Advice on giro d'talia

jakko86

Hi all im new to cycling and have found a 2011 giro dtalia for sale new for 319 euro, anyone know anything about these bikes are they any good?Or whats the best thing to buy or best value for an enrty level bike? any help would be great!

Tonyandthewhale

Quick tip: if you want advice on a bike in an internet forum then it's best to provide a link to the bike and its spec sheet.

I couldn't be arsed googling the giro d'italia, is that the same as the dawes giro? If so, stay clear. The cheapest bikes worth buying are probably the triban 3 in decathalon (they've got a shop in Belfast and I think they deliver) or one of the carrera road bikes in halfords. Both would be more expensive than 319euro.

If you've only got 300 odd euro to spend you're better off going second hand.

jakko86

sorry tony,http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/new-2011-viking-giro-d-italia-road-racing-bike-14-speed/1704692

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

Quick tip: if you want advice on a bike in an internet forum then it's best to provide a link to the bike and its spec sheet.

I couldn't be arsed googling the giro d'italia, is that the same as the dawes giro? If so, stay clear. The cheapest bikes worth buying are probably the triban 3 in decathalon (they've got a shop in Belfast and I think they deliver) or one of the carrera road bikes in halfords. Both would be more expensive than 319euro.

If you've only got 300 odd euro to spend you're better off going second hand.

Roger Hassenforder

i think you could come to regret buying that very quickly.
whats your budget and intended use? can you avail of the BTW?

Tonyandthewhale

Oh yes, worse than I expected. Do not buy that bike. Viking are not a reputable brand.

The frame will be heavy and quite possibly badly built, same with the fork. It's ugly, the wheels are ****e and use the obsolete free-wheel hubs (you want freehub hubs with an 8 speed or higher cassette). The brakes are crappy no-name yokes with rock hard essentially gripless brake pads.

The shifters are an ugly modern version of a style that hasn't been cutting edge for several decades. The handlebars probably oddly sized (a number of similar cheap road bikes I've seen have come with ridiculously wide handlebars with uncomfortably long reach). The tyres won't last long, the saddle is poor quality (a friend of mine has a similar bike and the saddle clamp doesn't even hold the saddle in place). The derailleurs, crankset and bottom bracket are all the cheapest of the cheap and I can't guarantee the headset bearings will allow the handlebars to turn after the first week.

This is based on what I know about the components listed in the spec sheet on the ad and my experiences working on similar dodgy e-bay special road bikes. There are probably other reasons not to buy it, but I think that should do for now.

vicwatson

jakko86 wrote: »

sorry tony,http://www.adverts.ie/bikes/new-2011-viking-giro-d-italia-road-racing-bike-14-speed/1704692

Here is a link to the triban 3

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html

Darkglasses

I'd say no way, downtube shifters, 12 kilos, steel forks, unspecified Shimano, . You're going to want a better bike soon if you do any amount of serious cycling.

I'd say at least stretch to a Carrera TDF, which I believe is special offer at the moment. You'll be particularly glad to have STI shifters. But maybe keep looking on the second-hand market.

jakko86

Thanks guys my budget is 400 or so, obviously i dont know much about bikes and am only starting out so dont want to go mad moneywise, There are so many bikes out there,Thanks a mill for advice on that one, i do know my size is 55cm any tips or advice or even know of good bikes new or s/h goin for that money?

jakko86

cant avail of the btw intended use is cycling in the eves and a bit at weekends nothin major really for the moment... budget is around 400??

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

i think you could come to regret buying that very quickly.
whats your budget and intended use? can you avail of the BTW?

meercat

great starter bike (darkglasses has already said)
had one for a year and sold it for €50 less

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_810707_langId_-1_categoryId_212536

jakko86

is it worth spending a few extra bobs to this?or is there much difference?http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_810601_langId_-1_categoryId_212536

meercat

not in my opinion(although im not an expert)
€100 difference and you wont recoup it when you sell it on
the first carrera will sell for €300 easily when you want to upgrade

Sarz91

What, exactly are you looking to use the bike for? If you're looking for general fitness, go with whatever you like the look of, at €400 you're not going to see much difference in terms of quality, comfort or style. If you're looking into doing some possible racing, I'd look for something second hand. You wont come across decent entry level bikes for anything under €700 new. Might not be what you want to hear, and I may sound like a dick but its an expensive sport/hobby.

jakko86

No thats sound advice looking for it for general fitness really for the moment and see how i like it and how i get on, for 400 to 500 is the previous posted options my best bet?

Sarz91 wrote: »

What, exactly are you looking to use the bike for? If you're looking for general fitness, go with whatever you like the look of, at €400 you're not going to see much difference in terms of quality, comfort or style. If you're looking into doing some possible racing, I'd look for something second hand. You wont come across decent entry level bikes for anything under €700 new. Might not be what you want to hear, and I may sound like a dick but its an expensive sport/hobby.

Sarz91

jakko86 wrote: »

No thats sound advice looking for it for general fitness really for the moment and see how i like it and how i get on, for 400 to 500 is the previous posted options my best bet?

