€7-800 bike, what to look for

stecleary

Just looking for a few opinions for what to look for in a new bike.

I'd rather buy new but not sure what kind of spec would be available in my price range.

My LBS have a nice Merida but I never thought of checking group set ect as I was just browsing at the time.

There are a few bikes on Adverts/ Donedeal in my price range but not much info in most of the ads.
this one really stands out, http://www.donedeal.ie/bicycles-for-sale/racing-bike/6301655

What kind of spec should I be looking for?
I'd guess most bikes for the money would have carbon forks but its the group set that I'm not sure about, Would a Shimano 105 be too much to look for?
Pretty much anything I buy will have a better set up than my current Shimano A050.
I'd be using the pedals I have at the moment so not too worried about that.

Would be looking for a 51cm frame as I'm a short arse

Cee-Jay-Cee

If your buying new then you should look for at least a 10 speed tiagra groupset and alloy frame, you wont get a new carbon bike for your budget. The bike in the ad has carbon fork and carbon seat stays, i don't think they're full carbon like the ad suggests. It has a Tiagra groupset but it doesnt state if its 9 or 10spd.

I'd go for this bike >> Cube Peloton if i had your budget and your after a medium sized frame, full 105 groupset and best of all it looks brand new plus he's throwing in shoes (if they don't fit you, you can sell them again and buy your own size)

The bike in the ad is a 54 but as far as i remember Cube bikes are sized small and so a 54 is equivalent to a 52 in other bikes...i think. I'm sure someone else may be able to confirm that. The bike has been for sale for quite a few months now and he's dropped the price several times, i think it started off at €1200 or thereabouts, so there maybe a bit of swing room in his price.

stecleary

cheers for that, waterford is a bit of a spin for a bike that might be too big but im sure i could find one in dublin somewhere that i could throw the leg over and see how it feels

Cee-Jay-Cee

I just googled it there and i was correct, Cube sizing is on the small size so a 54 would be the same as a 52 in other frames/bikes.

For the price of that bike you'll find it hard to beat for the spec in what is effectively a new bike. I'm in donegal and so have no affiliation to the seller but I travelled 100 miles for a bike that cost me €900 and that i knew was my size and was the bike i wanted with the spec I wanted.

My advice would be buy the best bike you can afford now because if you settle for something cheap just for the sake of buying something, you'll regret it when inevitably something appears for sale that is better spec'd and more suitable than what you just bought.

darkvalley

I bought that same bike,Cube Peleton race, new for €1300 about 5 months ago. If it fits it is very good value. I have a 62cm frame and would generally be looking for a 58cm in other makes so the cube is odd sizing, although a 60cm might have suited me better. Great bike, I really like it but the wheels (same as on this one) on mine were very poor so take that into account.