Going roadie

kingrollo

DonDaddyD wrote:

Oddjob62 wrote:

I'm in the same boat... think i've narrowed it down to

Focus Cayo Exp SRAM
Kuota Kebel
Planet X Something (Ti or Carbon?... DA or SRAM Red?, bah... not as narrow as I thought)

The Kebel will cost you about £1800 with 105. about £2000 with Ultegra.

Not sure if there is value for money there. Never been keen on the shape of Planet X bikes. Focus are cool.

Would consider Wilier, De Rosa or Bianchi.

if you ask you can get the kebel cheaper. Dave Kane offered it me for £1550 - but wouldn't take cycle scheme - they didn't do a good price on the kharma though. cycleworld in abroath offered me a great deal on kuota £1550 - with a wheelupgrade to Easton EA90........Hope this helps

Citizen Smith

Test rode a Viner Gladius yesterday.

As I ride a hybrid with a rather wide handlebars + bar ends and haven't ridden a road-bike since I was a teenager, it was a curious experience!

Initial observations
- On setting off....Am I actually going to be able to ride this thing?!! :?
- Carbon rocks (how light?!)
- Effortless....couldn't be sure as I had no comp but I'm sure I passed the magic 30mph on the flat
- My legs felt bunched up
- Wasn't entirely comfortable riding on the hoods because of confidence to squeeze the brakes but had the hang of it by the end of the 20 min ride...actually spend most of the time on the drops and loved it!!
- Loved the clicking when freewheeling from the Campag rear cassette (?)
- Standing up to accelerate was wobbly at first due narrower weight distribution
- My current saddle is actually rather comfy (but could also be due to the 23mm tyres vs the 26mm that I have at the moment)

Next up for the test ride is a Wilier Mortirolo....will be interesting to see how it compares....

Clever Pun

GB cycles is very good, some stunning bikes in there.. possibly a little pricey

Merckx, Bianchi's, Cervelo's and Pinarellos seem to be the most they show off


I want a new bike too

Roastie

Buy the bike that both a) fits, b) looks good to you and c) rides well.

Fit is most important aspect by a huge margin. I'd suggest getting a proper fit done by a shop that knows what they are doing, so (from my own knowledge) the likes of Cyclefit, Sigma, AW in Reading, Epic, John's in Bath (no, I am not kidding - it is well worth the trip). I'm sure there are others.

Fit should narrow your choices. Ride the bikes that fit and see which feels right for you. Take it from there.

Good luck, and enjoy.

Clever Pun

Greg T wrote:

UndercoverElephant wrote:

That's what you think, it just PM'd a load of us, saying it wants a new owner - one with the legs for it. :twisted:

Best post ever.

I was having a good chuckle at that too

stuaff

Citizen Smith wrote:

Test rode a Viner Gladius yesterday.

As I ride a hybrid with a rather wide handlebars + bar ends and haven't ridden a road-bike since I was a teenager, it was a curious experience!

Initial observations
- On setting off....Am I actually going to be able to ride this thing?!! :?
- Carbon rocks (how light?!)
- Effortless....couldn't be sure as I had no comp but I'm sure I passed the magic 30mph on the flat
- My legs felt bunched up
- Wasn't entirely comfortable riding on the hoods because of confidence to squeeze the brakes but had the hang of it by the end of the 20 min ride...actually spend most of the time on the drops and loved it!!
- Loved the clicking when freewheeling from the Campag rear cassette (?)
- Standing up to accelerate was wobbly at first due narrower weight distribution
- My current saddle is actually rather comfy (but could also be due to the 23mm tyres vs the 26mm that I have at the moment)

Next up for the test ride is a Wilier Mortirolo....will be interesting to see how it compares....

My Magnifica felt a bit weird the first time I rode it- or wobbled on it! - it had been a decade since I'd used drops. Quickly got the hang of it though. Kind of like the Campag noise (freehub rather than cassette) myself, it's pleasantly quirky. I feel more comfortable on the hoods than the drops, generally (think I keep getting the hand position wrong so I can't shift). Your legs shouldn't feel bunched up though- get the right frame size, and get it fitted right, and you won't get that. Ride will be firmer than you're used to, but I don't find much difference between the Viner and the two Dahons (on 40mm)- frame does a lot of bump absorption. Carbon does indeed rock

Edit: Epic currently have a deal on the Gladius, £999 with Veloce/Miche Race group (Miche chainset, Veloce everything else....have that on mine). Absolute bargain I'd say. Magnifica's well worth a look as well, but nearly twice the price for same spec...That said, Velocity for one have deals on '09 bikes (I would heartily endorse a trip down to Pompey to see them, excellent service).

nigeve

One is always reluctant to add further confusion or put another spanner in the works but these look rather tasty… British as well :?

http://www.enigmabikes.com/

il_principe

Clever Pun wrote:

Greg T wrote:

UndercoverElephant wrote:

That's what you think, it just PM'd a load of us, saying it wants a new owner - one with the legs for it. :twisted:

Best post ever.

I was having a good chuckle at that too

Wellthankyouverymuch.

UndercoverElephant

Il Principe wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

Greg T wrote:

UndercoverElephant wrote:

That's what you think, it just PM'd a load of us, saying it wants a new owner - one with the legs for it. :twisted:

Best post ever.

I was having a good chuckle at that too

Wellthankyouverymuch.

Oy, IP, check the dates! Mine was the original, and best! 8)

il_principe

What was yours? Must have missed that one.

UndercoverElephant

Il Principe wrote:

What was yours? Must have missed that one.

The quotiest quotey thing.

KarenKharma

What are you two on about?

Citizen Smith

Possibly one of the most procrastinated purchases in the history of bike research & buying but...

...I finally put an order in today at De Ver for a NEW ROAD BIKE.

As it's 2011 model should arrive in next couple of weeks.

Tick tock, tick tock!!

As for the marque/model, I keep that under wraps for now!

Citizen Smith

Wilier Izoard XP (Red/Black/White colour scheme) with Veloce due for collection a week tomorrow.

As Sam Beckett once said, "Oh Boy!"

jonginge

Hurrah! Very, very nice, Si(r)

UndercoverElephant

Purdy!

notsoblue

Lovely!

Cafewanda

Oooh. Pretty!

kelsen

Yum!

Anonymous

I'd really like one of those too.

I'm just down the road from De Ver's. Bit out of my price range though, so I'm going for a Ribble.

Clever Pun

nice work... just in time for winter!

Mr Dog

Where is the basket?