Is this bike a good buy for me?

veetwin

Basically 40 years of age and only got into biking a few months ago. I have a hybrid and am doing regular training runs of 30-40 kms roughly 3 times a week. I've got the bug in a serious way and have gotton much fitter and lighter in the past few months. I don't really see myself doing 200km sportives but maybe shorter ones for fun.

So I've been thinking I want to go faster and though I put slicker road tyres on the hybrid I think getting a road bike is probably the only way to go. My hybrid is nice but a tad heavy with front suspension etc.

I'll be buying on the BTW scheme so budget around €1K. The bike linked was recommend by the shop in Tallaght. Should I spend extra on Tiagra shifters or are Sora shifters perfectly adequate for the leisure (non competitive) cyclist like me? All opinions welcome!

https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=60019

Alanstrainor

I'm no expert, but I'd say you will notice no difference between tiagra and sora if it's only for leisure.

My dad got the same bike, albeit the 2012 version a few months back, super machine.

veetwin

Alanstrainor wrote: »

My dad got the same bike, albeit the 2012 version a few months back, super machine.

Thanks. God, now I feel old:(

TheBlaaMan

I'd certainly advise spending the extra on getting a Compact (50/34 chainrings) Tiagra set-up assuming you are getting the latest 10 speed version for two reasons:

• it will open up a wider range of available upgrades from other groupsets if/when you want to and (Sora is 9 speed) and
• secondly, the levers themselves are easier and more comfortable to use.

At 40, your only a young fella anyhow, lots on here are older. Go for it !

Cee-Jay-Cee

If you've got the bug in a big way as you say then go for a bike with double (compact) rather than triple front chain rings and I'd advise getting tiagra over sora. The 2013 tiagra is 10 speed, I think sora is still 9 and you cant shift up/down while in the drops with sora shifters.

Muckers

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

I'd certainly advise spending the extra on getting a Compact (50/34 chainrings) Tiagra set-up assuming you are getting the latest 10 speed version for two reasons:

• it will open up a wider range of available upgrades from other groupsets if/when you want to and (Sora is 9 speed) and
• secondly, the levers themselves are easier and more comfortable to use.

At 40, your only a young fella anyhow, lots on here are older. Go for it !

+1 to the blaaman on this one. Go for the Tiagra compact double. You won't regret it.

smacl

veetwin wrote: »

I don't really see myself doing 200km sportives but maybe shorter ones for fun.

You say that, but having started cycling again in my mid 40s three years back, after a couple of decades of a break, I started on a hybrid doing 40ks here and there, followed by a 100k sportive. Then a 135k. Then 160k. Then the Wicklow 200, followed by a few more. Once you've got the bug, the distances sneak up pretty quickly.

+1 for the tiagra and compact, maybe 12-28 at the back (although I'm still on a 9sp triple myself and it works just fine).

veetwin

Thanks everyone. All good advice. Should I be considering any other makes though the cube looks a winner at the moment.

veetwin

Also what's the advantage of the compact over the triple? Sorry if that's a stupid question.

Craig06

Triple has a third ring inside. Granny gear. Compact rings are just smaller. I got the audacio 400 2013 with tiagra 10 speed compact a couple of months ago and it's a great bike to ride.

lizzylad84

firstly veetwin, welcme to the wonderful world of cycling, funny i was looking at this bike when i was getting mine, i went with a trek 1.2, similar set up, but my local bike shop dosn't stock this bike. from my limited experience, a triple seems sometimes to attract sneers from more seasoned riders, several of the lads i go on club runs with have triples and virtually never use them.
happy cycling

nilhg

I wouldn't absolutely rule out the triple, I've been riding a little with some fellas that have Canyons with triples up front (not sure if they are tiagra or 105) and the 39 front ring paired with a reasonably close spaced cassette on the back gives a useful set of ratios, they hardly ever seem to have to change from it.

Personally I have a compact double with a 11-28 on the back and while I love it and hardly ever regret being talked out of buying a triple there is a certain gappyness in the ratios, eventually you get used to it and learn to get yourself into a suitable gear but maybe finish up doing more changes on the front deraileur than you might with a triple.

