New Bike -which one to buy?

yabadabado

Sorry about another comparison thread but I'm looking for some advice.I am going to be buying a bike in the coming weeks through the cycle to work scheme and I have it narrowed down to these 3.

Roadlite AL 6.0. approx €1052
http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3073

Rose Pro .approx €950
http://www.roseversand.com/article/rose-pro-2000-compact/aid:557743

Cannodale CAAD8 .approx €865
http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=56914

They are are similar prices and reading online are all well regarded.This will be my first road bike and would appreciate any help/tips users could give me.I have read up a lot of info the past few days but there is so much to take in so any advice would be great to help be make the best choice.

I will be using the bike to get fit/hobby.no plans at the moment for anything more serious.

Which bike gives me the best value/spec for my money?

Is there anything else out there that comes into my price range (€1100) that I should consider?

Brian?

Rose, it's the cheaper one with a shimano 105 groupset.

yabadabado

both the Rose and Cannondale are out of stock in my size and am waiting to hear back from both companies regarding stock.

Chaineri

Forget the make and look at the components, gears, wheels, carbon forks? lots of good deals to be had this time of year .Get on some review sites when you see something you like and check it out thoroughly. Good luck.

fat bloke

I don't think there's any deal out there as good as this one at the moment.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-orion-1105b-105/

Full carbon Ridley wtih 105 for a grand plus change.

Other than that, all three bikes above are fine bikes to be fair.

Brian?

fat bloke wrote: »

I don't think there's any deal out there as good as this one at the moment.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-orion-1105b-105/

Full carbon Ridley wtih 105 for a grand plus change.

Other than that, all three bikes above are fine bikes to be fair.

A fine deal indeed.

ckeego

Indeed a fine deal but for an extra few bob....

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moser-111-ultegra-2012/

Chaineri

Good deals above, be minded the MOSER comes in only 47cm, small. Check out the Chain Reaction Cycle sale too, they have shops in Belfast and Ballyclare up t'north so if you fancy having a test ride Im sure they would accomodate. Also check out Ribble, you can build a bike with whatever components you want on line with them!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/

ckeego

Chaineri wrote: »

Good deals above, be minded the MOSER comes in only 47cm, small. Check out the Chain Reaction Cycle sale too, they have shops in Belfast and Ballyclare up t'north so if you fancy having a test ride Im sure they would accomodate. Also check out Ribble, you can build a bike with whatever components you want on line with them!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/

Apologies about the Moser post..There was other sizes there yesterday, but 47 is very small...
:mad:
Chain Reaction have up to 35% off Colnago ATM...

Cee-Jay-Cee

fat bloke wrote: »

I don't think there's any deal out there as good as this one at the moment.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-orion-1105b-105/

Full carbon Ridley wtih 105 for a grand plus change.

Other than that, all three bikes above are fine bikes to be fair.

Agree. The Ridley is a lovely bike and very reasonably priced considering its a carbon framed bike with 105. The cannondale has sora gearing which is two stepd down from 105 and personally i'd avoid it and go for the 105 equipped bikes with the ridley being my preference.

Chaineri

The popular sizes do get snapped at those prices Ckeego. Just noticed that Yabadaba is buying on the cycle to work scheme. Think this may limit / restrict where he makes his purchase, the retailer has to be signed up for the cycle to work deal, and there are a number of cycle schemes also! Yaba maybe you need to check out if CRC , Wiggle etc are up for the scheme> PS lots of retailers doing interest free credit!!

yabadabado

cheers for the advice ,I have to talk to my employer tomorrow about the bike to work scheme but I dont think there will be any problem.

yabadabado

fat bloke wrote: »

I don't think there's any deal out there as good as this one at the moment.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-orion-1105b-105/

Full carbon Ridley wtih 105 for a grand plus change.

Other than that, all three bikes above are fine bikes to be fair.

was ready to order this bike this morning ,clicked on the link and it was ****ing gone in my size.:mad:
back to the drawing board.

fat bloke

What is your size?

Seeing as we're all shopping on your behalf like...

yabadabado

54cm is what I was looking for.;)

fat bloke

yabadabado wrote: »

54cm is what I was looking for.;)

Right. Well if you had your heart set on a Ridley, here's an option -Get yourself down to cyclesuperstore and pick up a Ridley Orion there.

They had these framesets on sale for ages:



Reduced from 1000 euro to 499. I bought one and built it up and it's a lovely bike. They're one size only - medium, which is a 54.5 top tube.
They're not on the cyclesuperstore website anymore, but I was in the shop over Christmas and they had perhaps 5 or 6 of them out on a rack on the shop floor upstairs.

