New rider - will this bike do?

fuzzynavel
fuzzynavel Posts: 718
edited September 2008 in Road beginners
I have been out of riding my bike for years due to arthritis but have recently stopped feeling sorry for myself and got back into it. I am currently using a 13 year old (I think) MTB at the moment....was cheap when it was bought all that time ago so is quite heavy, has knobbly tires and out of date 21 speed shimano Acera X gearing.

I have started doing 16 miles every 2nd night from home....around Arthurs Seat (big hill!!) in Edinburgh twice and home again....not sure of the gradient of the hill as it varies during the ascent. I want to start going further but I am fed up getting overtaken by roadies and want to build up my endurance and pace with longer rides.

I have a small budget to start with, around £400 for the bike....will get the rest of the kit separately.

I have spotted the Merida 880-24...it seems to have received a glowing review in its price bracket from this very site.


http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/880-24-31955


I know it only has the R2200 Shimano shifters etc but it should be far and above what I am used to.

I have also had a look at the Giant SCR series and there is one focus bike that I can afford. I have also read the newbie stickie on the forum.

Does anyone have any recommendations to anything better for my budget?
Thaks for any help
17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
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Comments

  • FSR_XC
    FSR_XC Posts: 2,258
    Ribble . . . .

    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/SpecialEditionBikes.asp

    Regularly get good reviews and seem to have very good kit fitted for the money
    Stumpjumper FSR 09/10 Pro Carbon, Genesis Vapour CX20 ('17)Carbon, Rose Xeon CW3000 '14, Raleigh R50

    http://www.visiontrack.com
  • Phixion
    Phixion Posts: 81
    Do you need drop bars? If you're not racing then you will find a better flat bar road bike for cheaper than a drop.
  • keith0066
    keith0066 Posts: 19
    Hi

    i'm mainly an MTB rider but wanted a road bike for when i didn't have time to get off road (and riding an MTB on road is rubbish) so i only wanted a cheapie.

    i also looked at the Giant SCR range and they are pretty good, i ended up with a SCR3, Sora flightdeck controls, Tiagra mech, and best of all carbon fork for... £368.

    They have gone up abit but you can now get a 2007.5 spec for £374 (£75 off list) incl delivery at

    http://www.tredz.co.uk/.GIANT-SCR-3.0-2 ... _16827.htm

    You are getting a good quality bike (Giants are nicely built) mostly better components, a carbon fork and saving about £25 over the Merida, as long as you are not to bothered about the lastest model it looks good value. its where i got mine from and delivery was quick and apart from putting the pedals on and lining up the handlebars it all worked out of the box.
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    firstly, thanks for your helpful replies

    1. I have looked at Ribble before but there is not much in my price range. I will keep an eye on the clearance section though.
    2. Being a MTB rider for years I want a change so drop bars are a want rather than need. I also want to get faster and sitting reasonably upright doesn't help with wind resistance. Edinburgh can be quite windy at times.
    3. Keith0066, thanks for the link....I hadn't found that one for the SCR. How reliable are they for delivery etc? Do they sell with pedals? How good is the SCR? I have managed to destroy the bearings in my crank on my MTB pushing big gears up hills will this happen with the SCR? Can bearings be upgraded or just replaced like for like?

    How much maintenance do Road bikes need? I am reasonably proficient with the mechanics...can remove cranks and cassettes, brakes etc.
    Here's an embarrassing question....I am currently 5'10 and 110kg so will this bike take my weight? I am doing this primarily to lose weight and increase fitness/endurance. I can keep up 18mph on my MTB on the flat and I feel that I have got to a stage where the bike is holding me back.

    thanks again
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    edited August 2008
    110 Kgs ! :shock: :shock: :shock:

    then you are the same weight as me lol :lol:

    Don't worry I have several lightweigh road race bikes in steel and ali and have had no problems at all even giving it large out of the saddle on some local cliff face :roll: The only worry about the new 10 speed I have is the weakest link ...the chain

    Ribble do a winter trainer which is under £400 Very popular , hundreds of them around so they must be pretty good. It uses the blue frame with carbon forks.
    :lol:

