Help with Road Bike Choice (Long Post)

Dr_Colossus

Hi all, firstly apologies for the length of the following but I believe it’s important to give some background. I'd like to get your expert opinion and help on a bike purchase, my first road bike.

The situation is that I've always cycled, usually short distances as part of commuting and for the past 10 years on hack MTBs around Dublin city. Prior to this I had my own little bicycle repair shop in my home village in west Galway. Over the past few months however I’ve gotten more into cycling as part recovery from a broken leg earlier in the year. Spins have ranged from 40k to 160k on a decent but heavy steel framed MTB. In total I’ve clocked up just over 1,300k over the past 3 months mainly in Wicklow over the weekends (nothing I know given the distances some of you cover)

I’m 182.5cm (6’) with a 82cm (32 ¼”) inseam, 29 years old and weigh 97 kgs (15stone 4). I could loose some weight but given my build I think 90 kgs would be at the low end of the possible scale.
The purpose of the bike is to continue with the spins and extend distances/improve times. I plan to do some sportives and hopefully the Wicklow 200 amongst others next year. Maybe even join a club and I’ve love to tackle something like the Raid Pyrenees or La Marmotte which I regularly read about you guys cycling.

My workplace currently offer the CTW scheme but only through the CycleSuperStore who’s prices I don’t appreciate. As such once I decide on a bike I’ll be making my pitch for them to relax their policy. I don’t have a fixed budget but if I got a really good deal would be willing to spend up to 3k. I’m not in any rush to purchase and am off the belief to try and get as good a bike as possible now rather than wanting to upgrade in a few months down the road.

What I’m looking at at present is the Kellys URC 7.9 which is a carbon compact double (link below).
http://www.kellys-bicycles.com/index.php?module=catalog&cPath=1_225_231&pID=17937
Apparently it has a RRP of €3,100 and the cheapest I’ve seen it online is €2,750. From an old contact in the bicycle business I can get a further discount on the Kellys bicycles therefore that’s where most of my attention has been focused. A relative bought a Kellys hybrid over a year ago and my opinion is that they’re well manufactured with good groupsets and components although I’m somewhat concerned with the wheelset on the road bikes. Also I can’t find any reviews of their road bikes online which is where I’m hoping some of you will help me out in the decision process. Cycleways sell the IRC 3.9 and 3.93 for €1,199 so that and the ARC 1.9 which they’ve also sold are the only Kellys road bike I’ve seen in the flesh and like the look of. They advise that of all the Kellys bikes they’ve sold so far they have been positively received by their customers when returning for their scheduled service.

I’ve also attached a spreadsheet comparing the components and their prices of the URC 7.9, URC 6.9 and IRC 5.9 all of which I’m considering. I’m quite surprised with the prices of some of the components such as seat posts, handle bars and stems and the discrepancies between the different online stores.

Questions:
I like the idea of a carbon bike given it’s supposed smoother ride but what about cracking seatposts and the likes I’ve read about here. Are carbon bikes really only suitable for riders up to a certain weight?

Any advise regarding frame size, most sizing seem to indicate I’d be either a medium or large. Also I’m very torn between the choice of a compact double and triple. I realize the triple is viewed as more for tourers or beginners but the triple does give a great range of gears with the benefits of the standard double but the option of the granny wheel for tough climbs. Would a compact double be sufficient for something like the Raid Pyrennes for example? I'm not lacking in leg strength in general but do have a bit of mass to get up those hills.

What about the wheelset, I’ve read a lot of reviews of the Shimano WH-R500 which are on the URC 6.9, IRC 5.9 and a lot of other bikes where spokes often break and that they’re generally not up to the task if you’ve anyway over about 70kgs. As such would the Ritchey WCS Protocol which are on the URC 7.9 be much better? Are brass nipples a stronger and more durable alternative to alloy?

Any other opinions on the other components? Be as critical as you can given the above which will hopefully help me in my decision process. What would you go for and why?

The other thing then to consider is whether it’s better to abandon the Kellys idea and instead go for something like the Focus Cayo or Planet X SL Pro Carbon? Would the Kellys URC 7.9 really be a whole lot better than the Planet X or Focus Cayo and which of the Focus and Planet X do you think is better? I'd be inclined to go the the Planet X mainly for the groupset but havne't really looked at the other components much.

Apologies again for the length of the above and thanks for reading.

Lumen

I wouldn't avoid a carbon bike if I was heavy, but I would buy one with a good warranty and check for weight limits (although it's quite rare for these on frames, only niche weightweenie stuff).

Conventional wisdom is that brass nipples tend to seize less than alloy ones, but weigh a bit more (pretty insignificant, <20g difference per wheel), but it's probably a religious question.

Compact vs triple depends on your climbing ability obviously. The difference between 30 and 34 teeth is not much, but there are situations where you'll want the lowest gear you can get. If you choose a compact with 12-27 and need easier gears you can put a mountain bike cassette on the rear if you have the right type of rear derailleur (long cage?) - but there might be other consequences to shifting, not sure.