Cube are a good brand and I think the guys are correct, stretch to the ten speed if you can.

Seamus_hynes

I'm 40 and have a cube, great bike and very happy . Got mine in richies in swords and they are ver helpfull . Go for it bud .

kumate_champ07

40 is the new 30 anyways

Alanstrainor

veetwin wrote: »

Thanks. God, now I feel old:(

Ah, he's an ould fella, and got the one I recommended! Don't worry about that:p

Arthurdaly

Considering you are at early stages of a probable compulsion I would definitely recommend spending a little more and getting the Tiagra double like all the guys have said.

You have already seen improvements in your shape and fitness and a sore triple would soon be binned in 6 months if you are getting regular spins.

Joe Friel reckons no matter what age you begin cycling you will see continous improvements for the first 10 years.

veetwin

Arthurdaly wrote: »

Considering you are at early stages of a probable compulsion I would definitely recommend spending a little more and getting the Tiagra double like all the guys have said.

Yeah if you told me 6 months ago I'd be wearing padded tights and tight fitting jerseys I'd have laughed at you.

Beginning to see what the guy in the shop was talking about when he said this hobby gets expensive. I hadn't considered the cost of pedals and proper shoes also!

I will probably go for the Tiagra equipment based on the advice given here.

Seaneh

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

• secondly, the levers themselves are easier and more comfortable to use.

New Sora Levers are pretty much identical to Tiagra, just 9 speed instead of 10.

cdaly_

lizzylad84 wrote: »

firstly veetwin, welcme to the wonderful world of cycling, funny i was looking at this bike when i was getting mine, i went with a trek 1.2, similar set up, but my local bike shop dosn't stock this bike. from my limited experience, a triple seems sometimes to attract sneers from more seasoned riders, several of the lads i go on club runs with have triples and virtually never use them.
happy cycling

nilhg wrote: »

I wouldn't absolutely rule out the triple, I've been riding a little with some fellas that have Canyons with triples up front (not sure if they are tiagra or 105) and the 39 front ring paired with a reasonably close spaced cassette on the back gives a useful set of ratios, they hardly ever seem to have to change from it.

I'm running a 52/42/30t triple and I wouldn't be without. As mentioned, I rarely change out of the middle ring but I'm well glad of the 30 when I need it.

If it's to be had, you might consider a tiagra triple.

nilhg wrote: »

Personally I have a compact double with a 11-28 on the back and while I love it and hardly ever regret being talked out of buying a triple there is a certain gappyness in the ratios, eventually you get used to it and learn to get yourself into a suitable gear but maybe finish up doing more changes on the front deraileur than you might with a triple.

I've also found that I like close ratios and the triple lets me have that. I've also gone down the road of hacking on my cassettes to make up custom ratios. Latest cassette is a close ratio 13-25t 9sp with the lowest two gears changed for a 28 and 32t for climbing walls.


As smacl said, I started out being chuffed with a 35-40k spin and have moved on to low-end audax distances (200-300k).

veetwin

Thanks again everyone. Great sources of info as always on this forum. I'm leaning now towards the cube peloton pro with the triple. It will be roughly €1150 but probably worth it.

smacl

cdaly_ wrote: »

I'm running a 52/42/30t triple and I wouldn't be without. As mentioned, I rarely change out of the middle ring but I'm well glad of the 30 when I need it.

On a 53/42/30t triple myself and love it, very versatile set-up. Also very glad of the 30 on steep hills late in the day. Not sure it's the commonly available on newer bikes though, as many new compacts are offered with very wide ranging cassettes, e.g. the Canyon roadlite default configuration is now 11/32, and many tiagra compacts are 11/30.

macnab

This Carrera is hard to beat for value, it has a carbon frame and 105 components for €1250, or if you produce an AXA card or policy (AON too) you will get a 15% discount which leaves it at €1062.

