That same old question - first 'real' road bike to choose
CharlieSp
Posts: 2
Hi Guys,
I scanned through the FAQ's and the forums but havent found anyone that's trying to compare exactly the bikes I'm looking at.
I use my current bike (getting old and unreliable) for commuting come rain or shine (7 miles each way) and a weekly longer hillier ride of between 20 and 40 miles, though hopefully this will keep increasing! Looking for a bike that can handle it all and will leave me change from 800 pounds or there abouts.
So far looking at the Specialized Allez Sport, the Trek 1.5/1.7, Cube Peloton and the Giant 2. They all seem simmilarly specced and even the geometry is fairly simmilar (apart from the cube). I'd say fast is more important to me than comfort, I have a need for speed!
I know the advice is to get to a shop and try and ride them, but the only bikeshops near me stock Giants or the ultra expensive Williers.
Any advice would be appreciated, as well as if I've missed some obvious choices!
I scanned through the FAQ's and the forums but havent found anyone that's trying to compare exactly the bikes I'm looking at.
I use my current bike (getting old and unreliable) for commuting come rain or shine (7 miles each way) and a weekly longer hillier ride of between 20 and 40 miles, though hopefully this will keep increasing! Looking for a bike that can handle it all and will leave me change from 800 pounds or there abouts.
So far looking at the Specialized Allez Sport, the Trek 1.5/1.7, Cube Peloton and the Giant 2. They all seem simmilarly specced and even the geometry is fairly simmilar (apart from the cube). I'd say fast is more important to me than comfort, I have a need for speed!
I know the advice is to get to a shop and try and ride them, but the only bikeshops near me stock Giants or the ultra expensive Williers.
Any advice would be appreciated, as well as if I've missed some obvious choices!
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Comments
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I can only really offer advice regarding the Trek 1.5 which I have - bought last August. Absolutely no problems with it, lovely bike, really was exactly what I wanted.
i think you are right when you suggest there is not a great deal between them all at this price point. I went for the Trek as the LBS stocked them, and I'm glad I did.. their help, advice and servicing have been fab!
If you can really only get Giant near you try them out and if it feels good go for it. However, I doubt they are the only bikes stocked locally.0 -
I d go for the spesh out of those.0
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The 1.7 has noticeably higher spec than the others as it has Shimano 105 components. So I'd go for that.
Otherwise, all seem a safe bet, so get the best looking, or the one your LBS will give a free first service for.
The Cube is a little bit different, and there's not many about.
Giant / Spesh / Trek - you can't go far wrong. The Spesh has a solid pedigree.
I ride a Giant.0 -
As above but I'd also look at Focus bikes on Wiggle, Planet X bikes (the SL I think is there alu. racer) & Ribble Cycles (especially the Winter trainers). All these are 'buy direct' and are killer value. They all make bikes which ride well too, but to be honest nobody has mentioned a 'bad choice' yet.
I had a trek 1000 for ages which did really well and i'm now on a Carbon Ribble which I got for a grand and is absolutely brilliant.'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.0 -
Spesh, Giant, Trek
= (in no particular order) Ford, Vauxhall, Renault, Peugeot
There really isn't a lot between them.
None will be a bad bike, all will get you around reliably.
None is, say, a 1980's Lada, but equally none is a Ferrari.
All have a load of Shimano bits screwed-onto a very capable Taiwanese-built frame.
Very capable, very competent, better than all but the most expensive bikes from 15 or 20 years ago.
The logical choice is the one which has the best dealer, who will give you the best follow-up service, but in practice pick whichever one you prefer the look of, or more buy-into the image of the company.0
