yet another "what bike should I buy"

explosifpete

In a couple of months time I am looking to buy a road bike but I don't know what one to get and thought some one could help.

I ride A xc mtb and have fould that about half my trainning is on road so I can justify another bike.

I've got about £400 to spend but i'm happy to buy secondhand.
I will be doing mostly 1-2hour rides with a longer ride at the weekend, hoping to do around 100mile loops.

I'm quite fussy about what I have tho as I like simple looking bikes with out to much fuss.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Litespeed-Siena-t ... dZViewItem

that would be perfect but a little out of my price range I feel!

I've been looking at the specalized Allez, but im not sure if its a suitable as I would of thought I will need something quite racey

hope someone can help

wheeler585

I would get yourself on ebay as there are bargains to be had on there. Bianchi's go quite cheap these days on ebay and privatly plus there italian so you can to go wrong. Take it that your going for a alloy frame?? But as you said for the money the spesh allez isnt to bad,what about a cannondale R500,or giant tcr or ocr. Supose anything will do if its just fro training on as long as you got a half desent groupset like 105 or ultegra or mirage/chorus. Yeah think the siena is a little out your price range that will probably go for about £1350. But supose why not get the litespeed,if you want it get it thats what i say!!! Just a few bikes to think about 2nd hand for around £400. Rob

giant tcr/ocr
spesh allez
bianchi mega pro/reparto corse/nirone
orbea
planet x
racelight/kinesis
felt
focus
ribble
lemond tourmalet/etape

explosifpete

thanks for the advice.
I have been looking on ebay but didn't know where to start, your list shound help

wheeler585

Have you seen that kinesis racelight on ebay size 54 really good spec for price!! Get it bought!! If its the right size anyway!!

explosifpete

that is nice and in my size but I haven't got the funds for a couple of months.
I'll be looking out for them tho, thanks

LingfieldXC

hi, i'm in the same boat but with a slightly larger budget of £600 - i just want opinions of which is better of two I have been looking at.
1.) Trek 1.5 at £600 - good specs -
or
2.) Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Alu Sora at £550ish - which looks stunning.

So of the two which one would you choose? and why?

wheeler585

To be perfectly honest i wouldnt buy either of them in afraid!! For £600 you could buy a pretty damn good 2nd hand bike for that!!! Sora groupset is pretty rubbish in my mind,cheap and nasty!! For £600 you could get a good frame with a good groupset i.e ultegra or centaur!! Like i said check out the bianchi bikes,giantcr's, cannondales,racelights etc!! But go for a good groupset to go with it, as the low end stuff is pretty garbage in my mind!! Give me your money i will find you something decent!! Ebays the future!!

simbil1

If MTB is your main thing (?) you might want to consider a second set of wheels so you can just drop the slick wheels in and off you go on the road. I did this for a couple of years before finally getting a road bike. Sticking to one bike has the advantage that you are comfortable on it and your muscles are exactly adapted to it.
If you can be bothered, swapping the forks to non-suspension lightens up the front end and gives better stiffness for honking up climbs.
A high end XC racer with slicks and stiff forks will probably be a similar weight to a £400 road bike. If you can get a low position on your XC bike (bar ends help) it will be just as fast on the flat or over the hills (mine was very nearly as fast as my 1k road bike).

explosifpete

I did toy with the idea of getting some 700cc disc wheels but then the gearing would be to low.
Oh and want to pretend i'm lance armstrong!

LingfieldXC

yeah but of the two?