900e budget for a bike - Trek 1.2 any good?

silsean

Hey all,

I've got a budget of up to 900ish for a new road bike. I need it for training. I run alot but always pick up injuries. Road biking is more fun anyway so i look forward to getting a better bike than my crappy commuter which kills me with it's crappyness.

What do you think of the Trek 1.2? It's 770euro in Cycleogical in town and i'm thinking of buying it this weekend. Any comments on the bike and price it's going for would be most welcome. I test rode it during the week. Felt nice and i'd love to own it, but, then again i only know my commuter bike setup so anything would feel great compared with that. Which is why i'm asking for your thoughts. Are there other shops that sell Trek? I could pay a bit more than 770euro to get a 1.5 but cycleogical don't have my size in it (56). And just to note it might be a good idea to pay less than 900 for my bike because i do need new cleats and shoes which i've only budgeted 100 euro so far.

I hear the Trek 1.2 is set up nice for climbing. That's useful for me as i prefer climbing the Wicklow mountains more than i'd do the odd flat spin out to Howth.

jwshooter

kennys for bikes have a new 1.7 .56cm with 105s for €1090 .

ckeego

Greetings and salutations!!
I had a Trek 1.2 for just over a year as I got back into road biking having been away MTBing for a few years. I have nothing but praise for the bike and it is great value for the bike you get (consider the Lidl bike offer which was 899)
A quick word of advice though..Unless you are going for the Cycle to Work scheme, the ball park of 800-100 euro will get you a VERY fine bike either second hand or via the web (just get fitted properly first)
Think Felt, PlanetX, Cube, Ribble etc from the web and keep a close eye on the adverts section then for second hand if that is the way you are going.
All said, I loved the 1.2 and subsequently stayed with Trek when I upgraded (Madone second hand)
Best of luck!:)

dave.obrien

The Trek 1.2 is set up with Sora, if I'm not mistaken, and for €770, you could find yourself online bargains.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=30569

Might be a bit on the big side, and has a triple on the front, but the newer version of it is here:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=44408

Right size and double. The tiagra set up is the next one up in the shimano range, and is a lot more convenient to use than the sora thumb shifters, in my opinion.

Using chainreactioncycles.com or wiggle.co.uk to pick up bits like your cleats and shoes will also save you a few quid.

Edit: From wiggle.co.uk, well worth looking at:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Variado_Expert_2009/5360037597/#more

The trek is a pretty decent bike though, I ride an older Trek myself, really like it.

Lumen

For €812 you could get a Tiagra-equipped Boardman Comp from Halfords, which is almost certainly better than the Trek. €999 gets you to the Boardman Team with carbon frame and 20sp SRAM.

I think those prices can be further discounted (vaguely recall something about an insurance company, Axa?).

edit: yes, it's 15% off if you have an Axa policy (voucher here) which brings the Team down to €850.

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

For €812 you could get a Tiagra-equipped Boardman Comp from Halfords, which is almost certainly better than the Trek. €999 gets you to the Boardman Team with carbon frame and 20sp SRAM.

I think those prices can be further discounted (vaguely recall something about an insurance company, Axa?).

edit: yes, it's 15% off if you have an Axa policy (voucher here) which brings the Team down to €850.

There are two Boardman Teams, the "Team" (€999) and the "Team Carbon" (€1,249.) The former is aluminium, the latter is unsuprisingly carbon. Both very good value although I would spend the extra to get the carbon frame. With that AXA voucher even better value.

iregk

Was in Halfords in Tallaght last thursday. For the extra I'd go wtih the carbon, had a look very nice bike. Also told the manager that the same bike was €1,100 in the north (which it is) and he said they would match it.

So €1,100 for a full carbon with good wheels and an SRAM 10 which most say is in line with a 105 set only a lot lighter.

Bulmers

I am in the same boat, have about 800-900 to spend on a bike..i was looking at the trek in the tri shop in fonthill last week, very nice for 770

I have also been looking at this, specialized secteur sport for 800

http://www.cycleways.com/store/product/47137/2010-Specialized-Secteur-Sport-58cm/

I didn't know about the boardmans in Halfords but after looking into them and reading reviews, they seem to be the best of these 3.

Just wondering though if would be better sticking with a "main" brand and shop, as i have heard some disaster reports about halfords?

Would everyone agree that between the 1.7, Secteur sport and boardman comp, the boardman would be the best bike as they are all more or less the same price..

iregk

Bulmers wrote: »

Just wondering though if would be better sticking with a "main" brand and shop, as i have heard some disaster reports about halfords?

Most of the Halfords bad press comes from two things.

1) People buying cheap mountain bikes for €150 and complaining when the gears aren't Dura-Ace smooth or things start to go wrong. Short story is you buy a cheap bike you get what you pay for be it Halfords or anywhere else.

2) Some of their staff are students doing part-time work that don't have any idea how a derailleur works and they inevitably make a mess of your bike when you let them at it. Easy solution take it to a proper store for good repairs.

Keep those two in mind and Halfords aren't bad. The Boardman bike is a cracking deal but I'd never bring it back there to get fixed!

DirkVoodoo

iregk wrote: »

Was in Halfords in Tallaght last thursday. For the extra I'd go wtih the carbon, had a look very nice bike. Also told the manager that the same bike was €1,100 in the north (which it is) and he said they would match it.

So €1,100 for a full carbon with good wheels and an SRAM 10 which most say is in line with a 105 set only a lot lighter.

Great deal, I'd go for it no question!

dare2be

Just my 2cents worth here.

I bought a Boardman Road Comp from Halfords on Saturday. I made it very clear to the staff in the branch that i wanted a supervisor or a Boardman specialist to build the bike and not a part-timer from school. They agreed and the bike is 1st class. I would have no hesitation in recommending either the bike or a Halfords experienced mechanic to build it. Repairs are another issue that i will deal with when and if the situation arises.

velo.2010

dare2be wrote: »

Just my 2cents worth here.

I bought a Boardman Road Comp from Halfords on Saturday. I made it very clear to the staff in the branch that i wanted a supervisor or a Boardman specialist to build the bike and not a part-timer from school. They agreed and the bike is 1st class. QUOTE]

Which Halfords store?

dare2be

velo.2010 wrote: »

dare2be wrote: »

Just my 2cents worth here.

I bought a Boardman Road Comp from Halfords on Saturday. I made it very clear to the staff in the branch that i wanted a supervisor or a Boardman specialist to build the bike and not a part-timer from school. They agreed and the bike is 1st class. QUOTE]

Which Halfords store?

Sorry, Newry store. They are seling pretty fast as they were building another 2 when i was picking mine up