New bike advice

DonDaddyD

Hi,

It sounds like you have the heart and soul of a Silly Commuter Racer Don't let the name fool you it is a very good thing!

ChrisLS - the father of SCR wrote:

...the last mile and a half of my 10 mile commute is steep down and then steep up. By this stage of my ride I am easing off to cool down so that I don't arrive at work too sweaty...and then some local lad will come flashing past me on the down and I think, "okay matey boy I'll get you on the up," which I do(have been beaten a couple of times, but not often) and so by the time I have given it my all on the up I am a sweating chest heaving mess...and that's how I arrive at work...tomorrow I will hold back...and arrive cool and calm

...it's not a race I'm just riding to work...

Your dilemma:

The Trek Soho is a damn fast bike that can hold its 'weight' with lower spec road bikes. There isn't much difference between a Soho and a Giant FCR. The Soho is either a single speed hybrid or a geared hybrid. The FCR is a flat bar road bike. Both amount to the same thing and are about as fast as each other.

Things that can make you go faster: Clipless pedals and shoes. proper bike shoes that clip into the pedal. Do you have these? Weight, what are you carrying on the bike.

Ultimately, yes a race bike will potentially go faster for longer. The drop handle bars will also give you more options to position your hands and back making it more comfortable going faster for longer. So if speed is your poison yes get a race bike!

Having come from a hybrid Giant M2 (which was a stipped down Mountain Bike frame with slick tyres and rigid fork) properly fitted there is nothing like a drop handle bar road bike, if you want to go faster on the open road.

DonDaddyD

Suggestions:

Looking at the bikes you've suggested it seems that you are looking around the £600 - £800 price mark.

You want to go with cyclescheme and knowing from experience that they don't work with online retailers you can't buy from wiggle. You also can't use cyclescheme with major retailers like Halfords or Wiggle.

I like the look of the Tricross but am a purest (for no other reason other than that's how I'm made) so I'd suggest a road bike proper not cyclocross. Also I think Trek are a little overpriced compared to other brands.

That said I'd recommend:

http://shop.devercycles.co.uk/product/4 ... Elite_2009

http://shop.devercycles.co.uk/product/4 ... Sport_2009

(I ride a Giant SCR3 and love it to bits, but probably wouldn't want to buy another Giant.)


If you let us know some specifics like how long your commute is (does it have hills), will you be using the bike just for commuting, how tall you are and how much you want to spend? We may be able to narrow our recommendations.

Also letting us know what area you live in (I live in South London) we may be able to recommend a decent bike shop - like DeVer or Cycopolis.

As for the three bikes, judging by the Bike Radar review, I'd probably consider the Merida - but I'd have to learn more about the brand.

Rich158

I won't give you advice on whether to go for a road bike or not, it's a matter os personal choice really, although if you're planning on longer rides and racing then I think you've effectively made up your mind on a racer.

I have a Trek 1.5, and it's been a very good bike, it does however benefit from some upgrades. The wheels are good if a little heavy, but the hub bearings are very poorly sealed and need constant attention when it's wet. I upgraded mine after a month. The crankset is very basic on a square taper bottom bracket, I could feel mine flexing when I put the power down, and upgraded the cranks after two weeks. I've also upgraded the brake calipers to Ultegra's which have made a huge difference it's stopping power. I've also upgraded the bars, stem, saddle, and both mechs, although these were a matter of personal choice and not a necesity.

In spite of all the above I believe the frane to be very good, and if you can stretch to the 1.7 with the shimano 105 groupset I would think all the upgrades would be unnecesary. In fact I'd try to stretch to any bike with a 105 groupset as it's performance is excellent at the price point.

DonDaddyD

Rich158 wrote:

I have a Trek 1.5, and it's been a very good bike, it does however benefit from some upgrades. The wheels are good if a little heavy, but the hub bearings are very poorly sealed and need constant attention when it's wet. I upgraded mine after a month. The crankset is very basic on a square taper bottom bracket, I could feel mine flexing when I put the power down, and upgraded the cranks after two weeks. I've also upgraded the brake calipers to Ultegra's which have made a huge difference it's stopping power. I've also upgraded the bars, stem, saddle, and both mechs, although these were a matter of personal choice and not a necesity.

Sounds like you rebuilt your bike.... :shock:

In fact I'd try to stretch to any bike with a 105 groupset as it's performance is excellent at the price point.

I agree with aiming for the 105 groupset. Seems the gorupset of choice if you want a bike that is both sensible for commuting and racing/sportive rides.

Rich158

I did, my LBS have a big tin of glee ready to rub their hands in whenever I appear

DonDaddyD

Too be honest your just shy off the £999 price point. If you could stretch to that and if you weren't going with cyclescheme then I'd say get either the Focus Varido Expert, Focus Cayo 105 (carbon fibre bike) or the Kiron Scandium.

As those are hugely impressive value for money on paper IMO. (I've ridden against the Varrido Expert 2008 - lovely looking thing).

Bike's to recommend:

Specialized Allez (Sport or Elite)
Bianchi Via Nirone (105 or Veloce)
Giant Defy - though haven't read a review yet (the SCR was a solid bike though

Not a fan of Trek - seem expensive. As does Scott. Also consider Cannondale Synapse. and possibly the Felt Zrange. That's all at the moment. Any of those provide a comparable amount of qualityto each other (almost as though they all come out of the same factory... :shock: )

Rich158

Stanley222 wrote:

So what you're saying then is the Trek 1.5 is a good bike as long as you upgrade it as you go to at least 1.7 spec!!?!!

