Help choosing a bike

adrian522

Firstly apologies for another one of these threads, it's just that I really can't decide what direction to go in.

I previously had a Giant FCR 4. The FCR was the previous incarnation of the Giant Rapid I think, with the 4 being the entry level model.

Anyway the bike was stolen last week and I've been looking for a replacement since.

Initially I was thinking of a like for like replacement but given I have the option of using the bike to work scheme again I thought about going for a higher spec bike.

Usage wise, I have a short cycle to work every day, about 5Km or so each way. That was pretty much all I was doing on the bike recently though I would like to get more into the sport and do some longer spins on the weekends, about 2 -3 hours or so.

I am in the middle of marathon training at the moment so in the short term there wouldn't be much of that but I'd like to have the option there for a few longer spins.

I have no real intention of getting into racing to be honest but some recreational cycles I could see myself doing.

I'm happy enough to consider road bikes with drop bars.

I'm limited to the CSS for purchasing. Anyway I was wondering about the different groupsets and whether it is worth spending the extra €'s going up the levels given my requirements above.

Essentially I am open to suggestions but was thinking along the lines of either a Giant Defy or Rapid or a Lapierre Audacio or Shaper.

They seem to be pretty similar with the bars being the primary difference.

I was also wondering about the difference between the Tiagra and Sora groupsets, is it worth the extra €100 or so to move up to the Tiagra given the usage I'd be getting out of these?

Racers:

Defy 3 Sora €742
Defy 2 Tiagra €874
Audacio 200 Claris €678
Audacio 300 Sora €786
Audacio 400 Tiagra €917


Hybrids:

Rapid 3 Sora €655
Rapid 2 Tiagra €786
Shaper 300 Sora €699
Shaper 500 Tiagra €830

Thanks.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I would pay the extra €100 for Tiagra as it's 10 speed and compatible with 105 and Ultegra if you wished to upgrade in the future. Sorry can't help you with the bikes as I don't know the ones you mentioned.

bandit1987

Not that I know much if anything at all only got into cycling 2 months ago but I bought a giant defy 0 and absolutely love it, i tried out the defy 1 and 2 also and thought the were really nice.So id say if its a defy you choose go for the defy 2. From the people I asked advice etc off all said that if I was seriously thinking of getting into the sport that it was better spend now on a decent bike rather than upgrading later. so what i done was used the b2w and added my own money aswell to get a v.good bike.

adrian522

Thanks lads, I guess I'm hearing I should go for one of the Tiagra's

cdaly_

The defy is approximately the same frame as the FCR so if you were happy with that, go for the defy. +1 on the tiagra vs sora.

adrian522

Is it a bit silly to be considering drops given I'll be predominantly doing a pretty short commute?

ZiabR

adrian522 wrote: »

Is it a bit silly to be considering drops given I'll be predominantly doing a pretty short commute?

If you have any interest in doing some cycles at the weekends? If so, then go for a racer. The amount of people I know that have bought a hybrid only to regret it after a few months.

adrian522

OK, thanks, I'll go with the Defy 2. It's showing as out of stock at the moment but hopefully they can order one for me.

The other option would be the Lapierre Audacio 400. The spec seems pretty similar but is a little more expensive.

shaka

Sure I saw one in Kilmallock cycles yesterday when I was in getting gels

adrian522

I may have to look elsewhere as the CSS say they are sold out for the year

iwillhtfu

Giant are overhauling their defy range for 2015 AFAIK.

All defy models will now come with disc brakes.

The lapierre bikes are very nice also. If you can buy online you'll find it hard to beat canyon in the €1000 price range.

adrian522

My company won't let me do BTW outside Ireland for whatever reason, I may just wait for the 2015 range though..

iwillhtfu

Your company probably only deals with companies VAT registered in Ireland.

machiavellianme

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Giant are overhauling their defy range for 2015 AFAIK.

All defy models will now come with disc brakes.

The lapierre bikes are very nice also. If you can buy online you'll find it hard to beat canyon in the €1000 price range.

Really? Was just about to purchase a defy on the b2w scheme but I'll hold off so. Where'd you hear that?

iwillhtfu

I was talking to one of the lads in giant Dublin and he was saying the defy is getting an overhaul. There'll probably be good reductions on this years defy but stock will be limited.

http://road.cc/content/news/123546-giant-launch-all-new-defy-range-disc-brakes

It looks to be only the carbon defy though according to that article, sorry for the bum steer.

loremolis

What about a bike from amazon.co.uk?

Zen0

I don't think I have ever seen a decent bike for sale on Amazon. Post a link and prove me wrong.

loremolis

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Woodworm-White-Lightning-Road-Racing/dp/B009OZXAS6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407788205&sr=8-1&keywords=road+bike

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Barracuda-Mens-Team-Bike-Road/dp/B007A9UTKK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1407788205&sr=8-3&keywords=road+bike

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vittesse-Mens-Sprint-Road-Bike/dp/B0070VZRDC/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1407788205&sr=8-8&keywords=road+bike

Are any of these ok for a beginner?

Zen0

The lightest of those bikes is 16kg. That's very heavy. Even with cheap parts, it suggests that the frames are made of cheap, heavy steel. The parts are at best non-standard. The reviews of one bike (didn't bother checking the others) talks about loose spokes (unforgivable), derailleur troubles etc. those bikes are completely unsuitable for a beginner. They would be frustrating and unsatisfying to use, and are more likely to put a beginner off cycling for life.