It could be worth either asking them how much they could build you a bike up for, or get the rest of the bits yourself and get it built up.

This is mine.

yabadabado

fat bloke wrote: »

Right. Well if you had your heart set on a Ridley, here's an option -Get yourself down to cyclesuperstore and pick up a Ridley Orion there.

They had these framesets on sale for ages:


Reduced from 1000 euro to 499. I bought one and built it up and it's a lovely bike. They're one size only - medium, which is a 54.5 top tube.
They're not on the cyclesuperstore website anymore, but I was in the shop over Christmas and they had perhaps 5 or 6 of them out on a rack on the shop floor upstairs.

It could be worth either asking them how much they could build you a bike up for, or get the rest of the bits yourself and get it built up.

cheers for the heads up,I will take a look into that .I hadn't my heart set on a Ridley just that it was the best option for price/spec and got good reviews.Im not in a major panic to buy but would hope to be sorted out by the end of the month.Both the Rose and Cannondale are out of stock and have had no replies about when they will be back in.Will keep looking for another while and will have a look around a few of the local shops this week.

yabadabado

http://www.focus-bikes.com/int/en/bikes/bikes-2013/category/road-1/subcategory/road/model/culebro-sl-30-20-g.html
Anyone here have a focus bike, how does this compare to the others in the thread? The LBS is getting these in and was wondering what peoples opinions are on it.Hoping to get it for around €1100.Would that be a good deal?

Chaineri

Yaba,
Got a few mates with the Carbon CAYO's who love them, not sure about the Alu frame, spec looks ok, but you are unlikely to get a deal or discount on a 2013 bike. Also, not that it may concern you at this stage in your cycling career but Focus keep their prices down by putting low spec wheels and sometimes a lwr spec chainset FSA ( full speed ahead) on their entry and mid price bikes, this can be easily upgarded later. Focus are a good German firm who produce their goods in the far east ( as most do these days at this level).The Izalco got a great write up in one of the cycling mags a year or two ago, £2K ish though... Cayo's also, if you can find a cheap one in the sales.

Personaly I think, you could get a better deal on a 2011/ 2012 bike elsewhere if you look. In this alu range I'd go for the Trek 2.1 (2.3) or the Specialised Allez Comp ( 2012) or Bianchi Nirone C2C ( nice Italian with Campo groupset. Also look for an alu with carbon forks, most decent entry levels have these, makes it lighter and smoother..

Be mindful that a lot of the big manufacturers are putting lwr speck gearsets on the 2013 bikes to save money ( everyones feeling the economic crunch).

My advice is test ride it and be sure to get a compact or triple if you are likley to be doing any climbing to compensate for the weight! Also be mindful that the nice bike store man wants to shift as many as these as he can...Good luck.:D

yabadabado

Chaineri wrote: »

Yaba,
Got a few mates with the Carbon CAYO's who love them, not sure about the Alu frame, spec looks ok, but you are unlikely to get a deal or discount on a 2013 bike. Also, not that it may concern you at this stage in your cycling career but Focus keep their prices down by putting low spec wheels and sometimes a lwr spec chainset FSA ( full speed ahead) on their entry and mid price bikes, this can be easily upgarded later. Focus are a good German firm who produce their goods in the far east ( as most do these days at this level).The Izalco got a great write up in one of the cycling mags a year or two ago, £2K ish though... Cayo's also, if you can find a cheap one in the sales.

Personaly I think, you could get a better deal on a 2011/ 2012 bike elsewhere if you look. In this alu range I'd go for the Trek 2.1 (2.3) or the Specialised Allez Comp ( 2012) or Bianchi Nirone C2C ( nice Italian with Campo groupset. Also look for an alu with carbon forks, most decent entry levels have these, makes it lighter and smoother..

Be mindful that a lot of the big manufacturers are putting lwr speck gearsets on the 2013 bikes to save money ( everyones feeling the economic crunch).

My advice is test ride it and be sure to get a compact or triple if you are likley to be doing any climbing to compensate for the weight! Also be mindful that the nice bike store man wants to shift as many as these as he can...Good luck.:D

cheers for the advice,costing €1200 but I will be getting a bit knocked off that .would be hoping to get it for €1100 or less if possible.

The 2012 Felt F75 is €1150 and Felt Z6 is €1200 in eurocycles.Good option?

