Have narrowed my search to the following 3 bikes for b2w scheme....

terrydel

Lapierre Audacio 400 - Tiagra groupset - €1135
Specialized Secteur Elite - Tiagra groupset - €1200 or so
Giant Defy 1 - 105 groupset - €1180

I'm leaning towards the Giant.
I had my eyes on a Felt F85, but there are none around in the shops I've tried, so I've moved on from that.
Would appreciate opinions on these bikes, which is best, pros and cons etc etc
Please feel free to offer some alternatives also.

I will only be buying from a bricks and mortar shop, as its my first bike and I think thats the way to go in this case.
I'm purchasing thru cycle to work scheme, with the discount for the higher rate of tax.

mossym

terrydel wrote: »

Lapierre Audacio 400 - Tiagra groupset - €1135
Specialized Secteur Elite - Tiagra groupset - €1200 or so
Giant Defy 1 - 105 groupset - €1180

I'm leaning towards the Giant.
I had my eyes on a Felt F85, but there are none around in the shops I've tried, so I've moved on from that.
Would appreciate opinions on these bikes, which is best, pros and cons etc etc
Please feel free to offer some alternatives also.

I will only be buying from a bricks and mortar shop, as its my first bike and I think thats the way to go in this case.
I'm purchasing thru cycle to work scheme, with the discount for the higher rate of tax.

Spec for me from that lot. Always impressed with their bikes. My MTB is one. Giant is everywhere which says good things but some bit of uniqueness is nice (lot of spec around too though!!!)

TheBlaaMan

Do you want to tell us a bit more about what your plans are? Presumably you are not intending to race, but are sportives on your to-do list? Are you in/joining a club for regular 3-4hr weekend spins etc etc ? Or commuting only? Or just going to use it on your own for occasional 1-2hr spins to keep aerobically fit....?

The Secteur has a 'relaxed' geometry compared to the others, meaning its going to have you in a slightly more upright posture, but purchasing the correct size and a subsequent bike fitting are going to be very important too...........so tell us a bit more?

rayman1

I have had a Lapierre Audacio 400 for the last 2.5 years and am very happy with it.
Upgraded to a carbon Giant Defy Advanced 1 recently but will keep the Lapierre as a winter bike.
I would recommend the Defy as 105 is a step up from Tiagra and the Defy was awarded Bike of the Year 2013 by Cycling Plus /Bike Radar
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/bike-of-the-year-2013-giant-defy-advanced-2-36592/

terrydel

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Do you want to tell us a bit more about what your plans are? Presumably you are not intending to race, but are sportives on your to-do list? Are you in/joining a club for regular 3-4hr weekend spins etc etc ? Or commuting only? Or just going to use it on your own for occasional 1-2hr spins to keep aerobically fit....?

The Secteur has a 'relaxed' geometry compared to the others, meaning its going to have you in a slightly more upright posture, but purchasing the correct size and a subsequent bike fitting are going to be very important too...........so tell us a bit more?

Yeah, no intention to race really, would like to do some sportives, Wicklow 100 in June is a goal.
Just want something I can get out on for a few hours, mostly at weekends, something that will do me for years. Will eventually look to periodically get out with a group at weekends when up to speed.
Basically a comfortable bike to keep fit on that allows me to push myself a wee bit!

terrydel

rayman1 wrote: »

I have had a Lapierre Audacio 400 for the last 2.5 years and am very happy with it.
Upgraded to a carbon Giant Defy Advanced 1 recently but will keep the Lapierre as a winter bike.
I would recommend the Defy as 105 is a step up from Tiagra and the Defy was awarded Bike of the Year 2013 by Cycling Plus /Bike Radar
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/bike-of-the-year-2013-giant-defy-advanced-2-36592/

Cheers for those links, nice to see it gets good reviews :-)
Comfort is important to me, so a test ride is essential I guess.

route66

terrydel wrote: »

Yeah, no intention to race really, would like to do some sportives, Wicklow 100 in June is a goal.
Just want something I can get out on for a few hours, mostly at weekends, something that will do me for years. Will eventually look to periodically get out with a group at weekends when up to speed.
Basically a comfortable bike to keep fit on that allows me to push myself a wee bit!

I'd go for the Giant from those three. As mentioned above, the Defy won the 2013 Cycling Plus 2013 bike of the year - albeit the Advanced (carbon) model.

Donelson

I have a lapierre and there's no mounting points for mudgaurds, also the alu frame gives plenty of road buzz so if your not too concerned with speed get the types changed to 28mm.
I've done thousands of km's on my and it has never let me down. also check the wheels on offer. when I bought mine it was the wheels that sealed the deal. as they where substantial better than those offered on theother brands.

Craig06

I have the lapierre, got it last September when the 2013 was just out. It's full tiagra brakes and all. Very good and I've had no problems at all with it. 12-28 ratio on the cassette with the compact is very good also.

the boss of me

I bought the Giant a few months back and I'm very happy with it. I don't race but would do some fairly long spins. 90 km is the furthest I've been on it so far and it was very comfortable. The bike handles really well and my descents are about 10% faster than my last bike. I reckon that you should also be able to get it a bit cheaper. 1100 is what I paid.

Dotsie~tmp

The Defy is relaxed enough I found once you get rid of the saddle (Im not light or flexible). If you flip the stem for a more upright position (ask them in shop) even more so.

terrydel

the boss of me wrote: »

I bought the Giant a few months back and I'm very happy with it. I don't race but would do some fairly long spins. 90 km is the furthest I've been on it so far and it was very comfortable. The bike handles really well and my descents are about 10% faster than my last bike. I reckon that you should also be able to get it a bit cheaper. 1100 is what I paid.

Where was that?
Appreciate the info.

faigs

Did you look at the Boardman Road Team in Halfords? Part 105 groupset, €1249 and you can shave 15% off that if you have / know someone with an axa card... Seems like a really nice bike.

the boss of me

terrydel wrote: »

Where was that?
Appreciate the info.

Pm sent... Let us know how you get on.

mossym

route66 wrote: »

I'd go for the Giant from those three. As mentioned above, the Defy won the 2013 Cycling Plus 2013 bike of the year - albeit the Advanced (carbon) model.

exactly, glad someone mentioned it, just to be fair to the op, it wasn't this model that won the bike of the year. personally i don't think that has any relevance here, or you could just make a blanket statement that all giant models are the best in their class just because of that

rayman1

mossym wrote: »

exactly, glad someone mentioned it, just to be fair to the op, it wasn't this model that won the bike of the year. personally i don't think that has any relevance here, or you could just make a blanket statement that all giant models are the best in their class just because of that

Yes, the "Bike of the Year" is carbon and the Defy 1 is aluminium but they both have Shimano 105 and identical geometry so IMO it is relevant as both will be comfortable on long spins.

Craig06

rayman1 wrote: »

Yes, the "Bike of the Year" is carbon and the Defy 1 is aluminium but they both have Shimano 105 and identical geometry so IMO it is relevant as both will be comfortable on long spins.

Different flex rates in the frames due to different materials so essentially 2 different bikes.