    If you use the winter frame it comes with free carbon forks and build a bike round that you should end up with a good bike for under £400.00 suggest you try shimano 105 STi 10 speed groupst and see if you can keep cost under £400
    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=2081&CatID=143
  • jswba
    jswba Posts: 491
    Have you tried the Edinburgh Cycle Co-op? They have some bikes in your range.

    http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 155c002912
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    peanut wrote:
    110 Kgs ! :shock: :shock: :shock:

    then you are the same weight as me lol :lol:

    Don't worry I have several lightweigh road race bikes in steel and ali and have had no problems at all even giving it large out of the saddle on some local cliff face :roll: The only worry about the new 10 speed I have is the weakest link ...the chain

    Ribble do a winter trainer which is under £400 Very popular , hundreds of them around so they must be pretty good. It uses the blue frame with carbon forks.
    :lol:

    If you use the winter frame it comes with free carbon forks and build a bike round that you should end up with a good bike for under £400.00 suggest you try shimano 105 STi 10 speed groupst and see if you can keep cost under £400
    http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?ProductID=2081&CatID=143

    That's good to hear......front crank, chain and bearings seem to take a beating with us larger guys.... will go back to have a look at Ribble again...thanks
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    Ribble have a online `bike builder' which is usually lots of fun as you build up your own bike but it doesn't appear to be working at the moment .

    I have just spent an hour building a cheap 10 speed road bike and haven't managed to get it under the magic £400 yet but I will dammit :lol:
    Very satisfying way to get a new bike ...build it yourself with exactly the components you want. :wink:

    Last month Ribble were offering tremendous discounts on a ready built road bike winter trainer and I'm sure it was for around £400 It wouldn't hurt to ring them and ask if they would still offer a ready built road bike based on their winter trainer frame for around £400. They were offering even bigger discounts if you rang them rather than buy online
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    peanut wrote:
    Ribble have a online `bike builder' which is usually lots of fun as you build up your own bike but it doesn't appear to be working at the moment .

    I have just spent an hour building a cheap 10 speed road bike and haven't managed to get it under the magic £400 yet but I will dammit :lol:
    Very satisfying way to get a new bike ...build it yourself with exactly the components you want. :wink:

    £400 is the sensible limit that I have set myself but I will be getting a new credit card for this purpose anyway so a few pounds over won't kill me (the joys of long 0% deals!!). I can't be bothered waiting while I save up money. I still have shoes/ pedals etc to buy so expecting to spend about £600 all in..
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    peanut wrote:
    Ribble have a online `bike builder' which is usually lots of fun as you build up your own bike but it doesn't appear to be working at the moment .

    I have just spent an hour building a cheap 10 speed road bike and haven't managed to get it under the magic £400 yet but I will dammit :lol:
    Very satisfying way to get a new bike ...build it yourself with exactly the components you want. :wink:

    Last month Ribble were offering tremendous discounts on a ready built road bike winter trainer and I'm sure it was for around £400 It wouldn't hurt to ring them and ask if they would still offer a ready built road bike based on their winter trainer frame for around £400. They were offering even bigger discounts if you rang them rather than buy online

    I have had a tinker and can't get the 105 groupset on the winter frame for any less than £697. There is a campagnolo xenon 10 speed for much less but still nowhere near my budget.
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    fuzzynavel wrote:

    I have had a tinker and can't get the 105 groupset on the winter frame for any less than £697. There is a campagnolo xenon 10 speed for much less but still nowhere near my budget.
    wow you have expensive tastes fuzzynavel :roll: :lol:

    I tried before and managed to get it down to £476.71 with 10 speed Shimano 105 STi and Compact R600 chainset

    I bet if you ranf Ribble and told them what you wanted they would offer the whole package with some further discount.
    I'll try again later see if I can hit the magic £400 :wink:
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Ribble's £400 winter trainer had a mix of 2006 and 2007 Campag 9 sp groupset IIRC. Was a bargain, but it's now disappeared. Don't think you'll get a new bike with 105 groupset for £400 unless you're planning to ram-raid the shop.
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    ok this is the best I have done so far without tweaking. All available off the shelf from Ribble Cycles. Obviously if you shop around you can shave a few pounds off various componants but the increased postage and hassle isn't worth it imo
    Ribble Winter frame: £110.46
    Headset: incl
    Carbon Forks ITM : incl
    Wheels: R500 £50.96
    H Bars Pro LT: £15.26
    Stem ITM Lite 4 £14.41
    Seatpost: ITM forged Lite £11.01
    Saddle San Marco Rolls £22.91
    Pedals M520 SPD £16.96
    Chainset R600 Compact £45.00
    Chain KMC 10 spd £11.69
    Rear mech 105 £22.53
    Fr mech 105 £13.13
    STI levers 105 10 spd £101.96
    Tyres folding Conti 3000 £30.52
    Tubes £4.00
    BBracket 105 octalink ll £13.00

    Total £489.71
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    peanut wrote:
    fuzzynavel wrote:

    I have had a tinker and can't get the 105 groupset on the winter frame for any less than £697. There is a campagnolo xenon 10 speed for much less but still nowhere near my budget.
    wow you have expensive tastes fuzzynavel :roll: :lol:

    I tried before and managed to get it down to £476.71 with 10 speed Shimano 105 STi and Compact R600 chainset

    I bet if you ranf Ribble and told them what you wanted they would offer the whole package with some further discount.
    I'll try again later see if I can hit the magic £400 :wink:

    Are there different ways to build the bike on the ribble site? I am looking at the bike builder section. Are you compiling the parts separately in the hope of a build at home job?

    Never tried a full bike build before (computer building is my thing :lol: ) but I think I have all the tools that I will need unless there are specialised tools required?

    Being new to this road bike thing....I am a bit in the dark about what parts you can mix and match. Can I mix and match most shimano parts? such as some sora bits...some tiagra bits and maybe a 105 cassette if I can get one cheap?
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Just had a look at Ribble's website. Go to the limited edition bikes; there's a 9speed Tiagra based audax / winter trainer for £409
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    heres my bike on a tight budget go.
    Using 9 speed mechs on a 10 speed is contoversial but perfectly acceptable.10 speed cassette is narrower than a 9 speed so the 9 speed mechs will throw perfectly adequately. It should reduce costs a bit.
    The biggest expense is the 105 STi at £101.96 if you went 9 speed you should be able to get some Sora or 105 for a saving of £30.00 or more
    Saddle is very important and not somewhere to cut costs ideally
    Ribble Winter frame: £110.46
    Headset: incl
    Carbon Forks ITM : incl
    Wheels: R500 £50.96
    H Bars Deda: £11.86
    Stem ITM £11.01
    Seatpost: ITM £10.16
    Saddle Madison G10 £7.61
    Pedals M520 SPD £16.96
    Chainset R600 Compact £45.00
    Chain Shimano 10 spd 105 £9.65
    Rear mech Tiagra 9 spd £11.01
    Fr mech 105 9 speed £8.46
    STI levers 105 10 spd £101.96
    Tyres folding MichLithium £18.96
    Tubes £3.00
    BBracket 105 octalink ll £13.00

    Total £430.06
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    keef66 wrote:
    Just had a look at Ribble's website. Go to the limited edition bikes; there's a 9speed Tiagra based audax / winter trainer for £409

    brilliant find :wink: missed that .

    For £30 more you could have 10speed if you don't mind mixing the components and building yourself
    keef66 wrote:
    Ribble's £400 winter trainer had a mix of 2006 and 2007 Campag 9 sp groupset IIRC. Was a bargain, but it's now disappeared. Don't think you'll get a new bike with 105 groupset for £400 unless you're planning to ram-raid the shop.

    I can borrow the Wife's LWB Pajero if you've got a hook and cable :wink::lol:
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    keef66 wrote:
    Just had a look at Ribble's website. Go to the limited edition bikes; there's a 9speed Tiagra based audax / winter trainer for £409

    Keef66....saw that one last night but wasn't sure what I was getting.....don't think it is written for newbies...left it to go and research..
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    fuzzynavel wrote:
    [
    Are there different ways to build the bike on the ribble site? I am looking at the bike builder section. Are you compiling the parts separately in the hope of a build at home job?

    Never tried a full bike build before (computer building is my thing :lol: ) but I think I have all the tools that I will need unless there are specialised tools required?

    Being new to this road bike thing....I am a bit in the dark about what parts you can mix and match. Can I mix and match most shimano parts? such as some sora bits...some tiagra bits and maybe a 105 cassette if I can get one cheap?

