New to biking, not a clue

Bebo stunnah

Hello all! I've recently found out that I can avail of the btw scheme,and for the past month I've been trying to pick out one. The only thing that I've settled on is that I'm going to spend the full €1k on the bike and buy any gear myself.
Up until yesterday all my research was online, (most of it probably from here!) I got to look over the whole bike thing, gears/brakes (seen a list of worst-best somewhere but cant findit now) and frame types, but I think they're all pretty similar for my price range.
I had a good look at the €1000 bike list, but I'm certain the Cube mentioned on it is different to the one I'm looking at. The Cube Peleton Race 2012, but I'm not sure on the compact or the triple bike (again,dont know the difference), so any info would be great!

So I went into town(Sligo) to see if I could price them locally, but non of them stocked them, the only one I haven't gone to is flanagans cycles. According to the guy in chain driven cycles, I'd be better off spending the whole fund on the bike as "the difference between a €700 and 1k is huge, but the difference between 1k and 1.5k isnt as big?! He also suggested the Bottecchia was a better value for money than the Cube. I then ventured to Gary Cycles, where I was told they had the Cubein last year, but they didnt sell too well,so they dont have them stocked this year. He said that he had last years Trek 1.5 for €1050,plus a few small extras, but that this years 1.2 was inor around the same price. Should I find out these bike specs before commiting to any bike in particular?

Thanks in advance!! (also the space bar on this laptop doesn't work too well! sorry)

Jawgap

If you do a search on this there's a few posts offering advice on this already.

I reckon you're spot on spending the money entirely on the bike and picking up the other bits you need as you go.

A compact (two chain rings at the front) is generally sufficient for most people, unless you really need the triple for big climbing, touring etc - even then you could probably still get away with the compact. One thing to consider is the range on the cassette - you want a decent range from small to large cog.

I'd also suggest getting the specs of the bikes you're interested in and comparing - they're always going to be trade-offs in components. I'd focus on getting a good frame and good groupset (chains, gears etc) - things like wheels, tyres, pedals etc are easy enough to upgrade as you go, so if the choice is between nice wheels or a better groupset - go with the groupset.

macnab

I suggest you look at 2nd hand bikes, if you are patient you can pick up a barely used Trek 1.5 for about €500.
Spend at least 1000 km in the saddle and then decide if you want to trade up or not.
At that stage you will have more experience in all things cycling and you will have a better idea of what you want to buy.
Then use your BTW to get the bike you will be happy with.

Bebo stunnah

This was the groupset list i was going on about. Is it safe to say its worst to best as the prices go?

dave_o_brien wrote: »

2300 is cheaper than:
Sora is cheaper than:
Tiagra is cheaper than:
105 is cheaper than:
Ultegra is cheaper than:
Dura Ace.

Gipo3

First of all, DO Not rush into a decision.
Take your time looking at all options and dont be pushed by seller.
Also, go to Flanagan's as well to see what they have.

opti0nal

Gipo3 wrote: »

First of all, DO Not rush into a decision.
Take your time looking at all options and dont be pushed by seller.
Also, go to Flanagan's as well to see what they have.

+1 Many of the brands of bike are not true brands, but just different stickers placed on generic bikes coming from the same factory in Taiwan. So, its important when trying to compare 'brands' to learn about the components, for example the different levels of Shimano brake/gear/chainset, Mavic rims and then frames. Bikes really are just collections of components.

If Ballinrobe is not too far out of your way, try Marrey Bikes, they're experts in road bikes and can point you at bike-fitting and coaching if you want to take it further.

Jawgap

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

This was the groupset list i was going on about. Is it safe to say its worst to best as the prices go?

Pretty much - up to a point you're paying for better components, after that you're paying for lighter components with marginally better performance.

......and just to confuse things further, sometimes there's a bit of mixing and matching so you might get some ultegra mixed in with 105. As one of the previous posters said, take your time and don't get bounced into buying something.

Bebo stunnah

I went into Flanagans today, after work, and the guy showed me around what I could get. He explained about the groupsets (like you guys mentioned here) but he was sayin that the frames were pretty much the same fro the price range, I could buy a frame for €700 and add the bits myself, or I could buy it all put together for the €1k.
I asked about the Cube bikes, but no luck, but I think i might have ofund a bike I really like the look of.

http://www.flanagancycles.com/details.php?id=thompson_r7200_alu

Bebo stunnah

Also, the guy mentioned that there's not a whole lot of difference between the tiagra and 105, and that they're sometimes mixed and matched, with not too much price difference?
anyone have any experience with the r7200?

mp31

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

Also, the guy mentioned that there's not a whole lot of difference between the tiagra and 105, and that they're sometimes mixed and matched, with not too much price difference?
anyone have any experience with the r7200?