There is so much info out there,it would make your head spin especially when your a newbie.

route66

yabadabado wrote: »

http://www.focus-bikes.com/int/en/bikes/bikes-2013/category/road-1/subcategory/road/model/culebro-sl-30-20-g.html
Anyone here have a focus bike, how does this compare to the others in the thread? The LBS is getting these in and was wondering what peoples opinions are on it.Hoping to get it for around €1100.Would that be a good deal?

I have a 2009 model year Focus Variado which looks like the older version of the Culebro you have linked to - althought "your" bike is 105 equipped whereas mine has Tiagra.

I bought it secondhand but I understand it had a list price of €1,000 when it was purchased new in mid-2010. It's my first road bike so I have little first-hand experience of others to compare it against. But I can say the following:

• My bike is heavy at 10KGs - no weight listed for the Culebro
• My wheels were Focus Concept SLs. Although I'm not an expert on wheels, I can say that they were poor quality. Or more specifically, I'm talking about the hubs which lasted about 1,000 kms before disintegrating.
• The Headset - despite having a cap which stated "Cartridge Inside" - had bottom of the barrel bearings. These were ball bearings which Focus didn't see fit to even put in a cage. I'd say the metal in the ballbearings had the constituency of a sugar lump and this probably resulted in them lasting for about as long as the wheels.
• Reliable "Square-Taper" Shimano bottom bracket
• Tiagra Front and Rear deraileur and brakes (the Culebro has Focus OEM brakes)
• The saddle is comfortable
• I've emailed Focus directly a few times with various queries and am impressed with their customer service.
• The Variado is set up as a "sports" bike and it not designed with a comfortable upright geometry; it's stiff and rigid and handles well. Despite being a bit of a mamil, I find it grand and comfortable enough; I'd no complaints after completing a 136km charity cycle last year.

Overall I'm very happy with the bike. I've replaced the wheels and the headset with decent quality items so all is well on the quality front. It's just very annoying that for about an extra 20-30 Euro (manufacturers prices) Focus could have made a bike with decent quality components but spoiled the overall effect by penny pinching.

Now that I've built up some experience and knowledge with the various bits I've had to sort out, I'd personally be happy to buy online myself - at your price point, this is a nice all-carbon bike for the same price - link. Having said that, €1,100 sounds ok for "your" bike in a bricks and mortar shop and the backup of a dealer is a big plus.

If this is your first bike and you are not confident buying online, you won't go too far wrong with that Culebro

JR1210

I am also looking a bike about 1k or under on the bike to work scheme... Dont know anything about bikes but was looking at the Trek 1.2 as there are only good reviews. Does anyone know of a shop in Dublin that have sales on the 2012 version? and is this a good bike for the money?

yabadabado

thanks for the advice.
What do people think is more important the groupset or frame material?Would it be better to get a carbon frame and lower spec groupset or go for alloy and carbon fork with a 105?

russo

i would rule out the cannondale with the shimano sora, having 105 is nice very similar to ultegra

Ole Rodrigo

I would go with the alu frame and 105

kildare snooker

Planet-TRI have them in stock built not just as frame sets,also they have the newer year model

yabadabado

The Felt F75 2012 for €1050 is probably the one Im going to go for.The Canyon roadlite 6 was another option but I dont think I can get it through our BTW scheme(waiting on personnel to get back to me)

route66

This month's Cycling Plus magazine have a 3-star review of the Focus Culebro SL 2.0 - link (Bikeradar)

Elsewhere in Bikeradar, I see that the Culebro is a completely new replacement for the older variado that I have:


Focus Culebro SL
By Focus’s own admission the previous aluminium platform was getting a little long in the tooth so they’ve had the new Culerbro in development for the last couple of years. The all-new frame is now completely triple butted, with the main top and downtubes having a little more shaping in the form of hydrofromed touches. This has added up to an all-in frame weight of around 1400g, and that’s good for what is essentially an entry level road frame.
The slender seat stays are designed to offer plenty more compliance over the previous aluminium model. Focus’s new aluminium road bike the Culebro has a five model range from the £649 5.0 Sora equipped model to an Ultegra equipped version at £1399.

JR1210

Just seen a shop selling the Trek for 100 euro cheaper than usual, so can get Trek 1.5 for the price of the 1.2... Does anyone know if this is a good bike or know of anything better?

http://www.altitude.ie/store/category/21/7/racing-%26-road-bikes/men%27s/

I take it its worth spending the extra 48 euro on the 1.5

route66

JR1210 wrote: »

Just seen a shop selling the Trek for 100 euro cheaper than usual, so can get Trek 1.5 for the price of the 1.2... Does anyone know if this is a good bike or know of anything better?

http://www.altitude.ie/store/category/21/7/racing-%26-road-bikes/men%27s/

I take it its worth spending the extra 48 euro on the 1.5

You're asking the wrong people.

