New bike Help

chunkytfg

Yes i know this has been asked a thousand times before me but i'm finding myself in a position to upgrade from my cheap hack to something a little better. The budget tops out at around £700-800 and I'm wondering what to buy.

I'm quite a substantial chap and need something strong strong strong.

Specialised allez Elite seems to fit the bill but when compared to others seems a little bit lacking in some areas. eg it only comes with the tiagra groupsets.

Why should i pay £800 for what, i have no doubt is a great bike when i can have a planet X superlight team bike for £875 with full 105 or with equal spec for a mere £599?

And what about the Felt and Focus brands. Wiggle can do me a Felt F85 with 105/ultegra groupsets for £700 or a focus variado expert with full ultegra for £799.

Am i missing something or does it seem that with the mainstream bikes you pay for a brand rather than a spec? Or can someone point me in the direction of a mainstream brand that can offer 105/ultegra for the same kind of expenditure?

Rich Hcp

Overall, you'll probably pay a bit more for a brand.

However, you need to be sure that what ever you get fits and is what you want. The brand can be bought through your local shop and you're also paying for (hopefully) good service.

There's nothing wrong with Tiagra.

Buying mail order is OK, but I'd shop buy every time.

chunkytfg

Thanks rich. I'm fully aware about buying one thats fits and thats really not an issue.

Also i know tiagra isnt necessarily that bad just that you could argue that 105 and ultegra are better no?

Okay then as for shop/LBS buying whats eveyones opinions on Quest bikes?

I have a set of there wheels and although not the lightest wheels in the world they sure are strong.

simmo3801

Hi Chunky

I bought a Spec Allez Elite Double last feb which was the team Gerolsteiner coloured frame. It comes with mostly 105 spec apart from the brake calipers which are no name that I've upgraded to 105 and the crank set which is a very good FSA gossamer one. It's a great bike and the only other thing I've done to it is put a set of hand built wheels on it and some Michelin Pro 2 Race tyres which made a big difference. When I bought mine it was £899 and with the brakes and wheels I've spent £250 ish on it. There are still 2007 Allez Elites available on line and the price has dropped to I think £695 now. You could either do what I did and buy 2007 with better components and upgrade wheels or use the reviews on here under Road then Bikes and Gear in blue at top for something else. I also prefer the blue/black to the red....

phelim

I'D GO FOR FELT/WILLIER BIKES EVERY TIME AS I SELL THEM. AND HAVE RODE A FELT55 FOR THE PAST 2YRS.

Down the Road

YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. If it is better specc'd in one brand then the frame is not as good.

The best frames come from the big boys. Spesh sell more bikes in a week than Planet X in a year. That is why they have great value for money.

If it is well speec'd for the money ask questions on the frame

phelim

i don't agree with that felt have good frames and spec to go with them. i have tested spesh and found them a very dull ride compared to FELT. but thats just my opinion. with spesh you are just paying for the name.

il_principe

I have a 54 cm Focus Variado expert for sale, it's a year and a half old but in great nick and best of all it has Shimano Ultegra throughout and Shimano R550 wheels. I’m just under 5'11 and have a long torso as well and the bike fits me perfectly and was setup for me by cyclefit in London. I'm selling some of my bikes to fund an upgrade to a Pinarello Prince and sold my 2007 Wilier Mortirolo last night!!

Anyway if you're be interested in the Focus then let me know, it's a great bike and in perfect working order. There are a few scuffs on the paint work but nothing major, I'd be happy to post some photos or arrange a viewing if you're in London.

Bike will be going on ebay soon. I paid £800 so I reckon £400 would be a fair price, to include a pair of Ultegra SPD-L pedals and the saddle it came with - which has never been used!

chunkytfg

Thanks jashburnham but 54 will be too small for me.

Phelim, All though I appreciate your opinion when your opening comment is that you sell Felt bikes and then rave about them to the detriment of all others then i have to say your opinion loses it's value somewhat.

Anyway I was in work today up the road from the bike shop in harrow and had a go on a Quest audax/trainer which was really nice to ride. Also they have specced it to how i want and not just sold it to me as it comes for not alot extra cash along with once they have sourced the bits i want and put it together they will do a bike fit on me with it so it is spot on for me.

Doing things this way means that i have comeback should problems arise with it as i can just pop in and sort out those issues there and then rather than just having to post stuff and fire off emails here there and everywhere not to mention everything i found so far has been a compromise in at least one area whereas the bike i bought is to my spec so there is no compromise..

Now just have the wait till friday when i go and pick it up.

ash68

agree with your comments about buying from your LBS chunky. There are lots of good deals on very nice bikes on the internet,but nothing beats riding the bike first, before you buy. Plus you get a good relationship with your LBS for any future problems.

Grandis

I got the 2008 Specialized Allez Elite through the bike to work scheme about a month ago. Its my first road bike so the only thing I can compare it to is my 1996 steel Stumpjumper. However, the bike feels comfortable, fast and responsive. Got up to 38 mph on a downhill stretch last week before my bottle crashed. The Tiagra gears shift really well and I certainly haven't regretted buying it. For your info I tried a Giant SCR and a Bianchi Via Nirone before going for the Allez Elite.

phelim

chunky i do sell felt but also willier&trek but as i said i compared the felt to spez tarmac and formed my own opinion.scott also do a good range of bikes, but everybody has to form their own opinions the only way to find if the bike is right is to test where possible and decide which is right 4 u and your needs.

Monty Dog

For someone heavy, quality of wheels should be your primary concern - luckily, frames and components at this price point tend to be more than up to the task, but sadly manufacturers cut the corners in terms of wheel quality. My experience with most big brands is that wheel build quality is moderate - spoke tension uneven and not high enough. Whatever your budget, leave some over to invest in a better quality pair in the near future. BTW Tiagra is more than adequate for the task. A decent LBS would make sure that wheels are sorted when they assembly the bike, but sadly, most don't and rely on the first service to tweak them.

chunkytfg

Monty Dog wrote:

For someone heavy, quality of wheels should be your primary concern - luckily, frames and components at this price point tend to be more than up to the task, but sadly manufacturers cut the corners in terms of wheel quality. My experience with most big brands is that wheel build quality is moderate - spoke tension uneven and not high enough. Whatever your budget, leave some over to invest in a better quality pair in the near future. BTW Tiagra is more than adequate for the task. A decent LBS would make sure that wheels are sorted when they assembly the bike, but sadly, most don't and rely on the first service to tweak them.

Thanks for the Tip re the wheels but the wheels that come on it i allready have on my previous bike due to the old ones falling apart after not alot of time. They are not the lightest things in the world but they are strong strong strong.

As for tiagra being up to the job i'll agree but if you look at tit this way. as manufacturing processes get cheaper and newer better stuff comes out then the the 105 will be one staep ahead of the tiagra and will therefore be out of dateafter the tiagra. Plus it was only an extra £75 to go for 105 over tiagra which i would no doubt want to upgrade shortly after buying the bike as thats what i do.

giant_man

Quest bikes are a great LBS having bought some stuff from there recently, Malcolm really knows his stuff so i think it's a good choice chunkytfg.

chunkytfg

giant mancp wrote:

Quest bikes are a great LBS having bought some stuff from there recently, Malcolm really knows his stuff so i think it's a good choice chunkytfg.

I must admit i havent heard much bad about them either if i'm honest and having the abilty to spec the bike how i wanted rather than buying a bike and then having to put other stuff on it on top to get it how i wanted really apealed.