I've never heard of the name but then I'm only new to this.
What about: http://www.flanagancycles.com/details.php?id=fuji_roubaix_20
or if you can stretch your budget: http://www.flanagancycles.com/details.php?id=trek_23_54cm

Bebo stunnah

Most of them are new to me too! except for maybe Trek, and I'd be ying if I said that the appearance of the bike didnt matter, vanity is an awful thing! :P

Went in again have a look and I'm set on it, the only thing left now is to ask is there much of a difference between the 105 and tiagra? I think the Ultegra is a bit too far out of my price range, but I'd be willing to spend the extra 2 or 3 hundred for the 105, if it was worth it. Also I think I'll go for the triple, (from what I remember it's better for hilly terrain)
And lastly, could anyone explain what the 30v/28v/20v means?

105 triple 5700 30v - 1320€
105 double 5700 20v - 1295€
tiagra triple 30v - 1095€
tiagra triple 27v - 995€

Its an extra 350 more than the 105 triple, which for the purpose I intend on using it for, wouldnt be worth spending at the moment.

seamus

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

And lastly, could anyone explain what the 30v/28v/20v means?

Bloody looking at them for five minutes thinking I didn't have a clue before it clicked.

It's the number of gears. 30v = 30 gears, 27v = 27 gears. And so forth.

More gears does not equal a better bike, but it does give you more of a selection when climbing hills.

There was a time when you would generally be recommended to go with 105 above Tiagra because it gave you 10-speed shifters. With a 9-speed setup, it's very expensive to move to 10-speed in one go.
But the 2012 tiagra is 10-speed now, so if you went with the Tiagra triple @ €1,095, you have scope to upgrade piecemeal to Ultegra later on if you want to.

A triple crankset will certainly help if you're absolutely brand new to cycling and you intend to go into the hills.

Kav0777

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

And lastly, could anyone explain what the 30v/28v/20v means?

105 triple 5700 30v - 1320€
105 double 5700 20v - 1295€
tiagra triple 30v - 1095€
tiagra triple 27v - 995€

It looks to me like the number of gears available. eg, 30v = 10 speed rear cassette x triple
27 v = 9 speed rear cassette x triple.
If thats the case i'd be more inclined to go with the 10 speed as it would make piecemeal upgrades easier.

colm_gti

I would imagine the 20v/30v/etc is the number of gears it has, as most current bikes have a 10spd rear cassette, so a double/compact chainset with a 10spd rear cassette gives you 20 gears, and a triple chainset with a 10spd rear cassette will give you 30 gears.

You probably wouldn't ever really need a triple chainset in Ireland, you'd be better off getting a compact double chainset, that'd be all you'd need for hilly and flat spins in Ireland

colm_gti

Jaysus you have to be quick around here :rolleyes:

Bebo stunnah

colm_gti wrote: »

Jaysus you have to be quick around here :rolleyes:

You're right there! 4 replies within the space of a minute!

Ok, so what I gathered is, stay with the 10 speed cassette. And I'd be better off keepin the €200+ in the pocket and stick with the Tiagra and upgrade to the Ultegra at a later date?

Mycroft H

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

You're right there! 4 replies within the space of a minute!

Ok, so what I gathered is, stay with the 10 speed cassette. And I'd be better off keepin the €200+ in the pocket and stick with the Tiagra and upgrade to the Ultegra at a later date?

Yep IMO.

I wouldn't bother shelling out for Ultegra gear at the minute.


Please factor in money for shoes/shorts/helmets/locks/lights in addition to your budget. You will need them at some point.

FirstinLastout

In regards to the Tiagra V 105 I had my newish current bike out for it's first proper spin at the Tour of Sligo at the weekend.

Bought a 6 month old KTM Strada 1000 couple of months ago and put maybe 300is kms on it.
Prior to the race I gave it a decent look over but paid particular attention to the transmission which is 9sp Tiagra with 105 rear mech.

Properly set up it was faultless and way better than the 105 set up used on the last bike I had.
If you can resist the snobbery/vanity aspect and accept that the few grams shaved off ain't at all relevant at your current level than save the cash for other gear.

I can recommend Seamus Flannagans btw, sound guy and will offer a great set-up service which makes a big difference in how you'll get on with your bike.

Bebo stunnah

Just seen that the Cube Peleton with (what seems to me, an identical frame) with (again, what I can see) a mainly 105 set, with an Ultegra Derailleur..
http://www.bikestore.ie/all-road-bikes-1/road-bikes-mens/cube/cube-2012-peloton-race.html

And then there's the Thompson R7200 from Flanagans... With the Tiagra groupset
http://www.flanagancycles.com/details.php?id=thompson_r7200_alu

but there's only a €54 difference in price

Anyone have experience with either of them?