People's thoughts on this?

maxamillius

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-tdf-limited-edition-mens-road-bike-2014-51cm

For my first attempt at a road bike,is it worth it?is it same weight as say a giant defy?

Shels_Gar

You may be told differently on here, but I think Carrera's are to be avoided.
Giant is a much better brand IMHO.

beauf

Shels_Gar wrote: »

You may be told differently on here, but I think Carrera's are to be avoided.
Giant is a much better brand IMHO.

Anything more expensive is going to be better no?

What specially is bad about the Carrera for the price?

beauf

maxamillius wrote: »

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-tdf-limited-edition-mens-road-bike-2014-51cm

For my first attempt at a road bike,is it worth it?is it same weight as say a giant defy?

Why is weight the issue? I would have assume price would have been key issue no?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056331826
http://road.cc/content/news/72001-best-entry-level-road-bikes-under-%C2%A3500

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40020&t=12928473

Shels_Gar

I recently bought a new bike and was warned to stay away from Halfords stuff as most of their stuff is over priced and sub-standard....a friend owns a bike shop and told me 90% of his repairs are Carrera and Trax....
Only passing on what I've heard.

not yet

It may be the same weight but it will never be a giant defy. The old adage you get what you pay for applies.

In saying that at the price it's not a bad bike...

beauf

Shels_Gar wrote: »

I ...was warned to stay away from Halfords....a friend owns a bike shop...

Those facts may not be unrelated.....;)

I'd also a lot people who buy cheap bikes don't look after them as much as people who spend a bit more on a bike.

Carerra is a better range than the Apollo and Trax brands. IMO. Its a cheap but ok brand. If you're on a super tight budget then a carrera is ok, if you get it cheap. Halfords like to juggle prices around so don't get caught when its gone up in price. Spend more then better brands are an option like B'Twin and the low end Giants etc. On many forums the Carerra is seen as a decent winter bike, commuter as it as mounts for mudguards and pannier etc. many other road bikes don't.

aFlabbyPanda

For the same money you might get a better spec second hand bike.

I know a few lads in work with them and they've had no more problems than I had with my 1K bike.

As other here will tell you Halfords are the problem not necessarily the bike itself.

MugMugs

Shels_Gar wrote: »

I recently bought a new bike and was warned to stay away from Halfords stuff as most of their stuff is over priced and sub-standard....

An award winning hardtail 29er sub 600 and a boardman pro 29er just over a grand with pretty savage spec say not.

Halfords are like an unwashed man working in a sweet shop. There's some delicious bargains to be had but you just don't want them touching the goods once you buy them.

BoardsMember

beauf wrote: »

Anything more expensive is going to be better no?

Ah no, please tell me that's not what you think....seriously??!!

mamax

maxamillius wrote: »

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-tdf-limited-edition-mens-road-bike-2014-51cm

For my first attempt at a road bike,is it worth it?is it same weight as say a giant defy?

For the price that is a good buy, my mrs bought one recently as a starter bike and she is quite happy to plod away on it to keep fit, it's kept indoors and I give it a quick once over every week and she's not had any problems, (besides halfords themselves fcukin up the order)

Good value budget bike and better components than a lot of other similarly priced bikes.

beauf

BoardsMember wrote: »

Ah no, please tell me that's not what you think....seriously??!!

Why do you think the less you spend the better bike you get? If so link to 5 new bikes that are cheaper than 300 delivered that are better. On a Bike2Work this will be even less, and most work places have Halfords on their list.

sham58107

maxamillius wrote: »

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/carrera-tdf-limited-edition-mens-road-bike-2014-51cm

For my first attempt at a road bike,is it worth it?is it same weight as say a giant defy?

As already stated you might be better going second hand,price looks ok but you only have 7 speed cassette most now have 10 or 11 also groupset is cheap you may soon want to upgrade as you get the bug and this is just not the starting point. Like buying a 3 speed car!
Don't worry about weight make very little difference just lose a few kg:)
whatever you decide on enjoy it now is also good time to buy with new models coming on stream.