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_832167_langId_-1_categoryId_212536#tab2

Roger Hassenforder

veetwin wrote: »

Thanks again everyone. Great sources of info as always on this forum. I'm leaning now towards the cube peloton pro with the triple. It will be roughly €1150 but probably worth it.

now that you're leaning towards Tiagra, you should start looking at 105....

Seaneh

Aye, and price wise he's in Canyon Roadlite territory, massive upgrade in components and a lighter bike...

youtheman

I took up cycling last year at the tender age of 49. I bought the Cube Peleton with the triple. Big mistake (the triple). I bought a second bike with the compact double (50/34) with an 11/28 cassette. With the compact set up I have I have exactly the same 'Lowest gear' so I can get up hills equally well, and my 'highest gear' is slightly better for top speed. I cycle with about 50 different cyclists, ranging from average to good. Only 2 of them have a triple.

So take it from me, avoid the triple, there is absolutely no need for it.

smacl

youtheman wrote: »

So take it from me, avoid the triple, there is absolutely no need for it.

While a compact is a good default choice for most for a first new bike, probably worth looking at the pros and cons for triples;

Against:

- They can be a bit lot more finicky to set up and maintain.
- They add a small amount of weight to the bike for the extra chain ring
- They are less popular, which in turn may effect the re-sale value of your bike when you go for the inevitable upgrade.
- You are left in breach of rule 47

For:

- You can have a very wide range of gears without big gaps. Low gears for the steep ramps, high gears for speed and down hills, and plenty of gears in between. A very wide ranging compact may feel clunky, and leave you changing between big and small ring in the front more often than you'd like. A narrower range, e.g. 12-25, may leave you struggling up steeper hills and/or spinning out going downhill.

What I've noticed in the last couple of years is the move towards wide ranging compact gears, e.g. 11-32 cassettes, which I suspect in some part is due to people not wanting to be seen with a triple but at the same time feeling the need for some very low gears. I think fashion is playing an equal part to function here. As a pretty crap middle age cyclist myself, with very average fitness, I've cycled past better cyclists pushing their bikes up slieve mann on the WW200 for the last couple of years.

If you're light and/or quite fit and/or planning on cycling most on the flat, a standard double or compact is the way to go. If you're heavier and out of shape and plan on hitting the hills, a wide ranging compact or triple could make life much easier. If you see a skinny lad or lass tearing past you up a hill on a top end bike, chances are they'd still tear past you on a butchers bike. Sometimes you have to question rule 4.

veetwin

Thanks again lads. Another option just reared it's head and just wondering what peoples thoughts are on this Felt Z6. Its a full carbon frame with Tiagra components for €1200.

http://eurocycles.com/ie/product/felt/z6-matte-carbon

Costs are inevitably creeping upwards of course:rolleyes:

Cee-Jay-Cee

I would definitely buy the Felt over the others you mentioned. Good reputable brand, lighter than the rest and has a 10spd tiagra groupset and will possibly be easier to sell on if you decided to upgrade in a few years time. Also it's the best looking out of all the rest.

Seaneh

This thrumps the felt on every level.

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=56907

lizzylad84

Ive been hearing good reports about this trusty steed recently, although the frame perhaps isn't to everyone's liking

http://www.kearneycycles.com/galway-bicycles-details.php?act=viewProd&productId=700

at1withmyself

Seaneh wrote: »

This thrumps the felt on every level.

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=56907

Carbon Frame and Mavic rims on the Felt I would have thought would thrump the cannondales aluminium frame and no brand rims??

Plus the carbon frame will have a better resell value IMO. Not doubting its a nice bike but don't see how you think its better as both have Tiagra with FSA chainsets and own brand finishing kit. If restricted to buying from an Irish bike shop I'd take the Felt at that price.

Seaneh

at1withmyself wrote: »

Carbon Frame and Mavic rims on the Felt I would have thought would thrump the cannondales aluminium frame and no brand rims??

Plus the carbon frame will have a better resell value IMO. Not doubting its a nice bike but don't see how you think its better as both have Tiagra with FSA chainsets and own brand finishing kit. If restricted to buying from an Irish bike shop I'd take the Felt at that price.

I thought the felt was alu with a carbon fork...