Right! Time for a road bike

Oddjob62
Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
edited August 2009 in Commuting chat
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)
As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)

Comments

  • CiB
    CiB Posts: 6,098
    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.
  • Oddjob62
    Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
    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.
    As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
    Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    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.
  • Oddjob62
    Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
    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.
    As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
    Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    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*** ;)
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
    Blog (incl. bikes)
  • Oddjob62
    Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
    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 LFGSS :p
    As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
    Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    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.
  • biondino
    biondino Posts: 5,990
    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.
    My Focus / My Bob Jackson
    Blog (incl. bikes)
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    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?
  • Oddjob62
    Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
    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.
    As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
    Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)
  • Oddjob62
    Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
    Right!! Took a gamble and went with the Focus Cayo Expert SRAM.... Should arrive next week :D:D
    As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
    Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)
  • Stuey01
    Stuey01 Posts: 1,273
    Nice!!

    See you on it at the next Slowcial or not so Slowcial then...
    Not climber, not sprinter, not rouleur
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Nice. :)
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Woooooooo!

    SRAM Red eh? Canihaveagoplease?
  • Oddjob62
    Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
    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)
    As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
    Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)
  • stuaff
    stuaff Posts: 1,736
    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/stuaffleck2011
  • ratherbeintobago
    ratherbeintobago Posts: 636
    CAAD9?

    Andy
    On twitter
  • Oddjob62
    Oddjob62 Posts: 1,056
    ratherbeintobago wrote:
    CAAD9?

    Bit late mate :P, but yes I did have a look at them.
    As yet unnamed (Dolan Seta)
    Joelle (Focus Expert SRAM)
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Oddjob62 wrote:
    Right!! Took a gamble and went with the Focus Cayo Expert SRAM.... Should arrive next week :D:D

    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.
  • ratherbeintobago
    ratherbeintobago Posts: 636
    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.

    Andy
    On twitter

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