Buzwaldo

beauf wrote: »

Why do you think the less you spend the better bike you get? If so link to 5 new bikes that are cheaper than 300 delivered that are better. On a Bike2Work this will be even less, and most work places have Halfords on their list.

If you think you might get into cycling and possibly want to upgrade in a year or two, then don't waste your BTW on this. Keep if for possible upgrade. Plenty of second hand bikes out there if you are patient, including Carreras for 200. Or just buy it straight new. I believe you can get a discount if you have an Axa insurance policy.
Can only use scheme once every 5 years.

BoardsMember

beauf wrote: »

Why do you think the less you spend the better bike you get?

No I don't. I just don't think that something more expensive is necessarily better. I look at the reviews of it, I look at the components. I don't have all the answers, I know sweet fa about bikes really.

Roquentin

the virtuoso is better

beauf

BoardsMember wrote: »

No I don't. I just don't think that something more expensive is necessarily better. I look at the reviews of it, I look at the components. I don't have all the answers, I know sweet fa about bikes really.

This is the exact opposite of expensive, for a bicycle. Its the bottom end. Anything cheaper than this is probably a badly made toy or BSO (bike shaped object). If you find something better based on reading of reviews, then please share it. There's always people looking for a cheaper but decent bike recommendation.

beauf

Buzwaldo wrote: »

If you think you might get into cycling and possibly want to upgrade in a year or two, then don't waste your BTW on this. Keep if for possible upgrade. Plenty of second hand bikes out there if you are patient, including Carreras for 200. Or just buy it straight new. I believe you can get a discount if you have an Axa insurance policy.
Can only use scheme once every 5 years.

A 300 new bike on the bike to work scheme might not be cheaper then the 200 2nd hand bike. While you can get a good 2nd hand bike. You'd want to be careful you're not buying someone else's problem bike that needs repairs or things replacing.

The usual adage is to buy the best bike you can afford, rather than buying something cheaper and then having to replace it sooner. False economy and all that. That said if you don't end up using it, then that's not smart either.

ZiabR

Nothing wrong with the Carrera bikes in Halfords. They have changed the groupset on them recently from Sora to Claris but the Sora groupset for 299 euro is a good bike for the money. Yes they are heavy but I know alot of people that like them. If anything goes wrong take it to a proper bike shop for repairs, don't go back to Halfords.

In last weekends Skoda challenge, I counted 5-6 Carrera TDF bikes that completed the event, good bike for the money.

kirving

The specs on the hardtail MTB which I bought made it seem like it was very good value for money.

In fact, the discs were so good that when I first tested out the rear brake, the force of the braking action ripped the rear dropout apart.

Good thing I was cautious and didn't wait to get to the bottom of the hill before pulling the brake hard.

fully floating

Why can't halfords just stock a better range of bikes, on the Irish site they list 3 pinarello bikes were the uk site has 28 shown, the prices aren't great on these either at the minute but during the tdf they were all at least 200 cheaper, and they had a lot more of the lower end bikes for sale some around the £600 mark, not listed at the moment my btw can only be used in halfords so I find it useless to me. Rant over

Pinch Flat

logik wrote: »

Nothing wrong with the Carrera bikes in Halfords. They have changed the groupset on them recently from Sora to Claris but the Sora groupset for 299 euro is a good bike for the money. Yes they are heavy but I know alot of people that like them. If anything goes wrong take it to a proper bike shop for repairs, don't go back to Halfords.

In last weekends Skoda challenge, I counted 5-6 Carrera TDF bikes that completed the event, good bike for the money.

I agree. Not had one myself but from what I've seen they're a perfect no nonsense starter bike, if they've got sora even better. An upgrade of the wheels would improve it no end - so a pair of shimano r501 from bike24.de for a little over €100 and you've got a cracking bike for €400 that would compare to a basic giant.

