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Looking to up grade road bike, any suggestions??

  • 30-11-2009 5:20pm
    #1
    trianything
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭


    I'm not a very serious cyclist but hope to do some triathlons and a few tours this year. Currently i have a Giant Defy 4 and i am looking to go up a level or two, i've been looking at the Specialised Elite Allez but still undecided, any suggestions on makes, models, what to lookout for etc....


Comments

  • #2
    ckeego
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,295 ✭✭✭ckeego


    Hi there..
    I would strongly suggest second hand, for sure. Some great bargains out there at the mo..

    At the start of the summer, I upgraded to a Trek Madone 5.9SL, 2 yrs old but in superb condition. The guy I bought it from in Cork had just bought a Cervelo frame, so he took the Dura Ace off the Trek and replaced it with Ultegra SL (brand new as he was in the trade..A Tri shop in Cork)

    Last week, I sourced a Felt Z35 from a great fella in Stillorgan (Thanks Karl!) for my Dad who is upgrading from a hybrid Specialized. To say this bike was in pristine nick is an understatement and about half the price that it was new on Wiggle (and that's with a cracking exchange rate at the moment)

    Loads of spoofers and scams out there too, but given a bit of time and patience, you can get great bang for your buck..

    Particularly when dealing with carbon, you are taking a bit of a risk, but give it a close inspection and u should be ok...

    Best of luck with the triathlons too..I did my first 3 last summer and they are highly enjoyable and seriously addictive too!!


  • #3
    Lumen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,220 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    Are you planning on keeping the Defy?

    If so I'd consider getting a proper tri bike (or at least a road bike which is sized to fit you well with clip-on aerobars).

    Then you can do you fun/low intensity training on the Defy, and higher intensity training/racing on the tri bike.

    If you're near Dublin you might drop in to Wheelworx for advice, as they have a good rep for tri stuff (whereas I don't really know what I'm talking about).

    edit: just re-read and saw the "tours" requirement. I guess you need to decide what's more important - distance comfort or tri performance. I'm not sure you can achieve both with one bike. Of course, your Defy is fine for the tours...


  • #4
    petethedrummer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,604 ✭✭✭petethedrummer


    The Allez Elite is an Aluminium frame. So you're not getting that much of an upgrade frame wise.


  • #5
    Pete4779
    Closed Accounts Posts: 622 ✭✭✭Pete4779


    trianything wrote: »
    I'm not a very serious cyclist but hope to do some triathlons and a few tours this year. Currently i have a Giant Defy 4 and i am looking to go up a level or two, i've been looking at the Specialised Elite Allez but still undecided, any suggestions on makes, models, what to lookout for etc....

    Depends on budget. I paid much more than I originally planned for a Cannondale R500 a few years back and it transformed cycling for me from commuting to something that was fun. It's only an aluminium frame still with carbon fork, handlebars and seat post, but it goes like the clappers and can regularly hit 60kph+ on the N11 - speed being my primary motivator when cycling.


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