Not really. I mean, if you're into it you could build it up yourself. Beautiful frame here. You could always look second hand for groupsets with low mileage. As for wheels they'll set you back another €70-€80. So long as it's a decent frame you can always upgrade the rest.

jakko86

Jes ya that could work maybe could you save a few euro doin it that way?Id be fairly good with my hands is there much to it?

Sarz91 wrote: »

Not really. I mean, if you're into it you could build it up yourself. Beautiful frame here. You could always look second hand for groupsets with low mileage. As for wheels they'll set you back another €70-€80. So long as it's a decent frame you can always upgrade the rest.

Sarz91

jakko86 wrote: »

Jes ya that could work maybe could you save a few euro doin it that way?Id be fairly good with my hands is there much to it?

It can do if you know where to look it can work out cheaper ye. I mean that frame and the front forks will set you back €250. Look up a few tutorials about building bikes from scratch and shop around to see if you can get cheap wheels and something like a shimano sora groupset. It's easy to just buy straight off the shelf but the quality of the stuff you're getting in Halfords id fairly rubbish and overpriced. The frame above is just an idea of what you can get for that price you don't have to get that exact one but it gives you an idea.

jakko86

I dunno do i know enough about bikes to build one from scratch and know where to find the best deals etc. id be looking at 600/700 before i get on the road would i?

Sarz91 wrote: »

It can do if you know where to look it can work out cheaper ye. I mean that frame and the front forks will set you back €250. Look up a few tutorials about building bikes from scratch and shop around to see if you can get cheap wheels and something like a shimano sora groupset. It's easy to just buy straight off the shelf but the quality of the stuff you're getting in Halfords id fairly rubbish and overpriced. The frame above is just an idea of what you can get for that price you don't have to get that exact one but it gives you an idea.

Sarz91

jakko86 wrote: »

I dunno do i know enough about bikes to build one from scratch and know where to find the best deals etc. id be looking at 600/700 before i get on the road would i?

Ye I get ya. Probably just a bit under that ye... If you're just starting out I'd look second hand then. I'd steer clear of Halfords though if I were you..... Just my opinion though.

Roger Hassenforder

Sarz91 wrote: »

jakko86 wrote: »

I dunno do i know enough about bikes to build one from scratch and know where to find the best deals etc. id be looking at 600/700 before i get on the road would i?

Ye I get ya. Probably just a bit under that ye... If you're just starting out I'd look second hand then. I'd steer clear of Halfords though if I were you..... Just my opinion though.

And the halfords thing kicks off again!

jakko86

ok why do you say that? was looking athttp://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_810601_langId_-1_categoryId_212536 what do you think?

Sarz91 wrote: »

Ye I get ya. Probably just a bit under that ye... If you're just starting out I'd look second hand then. I'd steer clear of Halfords though if I were you..... Just my opinion though.

Sarz91

jakko86 wrote: »

ok why do you say that? was looking athttp://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_810601_langId_-1_categoryId_212536 what do you think?

I work in Halfords... Haha. Components for the price are sub standard. Guys putting the bikes together for you don't really know much about bikes. Voted worst customer service in the U.K too.

Sarz91

Granted its not very pretty but it's an idea of what you can get second hand http://www.gumtree.ie/cp-sports-leisure-in-dublin/felt-z100-385545933

happytramp

Forget the anti-Halfords stuff. Those bikes are absolutely fine for the money and actually quite light for the price. (messed around with one in the shop the other week) Not sure I'd bother with the more expensive one though. Not a massive upgrade and you'd probably get a VERY good second hand one for around that price. I'd go with the cheaper Carrera or else try adverts.ie, gumtree, donedeal etc. Search for 'road bike' and look up some reviews of the models you're interested in and check their price when new. You shouldn't really pay any more than 60% of it's original cost.

happytramp

Sarz91 wrote: »

Granted its not very pretty but it's an idea of what you can get second hand http://www.gumtree.ie/cp-sports-leisure-in-dublin/felt-z100-385545933

Hmmm, the Halford's Carrera's have pretty similar spec and are new.

Sarz91

happytramp wrote: »

Forget the anti-Halfords stuff. Those bikes are absolutely fine for the money and actually quite light for the price. (messed around with one in the shop the other week) Not sure I'd bother with the more expensive one though. Not a massive upgrade and you'd probably get a VERY good second hand one for around that price. I'd go with the cheaper Carrera or else try adverts.ie, gumtree, donedeal etc. Search for 'road bike' and look up some reviews of the models you're interested in and check their price when new. You shouldn't really pay any more than 60% of it's original cost.

Halfords Carrera's are not real Carrera's, they are allowed to use the name but only after several court cases and a legal loophole. The bikes Halfords have are cheap tiawanese crap and would come out of the same factories as any other cheap brand. The frames are not worth the money.

mcgratheoin

Go with the Triban 3 from decathlon - Aluminium frame and carbon fork delivered to your door for €400.

nice bikes, got one for the OH and no complaints at all with it.

jakko86

thanks for all the info, just one last thing what should i be looking for in terms of flaws and problems when i look at second hand bikes?