BoardsMember

beauf wrote: »

Anything more expensive is going to be better no?

beauf wrote: »

Why do you think the less you spend the better bike you get?

beauf wrote: »

This is the exact opposite of expensive, for a bicycle. Its the bottom end. Anything cheaper than this is probably a badly made toy or BSO (bike shaped object). If you find something better based on reading of reviews, then please share it. There's always people looking for a cheaper but decent bike recommendation.

Sorry, I didn't mean to make a big thing about this. I was concerned when I read the first post above....because something is more expensive than something else does not make it better. That's all I was trying to point out. Nothing to do with cycling, or the bikes you are interested in, just a general observation.

If I was you with this budget I'd go second hand. You'll get something way better second hand than new in this price bracket.

triggermortis

BoardsMember wrote: »

If I was you with this budget I'd go second hand. You'll get something way better second hand than new in this price bracket.

..as long as you take someone along with you who has some bike knowledge or you could end up with a lemon

BoardsMember

triggermortis wrote: »

..as long as you take someone along with you who has some bike knowledge or you could end up with a lemon

Yeah very much so, good advice.

maxamillius

Only asking about the weight because I currently cycle a hardtail mtb to work,I cycle 30k a day so just looking for something a bit more comfortable and something that would give me the option of taking part in a few sportives possibly,unfortunately I don't have a lot to spend at the moment so 2/300 would be the max.

beauf

Is bike to work something you can do?

maxamillius

beauf wrote: »

Is bike to work something you can do?

Actually used that for the mtb,I actually do quite a bit of mtb ing,suppose when I got it I never really thought if cycle to work,think il have a scout around for a defy maybe for around 300

beauf

The usual advice is to get the best thing you can afford at the time.

It's probably trivial but I've never really liked the colours of the Carerra road bikes. I'd probably pick a lesser bike get the colour i liked.

maxamillius

beauf wrote: »

The usual advice is to get the best thing you can afford at the time.

It's probably trivial but I've never really liked the colours of the Carerra road bikes. I'd probably pick a lesser bike get the colour i liked.

I'd be the sane really,needs to look good aswell!il keep my eyes peeled so,thanks for the input lads!
Much appreciated as always

JMcL

From what I've seen of the TDF (few lads had them on club spins) they're a grand starter bike for the money, especially if you can get a discount via AXA and/or a sale. The main source of the weight seems to be the wheels, pushing 4kg according to this Bikeradar review from a few years back. Given the choice of a Giant Defy or TDF, yeah sure the Defy is a better bike, but it's also 3 times the price. The Decathlon B-Twin Triban 300 is a very nice alternative for not much more money, but given you're just starting out, I'd recommend you buy something you can try.

Ibetit

read it wrong, I thought it's camera on bikes.

beauf

I like the colours on the B'TWIN better. But I can't get them on the Bike2Work

if you're not tied to the B2W then I'd get the B'TWIN. I like the base Boardman too, even if its a bit over priced.

AltAccount

I ride a TDF virtually every day and I find its a great commuting bike. It's great value.

Budget for new tyres, mudguards and a rear rack and you're good to go!

cunavalos

At this price i think you should be ok to buy. Be prepared to sort out some minor mechanical issues but you may be lucky with the quality of the assembly.

Look at the second hand market and you will see that the bike will retain its value much better than most other bikes should you decide that cycling is not for you or you get hooked and want to use the BTW scheme to upgrade to a better bike.

Generally second hand carerra tdf's are still selling for upwards of €250 so you are not going to lose out much. A quick check on ebay.co.uk will show 7-8 tdf's having been sold second hand without any major upgrades for over £200 GBP over the last two months.

tl;dr . If i was starting out again i would have no issues buying at that price.

beauf

Another thing to consider when buying is of services and repairs are included in the price. Some places include this, but of course it depends if you trust them to do servicing and repairs, if the shop is a convenient location, or indeed if the shop isn't run off its feet that repairs take far too long.