another "what bike to buy" thread

bobinski

Hi,
sorry, i know there are so many of these but...
I used to be a mountain biker and tourer, then work, family and especially kids got in the way of cycling. Returned to cycling at age 46 last year commuting on a Dahon jetstream p8, stolen recently, but a joy to ride. I have some insurance money though work are saying they will allow me to purchase a bike on a salary sacrifice up to a value of £1000. Easy? No..

My head says a 2009 Giant Defy 2 at £649. Start off with a pretty dammed good bike and see how i take to road cycling.
My Heart says pink planet x ultrega build OR the Boardman special edition from my local Bike hut, £1000 though....

Are these last 2 bikes really a step up in rider experience? My head tells me it like HIFI where the more you spend the smaller the perceived improvement.

Any advice greatfully received.
cheers

ugo.santalucia

Don't even start with HiFi...

I woudn't buy any of these, espacially not a pink one.

I think a Focus is always a good buy... but I would rather find a good LBS and stick to it as it will come useful if you're not a dragon with allen keys and spanners.

For 1000 pounds you can get a very decent Specialized (I bought my Allez comp based on Shimano105 nearly four years ago and after 13K miles I've changed nothing but consumables). It's never been the most glamorous bike, but because of that I have enjoyed it even more, without worrying too much for a little scratch.
It's even done its fair share of Belgian cobbles. I don't love it, but I respect it more than my other bikes...

kingrollo

Planet x - but not pink - unless you are a girly !

Dolan mythos - always good at this price point

I always thought spesh do decent entry level bikes - but might not be carbon.

o........or you could by my pinarello & save yourself £500 !

STEFANOS4784

Do you know what size bike you need? Also some of these bike to work jobbies have restrictions on where you can purchase from, do you know which retailers you are able to buy from?
If it's your 1st real road bike then maybe a local bike shop could be useful for help, however i never bothered with this becauswe have always bought preowned but maybe i've been lucky. Just don't do to much research because you'll never be able to come to a conclusion.


P.s i reckon i'd go for a Boardman/Planet x if my company did the scheme

STEFANOS4784

And also i much prefer Carbon to aluminium but this is open to debate. Most will tend to recommend their own bike because there's not really any duffs out there providing it's from a well known manufacturer

Anonymous

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Don't even start with HiFi...

I woudn't buy any of these, espacially not a pink one.

I think a Focus is always a good buy... but I would rather find a good LBS and stick to it as it will come useful if you're not a dragon with allen keys and spanners.

For 1000 pounds you can get a very decent Specialized (I bought my Allez comp based on Shimano105 nearly four years ago and after 13K miles I've changed nothing but consumables). It's never been the most glamorous bike, but because of that I have enjoyed it even more, without worrying too much for a little scratch.
It's even done its fair share of Belgian cobbles. I don't love it, but I respect it more than my other bikes...

Indeed...

I have an ace system and I've just had to ignore HiFi fora and magazines and going to my favoured HiFi dealer so I don't spend any more on it.

It's reached the point now where any improvement costs thousands rather than hundreds!

That said, it's freakin' awesome!

Scrumple

I had a £1000 pair of cans, and a £500 headphone amp.
I sold them as the knowledge of the price weighed heavily on my mind...

Spend the full amount on a PX and be happy. £100 fee, mind.

BUT, you may be better buying the giant and leaving a lot over for kit, as it costs!!! Then flog the giant next year on the scheme a 2nd time round and put the full whack on the bike. If you blow the limit now you will regret having nowt for helmet / lights / jacket etc that you can get on the scheme.

bobinski

Ta for the replies.

Whats wrong with pink?!? it used to be a boys colour and only became associated with girls in the 20th century.

I have all the gear so all my money will go on the bike. What may push me towards the Giant is the fact the others have carbon frames. The bike will live in my front hallway and could get bashed a bit by the comings and goings of family life and an ali frame may be a safer purchase. Just wish i hadnt read such conflicting reviews, one in a recent magazine suggesting the Giant was sluggish, and another in a triathlon magazine suggesting the complete opposite.
thanks again
bobinski

bazbadger

get the pink.

don't listen to the others.

x8swift9x

Get the pink! That was the original colour I was going to opt for with mine, but I wimped out upon seeing it and went for the black. If you do get pink, swap the pink saddle and pink bar tape though Saying that I really want to get hold of a pink fork for my PX.

PX always get good reviews in mags, in this months 220triathlon they named it as the best buy vs. a similar spec Cannondale and they also rated the model B wheels (which the £999 version has) as the best training wheels to buy. Sorted!

ugo.santalucia

A pink bike will look good as long as the lacquer is new, a few washes and the shine will fade, leaving you with an embarrassing pink bike, one you'll have to justify every time you get to a cafe'...

Is that what you want? Get a pink bike then....

bobinski

Ugo,
will it really fade that quick?!?

My boss just came in and asked why i had not yet ordered my bike! if only she knew.

Interestingly, no one has repied to my concern about a carbon bike getting a bit bashed about and whether i might be better off then with an ali frame.

rake

your probably wright if its going to suffer impacts. i dont yet know how tough carbon is but i suspect ill see the day when i drop it and snap her in half. :?: