Please help a Newbie - Advice on a buying a new £1500 Bike!

mr.g

Hi there.

I'm a newbie to road riding and am a mountain bike veteran (10 years ago). I haven't riden a bike since then. I'm asthmatic and wish to improve my fitness & so thought that a bike would be the best way forward.

I'm looking to return the Scott CR1 Team that i purchased over the weekend and replace it with something a little more exotic. I am a brand snob (for want of a better word) and while the Scott is a great bike, it just doesn't do it for me at all. Bit of a hasty purchase.

The shop where i purchased it are "extremely" forgiving in my circumstances and i have received nothing but outstanding service from them from start to finish. I have a second appointment to re-view the bikes and choose anything.

Can anyone give me advice on what type of bike to buy?

Are Cinelli, Viner, Wilier a good brand of bike? I like the Cinelli Willin but am not sure its the right bike for me!

I really appreciate your advice and time. I've been so worried since i bought the bike, that the news of being given a second chance to change it is such a relief!

Many thanks

G

kingrollo

My advice - from a fellow brand snob - wait ......till september - probably save about £400 on a top branded bike.

Iam looking at Kuota, Wilier, Orbea - and will buy which ever one I can get for the best price

Just re read your post - sorry seems you can't wait - I would go for the wilier Izoard - well rated in reviews - looks the business and reasonably priced. Don't be ashamed of being a brand snob either - I brought my pinarello 8 years ago - mainly because it said pinarello on the side - and the flash paint job - but 8 years on its still turning heads - and its only now that I see bikes I would trade it for.

mr.g

Why September? I wanted to get at it straight away with the fitness. My health is not very good at the best of times and just a short ride has made me feel much better.

Orbea are plain if you go with something like the Onix. it's just white and black and looks nothing like the more exotics like Bianchi and Cinelli etc.

I looked at an onix and though it looked halfords.

I like the Scott CR1 but it's doing nothing for me in terms of shouting "ride me" from the rear of the garage! I have a choice of a good few bikes and need advice fast. I'm going to be going back to the shop with the Scott very soon.

G

cougie

Its only money then - so buy the bike that you think suits you best.

At that money all bikes will be pretty good and I really doubt you'd notice performance differences.

What kind of riding do you want ? If I were you I'd go for a nice comfy carbon frame, and not the ultra stiff carbon race frames.

kingrollo

mr.g wrote:

Why September? I wanted to get at it straight away with the fitness. My health is not very good at the best of times and just a short ride has made me feel much better.

Orbea are plain if you go with something like the Onix. it's just white and black and looks nothing like the more exotics like Bianchi and Cinelli etc.

I looked at an onix and though it looked halfords.

I like the Scott CR1 but it's doing nothing for me in terms of shouting "ride me" from the rear of the garage! I have a choice of a good few bikes and need advice fast. I'm going to be going back to the shop with the Scott very soon.

G

In september they clear out this years stock - ready for next years models. I take your point - if you don't have a bike then this isn't an option. What about the wilier ?

Anonymous

What size bike do you need?

I got my Look from J E James for 1500 in Jan 08 (should have been 2k) and they have some even better deals now, including the same Look I have (with full Ultegra and one thing you don't get on many bikes, pedals!) and also ones higher up the range...

They also have an amazing 565 (very good frame indeed) with 07 Rival for 1500

Anonymous

Oh, by the way, Scott, as ridden by a certain Mr Cavendish, are supplying the bikes for Columbia this year who will probably end up winning the most races in the season, as they did last year.

mr.g

Hmmm to be honest with you i'd rather not go down the route of going elsewhere and asking for my money back from the shop in question. I haven't been treated like this in ages and truthfully hand on heart did not expect them to be saying the things they were on the phone. Normally when i've asked to change things for what really is no reason other than asthetics and brand snobbery.

I'm very grateful for them to show this level of understanding and as i said to them on the phone £1400 for a Bike is not pocket change to me.

I like the bike, it's nice and fast, stiff but it's doing nothing at all in terms of pleasing me, i'd rather have something that begs me to ride it. So Cinelli, Viner & Wilier. Could go for a Bianchi 928 C2C 105??

So we've these bikes to choose from and i'd need your advice on ALL of them if you would be so kind, i'll return the favour one day, promise!

1. Wilier Mortirolo - Campagnolo Centaur
2. Viner Magister - Centaur Carbon
3. Bianchi 928 C2C - Veloce Squadra
4 Cinelli Willin - Veloce

Those are about the only ones i think are any good on the site.

