If you could have......

schilbach
schilbach Posts: 101
edited November 2008 in Workshop
Lucky and I'm stuck...two grand and a bit to spend....these are my favourites:


Felt AR4 2009

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Felt_ ... 360038958/

or:

Focus Izalco Team 2008

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus ... 360032362/

The Focus has it on weight and SRAM, but my god does that Felt look good?

Which one would you choose?

I currently ride a 2008 focus cayo and ride 50-80m at the weekend, and a couple of sprints during the weekend

what would Jesus do?

Comments

  • schilbach
    schilbach Posts: 101
    Bump...
  • Al_38
    Al_38 Posts: 277
    Custom build...

    I was in your position a few months ago, I decided to build my own as I could spec it as I wanted. Anyway I bought a CF frame from a company 2nd hand (had been used for 2 months by the co-founder) built it with a pair of Reynolds MV32T wheels (2nd hand), full 08 campag record, deda carbon finishing kit, pretty much as nicely specced as you can go. Total Cost: ~ £2250 or so (just posted a pic in the "check out my ride" thread). Sure you could pick up a very exciting frame on ebay / with money off if it was an 08 model and do a similar thing.

    The focus would get my vote over the felt though... considerably better spec which I think would make a much more noticeable difference to the ride experience than the aero tubing on the felt (flash though it may be). Also presumably you know what size of focus you would want to get too.

    Al
  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    Don't think Jesus rode a bike.

    There's only one Focus in stock so okay if your size - the Felt's not in until Feb, so you;ve got plenty of time to decide.

    I always buy frame and parts separartely to get exactly what I want - regardless of what people tell me, it is cheaper as I don't have to swap stem, bars, saddle, wheels, tyres etc to my preferred choice.
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • Chip \'oyler
    Chip \'oyler Posts: 2,323
    Jesus would buy a motorbike. Probably an MV Agusta.
    Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/

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  • System_1
    System_1 Posts: 513
    I'd have the Felt. The frame looks a bit more special than the focus, and remember, a frame is the heart of any bike. I would never choose between two bikes based on which comes with the better groupset, go for the good frame. Parts are easy to upgrade bit by bit quite cheaply over time, not that there's any need to upgrade Ultegra SL.
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    i'd self build - without a doubt.

    Neither of those are particularly an upgrade over your current focus to be honest - you could get some 5 or 600 quid wheels and upgrade the focus for as good a bike.

    Self build - you could put a cracking bike together for that - my choice would be:

    Cervelo RS frameset - on offer at £1300 at a few places now
    campag centaur carbon groupset - £450ish
    campag wheels - either Eurus @ £450 or Neutron ultra @ £425
    leaves £300 for bars / stem / saddle / tyres
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    gkerr4 wrote:
    i'd self build - without a doubt.

    Neither of those are particularly an upgrade over your current focus to be honest - you could get some 5 or 600 quid wheels and upgrade the focus for as good a bike.

    Self build - you could put a cracking bike together for that - my choice would be:

    Cervelo RS frameset - on offer at £1300 at a few places now
    campag centaur carbon groupset - £450ish
    campag wheels - either Eurus @ £450 or Neutron ultra @ £425
    leaves £300 for bars / stem / saddle / tyres

    Yeah I would do that too. I can't see any Focus being as nice as the RS.
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    Altho' I know little about race bikes, WHATEVER category bike then like some others at that money I'd want to choose my "own" spec and thus self-/custom-build.
    The horror of spending over 2 grand and seeing ANOTHER identical bike just too awful to contemplate!
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • James_London
    James_London Posts: 530
    Of the two, the Focus is infinitely better spec'd (SRAM Red and Fulcrum Racing 1s) and their frames get good reviews (okay, you're not paying for the brand building Felt has put in but Focus are sponsoring Milram in 2009).

    If you're willing to go outside the shortlist, I'd definitely agree on the self-build suggestion. There are plenty of excellent frames that will be on sale in your price range.
  • schilbach
    schilbach Posts: 101
    Many Thanks for all the replies - Hadn't even thought of the self build route!! Will give it a thought and spec up some possibles...

    That Felt frame though!!

    I think that one Focus left at wiggle might go before I make my decision!!!
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Self build without a doubt - I won't do it any other way.

    If you've never built a bike before........ there's always got to be a first time.
    I like bikes...

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  • Rich-Ti
    Rich-Ti Posts: 1,831
    I could never buy 'off the peg' again - I end up changing so much of the bike to stuff I want it just doesn't make sense.

    Get the stuff you want from the start - it's the future! 8)
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