Is Carrera a dirty word?

SpinningJenny

I've just been reading the latest edition of Cycling + on the train this morning and they did a review of sub £400 road bikes. One of them was a Carrera Virtuoso, for £329.99. It sounds really good, for an entry level road beginner.

I know that Halfords get slated A LOT - but this bike sounds great for starters, not least because it has space for mudguards and racks. I've been humming and hah-ing about spending far more than that on a bike recently - but this might jsut fit the ticket.

What do you all think? Bearing in mind I'm NOT an elite/racer type - jsut someone getting into road=type cycling...

alfablue

I reckon this bike would be impossible to beat (for a new bike) at the price. Add to that, the competitors in the test were over-geared for a beginner. According to the test the geometry is better for a beginner too. It has great versatility (you could commute or tour on it), and when you are ready to upgrade to a more expensive bike you should get a reasonable price for it, or keep it for a winter/training/commuting bike. Halfords get a bad press (sometimes rightly) for sending the bikes out poorly built, but some branches are very good, others not so. I would not let this put me off, if you are worried some bike shops will check over bikes bought on the web (or from Halfords) for a modest fee (there is a shop near me that advertises this service for £15).

If money is in greater supply, then buy a mainstream brand from a good local bike shop, but you will be spending over £500 for something similar. What you will get is a more desirable sticker on it (though not necessarily a better bike) and perhaps more importantly, the service of a good LBS. If that is worth the extra £150-£200 to you then go down that route, otherwise I don't reckon you can beat it. Make sure it fits you though.

SpinningJenny

Thanks alfablue - yes it was quite surprising to see that the other bikes seemed to have this over-gearing issue! I am drawn to this one's versatility, I must say!

It appears as if this bike covers the things I need, for a reasonable price. Luckily for me, I have access to a couple of good LBS (and a chain) that provide great customer service and will do a check of the set up etc, for a modest fee, as you say.

Money is in greater supply (I am lucky) but the cautious person in me thinks it might be better to give this one some serious thought and a check out. Plus, as it isn't an expensive one, nor flashy, it's less likely to get pinched in the more light-fingered areas of my home town!!

alfablue

Yes, you could spend more, but I am not sure there would be great improvements until you spend over £700 ish, then after that point the bikes tend to lose the versatility (smaller tyre / mudguard clearances/no mudguard or rack mounts/racier geometry). To me it would make sense to start with this as a "do it all" bike then when you are ready, spend £1k or more on a significantly lighter/faster/better specced bike for best/sunny days if you get the "bug". By then you will be able to make a much better informed choice of what you want or don't want in a bike.

GavH

I started out last year on a used Carrera Virtuoso. I paid £156 for it off a local ebay seller and it was in pristine condition. First thing I did was change the steel fork for a CF/Alloy one which lightened the front end and added a bit of comfort on bumpy roads. I've added a CF seatpost and better saddle since as well as removed the square taper BB and replaced with HT2 and a Tiagra compact. Overall, this is a nice bike at the price, arguably a lot better than the price would 'suggest'. I was going to buy new wheels for it as this is probably its weak spot at present. However, rather than spend a £120-150 on new wheels, I spent ten times that on a Bianchi 928 which is better in terms of spec in almost every way and, as a result, IS faster (over 2 mins quicker over a 12.1 mile loop). Do I regret spending the extra on the Bianchi? Not one bit, it's gorgeous, but I do wonder what difference new wheels would have made to the Carrera. I dare say I'll find out when the shimano wheels on my Bianchi get replaced and end up on the Carrera which I'm using as the Turbo/commuter bike.

SpinningJenny

Thanks both.

GavH - I doubt I would notice any difference to start off with concerning the fork

Your Bianchi sounds great - and what a wonderful decision you made!

Decisions, decisions....

alfablue

I think the Bianchi is by all accounts a great bike, but I think Gav got it right - go cheap or go expensive (or both after a while on the cheap one) (I'm saying £1-1.2k is expensive). The middle ground will have you hankering for an upgrade as much as the Carrera would, so not money best spent IMHO.

stfc1

I've had a couple of Carreras in my time, including one that is my current commute/winter bike with mudguards etc. Good bikes for the money, and often with superior components to equivalent priced big name brands (Tiagra over Sora, etc).

I think of it as being a bit sluggish (compared to the summer bike) and I wouldn't race on it, but it handled all the club runs over winter and when mrs stfc1 borrowed it without having some £1k+ machine to compare it to she commented on how responsive it was.

Deadeye Duck

Hi all, I've been reading the forums for a few weeks as I've been needing a new bike, and I myself have been looking at the carrera, so I thought it was about time I actually registered and posted. The other two budget bikes I was looking at were the Trek 1.2 and the Giant Defy 4, which are both £100+ more. I take it I'd be better off with the virtuoso from halfords then?

Oh and If you don't mind me asking, what issue is that article in, just incase I pick up the wrong one? (May '09 I'm guessing?)

alfablue

My g/f has the Trek 1.2 and loves it, it does mudguards and racks so is as versatile as the Carrera, but the price was £550, on balance I don't think it is £220 worth more bike - no way, so the Carrera wins at that price IMHO.

My g/f did get the Trek with a triple chainset however, I don't know if the Carerra can be had with that spec though - if that is a consideration.

ademort

This aint bad for the money.
http://www.fietssportief.nl/nl/producte ... ra-2009/57
Ademort

redddraggon

There's nothing wrong with Carreras.

I had one of the old Red Virtuosos for commuting, unfortunately it was too big for me so I swapped for Willhubs too small Vanquish.