    Yes you can mix and match a lot ,...more than people realise. You can even mix Campag and Shimano drive train if you know what you are doing but you would only do this to utilise existing components really.



    One of the best bargains around at the moment for groupsets is the 9 speed Sora at £150 or less thats for everything and is a real bargain.
    Building a complete bike for the first time is a challenge with many pitfalls but very rewarding. Lots of advice on here from some very experienced and knowledgable builders though
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    peanut wrote:
    heres my bike on a tight budget go.
    Using 9 speed mechs on a 10 speed is contoversial but perfectly acceptable.10 speed cassette is narrower than a 9 speed so the 9 speed mechs will throw perfectly adequately. It should reduce costs a bit.
    The biggest expense is the 105 STi at £101.96 if you went 9 speed you should be able to get some Sora or 105 for a saving of £30.00 or more
    Saddle is very important and not somewhere to cut costs ideally
    Ribble Winter frame: £110.46
    Headset: incl
    Carbon Forks ITM : incl
    Wheels: R500 £50.96
    H Bars Deda: £11.86
    Stem ITM £11.01
    Seatpost: ITM £10.16
    Saddle Madison G10 £7.61
    Pedals M520 SPD £16.96
    Chainset R600 Compact £45.00
    Chain Shimano 10 spd 105 £9.65
    Rear mech Tiagra 9 spd £11.01
    Fr mech 105 9 speed £8.46
    STI levers 105 10 spd £101.96
    Tyres folding MichLithium £18.96
    Tubes £3.00
    BBracket 105 octalink ll £13.00

    Total £430.06

    Nice list...thanks for all your help.....with that list all I will need is cabling, spd shoes and some grease!
    I presume with the gear shift thing we can use the 9 speed rear mech with indexed 10 speed shifters due to the longer throw of the 9 speed mech. Would I need to use a narrower chain with the 10spd cassette? will this be compatible with the 9 spd mech?
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    peanut wrote:
    fuzzynavel wrote:
    [
    Are there different ways to build the bike on the ribble site? I am looking at the bike builder section. Are you compiling the parts separately in the hope of a build at home job?

    Never tried a full bike build before (computer building is my thing :lol: ) but I think I have all the tools that I will need unless there are specialised tools required?

    Being new to this road bike thing....I am a bit in the dark about what parts you can mix and match. Can I mix and match most shimano parts? such as some sora bits...some tiagra bits and maybe a 105 cassette if I can get one cheap?

    Yes you can mix and match a lot ,...more than people realise. You can even mix Campag and Shimano drive train if you know what you are doing but you would only do this to utilise existing components really.



    One of the best bargains around at the moment for groupsets is the 9 speed Sora at £150 or less thats for everything and is a real bargain.
    Building a complete bike for the first time is a challenge with many pitfalls but very rewarding. Lots of advice on here from some very experienced and knowledgable builders though

    We have been talking a lot about the 105 groupset but I have just realised that I don't know why I want/need it! :?

    As I mentioned before I am using an old MTB with Acera X gears so even the lowly Sora will be a vast improvement. It would be nice to future proof a little but my budget is small and I shouldn't force myself to overspend on a luxury. A 9 spd sora setup with front triple should provide more than enough gearing for even the hardest climbs.
    Before my arthritis I was running a lot and was down past 85kg which is where I am aiming to get to again.....losing 25kg should improve my riding/ hill climbing no end
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    fuzzynavel wrote:
    [

    Nice list...thanks for all your help.....with that list all I will need is cabling, spd shoes and some grease!
    I presume with the gear shift thing we can use the 9 speed rear mech with indexed 10 speed shifters due to the longer throw of the 9 speed mech. Would I need to use a narrower chain with the 10spd cassette? will this be compatible with the 9 spd mech?

    you should get the brake and gear cables incl with the STI levers.
    Yes any 9 speed front or rear mech will work fine with 10 speed levers. Obviosly you will need to watch the length of your fr mech cage . ie 12t-25t short cage.
    12t-27t and above needs med to long cage.
    Yes you will need the 10 speed chain. 9 speed may work but there is no huge price advantage .I would advise getting the cheaper cassettes. Within 3 weeks it will be so dirty no one is going to know if you are running a Tiagra or top of the range Dura Ace.

