Help on which bike to choose?

Zsaki
Zsaki Posts: 7
edited October 2009 in Road buying advice
I'm pretty much new to this whole cycling thing but am getting into it as 1) the cycle will be my main method of local transportation and 2) i quite like cycling now!

I'm torn between the following:

Specialized Allez triple sport 2010
and a
Trek 1.2 triple 2010

my little brother has the allez double and after riding that i must say i do like it however i know treks have their reputation and it is the same price

is one better than the other in anything in particular?

thanks

Comments

  • giantsasquatch
    giantsasquatch Posts: 381
    That's a great first choice of bike. That's sensible choices. You not paying too much for your first bike.

    There both similar spec. Best info is to find a LBS that stock those. Get them to fit you up with the right size. Then you can get to feel which is most comfortable. Ask if you can take them for a test ride.

    Personally i go with the Trek if i was buying blind. It has better rear derailleur.

    Go for the COMPACT model' 50/34. The gearing will be better suited for you.

    Alot less important, it is better looking.

    Welcome to the forum.
  • scazzer
    scazzer Posts: 254
    Zsaki,im inthe same position as you m8,been looking round and the Trek is the 1 that stands out for me also....

    is this the model you are looking at http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/product/trek12troadbike2010.aspx?&id=11570

    and giantsasquassh is this the model you recommend     http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/product/trek12croadbike2010.aspx?&id=11569
  • Zsaki
    Zsaki Posts: 7
    scazzer, that IS the one i was talking about!

    giantsasquatch, when you say go for the compact because the gearing would be better, what do you mean by this? sorry, i am very new to this whole thing, i just asumed the triple chainset was better, it also costs more so naturally i assumed it was better too

    ok so naturally my little brother (who knows nothing by the way) protected the spesh and said its a better buy as it has carbon fibre parts whereas the trek does not

    i know the trek looks better (this is actually a deciding factor for me!) and is an overall better brand but i was also told the 1.2 has bontrager parts which the little runt tells me is not a good brand

    can anyone shed some light on this and possible confirm my suspicions of him talking rubbish?

    thanks
  • monkeyjo
    monkeyjo Posts: 54
    Zsaki wrote:
    scazzer, that IS the one i was talking about!

    giantsasquatch, when you say go for the compact because the gearing would be better, what do you mean by this? sorry, i am very new to this whole thing, i just asumed the triple chainset was better, it also costs more so naturally i assumed it was better too

    I would check out this delightfully extensive topic here.... :lol:

    http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12657390
  • juankerr
    juankerr Posts: 1,099
    Whichever you think is prettiest TBH. Not much between them. I'd go for the Allez.
  • giantsasquatch
    giantsasquatch Posts: 381
    A triple chainset means more maintenance and cleaning plus duplicate gears on a triple.

    Yes, that's the one. Here also.

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec019678
  • Escargot
    Escargot Posts: 361
    Zsaki wrote:
    giantsasquatch, when you say go for the compact because the gearing would be better, what do you mean by this? sorry, i am very new to this whole thing, i just asumed the triple chainset was better, it also costs more so naturally i assumed it was better too

    Have you ever asked a question and then wished you hadn't ?

    I think for most people a compact is sufficient if you need a smaller set of gears to get you up the hills.

    Although a triple will get you up a hill much easier you will get a lot of overlap with a triple as the chainwheels cannot physically be spaced any further apart (size wise).

    I think the money goes into the extra material/manufacturing.
  • giantsasquatch
    giantsasquatch Posts: 381
    As your a beginner new to cycling then you need a smaller set of gears. You might have lots of flats near you, that's fine but when you get fitter going further afield, then you will hit hills. The leg muscles won't be developed for hills unless you do them. Best to start off with gears that make you enjoy going up hills.

    You can get front derailleur problems on triples more, after the gears have worn in. The chain starts touching the front derailleur slightly in certain gears due to movement, cable stretch from frequent use from new. This can be annoying to have to deal with when you new to bikes. You just want it to work 100%. It is a fine tuning maintenance job.

    Go with the triple if you really want it, just when you get much fitter, you find you won't be using the little ring, so it becomes a waste.

    Just make sure the bike fits in areas such as frame, saddle, stem and handlebar height.

    Don't think too much, just follow the heart for your first bike, and enjoy it.

    :D

    A golden new rule is never cross chain:

    Never use the smallest two or three cogs with the smaller front ring, and never use the larger three cogs with the large front. It makes the chain take a diagonal path and everything wears and rubs more, which is especially important when you got a lower end gearset - Sora.

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