The answer to your question is either "yes" or you should spend a few more quid and get the Madone 3.5

Trek are a good make. They are not the cheapest but they are easy to sell on. Actually, €999 for a Tiagra Alum/Carbon fork bike sounds very reasonable for a bricks and mortar purchase.

JR1210

route66 wrote: »

You're asking the wrong people.

The answer to your question is either "yes" or you should spend a few more quid and get the Madone 3.5

Trek are a good make. They are not the cheapest but they are easy to sell on. Actually, €999 for a Tiagra Alum/Carbon fork bike sounds very reasonable for a bricks and mortar purchase.

I dont get what you mean by asking the wrong people.. This thread is about which bike to buy about the 1k mark so thought it would be the right people to ask

See this also on sale in Eurocycles Felt F85 for 899, seems on par
http://eurocycles.com/ie/product/felt/f85

Anyone have any reason not to buy the Trek 1.5?

route66

JR1210 wrote: »

I dont get what you mean by asking the wrong people.. This thread is about which bike to buy about the 1k mark so thought it would be the right people to ask

See this also on sale in Eurocycles Felt F85 for 899, seems on par
http://eurocycles.com/ie/product/felt/f85

Anyone have any reason not to buy the Trek 1.5?

I meant that asking a bunch of cycling enthusiasts is it work your while to spend a few extra Euro on a better bike will always yield a yes answer. Didn't you see the ?

JR1210

route66 wrote: »

I meant that asking a bunch of cycling enthusiasts is it work your while to spend a few extra Euro on a better bike will always yield a yes answer. Didn't you see the ?

Ah right, I just thought I was asking silly questions or something, actually now that you say it, it was only a joke

furiousox

Halfords will be stocking Pinarellos soon apparently.

DoubleJoe7

Also looking to get a bike under the BTW scheme.

Plan to predominantly do road cycling, with the odd rare visit to the local biking trail - would a hybrid be the job and if so what should I be looking at.

This will be my first bike since I was a kid!

yabadabado

I can get the Felt F5 2012 version for €1400.Its slightly over my budget but it ticks all the boxes(I think) and it seems to be well regarded in the reviews I have read.
Is it worth going over budget for this bike ?€1400 is the highest I can go ,is there anything else out there that would be better to look at?

Chaineri

JY,
I have a Trek 2.3 which I bought 2 years ago, I also have a Scott Addict carbon. The Trek is now my winter bike. Basically it is an alu Madone. The geometry is comfortable (the scott addict is an out an out racer sore on lwr back at times on very long runs).

I also hired a Trek 1.2 on holiday in Lanzarote, and didnt find too much difference in the ride compared to the 2.3, same geometry and feel but slightly heavier with lwr spec groupset, wheels etc. I would definetley recommend the Trek if the price is right. Be mindful though that the lower level Treks do not have carbon forks and that makes a big difference to the ride, check the spec on line. If you see any good deals on Madones out there give me a shout!

Trek 1.5 2013 spec from Evans who do it for about £850.00 uk.
Also a 2012 2.1 with 105 GS for same price, only problem is Trek wont allow their bikes to be shipped mail order.

http://www.evanscycles.com/brands/trek

http://www.cycle-ops.co.uk/smsimg/2/1985-5511-full-1406000_2012_a_1-2.jpg

Chaineri

Yaba,
Havent you bought a bike yet.?? Tough decisions with such variety out there, but you are procrastinating too much now, pick a bike and go for it, whatever you decide on you will enjoy and will probaly be upgrading in a year or two, go buy one now.......

Chaineri

PS, Good luck.

yabadabado

Chaineri wrote: »

Yaba,
Havent you bought a bike yet.?? Tough decisions with such variety out there, but you are procrastinating too much now, pick a bike and go for it, whatever you decide on you will enjoy and will probaly be upgrading in a year or two, go buy one now.......

Seems like I have been looking for ages but with a limited knowledge I was trying to get as mu information as possible before buying.

What you think of the felt F5?I can get it for €1400.

http://www.wheelworx.ie/felt/F5-2012

route66

Chaineri wrote: »

Yaba,
Havent you bought a bike yet.?? Tough decisions with such variety out there, but you are procrastinating too much now, pick a bike and go for it, whatever you decide on you will enjoy and will probaly be upgrading in a year or two, go buy one now.......