Doesn't that make it cheaper just to buy the 1.7?!!!!!

Any other bikes any of you can recommend please?!

Yes it does, what I was trying to say was, don't make the same mistake I did :roll:

The canondale six are very good bikes, a colleague has one and he has nothing but praise for it. It's slightly over the £1k mark though, but well worth the investment.

alfablue

Tiagra or 105 shifters are def worth getting over Sora. 105 would be ideal for the uses you plan. If you upgrade the parts later 105 isn't a lot more than Tiagra (indeed CRC have sold 105 shifters for less than Tiagra). However, it is usually a bad idea to buy a lower spec bike with the view of upgrading, as the kit is so much cheaper when bought in a complete bike than if you buy the components on their own. Of course you can just upgrade as things wear out, but this will just be chains and cassettes until you hit high mileage. Shifters could last 10 years (I have some 12 year old STI's, although 7 speed I can never justify the cost of upgrading when they all work fine) unless they get dropped or you are unlucky.

Does the 1.7 have better wheels or is the difference simply 105 parts? If the latter that does seem to be a disproportionate price difference.

alfablue

Stanley222 wrote:

alfablue wrote:

Does the 1.7 have better wheels or is the difference simply 105 parts? If the latter that does seem to be a disproportionate price difference.

Just looked it up - everything is identical apart from the 105 parts!
i too would only upgrade if there was a problem with something - not for the sake of it!

Well in that case, you could possibly buy the 1.5 and get some 105 shifters for £99 (CRC have them due in stock on 31/1) and probably ebay the Sora shifters for £60ish. I don't think the rest of the components are that important a downgrade (probably imperceptible differences). Alternatively, if its a good LBS and you negotiate, they may fit 105 shifters for you for £60-£70 before you take it out of the shop (I have had a similar deal with my LBS upgrading cheap disc brakes to Hope hydraulics for well below the cost price).

tailwindhome

DonDaddyD wrote:

I like the look of the Tricross but am a purest (for no other reason other than that's how I'm made) so I'd suggest a road bike proper not cyclocross.

Was in an LBS in Belfast during the week, drooling over the Specialized range and was suprised at how light the Tricross looked, I had never seen one before and was expecting something more MountainBikey. On the road would there be much of a difference between the Tricross and an Allez in terms of speed and efficency :?:

This thread http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12601194 was quite interesting in discussing the merits of Tiagra,105 etc and the conclusion seems to be that Tiagra is a good base standard, go to 105 if you can afford it.

What I have been struggling to understand is how the Allez sport

http://shop.devercycles.co.uk/product/4 ... Sport_2009

can be £250 more expensive than the Boardman

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 65710#dtab

Am I missing something or is it all just marketing :?:

DonDaddyD

@ WheezyMCChubby

The Boardman is a 2008 bike and likely to be discontinued in that mold. Halfords are selling it off cheap.

Most 2009 bikes are arguably £100+ more expensive and many offer less spec for more money than their 2008 counterparts. Giant, Trek, Bianchi, Focus, Specialized (and others|) all increased their prices in 2009.

@OP. Don't be put off by the sizing (specifically those listed as small, medium and large) they work in the same principle as those listed by cm. They are just listed as such to make it easier for the customer. Giant's if measured properly fit fine.

Also, I have a Giant SCR3 with a Tiagra rear mech, Sora shifters and front mech. I think the bike is fine. It can consume large miles and a large part of how good a bike is depends on the person sitting on it; Bassjunkie is proof of this as he has the same bike as me but a year older and as for speed, he chased down Biondino on a Focus Cayo Expert - Carbonfibre, Dura Ace £1500 - at London Freewheel with little complaint). But if your heart is set on getting 105 parts, then get 105 parts your not losing anything and going for a lower spec may leave you subconsciously unsatisfied.

tailwindhome

DonDaddyD wrote:

@ WheezyMCChubby

The Boardman is a 2008 bike and likely to be discontinued in that mold. Halfords are selling it off cheap.

Most 2009 bikes are arguably £100+ more expensive and many offer less spec for more money than their 2008 counterparts. Giant, Trek, Bianchi, Focus, Specialized (and others|) all increased their prices in 2009.

Fair comment.

It does seem that there are real bargains in 2008 bikes to be had if you have the means to take advantage.

The Beone range from CRC looks real value for money - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Cate ... goryID=862

The Storm 1.0 with 105 groupset as bought and built by girv73 seems especially good VFM at £499 though sizes are starting to sell out.

I do think its a bit odd the Bike Radar haven't reviewed the range, esp given the promience of CRC advertising on the site.

DonDaddyD

WheezyMcChubby wrote:

It does seem that there are real bargains in 2008 bikes to be had if you have the means to take advantage.

Personally think 2008 was a great year to buy a bike. I got my bike for £350 the 2009 equivalent is about £500.

The Beone range from CRC looks real value for money - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Cate ... goryID=862

The Storm 1.0 with 105 groupset as bought and built by girv73 seems especially good VFM at £499 though sizes are starting to sell out.

I do think its a bit odd the Bike Radar haven't reviewed the range, esp given the promience of CRC advertising on the site.

Yes, yes and yes. +1

pintoo

I was attracted to the tricross, too, but was hugely underwhelmed when I test rode it. I found it ponderously slow.