Advise for getting value for beginner road bike

daisybelle2008

Hi all,

I am going to avail of the BTW scheme and want to get the best bang for my buck.

I have settled pretty much on a Giant Defy 3 (medium) and am being quoted €849.

The shop has recommended accessories for the balance of the BTW cap of €1000 such as a water bottle, mini pump, lock and helmet that exactly add up to the €151 balance

Would I be better off using the €151 for something like pedals/shoes or tyres (I'd like fairly puncture proof tyres) and getting the recommended accessories elsewhere online? Not sure what tyres and pedals come with it to be honest.

Any advise would be welcome!

Thanks

Dotsie~tmp

+1 on fast rolling puncture resistant tyres (recommend bontrager race lite hardcase, as good as gators and marathons but often half the price) , lights. ~100eur
Then maybe track pump + puncture kit + levers + multitool.

Then to get started on cycle gear real cheap pichlk up some padded shorts and 2 jerseys from Lidl on the 18th.

After that go online as u get money and add more gear. Portable pump, spare tubes, saddlebag, propper saddle (defy 3 stock is murder). Some decent clothing etc over the months. Thats the best cheapo path i think.

cdaly_

I'd say yes. You'll get accessories online for similar money at your leisure. I'd recommend putting €60-€100 into a decent lock (too many shops are selling inadequate locks) as a priority.

Shoes and pedals should be considered based on the sort of riding you're planning. Commuting and stop-start cycling demand shoes you can walk in so SPD pedals are the way to go as the cleats are recessed into the shoe. OTOH, if you're planning to race or go on long uninterrupted spins, SDP-SL pedals provide a wider platform for your feet at the cost of it being harder to walk (think high heels with the heels broken off)...

on_the_nickel

For €1000, bike shop should be throwing in a few bits themselves. Good track pump would be a priority for me.

ford2600

Don't buy cheap shorts, if on a budget buy one decent pair. Try wiggle or prendas. Got good bib shorts for 35 in prendas sale.
Don't buy a mini pump without research. Plenty threads here. An awful number don't perform well.
Buy a track pump. Essential. Keep pressure to max.
Puncture resistance is good idea. Too many punctures nesrly finished me cycling when I bought bike 7 years ago.
Hold off on lights for now. Summer is here;-) Can get great value online. Again search here for reviews, many light threads.
hold off on pedals/shoes crc often have savage value.
Get out as often as you can and enjoy. Some days you won't feel like it, once you get out you never regret after. You won't melt!

daisybelle2008

Would spd pedals come with the bike or would they be extra? Would I be better getting the shoes online?
So for my 151 euro balance I should get better spec tires and pedals with the bike and get my helmet, lock, pump, toolkit, lights etc. on-line?

I got some padded shorts in lidl and TK max of all places.

I would be aiming for some longer distances all going well, would be fairly fit and would like to build up as replacement for other activity.

daisybelle2008

ford2600 wrote: »

Don't buy cheap shorts, if on a budget buy one decent pair. Try wiggle or prendas. Got good bib shorts for 35 in prendas sale.
Don't buy a mini pump without research. Plenty threads here. An awful number don't perform well.
Buy a track pump. Essential. Keep pressure to max.
Puncture resistance is good idea. Too many punctures nesrly finished me cycling when I bought bike 7 years ago.
Hold off on lights for now. Summer is here;-) Can get great value online. Again search here for reviews, many light threads.
hold off on pedals/shoes crc often have savage value.
Get out as often as you can and enjoy. Some days you won't feel like it, once you get out you never regret after. You won't melt!

Thanks ford2600, what's crc? Is that an online shop?

Briando

Dont skimp on a lock.
The cable locks get clipped so easy, it kinda winds me up that bike shops sell them on to people after they've spent a small fortune on a bike.

Get a solid one, there are some good treads on this website if you search for them about what locks are good. Scumbags like shiny bikes, lock it well, and be very careful where you do lock it.

For comfort and actually enjoying getting out on the bike a good saddle makes a difference, I only found comfort when i got a saddle with a hollow running down the center of it. Try you saddle, after 3-4 rides you'll know if it works for you.