    Make sure either the cassette or the wheels come with a lock ring .If you use a 11t up cassette it will require a special 11tooth lockring.

    You'll need a special spanner for either a octalink or a hollowtech bottom bracket. You can get them for £7.50 or so.
    Post your final choice and we can just check to see if there are any possible problems
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    fuzzynavel wrote:
    [
    We have been talking a lot about the 105 groupset but I have just realised that I don't know why I want/need it! :?

    As I mentioned before I am using an old MTB with Acera X gears so even the lowly Sora will be a vast improvement.

    perfect. Why not settle on the 9 speed Sora.
    Its an excellent STi lever . I prefer it personally to the later 10 speed levers.
    If you look on ebay the Sora 9 speed groupsets were going for less than £150.00
    Instead of a triple setup why not consider a compact double? tou can get exactly the same low gear and pretty much the same highest gear .
    Compacts are easier to set up and keep in trim and imo easier to use unless you are used to a MTB

    If you put Sora into the Ribble search engine the prices are unbelievably cheap. You should be able to shave nearly £100 of my previous price list
  • peanut
    peanut Posts: 1,373
    heres a suggested build for around £420 which with a bit of tweaking you could def get under £400
    Its based on the Ribble Winter Trainer frameset with 9 speed Sora groupset

    Ribble Winter trainer with Sora groupset
    Ribble Winter frame: £110.46
    Headset: incl
    Carbon Forks ITM : incl
    Wheels: R500 £50.96
    H Bars Pro LT: £15.26
    Stem ITM Lite 4 £14.41
    Seatpost: ITM forged Lite £11.01
    Saddle San Marco Rolls £22.91
    Pedals M520 SPD £16.96
    Chainset Sora 9 spd Db £21.91 add £1.00 for triple
    Chain KMC 10 spd £11.69
    Rear mech Sora 9 spd £11.00
    Fr mech Sora 9 spd £10.16
    STI levers Sora 9 spd £56.00 incl cables
    Tyres folding Conti 3000 £30.52
    Tubes £4.00
    BBracket Sora octalink £9.31
    9 speed cassette 12-27 £11.00
    Brake calipers Sora £12.71

    Total £420.27
  • Wow, loads of replys since yesterday.

    Giant seem pretty reliable, i've had mine just over a year and done about 1500 miles, as i said road use is only part time. to be honest im a lightweight 72kgs, and have not had any failure at all. Maintenance? fix it if it breaks or wears out (think my chain/cassette need renewing) My giant arrived in two day but with flats and clips. You may want to go clipless (i have SPD SL's)

    At £375 its a bargin but of course you can get better if you spend more. but beware of getting bitten by the specification bug, most of the more expensive bits don't work much better than the mid range bits but they are lighter, so you may double the price to save a handful of grams. unless you are a real flyer you may not feel the benefit. To me the SCR3 seems really lightcompared to my MTB.

    Whatever you go for be it a SCR3 or one of the others above it will feel like a rocket compared to the old one you are currently on.

    As for bits niether Shimano or SRAM make "Rubbish" but i do prefer SRAM chains.
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    keith0066 wrote:
    Wow, loads of replys since yesterday.

    Giant seem pretty reliable, i've had mine just over a year and done about 1500 miles, as i said road use is only part time. to be honest im a lightweight 72kgs, and have not had any failure at all. Maintenance? fix it if it breaks or wears out (think my chain/cassette need renewing) My giant arrived in two day but with flats and clips. You may want to go clipless (i have SPD SL's)

    At £375 its a bargin but of course you can get better if you spend more. but beware of getting bitten by the specification bug, most of the more expensive bits don't work much better than the mid range bits but they are lighter, so you may double the price to save a handful of grams. unless you are a real flyer you may not feel the benefit. To me the SCR3 seems really lightcompared to my MTB.

    Whatever you go for be it a SCR3 or one of the others above it will feel like a rocket compared to the old one you are currently on.

    As for bits niether Shimano or SRAM make "Rubbish" but i do prefer SRAM chains.