Maybe work out an equivalent gear to 34/28 on your mountain bike, tackle a few big hills without going easier than that gear and see how you feel.

Chris Hoy is 92kg/186cm, Cippollini was 79kg/189cm; you can probably lose more weight than you think.

ednwireland

i'm a good bit heavier than that and havent broken my frame yet (focus cayo) was told by wiggle it was rated to 120 kg

ashleey

Don't bother with a triple. If you are used to a mountain bike you will fly on a road bike. Get at least a 105 groupset. Try a compact and a standard double to see which you prefer. You won't need to spend 3 grand, more like 1 to 2. You don't necessarily need a full carbon frame. Try an alu with carbon forks. Some will slag me but at below race level you won't necessarily benefit. I've got shimano rs20 wheels and haven't had any problems. Make sure you get your gears serviced after 500k from wherever you buy or your local shop after they have been run in. Have a look at beone storm or pearl on chain reaction cycles website. I've got the mistral with my own wheels and don't feel let down. 59 cm frame max for you.

blorg

No need to worry about being heavy on a carbon bike, they are plenty strong... having said that you can almost certainly get well below 90kg if you put your mind to it.

If you are heavier and want to go up hills, don't even consider a standard double- compact or triple. There is nothing wrong with a triple, the front shifting is just not quite as good as with a double.

You really only need a standard double to race and probably not even then below the higher levels.

cdaly_

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

My workplace currently offer the CTW scheme but only through the CycleSuperStore who’s prices I don’t appreciate. As such once I decide on a bike I’ll be making my pitch for them to relax their policy.

As I understand it, the CTW scheme does not allow such supplier restriction. Read the details online (somewhere) and poke your work about it. It's also good to note that if the purchase is made through one of the CTW companies, they take 8% - 10% of the price of the bike as commission so there's no haggling room with the shop. If you can convince your work to pay the shop direct rather than use the CTW company you should get a better price...

TinyExplosions

As a heaver fellow myself (just above 90kg atm), there's certainly nothing wrong with going carbon. I'd say go for a Planet X myself -it's what I'm on and I have no problem with it at all!

As for wheelsets, it's only really the super light ones that have rider limits, though many of these come in a 'clydesdale' version which are for the, ahem, bigger boys. I use Fulcrum Racing 3's at the moment, and have no problems with them (though I did have an issue with flexing with some Ti skewers, but that's gone when I use the Fulcrum ones)

Dr_Colossus

Thanks guys, I suppose I'm less worried about the carbon frame versus the wheelset and other components. I don't particularly want to be out on a decent length spin and break a spoke or two for no apparent reason which I've heard about regarding the Shimano WH-R500. I suppose a fuller wheel with 32 spokes would give extra strength for the added weight?
Regarding the gearing my current MTB which I use for spins has a 6 speed freewheel 14-28 and the crankset is a tripple 28-38-48 of which I rarely if ever use the granny wheel. I got up the Shay Elliott and Slieve Maam last Sun for the first time without having to resort to the front 28 gear. Having said that my cadence was around the 50 mark on the climbs and I wasn't breaking any speed barriers since I don't have legs anywhere near those of Chris Hoy which Lumen posted. Also I know the reduced wheel circumference of the mtb versus the road bike will make a difference in the gearing.
Any particular views on the Kellys road bikes and in particular the URC 7.9?

DirkVoodoo

There does seem to be a lot of worry about carbon components and bikes. I too was a bit uneasy about carbon, and you do hear some awful stories (Tackleberry springs to mind) but you have to remind yourself that there are a lot of carbon bikes/parts out there being used and a few "accidents" are always likely.

A lot of these seem to stem from people forgetting to adjust the recommended torque for carbon parts or not even bothering in the first place and just "tightening the hell out if it" because that worked with alloy parts.

ashleey

It seems like the best advice is a try out and remember 3 grand is a lot of dough so you should come away with a great bike

sy

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Any particular views on the Kellys road bikes and in particular the URC 7.9?

I'm sure its a fine bike but compare the spec on this bike which costs €2699 (the Dura Ace spec is €200 less!) The Kysrium SL's are pretty bullet proof too. Remember Canyon are ridden by Lotto and get great reviews.

DirkVoodoo

There have been a good few complaints on here recently about trying to order from canyon and the nightmare that follows. Can't fault the bike though.

I would go with a Planet X/Dura Ace or maybe a Cayo/Campag (to be different).

Dr_Colossus

Yea I've read most of those complaints about trying to order from Canyon, not a great first experience when there's difficulties in trying to park with your cash. Do like the looks of those Mavic Ksyrium SL wheels though and the reviews are mostly favourable also.
It's tough work trying to work out which bike gives the best bang for your buck and looks the business also. Currently siding towards the Planet X SL Pro Carbon with possibly upgrading with the Carbon seatpost and handlebars.