+1

Lots of deals to be had at this time of year - but they don't last. Wiggle had a very nice full carbon Ridley Orion with 105a few weeks ago for less than your new budget; It's gone now.

They currently have a carbon Mekk Poggio 2G Ultegra for €1,443 - good value @ that price and the bike has got good reviews.

But you have to move !

yabadabado

route66 wrote: »

+1

Lots of deals to be had at this time of year - but they don't last. Wiggle had a very nice full carbon Ridley Orion with 105a few weeks ago for less than your new budget; It's gone now.

They currently have a carbon Mekk Poggio 2G Ultegra for €1,443 - good value @ that price and the bike has got good reviews.

But you have to move !

Yeah, just missed out on d Ridley bike. I saw the Mekk bike in wiggle and I can get d Felt F5 for €1400 .which do you think is a better choice?

route66

yabadabado wrote: »

Yeah, just missed out on d Ridley bike. I saw the Mekk bike in wiggle and I can get d Felt F5 for €1400 .which do you think is a better choice?

The Mekk isn't as well known as the Felt & that would make a difference at resale time. To counter that, the Mekk has a better spec.

Bikeradar have a 3-star review for the F5 rather than a 4 for the Mekk. But a year earlier, they gave an F5 4.5 stars - despite a broadly similar spec

Eeny, meeny, miney, mo ..

Update: The €1,400 price for the F5 is from Wheelworx - as in Bricks and Mortar? That might swing it back towards the Felt.

dots104

Thinking a new machine myself. Budget around €1400 no more than that. Hope to get ti through the bike2work scheme so its needs to be from an irish store preferably in dublin.

Ive being looking at the Cube Peloton Race Compact Bike 2013 . Anyone have any thoughts on this. Also should i go compact or triple.

Raam

dots104 wrote: »

Also should i go compact or triple.

You will have to tell us about your physical make-up first.

lennymc

DoubleJoe7 wrote: »

Also looking to get a bike under the BTW scheme.

Plan to predominantly do road cycling, with the odd rare visit to the local biking trail - would a hybrid be the job and if so what should I be looking at.

This will be my first bike since I was a kid!

id go for a cx bike if i was you. You can put road tyres on it for the road, and use off road tyres for the trails.

Chaineri

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-felt-f5-12-45875/

route66

dots104 wrote: »

Thinking a new machine myself. Budget around €1400 no more than that. Hope to get ti through the bike2work scheme so its needs to be from an irish store preferably in dublin.

Ive being looking at the Cube Peloton Race Compact Bike 2013 . Anyone have any thoughts on this. Also should i go compact or triple.

If both bikes are €1,400, the F5 above looks like better value with it's carbon frame and appears to be available for that price in a Dublin-based store.

Leaving aside the cosmetic/religious arguments, many compacts today offer the same gearing range as triples, albeit with more gaps.

Some say a triple is more difficult to setup, but I never had any problems with the triple on my Hybrid. A triple is also heavier than a double/compact, but this isn't "rolling" weight and is therefore the little amount in it is of little significance. I.E. if it's a worry, loose it off your belly!

My own experience?

I went from a triple hybrid to a compact road bike last year and was worried that I wouldn't make it up a particular steep hill in Enniskerry that was a favourite of mine at the time. It's .7 kms long with an average gradient of 10% - see details on Strava: link. At the time, I would say my fitness levels were somewhere between poor and average (based on the number of people who overtook me!). Back then, my road bike had a lowest gear of 34F/25B which isn't as low as the 34F30B offered by some compacts today. Anyway, I made it up the hill. It wasn't easy, but I found the road bike setup was more efficient at transferring energy to the wheels. Since then I updated the gearing with a lower 27/12 casette at the back. I'm a bit fitter now, but, hand on heart, the only time I have done the "walk of shame" is when I changed up rather than down on one occasion. Both the Felt and the Cube would be a lot lighter than my road bike too.

My advice would be to have a look at both - there may be other considerations not outlined here that will help you make your decision.

route66

Chaineri wrote: »

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-felt-f5-12-45875/

See above - a year earlier Bikeradar gave an F5 4.5 stars

All the more reason to have a look yourself.

yabadabado

F5 is from a LBS.€1400.

route66

yabadabado wrote: »

F5 is from a LBS.€1400.

You know what you need to do