Good luck out there and remember to give the secret signal to the other cyclists.

ford2600

Chainreaction cycles. Free delivery.
Posters often but voucher codes up here.
Get used to bike, get pedals and shoes then.
Get shop to put on tyres you want incl in price.
Bring back lidl shorts and get helmet!
You may or may not need lock. I never had one. If you need one get a very good one and follow advice on locking.
Get shop owner to give you basics of bike cleaning and lubing. Clean bike, esp chain, cassette, chainring and rims is a happy low maintenance bike!

daisybelle2008 wrote: »

Thanks ford2600, what's crc? Is that an online shop?

micar

crc could be chainreactions.

I generally buy all my gear from wiggle. Wait till the sales and avail of the discounts. I bought a paid of Continental grand prix tires with 40% discount. These are my second pair and they are just savage.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/continental-grand-prix-4000s-road-tyre/

I suppose your getting the 2013 version of the bike. If this is your first bike then what about getting a 2012 model for a similar. You'd get a better spec 2012 bike for the same price. This takes a lot of research. Read the review of all the products.

I bought my bike around Jan 2011. It was the 2010 version and got €400 less as it was on sale. The full price for the 2011 model was €100 more that the full price 2010 model. My bike was pricey but I absolutely love my bike. There was very little difference in the two models. Just really a different paint work. IMO, the 2010 version is nicer than the 2011 version.

IMO, you might regret in a year or two not getting a better bike now. Am trying to encourage my sister to buy a discounted 2012 Giant for about €1700. It's €300 off.

on_the_nickel

Would recommend dhb shorts from wiggle.

I've got Assos, Pearl Izumi and Giordana, all more expensive, but if I'm going for a long ride, I still find myself reaching for the dhbs.

daisybelle2008

Thanks for the info, I must figure out the secret signal now!

Would I be better off getting a better spec model than the giant defy 3 (849€)
to the max of the €1000 with the bike shop and getting all the accessories online?

I feel like I am just trying to use up the balance of €151 on overpriced accessories with the bike shop...

route66

daisybelle2008 wrote: »

Thanks for the info, I must figure out the secret signal now!

Would I be better off getting a better spec model than the giant defy 3 (849€)
to the max of the €1000 with the bike shop and getting all the accessories online?

I feel like I am just trying to use up the balance of €151 on overpriced accessories with the bike shop...

A friend bought a Defy 3 a month ago and got an easy 10% off that price you mention - you should ask for same. With the extra 85-odd euro in your pocket, you can buy stuff in shop and benefit frim btw deal up to 1K (months to pay off and up to 50% discount after tax benefits are realised) or buy online cheaper with no tax benefits; I spend the money in the shop.

Oh, and *don't* look to save a few euro by getting last year's model. The Defy 3 has the Sora groupset. Last years Sora doesn't have proper gear changing on the levers (they have a crappy button instead) whereas this years are fine; they are basically the old 9-speed Tiagra groupset.

Nice bike - enjoy!

smacl

If you're going to buy stuff on-line, its worth comparing prices on a bunch of different sites, e.g.

www.cyclesuperstore.ie
www.wiggle.co.uk
www.chainreactioncycles.com
www.bike-discount.de
www.bike24.com
www.ribblecycles.co.uk

The advertised discounts are often meaningless, and the discounted price on one site might be much more than the regular price on another site. The same applies to free shipping, it often works out cheaper for small orders, but the total comes out more expensive for large orders. You can save a lot by shopping around.

+1 for the DHB shorts, and I'm also fond of the DHB shoes. As per _cdaly's post, I find SPDs a very good general purpose solution. Something like these shoes and these pedals represent pretty good value. Getting SPD pedals with a platform means they'll also work fine with regular shoes.

Maybe make a shopping list, price it on-line, and then ask your LBS to match it when buying the bike. Most shops would throw in some freebies when buying a new bike, so its a good time to haggle. FWIW, my list in order of priority would include good lock, lights, padded shorts, track pump, tubes, tyre levers, puncture resistant tyres, mini pump, bottle cage and bottle, jersey, waterproof cycling jacket, windproof gilet, cheap helmet, decent saddle, cycling shoes and clip in pedals. First year of getting into cycling is expensive as you get kitted up. Note the gear I've linked is just stuff I've bought myself that has proven reliable and decent value, everyones choices are a bit different in this regard.

PrairieDawn

Some great tips and links there, thanks!

Dotsie~tmp

PrairieDawn wrote: »

Some great tips and links there, thanks!

Dont forget to drop back and show us a picture.