I'm beginning to loose hope of a perfect solution here!!

G

mr.g

Scott are an awesome brand but not quite that of the exotics. More blend in with halfords styles etc.

I'd keep the bike but think that i'm a snob so would suit something else. Chap at the shop said hes the same.

G

guinea

I ride a Wilier Mortirolo, albeit with a Chorus groupset and Shamal wheels.

It's a great bike. I bought it because of the fit and the test ride to be honest. I didn't know much about the brand. I'm very happy with the bike. It looks good and does everything I want it to.

However, if the Scott was a better fit, I'd have had no hesitiation in buying it.

If the bike shop are letting you try other bike then take them up on it but make sure you buy the most comfortable bike. It's your ass that's on the saddle all day so keep it comfortable.

mr.g

Yea. My ass is hurting just from the test ride and the short ride i went on after i'd bought it. That might be because i've not riden in 10 + years though.

The Bianchi is a nice bike i think. The 928 is supposed to be very very comfortable.

I just wanted to say thanks to you all for the advice so far.....keep it coming. The more that we discuss this the more sure on which bike to go for i become!

G

kingrollo

Thing is if you haven't ridden for 10 years - there is going to be some pain - whilst you get your position, flexibility and strength sorted.

Of those bikes the vinier looks like a nice bike - and comes with centaur groupset - which is higher than the others....but be true to yourself ....buy the one you like .....I would guess that none of those is a bad bike.

Anonymous

I'd keep it, Scott are an excellent quality high end brand.

However, if I was going to change to any of that lot it'd be the Viner, italian exotica (probably built in the same Taiwan factory as the others but hey, they are damn fine factories!), exclusivity, high quality, good group.

Regarding the pain, that would occur on any bike whatsoever after 10 years!

Anonymous

In fact, having had a look at it, what are you thinking about man? Get the Carbon Centaur Viner!!!!!!!!!!

I take it back about the factories, it appears they make their own frames across the range, not just the top models...

I want one now!

PostieJohn

mr.g wrote:

The Bianchi is a nice bike i think. The 928 is supposed to be very very comfortable.G

I love my 928, it's 2007, which luckily for me, I think has just the right about of geometry 'tweaking'.

Obviously I've not tried the latest model, but I doubt it's short-changed on the comfyness, as mine is a fabulously smooth ride.

mr.g

So maybe a tossup between a Bianchi, Viner and Wilier then dependant on what sizes they have i mean!

G

Anonymous

That's no tossup!









Buy the Viner - best looking, best groupset, best wheels, most exclusive!

Slow Downcp

Of the one's listed - the Viner.

alp777

You don't think this looks good?

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/images/orbea-onix-09bira-1000.jpg

markos1963

mr.g wrote:

Why September? I wanted to get at it straight away with the fitness. My health is not very good at the best of times and just a short ride has made me feel much better.

Orbea are plain if you go with something like the Onix. it's just white and black and looks nothing like the more exotics like Bianchi and Cinelli etc.

I looked at an onix and though it looked halfords.

I like the Scott CR1 but it's doing nothing for me in terms of shouting "ride me" from the rear of the garage! I have a choice of a good few bikes and need advice fast. I'm going to be going back to the shop with the Scott very soon.

G

:shock: You thought an Onix looked like a Halfords!

Whatever you think of the looks(beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all) the ride is fabulous and at least as good as any of your list.

Anonymous

All the bikes are good, get the one with the best group for the money and one you like the look of best.

Basically, the Viner

Gary D

mr.g,
Unless one of the posters has happened to have owned all of the bikes listed, then they are not going to be able to make a meaningful recommendation. They will be basing their opinions on what others have told them and what they read on forums :oops: :oops:
Before anyone jumps on me for this - I will admit to being guilty as well :shock:

The list you gave was very specific so I would say try them all out and see which appeals most.
As others have said though, if you haven't ridden a bike for a while then none of them are likely to feel comfrotable straight away

I happen to have a 928 C2C and think it is a great comfortable bike. However, I haven't owned another bike of similar spec so I can't really compare. I do know that when I was looking, I was told that the Scott and the Viner were a much stiffer frame and were more of a "race" bike. Not sure about the Cinelli, but I was also told that the Wilier was a "similar" ride to the Bianchi.

Is it Epic you are dealing with?

Hope this helps,
Gary.

mr.g

Hi all..