There's nothing wrong with the Virtuoso. I didn't get on much with the 2200 shifters (used to more Chorus-level equipment), but it did the job.

esd

I have just bought a Virt 4 weeks ago with a civil service 15% discount.

use it for fitness training about 100 miles per week with max of 30 mile spins.

Impressions so far: budget bike which is why I bought it! Not quite set up right so had to adjust front gears but no big deal. find it a bit "twitchy" some times but probably me as am use to 37mm tyres on a hybrid rather than 25mm. Bar plug fell off..but I will ask for a replacement. Fitted with SPDs as the pedals it comes with are a pain to get feet back in after stopping. My regular jaunt is a bout 2mph average quicker than on the hybrid. Hills are ok but have not yet tested it on Banner Down near Bath which used to have to use the granny or 2nd on the hybrid...had to raise saddle up to max as frame even L is quite small and I am 6.1

kingrollo

Not the thing to be seen on - but at that this price point I think it can be tolerated. I brought a decatlon for a similar amount - I use it as my commutting or second bike. And its been great - it doesn't compare with my best bike - but at that price it shouldn't

SpinningJenny

Deadeye - it's the Juen 09 issue with 'Outride Recession' in caps at the bottom of the front cover. White bike pic, orange and black kitted rider atop

kingrollo - "not the thing to be seen on" - partly why I asked the question! But, I'm prepared to be unsnobbish if the bike is as good as the reviews and opinions on here

rjh299

Deadeye Duck wrote:

Oh and If you don't mind me asking, what issue is that article in, just incase I pick up the wrong one? (May '09 I'm guessing?)

I left my copy at work but pretty sure it's issue 223 which is June 09. They always seem to be a month early to me. The mag isn't normally sealed so you can just flick through to make sure it's the one.

ukracer

ive got a Carrera Virago as my first road bike and although not got anything to compare it to im very happy .
Got on the works cycle to work scheme and was also in the sale and they let me have it for the sale price and £30 worth of accessory vouchers.!!!

Deadeye Duck

rjh299 wrote:

Deadeye Duck wrote:

Oh and If you don't mind me asking, what issue is that article in, just incase I pick up the wrong one? (May '09 I'm guessing?)

I left my copy at work but pretty sure it's issue 223 which is June 09. They always seem to be a month early to me. The mag isn't normally sealed so you can just flick through to make sure it's the one.

Thanks, I'll try and pick it up at the weekend.

Higs

As others, I started out on a Carrera Virtuoso (the red one). I also ended up bunging a budget CF fork on it along with a decent CF post off one of my MTBs. These changes transformed the ride on it, taking the sting out of the road.

fraserq

remember whats been said mnany times before - its the rider, not the bike. Dont become a bike snob, theres enough out there.

Shezzer

SpinningJenny wrote:

I'm prepared to be unsnobbish if the bike is as good as the reviews and opinions on here

Good for you!! Can't stand some of the bike snobbery that kicks around.

The advice about starting cheap or expensive but avoiding the middle ground is spot on in my opinion. I started with a Carrera Vanquish before upgrading to a Cervelo and Specialized. The Carrera is now my bad weather bike (with long mudguards) and was the bike I played around with in the garage when I was practicing DIY upgrades and maintenance. If I knackered something up then I wasn't too worried cos it's a cheap bike that's cheap to fix.

As long as you don't rely on Halfords for 'expert' advice then you won't go too far wrong with a Carrera.

GavH

Popped into Halfords today briefly and saw this blue/black Virtuoso for £299.99 now.

SpinningJenny

Thanks Shezzer .

I must say, my instinct would be to buy the bike and get advice elsewhere -like my LBS. Assuming it feels right, that is...

cm59

Hi i bought the virtuoso reviewed in cyclin plus eight weeks ago done well over a thousand miles on it bottom braket went but they put a better one in for me no questions no other probs so far love riding it done a few rides over a hundred miles commute every day and go on sunday club runs excellent for the price Reccomend to anyone wanting to start road riding but who want to make sure they enjoy it before spending a grand or more on a good bike

SpinningJenny

Hmm - I have a small problem - small being the operative word...

I'm too small for the smallest frame size they do for this bike - which is a medium

Aaaggghhhh!!!

Shezzer

SpinningJenny wrote:

Hmm - I have a small problem - small being the operative word...

I'm too small for the smallest frame size they do for this bike - which is a medium

Aaaggghhhh!!!

D'oh!

Have you asked them if they can source a smaller frame from another branch ... or is Medium the smallest fram size that they do? When I bought mine I had to nip over to Birmingham to pick it up cos there were none in my size (Medium) in Shropshire.

tbutch

As above, see if the store might be able to get you a small from elsewhere.

I got a Virtuoso at the beginning of last year for some training and since then have covered well over 1000 miles and not had a single problem (replaced the tyres though). It's been used rain and shine.

It's taken me on some huge trips across wales and even a 160 mile day trip from Chester to Swansea without a hint of a problem.

If your worried about Halfords putting it together, get a shop to take a look over it, shouldn't be too costly. Other than that you can't go much wrong for the money. Mine cost £250 last year.

SpinningJenny

Medium is the smallest they do! :?

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

the carrera looks like a good bike, might want to change the tyres i think they're quite puncture prone (i could be wrong). Dont let people be snobs towards you about carrera bikes, it doesnt matter about the brand it's just about enjoying it really, basically there ain't nowt wrong with carreras in fact i quite like them.

acorn_user

This is my kind of Carrera
http://www.redroseimports.com/Carrera_Volans.html

whydoesitalwaysrainonme

you havent seen this one yet then
http://www.carrera-podium.it/english/phibra.html
that is one sexy bike.