Is it worth to upgrade from a Raleigh airlite 100 (2008) to specialised secteur sport

alexanderomahon

Looking for advice. Had my raleigh airlite 100 for a few years but, due to recurring injuries when running, I wish to now do more cycling.

I intend to use the bike for fitness and doing some sportives (my first ever is the 40k in meath next week). Currently I am riding between 20km and 50 km 4 to 5 times per week. My aim is to try to do a 100k before the winter kicks in.

I was looking at upgrading to the Secteur sportive because it is 1000 euro and fits into the cycle to work scheme.

My question is can people tell me if the difference between the raleigh and the the Secteur is enough to make the upgrade worthwhile. Or should I look elsewhere, or not bother upgrading at all?

Thanks.

Tonyandthewhale

Yes, it's worth it if you feel you can afford it. According to google the airlite has downtube shifters, a 7 speed cassette, a steel fork and no-name wheels.

Again, according to google, the secteur sport has a 9 speed tiagra/sora mix groupset which is better beacuse the gearing is closer, the shifting is lighter, the hubs are better (and can take a 10speed cassette if you choose to upgrade later) and it's generally nicer and lighter and easier to use. The carbon legs on the fork should also make for a much smoother ride. The mavic rims are also a lot nicer than the rigida rims on the airlite. All this means the secteur should be a lot nicer to ride (although don't expect it to make you a whole lot faster) and should constitute a noticable upgrade.

alexanderomahon

Thanks Tony for the reply. I would be getting the bike under the cycle to work scheme, so it would cost me about 500 euro.

thehamo

alexanderomahon wrote: »

Thanks Tony for the reply. I would be getting the bike under the cycle to work scheme, so it would cost me about 500 euro.

I started off with an airlite 100 my self and now on a bike of similar spec and price range. Definitely notice the difference. Gear changes much smoother, better gear ratios, hubs on the wheels roll much better. Absolutely worth the upgrade especially if your only paying 500

alexanderomahon

thehamo wrote: »

I started off with an airlite 100 my self and now on a bike of similar spec and price range. Definitely notice the difference. Gear changes much smoother, better gear ratios, hubs on the wheels roll much better. Absolutely worth the upgrade especially if your only paying 500

looking like an upgrade is on the way.

alexanderomahon

hamo what did you upgrade to? I have now been advised at a different bike shop to look at Ridley eos http://www.ridley-bikes.com/pd/hk/en-gb/6/216/fitness-track/eos

And the KTM Strada http://bicycling.co.za/bikes-gear/guide/strada-1000

I'm getting confused

TheBlaaMan

Ridley are fine bikes, you wont go far wrong, then again, the Specialized Sectuer is likewise and very similar. Note that the Ridley you have linked to is a triple (3 chainrings) and the Spesh may not be (?), so that's a fair difference that you might want to factor in. Loads of Specializeds on the roads, not so Ridleys, so they are a bit more 'exclusive' and satisfy the all important Euro rules (look it up.... )

The Ridley should be available in a compact chainring set-up, so either way you should be able to compare like-with-like. I've a Ridley (Orion, compact) and got a Specialized Secteur (basic - not Sport. triple) for my son at Christmas; the triple on the Spesh is a bastard to adjust perfectly, but that's a feature of all triples as far as I can see.......

alexanderomahon

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Ridley are fine bikes, you wont go far wrong, then again, the Specialized Sectuer is likewise and very similar. Note that the Ridley you have linked to is a triple (3 chainrings) and the Spesh may not be (?), so that's a fair difference that you might want to factor in. Loads of Specializeds on the roads, not so Ridleys, so they are a bit more 'exclusive' and satisfy the all important Euro rules (look it up.... )

The Ridley should be available in a compact chainring set-up, so either way you should be able to compare like-with-like. I've a Ridley (Orion, compact) and got a Specialized Secteur (basic - not Sport. triple) for my son at Christmas; the triple on the Spesh is a bastard to adjust perfectly, but that's a feature of all triples as far as I can see.......

Thabks blaa. The spesh (specialized i guess) is a triple. I'm ;oving these rules i have come across on here. I don't think I can fit in with the Euro rules, but I do like the velominati ones. Any other ones out there?:)

thehamo

alexanderomahon wrote: »

hamo what did you upgrade to? I have now been advised at a different bike shop to look at Ridley eos http://www.ridley-bikes.com/pd/hk/en-gb/6/216/fitness-track/eos

And the KTM Strada http://bicycling.co.za/bikes-gear/guide/strada-1000

I'm getting confused

I went for a focus bike my self with shimano 105 components. Its actually a cyclocross bike but sure throw on a set of slicks and it may as well be a road bike. I like the fact that its not one of the usual trek, specialised, giant etc etc