    I am liking the idea of not having to build the bike myself due to lack of experience, but I guess we all need to start somewhere.
    As you may have read earlier....saving a few hundred grams will make no difference to me at my current weight of 110kg
    In regard to usage I am doing 16 miles every 2nd night after work and will be starting to do a 60+ mile ride at the weekend as I have done a couple of 60 mile rides and enjoyed them apart from the sore bum afterwards!....this puts me up over 3000 miles if I manage to carry it through...I am guessing that my rides may become less frequent during November-January
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
  • To be honest as this is your first proper road bike i would (did) buy something not to expensive but reasonable, and you can't go to far wrong with Giant quality (or Specialised, Scott Etc, etc) its abit like buying a mondeo, good at its job and your not really paying for a premium "name" Once you have done 3k you "will" know what you like and don't like and can either upgarde as you need to or change and its only a £375 bike, which to be honest is at the bottom of the (real) road bike price range.

    I almost has a Trek1000 (Lance's influence?) but now i've had it a while i like the compact road frame as it fells a bit less "big" but as i said i'm not an out and out roadie, although i would like a Pinarello or Cervelo but thats only because they look so good.

    Anyway out on the MTB in the AM, less trucks !!
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    keith0066 wrote:
    To be honest as this is your first proper road bike i would (did) buy something not to expensive but reasonable, and you can't go to far wrong with Giant quality (or Specialised, Scott Etc, etc) its abit like buying a mondeo, good at its job and your not really paying for a premium "name" Once you have done 3k you "will" know what you like and don't like and can either upgarde as you need to or change and its only a £375 bike, which to be honest is at the bottom of the (real) road bike price range.

    I almost has a Trek1000 (Lance's influence?) but now i've had it a while i like the compact road frame as it fells a bit less "big" but as i said i'm not an out and out roadie, although i would like a Pinarello or Cervelo but thats only because they look so good.

    Anyway out on the MTB in the AM, less trucks !!

    Hello Keith0066, I have no illusions that £400 will get me the best quality road bike possible but if will be a totally new experience and I will be happy as I only have my aging MTB to compare it to.
    I think the next thing I have to do is go to a shop and play around with Sora versus Tiagra shifters and get to know the differences between different parts from SRAM, Campagnola and Shimano. Luckily I spotted a bike shop about 100 yards away from where I am on holiday in London so will go there this morning for a look.
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!
  • Funnily enough i prefer the cheaper Sora shifters rather than the more expensive Tiagra, i like the fact that you can move into a higher gear with just the click of the tiny lever with your thumb on the body of the brake housing rather than the secondary black lever located behind the brake lever. But i'm sure you could get used to either and its really personnal preferance

    I suppose the drawback to Sora is (well the sora on the 2007.5 SCR3) is that its only 8 speed, (the new Sora is 9). but if you have 8 and a triple its plenty. In fact i don't really need a triple. But for general use i wouldn't go 10 or 11 speed as the chains get thinner and thinner and in sure they can't be a durable, but i have no evidence for that, it just seems logical.
  • fuzzynavel
    fuzzynavel Posts: 718
    keith0066 wrote:
    Funnily enough i prefer the cheaper Sora shifters rather than the more expensive Tiagra, i like the fact that you can move into a higher gear with just the click of the tiny lever with your thumb on the body of the brake housing rather than the secondary black lever located behind the brake lever. But i'm sure you could get used to either and its really personnal preferance

    I suppose the drawback to Sora is (well the sora on the 2007.5 SCR3) is that its only 8 speed, (the new Sora is 9). but if you have 8 and a triple its plenty. In fact i don't really need a triple. But for general use i wouldn't go 10 or 11 speed as the chains get thinner and thinner and in sure they can't be a durable, but i have no evidence for that, it just seems logical.

    I went to the bike shop that I mentioned in my last post and they only had the Trek 1.2. I had a sit on it and it seemed comfortable enough. It was £500 though! I might need to extend my budget slightly....the Giant SCR 3 2008 has caught my eye now! Edinburgh bike coop have it for £465....at least once I have driven home to Edinburgh (from London) today I may be able to go and see it tomorrow or one evening this week while I am out on my mtb. It seems to come with standard pedals but I can upgrade them later once I have some more spare cash. I'll also have to clear the gunk of my chain of my mtb so that I can see what gear ratios I have to compare with the road bike!
    17 Stone down to 12.5 now raring to get back on the bike!