Right! Time for a road bike
Oddjob62
Posts: 1,056
Well after a weekend of seeing literally hundreds of bikes ride past, including some of the best specced ones in the world while sitting on the roadside on Mt Ventoux, I've decided i must now get a road bike. Would like to do Ventoux myself in the future, and after seeing the course first hand, as much as i love my fixed track bike... it will be hard enough with gears, and impossible (for me) on a fixed. Now comes the tough job of working out which one i want :?
Of course the other issue is I've never really ridden drops or used roadie gears :? I can't imagine I'll have any problem, after all a year ago I'd never ridden in London (or any big city for that matter), 6 months ago I'd never ridden fixed, and now i love doing both.
currently the main 2 brands i'm drawn to are Kuota Kharma/Kebel (just looks lovely, nearby reseller) and Focus Cayo Ultegra (seems to give a fantastic bang for your buck)
Of course the other issue is I've never really ridden drops or used roadie gears :? I can't imagine I'll have any problem, after all a year ago I'd never ridden in London (or any big city for that matter), 6 months ago I'd never ridden fixed, and now i love doing both.
currently the main 2 brands i'm drawn to are Kuota Kharma/Kebel (just looks lovely, nearby reseller) and Focus Cayo Ultegra (seems to give a fantastic bang for your buck)
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I was all set to buy the Kebel the other week until I actually rode the thing. It looks the absolute business but I didn't like it; the ride didn't live up to what I'd expected, the position wasn't right for me [altho a bigger frame might help resolve that]. Probably the biggest disappointment was that I didn't get a shiny new toy. Tried the Kharma and thought it was ok but didn't fancy it, even after a good thrash down the nearby lanes and back.
Whatever you buy, for that money make sure you get to ride it properly before you buy, not just 100 yards down the road or round the shop. You'd do well to have a proper fitting too.0 -
Yeah that's my biggest issue about the Focus, only available from Wiggle. Yes i know you have a 7 day test available, but it's a big enough hassle having to be home to take collection, if i had to send it back as well that's 2 days off work (assuming delivery and pick up aren't delayed for any reason.0
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Oddjob62 wrote:Yeah that's my biggest issue about the Focus, only available from Wiggle. Yes i know you have a 7 day test available, but it's a big enough hassle having to be home to take collection, if i had to send it back as well that's 2 days off work (assuming delivery and pick up aren't delayed for any reason.
to be honest if it's not that much of a hit on the wallet getting into a local bike shop so you can try and also pop back for niggles etc.0 -
roger merriman wrote:to be honest if it's not that much of a hit on the wallet getting into a local bike shop so you can try and also pop back for niggles etc.
It will be a hit, but either way i'll be probably spending probably at least 1.5k, so i think it would be worth the extra for the peace of mind of having a place nearby that i can go to. I'd hate to be in a position where i had a bike that wasn't quite right, and had to send it back.0 -
You should have had a go on some of ours at the Richmond meet-up!
Do your FGSS buddies know you're having this conversation? I bet they think you're a c***0 -
biondino wrote:You should have had a go on some of ours at the Richmond meet-up!
Do your FGSS buddies know you're having this conversation? I bet they think you're a c***
Yeah looking back that would have been a good idea, but at the time i was more in the "do it next year" frame of mind.
I don't have many buddies over there, and fortunately the ones I do know also do a lot of "geared" riding as well. Actually I've met more FG riders though BR than through LFGSS0 -
I've had my Cayo a little over 2 months and I'm very very pleased with it.
The spec compared to anything else was nearly £800 difference and the frame and fork are excellent.0 -
Oh yes - my Cayo is a wonderful bike. The acceleration is crazy - my Trek and my Bob are decent, racing pedigree bikes but the difference when I put my foot down is massive.0
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Have a look at Wilier as well; the Mortirolo is a fine fine bike and has a wonderfully smooth ride. Not sure you can go far wrong with Focus though. My Alu Focus has done me proud, and the Cayo's are very well thought of (and specced).
Which LBS's are close to you?- 2023 Vielo V+1
- 2022 Canyon Aeroad CFR
- 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
- Strava
- On the Strand
- Crown Stables
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Il Principe wrote:Which LBS's are close to you?
None i'm afraid... there's 2 Cycle Surguries (who are a Wilier reseller) and a brand new big Evans (chalk farm). There's a place called Simpsons Cycles, but if their website is anything to go by, their selection is very limited. Next closest is probably Mosquito, one of the reasons why Kuota was high on my list.0 -
Right!! Took a gamble and went with the Focus Cayo Expert SRAM.... Should arrive next week0
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Nice!!
See you on it at the next Slowcial or not so Slowcial then...Not climber, not sprinter, not rouleur0 -
Nice.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
Woooooooo!
SRAM Red eh? Canihaveagoplease?- 2023 Vielo V+1
- 2022 Canyon Aeroad CFR
- 2020 Canyon Ultimate CF SLX
- Strava
- On the Strand
- Crown Stables
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Il Principe wrote:Woooooooo!
SRAM Red eh? Canihaveagoplease?
Hehe. Not full Red unfortunately, afaik shifters and rear d are, rest are Force. But I will definitely be bringing it to the next social (assuming I can work out the complexities of gears, freewheels and drop bars :? :P)0 -
Very nice! I've seen DoubleTap with flat bar shifters on a Dahon Mu EX (yup, there's a folder with Red), worked really nicely. Hope you enjoy the Cayo as much as I am the Magnifica!
On the subject of getting the hang of drops, it had been over a decade since I'd ridden a bike with them, so it was a pretty weird feeling at first. When I picked up the Magnifica (the 9th), I was decidedly wobbly for a minute or two. I'd strongly suggest having a pootle round some side streets, between the riding position and the shifting there's plenty to get used to. But it is fairly easy to adapt if you do that- ten to fifteen minutes round Barnet and I was steady enough to make my way home, and I was very comfortable with it on a thirty mile run at the weekend.Dahon Speed Pro TT; Trek Portland
Viner Magnifica '08 ; Condor Squadra
LeJOG in aid of the Royal British Legion. Please sponsor me at http://www.bmycharity.com/stuaffleck20110 -
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ratherbeintobago wrote:CAAD9?
Bit late mate :P, but yes I did have a look at them.0 -
Oddjob62 wrote:Right!! Took a gamble and went with the Focus Cayo Expert SRAM.... Should arrive next week
You won't be disappointed it was the one I went for.
I've upgraded the wheels to Kyrisums Elites and added some FSA carbon bits such as post, stem and bars.
The SRAM red is excellent and Wiggle set mine up right on the nose couldn't fault it at all.
Enjoy it.0 -
Oddjob62 wrote:ratherbeintobago wrote:CAAD9?
Bit late mate :P, but yes I did have a look at them.
Sorry - not enough coffee this morning & didn't read the topic properly. The Focus will be good.
Andy0