Which bike to buy?!?!?!

biker_ben

Hi everyone, i'm looking at buying a new bike this summer, or what we call summer anyway. My thoughts are that if im gonna buy one, i might aswell splash out as much as possible and buy one which i wont want/need to upgrade in the next few years.
Here are the contenders:
-Specialized Tarmac SL2 2008/9
-Wilier Cento Uno 2008/9 (any of the groupsets)
-Specialized Roubaix SL2
-Wilier Izoard
-Cannondale Six or Super Six
-Cervelo R3
and any other bikes that you have or have had the pleasure of riding over the past year or two.

If anybody has ridden one of these or is able to offer a comparison between any of them it would be much appreciated. I ride a 56cm frame and weigh 64kg if thats any use, also i'm more of a climbing man than an all out sprinter so thats what my bike would need to be geared towards

Thanks very much

Ben

Mothyman

they are all brilliant..but i am also a beginner...looking at less racy first bike though- the specialized...but a fella on his cannondale 6 stopped this week and was really chufeed with it-he had a triple and could get up the hills really well round here

come on experienced forum buffs..give this man some advice !

sonny73

I have a 2008 Tarmac and bloomin love (only a Comp mind, not an SL2), it moves like a rocket and handles brilliantly, climbs well and is very comfy; so if that is anything to go by the SL2 should be mustard in comparison. A good friend has a 2007 SL2 and swears by it.

The Roubaix will be a bit more relaxed in position though, so if you want a little more forgiving ride then that could be your ticket.

Also the Cervelo R3 is winner, I know a chap with one who says it's the best bike he's ever ridden and he's been riding for a good 35 years on top grade bikes.

Hope that helps a little

kingrollo

Wilier Cento - if moneys no object - or if it is get that £750 ultegra from lidl !


My initial thoughts are that those bikes are to expensive - as an initial road bike purchase. No disrepect intended - but the fact that you have come up with a list of off the peg bikes - covering a wide spectrum - would suggest to me you need to do a bit more homework first.

For example do you want to sacrifice a bit of comfort - for sheer speed - it might seem like an obvious yes - but if your doing longer rides - you might be thank full for a bike that hasn't pummelled your back side all day - (Racer v Sportive)

Do you want to ride in it the wet ? - do you want a bike that takes mudguards ? - campag or shimano ,

My advice would perhaps to limit your budget a little , when getting started £1k - will get you a very good bike - then you can see more what you enjoy - and get the know the pro's and con's

Hope that doesn't sound patronising - but thats my thoughts

sonny73

kingrollo wrote:

My advice would perhaps to limit your budget a little , when getting started £1k - will get you a very good bike - then you can see more what you enjoy - and get the know the pro's and con's

Hope that doesn't sound patronising - but thats my thoughts

+1 Have to say they are wise words spoken very wisely, if it is a getting started purchase

Chip \'oyler

kingrollo wrote:

Wilier Cento - if moneys no object - or if it is get that £750 ultegra from lidl !


My initial thoughts are that those bikes are to expensive - as an initial road bike purchase. No disrepect intended - but the fact that you have come up with a list of off the peg bikes - covering a wide spectrum - would suggest to me you need to do a bit more homework first.

For example do you want to sacrifice a bit of comfort - for sheer speed - it might seem like an obvious yes - but if your doing longer rides - you might be thank full for a bike that hasn't pummelled your back side all day - (Racer v Sportive)

Do you want to ride in it the wet ? - do you want a bike that takes mudguards ? - campag or shimano ,

My advice would perhaps to limit your budget a little , when getting started £1k - will get you a very good bike - then you can see more what you enjoy - and get the know the pro's and con's

Hope that doesn't sound patronising - but thats my thoughts

Where has the OP mentioned that this is his first road bike?

Ben - if money is no object get yourself to Triangle in Leeds and get a consultation with Adam about ordering a Viner Maxima. You won't look back They can build it to be anything you want it to be - it's fully customised.

http://www.vinerbikes.com/viner-maxima- ... ?p=product

biker_ben

cheers for all the advice!
this bike isnt gonna be my first bike, i already have a trek 1.7 triple which ive been racing on for a year and have won a few races and sportives on it, however i feel that my riding will improve and therefore my results with a better bike. I've tried the cento uno and the tarmac but not the others, and to me the wilier was the best, if not a little bit expensive

i will mainly use the bike for racing, rather than training, and maybe a few sportives!

cheers for the advice about the viner, my friend who rides for Epic cycles down in shropshire has told me good things about them too!

anymore info on these bikes would be great

Cheers

biker_ben

ooh and i forgot to say, having ridden both super- record and dura ace, i think the campag is better, however i only rode both of these for a short period of time so any suggestions would be great!

and no mudguards, its gotta look good aswell :P

thanks

markos1963

If you're looking for a climbing bike and are heading for Epic then its got to be an Orbea Orca. Have had a short ride on one and I thought my Onix was a good climber but the Orca is in the next league. Quite racy as you might expect from a team bike but as you are racing already then it might suit.

Chip \'oyler

markos1963 wrote:

If you're looking for a climbing bike and are heading for Epic then its got to be an Orbea Orca. Have had a short ride on one and I thought my Onix was a good climber but the Orca is in the next league. Quite racy as you might expect from a team bike but as you are racing already then it might suit.

I don't want to pizz on your chips but I have a friend who has an Orca. He loves it - but his next bike in a year or two is a Viner Maxima!

markos1963

Chip \'oyler wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

If you're looking for a climbing bike and are heading for Epic then its got to be an Orbea Orca. Have had a short ride on one and I thought my Onix was a good climber but the Orca is in the next league. Quite racy as you might expect from a team bike but as you are racing already then it might suit.

I don't want to pizz on your chips but I have a friend who has an Orca. He loves it - but his next bike in a year or two is a Viner Maxima!

No problem, having never even seen a Viner in the flesh let alone ride one I wouldn't comment. My comment was based on what i have ridden, the Viner must be bloody good if its better than an Orca.

Chip \'oyler

markos1963 wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

If you're looking for a climbing bike and are heading for Epic then its got to be an Orbea Orca. Have had a short ride on one and I thought my Onix was a good climber but the Orca is in the next league. Quite racy as you might expect from a team bike but as you are racing already then it might suit.

I don't want to pizz on your chips but I have a friend who has an Orca. He loves it - but his next bike in a year or two is a Viner Maxima!

No problem, having never even seen a Viner in the flesh let alone ride one I wouldn't comment. My comment was based on what i have ridden, the Viner must be bloody good if its better than an Orca.

I would say that the Orca is a better looking bike - however the reason the Maxima is the better bike (IMHO) is that it's built for each individual rider. OK there are companies out there that can make a frame for you 'made to measure' but the Maxima is the only one (to my knowledge) where the main tubes are layed up differently to produce a frame suited to the riders needs and intended use. The lugs are also layed up differently.

You could spend years (and a lot of money) trying to find the 'perfect' bike or you could bite the bullet and get Viner to make your 'perfect bike' straight off.

Anonymous

I don't own one and haven't ridden one but a Viner Maxima or a Parlee would be for me if I was going down the Carbon route...

Chip \'oyler

Dave Lloyd has also been raving about another small Italian bespoke carbon manufacturer

http://www.davelloydcoaching.com/cyclin ... -new-bike-