CTW of 1k on the best bike that best suits my cycling needs. I commute about 14km per day.
I had my eye on the Specialized Sirrus Comp 2010 but the best price on BikeToWork.ie is about €1160. The next step down is the Sirrus Elite 2010 which is about €850. Can anyone highlight the difference between the two models or know of any BikeToWork.ie shops with the Comp < 1K or have a better alternative. Phew, any help, pointers, advice appreciated.

Dr_Colossus

Can't comment on the bikes but under the CTW scheme there's nothing to stop you spending more than the 1k just that you won't get the tax relief on the excess paid. Just in case you've your heart set on the Sirrus and not sure if it's possible to spend more than 1k with the CTW scheme. I'm generally off the belief to get the best bike you can afford which would hopefully save you having to upgrade a few years down the road.

Jip

Biketowork just act as a middle man between your employer and bike shop don't they, so when you say the best price on biketowork.ie do you mean the best price from a store listed under that scheme ?

You're probably better off getting a 2009 model, although that's easier said than done as there's been a shortage of bikes recently, or so we're told.

Plus the prices for the 2010 models from a lot of manufactures have shot up, again this is apparently due to an increase in the price of components due to either the cost of making them increasing or something like that.

flickerx

Jip wrote: »

Plus the prices for the 2010 models from a lot of manufactures have shot up, again this is apparently due to an increase in the price of components due to either the cost of making them increasing or something like that.

Yep, same thing was happening on the other side of the Atlantic. Steel, carbon etc prices went up, eventually it filtered down to the bike manufacturers. Supposedly.

bazwaldo

Tell me about it. I wanted a Sirrus Elite and only knew the 2009 price of €650. When the 2010 models became available, price shot up to €850. Managed to haggle a decent price in the end but not €650.

Still managed to sped 1K though with mudguards, bags, helmet etc.

There are no 2009 models for sale as far as I could find. In Ireland anyway.

Jip

Same goes with the Trek range, they posted the new range on their site recently and I noticed quite a big difference between the 2009 and 2010 range in US$ which will probably carry over worldwide.

R&R

Jip wrote: »

Biketowork just act as a middle man between your employer and bike shop don't they, so when you say the best price on biketowork.ie do you mean the best price from a store listed under that scheme ?

You're probably better off getting a 2009 model, although that's easier said than done as there's been a shortage of bikes recently, or so we're told.

Plus the prices for the 2010 models from a lot of manufactures have shot up, again this is apparently due to an increase in the price of components due to either the cost of making them increasing or something like that.

Yeah, I'm tied in to the shops listed on biketowork.ie as that's the way my employer has chosen to run the scheme. Less hassle for him but more money for the middle-man :mad:

Stark

Specialized seem to alter the specs of their bikes a good bit year on year whereas other manufacturers seem to be fairly consistent with the specs on the models.

The 2009 models each seemed to move down a model in terms of spec: 2009 Sport = 2008 Standard, 2009 Elite = 2008 Sport etc. Looking at the 2010 bikes, the standard and the Sport both seemed to have suffered an additional reduction in specs (Altus and Alivio deraillers, yuck), but the Elite and the Comp seem to have moved up in specs, with the Comp now having 105 instead of Tiagra.

Looking at the 2010 Elite, with carbon fork and Deore/Deore LX parts, it should be more than enough for any commuting needs and good for long weekend rides as well. I don't think you'd get much advantage out of upgrading to the Comp.

And make sure you get a decent lock!

WithCheesePlease

I got the Specialized Sirrus Comp (2009 model I'm guessing) from Cycle Ways on Parnell Street in Dublin for 770. Picked it out in June, pick it up in July. They went up to 850 in the mean time, probably the new model. Having said that I know of others that went in after me looking for the same bike and they were totally sold out.

Probably of no use to you now, but just saying is all...

bazwaldo

Stark wrote: »

Looking at the 2010 Elite, with carbon fork and Deore/Deore LX parts, it should be more than enough for any commuting needs and good for long weekend rides as well. I don't think you'd get much advantage out of upgrading to the Comp.

And make sure you get a decent lock!

Have to agree. I am just starting cycling since finishing college 15 years ago :eek: and am far from fit. But on the elite my 30+km round trip is great. Off topic, BTW, thanking you for the link to the lisbon stats.

WithCheesePlease wrote: »

I got the Specialized Sirrus Comp (2009 model I'm guessing) from Cycle Ways on Parnell Street in Dublin for 770. Picked it out in June, pick it up in July. They went up to 850 in the mean time, probably the new model. Having said that I know of others that went in after me looking for the same bike and they were totally sold out.

Probably of no use to you now, but just saying is all...

In June there was an offer on specialized where they had £=€ prices. So the elite was €600 back then but I missed the boat when I went in to get one in July. So the Comp would have been a lot cheaper too back in June for the 2009 model.

WithCheesePlease

bazwaldo wrote: »

In June there was an offer on specialized where they had £=€ prices.

Very true, I had forgotten about that.