Which Bike (Will be my 1st drop bar) ???

Avoneer

Hi All,
Following on from my commuting thread here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/foru ... t=12639009
I'm looking for a road bike and don't really have much idea what's good and what isn't.

Criteria is easy (well, I think it is): Sub 10kg in weight, preferably carbon fork, mudguard eyelets and good for hills.

It will be via "the scheme" and my company uses Wheelies so I'm stuck with them with their over priced limited choice: http://wheelies.co.uk/

Budget could be upto £1k, but might be a better idea for me to go really cheap say sub £500 and see how I get on then buy a better one in a few years - not sure how I'll get on with drop bars yet!

Choices so far:

Claude Butler San Remo 2009
Claude Butle Roubaix 2009
Giant TCX 2 2009
Raleigh Airlight 300 2009
Specialized Tricross Sport 27 2009

Plenty more choice for eyelets if I go flat bar, but I really want to try drop bars.
Thanks,
Pat...

Slow Liam

I can't comment on the others but I ride a 2007 Tricross Sport for commuting (20 mile round trip) and winter training, and I would definately recommend it. I take it touring as well.

Its an all rounder, so its not very fast but you can throw almost anything at it. I've done the transpennine trail on it, which is a variety of terrain and it had no problems. Tons of eyelets too.

I don't think its sub 10kg though, but if you avoid mudguards, etc, and upgrade to some lighter wheels and slick tires it might be.

The Cycling plus review this month gave it 9/10, and said it you can only have one bike this is a pretty good choice...but I can have two so even better!

When I bought it it was my first drop bar bike, and I have no regrets about choosing it. You can always get a second bike if you really get hooked and keep the Tricross for winter and commuting.

Avoneer

Yeah - it does look like a good option, but it's not really far removed from the Sub30 that I ride at the moment apart from the drop bars so was leaving the Tricross it as a last resort.

I like to push hard every morning and really want to go with the lighter side of things.

Pat...

desperate73

You're looking at the same bikes i was a month ago !!

I eventually went for the 2009 Claud Butler Milano (full sora groupset) at £479 (srp £599) fully built and readied at my local bike shop. Which is Richardsons Cycles Grantham (loads more shops overe the country). I've weighed it precisely and it is 10.0kg's.

I love it!

Avoneer

Can you confirm if the Milano has mudguard eyelets - some sites say it does and some say you can't fit mudguards!

Cheers,

Pat...

desperate73

I'm not sure what to look for but there are two unused 'eyelets' at the rear. The bike shop guy has a san remo, same frame and he's fitted mudguards on his.

Avoneer

Yeah, looks like the San Remo will take guards - but the gearing isn't exactly hill orientated!

Why am I struggling to find a bike around £750 that can take full guards?

Pat...

desperate73

For the triple ring crank then i also looked at the Vitus. It's French and the chap at the lbs knows abit about them and rates them highly. Don't know about the mudguards though mate.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=38414

Avoneer

Looks ok, but I'm tied to wheelies as I'm going to use "the scheme".

Pat...

pottssteve

Avoneer,
I ride a Tricross and would echo the sentiments above. I use mine for commuting and leisure riding; I generally ride between 30 and 60km at a time and find it great. Granted, it's not the lightest but I've had mine since Christmas and have had no problems with it. Fitting slightly narrower tyres (it comes with 32mm) would make it a bit more racy. I've begun to rely less on the granny ring since I got fitter but it's still very useful for the 10% hills around here!
It was my first drop bar bike and I've appreciated the slightly more upright position rather than the stretched out racing bike style. If you do go for a 'cross bike I think you are advised to get a slightly smaller model because of this geometry.

Steve

soveda

Avoneer wrote:

Hi All,
Following on from my commuting thread here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/foru ... t=12639009
I'm looking for a road bike and don't really have much idea what's good and what isn't.

Criteria is easy (well, I think it is): Sub 10kg in weight, preferably carbon fork, mudguard eyelets and good for hills.

It will be via "the scheme" and my company uses Wheelies so I'm stuck with them with their over priced limited choice: http://wheelies.co.uk/

Budget could be upto £1k, but might be a better idea for me to go really cheap say sub £500 and see how I get on then buy a better one in a few years - not sure how I'll get on with drop bars yet!

Choices so far:

Claude Butler San Remo 2009
Claude Butle Roubaix 2009
Giant TCX 2 2009
Raleigh Airlight 300 2009
Specialized Tricross Sport 27 2009

Plenty more choice for eyelets if I go flat bar, but I really want to try drop bars.
Thanks,
Pat...

Have a look at the Giant Defy range, they have their own proprietary full mudguards and are geared for hills (triple or compact with a 12-25).
Slightly more than you wanted to spend but I'm pleased with mine (also first drop bar bike).
I've taken the guards off though because much of my milage is on rural roads with all the mud that entails and I founf the clearance for the guards was so close that any mud build up caused rubbing (and mud being throuwn up into the calipers).

oxford

Personally, i'd max out the budget and just go for it...

Their Scott speedster ltd edition @ 999 with free ultegra upgrade would be a good choice...

http://wheelies.co.uk/p27240/Scott-Spee ... -2009.aspx

Ok, its not carbon but your not going to get that with that bike company for 1k due to not being able to purchase previous years bike.

But you do get a decent bike with ultegra groupset (gears etc) which is second only to dura-ace and thus very good. You can't go wrong..

Remember you could also ring the shop direct and ask if they have any demo bikes that are cheaper OR any old stock that they can call apon. Always ways to get a good deal!

Avoneer

Yep - I like Scotts as well - and get a 10% discount from the off because of who I work for so I'd end up with it for about £650 or something close on the scheme.

Only problem would be the mudguards as I would be using it on the road only, day in day out all year round - I know you can get race blades, but not sure they'd be up to it.

Will look at the Giant Defy's, and am still considering the Tricross as a last resort.

Will also ring wheelies when I have a list of definates!

Thanks,

Pat...

Avoneer

Right, slight change of plans.

After muches thought and a trip to my LBS, I think a CX bike would suit my daily yearly commute much better.

Does anyone have any experience of Ribble?

I see you can get something half decent for around £500.

Although I'd have to finance it myself, it might be better suited / more cost effective for my neads in the long run.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Pat...

flip2892

Yes plenty of people have experience of ribble...
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12638059
My bike was finally delivered yesterday after almost 6 weeks and a ton of broken promises.... and it was the wrong sized frame.... they are truley inept...said they'd arrange for it to be picked up that day....it's still sat at home... it's like they deliberately try to be sh!t.
flip2892

Avoneer

That answers that question then.

Anyway, I went to another LBS today and have made a desicion.....

I'm going after a Giant Defy 2 (or 4 as a last resort).

The frame size SMALL suits me being 5'6" and the bike felt nice to sit on.

Still a bit worried about all this funny gear change malarky and no brakes on the horizontal bars, but I'm sure I will get used to it.

For info, all the Defy and all Giant bikes with the same frame all have eyelets as well, although you need the specific Giant mudguards with special cut-outs for the brakes.

Will update once I get it.

Pat...

Avoneer

Hi All,
I got a Defy 4 2009 in the end (2010 doesn't have the carbon forks).
Really stange after 20 years on an MTB and a Hybrid, and it's going to take some getting use to the shifting and brakes.
Pat.