Firstly - Thanks for the replies.

secondly i see where you are all coming from and really you have much more experience than i do with road bikes and materials made to make them.

I'd rather not say who i got the bike from, but it's safe to say that even though i came away with the wrong bike i'm very happy with the service that i've been given so far. Will divuldge the the secret when i've got the bike i would like. I wasn't pushed into anything, but the person who was attending to me did own a scott and was slightly bias.

I guess it's down to brand snobbery as i've said already. My last bike was a scott - mountain bike full suspension FX-1 i think it was called. Cost me a small fortune back in the day around £1600 so it wasn't cheap.

I'm unimpressed with the way the scott looks, the entire range really. Having brought it home and riden it twice down to the shops, which is like at the end of the street, i'm not feeling the buzz.

It feels good don't get me wrong. But when i look at it and i'm on it, it doesn't scream "ride me" lol (excuse the weirdness of how that sounds). It should ask to be riden, each time i look at it. It has no exotic-ness about it, just rather a plain and boring paint scheme!

If i do something i do it whole heartedly, so i bought the kit to go with too....helmet (obviously), bib shorts, top, pedals, shoes etc. I just don't think that there's enough colour to it. I know you'll say ohhhhh shutup colour isn't everything, it is to some people, i know about the different rides between frame materials and think carbon is the way to go, but not the scott. It holds nothing for me.

However when i look at say the Cinelli, Viner and Willier bikes, i get a buzz. Something around the way the graphics are and the paint colours etc maybe the name also.

The only thing that puts me off the Bianchi is the weird downtube. Looks kinda odd.

I'm hoping that when i go back this week, i'll end up happier with my purchase. At the moment i feel let down and disappointed.

G

mr.g

Oh and the Orbea looked nice in the pictures there, but up close yes it looked halfords to me. The Orca on the other hand was stunning.

The older 928 Bianchi with a straight downtube would be ideal, i know i'd love that. Carbon, so pretty stiff, lovely lovely looks, lovely paint scheme and decals etc.

G

Anonymous

I know what you mean, don't worry, there are many many of us 'bike tarts' around,you are in good company...

mr.g

Good Good.....

I'm looking forward to getting fit and maybe meeting up with you guys for some LONG rides.

I just cant wait to get fit again and have a normal "breathing" chest again.

Firstly though i'm worried about frame sizes and if they don't have the right size in the bike i want it'll work out more expensive as the Euro is strong these days. That sucks.....

I'm swaying towards the Bianchi, Viner and Willier at the moment as i love all three. I might be dumbfounded though on the day as they might not have anything i would like.....in which case........


WHAT DO I DO!??????

Argggggghhhhhhh

G

mr.g

This is just truely lovely! I'd love to be riding that. reality is that i don't think they have my size in stock and i'm going to be hard pushed to find something i like there in the price range i've spent!





G

Anonymous

Nice...

mr.g

NapoleonD.....

Oh my god dude, just read your blog. That is nasty. What a horrific injury.

You ok? You must be in pain. I feel really bad now as my problems seem minute compared to yours. All i'm thinking about is being able to get a bike, and you must be dying to get back on one.

Sorry dude! Get well soon eh!

G

Anonymous

Heh heh, cheers G.

Think of your situation as a nice one where you can't really lose...

fuzzynavel

mr.g wrote:

NapoleonD.....

Oh my god dude, just read your blog. That is nasty. What a horrific injury.

You ok? You must be in pain. I feel really bad now as my problems seem minute compared to yours. All i'm thinking about is being able to get a bike, and you must be dying to get back on one.

Sorry dude! Get well soon eh!

G

Lol....I just had a look as I was curious....Ouch!! broken in 3 places.....Could probably have been quite a bit worse.

Mr g....why are you asking for people's opinions....ultimately the decision is yours and the ride is coming second to looks by the way I read your previous posts. I doubt any of us will have the same taste in bikes. What happens if the stunning bikes you are looking at just aren't comfortable? Will it still shout "ride me!" if you know it won't be fun? Why not just buy a cheaper bike and then use the difference to get some free stickers from cereal packets.....add some flashing spoke thingies and put a strip of tinsel around the handlebars instead of bar tape. Then go to a charity shop and get a little britain style granny dress and go out in drag. It's easy to get people to look at you without spending £1500 quid....
And yes I am jealous that I can't just spunk £1500 quid on a bike before anyone mentions it!