I've no idea what i'm doing, help me choose a bike.

VR46

OK so I don't know the first thing about bikes (sure I only found out yesterday what a derailleur was) but I suppose the time has come to educate myself.

I'm looking to spend about €800 and with a little help from google i've drawn up the following shortlist.


Specialized Allez Sport
http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=45684&eid=4350

Felt F95
http://www.theedge-sports.com/acatalog/info_F-RDTF95.html

Giant Defy 3
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/defy.3/3882/37101/

Trek 1.2
http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/1_series/12/

imo the Defy is pretty ugly so unless it has some special powers that the others don't I think i'll cross that off the list.

I cycle about 100 miles a week mostly just to get from A to B with the occasional longish cycle thrown in.

Any advice very much appreciated, seriously anything at all. ya gotta help me out here..

HappyHarry

Specialized Allez Sport and Trek 1.2 look nice to me.

Do you want a compact or touring groupset (double or triple chainring)?

What about a Cube or Lapierre?
Cube Aerial

Lapierre Audacio 200

petethedrummer

You've picked out the obvious contenders. Just take them all for a test ride and see which one you like. There is also the Felt Z100 to add to the list. If you use the search function you should find alot of people had a similar dilemna.

thebouldwhacker

I have a Trek 1.2 and it has yet to let me down, of those mentioned above I would go with the Specialized, just cos I like the look of it and the rear derailer is of a higher spec, course there's always Bianchi (I know some dont like them but imo THE best looking bikes:D)

Eircom_Sucks

i think that Giant defy 3 is the wrong colour on the site

we have the defy 4 and its that colour

the 3 is yellow and silver afaik

funkyjebus

I have a felt f95 myself, its the older model, upgrading to ultegra drivetrain now. Fine frame. I would however not recommend any of the above and recommene this instead. Its got a 105, tiarga drivetrain, which is far better than any of the above. Definely what i'd go for now myself, just read this review. You want at least tiagra shifters (the shifter and rear derailleur being too of the more important aspects of a bike, together with frame and wheels), which none of these have.

The shimano range goes in this order, one being the best.
1. Dura Ace
2. Ultegra
3. 105
4. Tiagra
5. Sora
6. 2200 / 2300

Based on that the boardman is by far the best value boke in its range (par possibly plant x bike - online only-)