Giant TCR 1 or Bianchi Nirone 7 Xenon (not current models)

jonmack

Hi, I've been looking around for a road bike to start out on, and I've been offered the following bikes:

Giant tcr 1, frame and aero fork size M
new m:part headset 50 miles ago.
Full Shimano 105 9spd groupset
Dura Ace SPD-SL pedals
Shimano 105 WH-R550 Wheels, done about 100 miles from new.
Conti Ultra Gatorskin tyres, about 50 miles old.
Cinelli bars
Carbon aero seatpost (designed for this bike but not standard)



£350

or

2008 Bianchi Nirone 7 Xenon
Standard spec but comes with computer and blue tyres the old ones too.



£280

Obviously the difference I can see are the Bianchi is 10sp Campag and a 2008 model, and the Giant is Shimano (which I'm more used to) 9sp, but I'm unsure of the year.

If you could give me any advice it would be much appreciated, like I said I'm a complete beginner, been riding a mtb on the road for the last year or so on and off and just wanna get my fitness levels a bit higher.

Thanks,

Jon

keef66

Have you tried them both? I'd say buy the one that fits you the best. The Giant's probably better specced, but that's a hell of a drop from saddle to bars, and that seatpost won't go down much further. Looks like it's set up for time trialling or triathlon.

jonmack

I won't get a chance to try the Giant, but can meet up with the guy who owns the Bianchi to give it a go. The Giant is a M and I'm 6ft1, so do you think it could be slightly too small for me?

zedders

If going on looks and price the Bianchi is a no brainer? Am not all cluded up on sizing, but as you say the Giant might be a bit small for you anyways? I can't comment on the Giant, but can say the Via nirone C2C is a great bike to get started on.

jonmack

The advantage I can see with the Bianchi is that it's closer, cheaper by £70 and I can go ride it to try it out, the disadvantage being the spec, I've heard the wheels are fairly heavy, and the brake levers being plastic are slightly flimsy.

The advantage with the Giant is that it's slightly higher specced, being majority 105 groupset, it's just had a few new parts on it recently, disadvantages being I won't get a chance to test ride it and it might be slightly too small for me, or offer me a strange riding position due to the height of the seat against the stem, and it's at the max end of my budget.

I'm not a serious rider or anything I'm probably going to be doing around 50-100 miles per week on it, just want to get out on it and stretch my legs, maybe work on my weight a bit (I'm 62kg on a good day, and I'm just under 6'1") and just keep my fitness levels up.

Any advice would be useful, someone telling me which one to buy would be even better, I'm hoping to get it by the weekend

zedders

IMO if your just starting out the spec isn't that impotant. What you need is something that fits and is comfortable to ride. If you get the 'bug' like most do, you'll either want a new bike, or want to upgrade soon enough! In the meantime if the wheels really concern you, you could put the £70 saved towards some new ones?

jonmack

Yeah that's what I was thinking, put the money saved towards upgrades, or clearing my university overdraft... :roll:

Thank you, you've certainly helped, I think I'm leaning towards the Bianchi because it's a more recent model, and more local.

zedders

As you can see I'm biais anyways.
Am sure the TCR frame is good, but it was mentioned by others, for a budget / entry level bike the bianchi C2C frame is upgradable. It would not be out of place with higher spec.

jonmack

Haha yeah, yours sure looks nice

Either way thanks for the advice, I'm gonna get my Dad to ring his friend who's a sponsored rider to maybe give some advice, but the Bianchi is becoming more and more favourable.