Which? Trek 1.5 / Bianchi Via Nirone 7 / Cannondale CAAD8

uiw3026

I'm buying a road bike through my work's cycle to work scheme and i'm trying to decide which one to buy. I'm doing a 400 mile charity cycle from Cork to Donegal in the summer, so i'm looking for something comfortable and reliable to do the training and then the 400 miles on. I'm new to cycling so i have set a budget of around £800, and i narrowed it down to 3 bikes - all Tiagra based (i have to buy from local shops around Belfast):

Bianchi Via Nirone 7 - http://www.slanecycles.com/bianchi-c2c- ... -4362.html

Trek 1.5 - http://www.bikeitcycles.com/productdeta ... rodID=1918

Cannondale CAAD8 - http://www.davekanecycles.com/index.php ... ts_id=1476

As i said i'm new to cycling so i've done a fair bit of research online, but i'm still no expert when it comes to wheels, rims, gears etc. Can anyone recommend one over the other, and just explain why? I'm 6'2 and 100kg (hopefully that is going to drop with the training ) The frame sizes suggested to me by each of the shops were a 56 for the Trek; a 59 for the Bianchi; and a 61 in the Cannondale.

Many thanks for your help

Jimbo.

"Suggested" sizes are near meaningless: everybody's different. Try/test-ride them all (and more: you may be suprised) and see which feels the best.

shed-dweller

I have the Trek 1.5, bought it in October, and I'm totally in love with it
It was the upgrade from my old Dawes Giro 300, and it's even better because I saved up for it myself out of Saturday job wages :P
In my opinion this price bracket contains countless inseparable bikes, and the thing that made this Trek stand out for me is its looks! It practically glows!
I haven't had any problems with it, ridden it in all weather and still smooth as anything, although I'm sure you would have no problems with the others.
The geometry is biased towards endurance/sportive riding as opposed to racing, so the position is more forgiving on longer rides (the Bianchi is likely to have a more aggressive position I believe)
Also, I strongly advise you get a triple chainset on whatever you choose (ignore the loons who say going compact saves weight :P), you'll be glad it's there on some climbs.
I'll gladly answer any questions you have about it to the best of my ability

Philby

They are all good bikes - and the Bianchi is a sportive-orientated bike despite what shed dweller says - so suggest trying to get a test ride on all of them or at least get to sit on them. All of them are ripe for upgrades of wheelsets etc as and when the time comes or money becomes available.

And if all else fails just buy the one you think is the best looking.

Would also have thought that you would need at least a 58cm Trek not a 56cm one.

Hunterg46

A nice selection

I bought a Specialized Allez Elite 2010 on Friday reduced from 800 to £720. Great bike, definatly worth a look at

weepiglet

Hi uiw3026!
I'm also in Belfast and was in the same boat last year when I spent countless days travelling around looking for something.
I went to Bikeit who were very poor, unhelpful and certainly not competitive when it came to price...they wouldn't even through in a puncture repair kit when I was spending a grand!!
I then went to Slane Cycles. One of the guys there (Paul) is an ex pro racer so has a wealth of knowledge and is actually a tester for a lot of products so knows whats up to date and will definately give his opinion. The only thing was that all his bikes are more high end and this threw me a bit as there was nothing really within the bracket that I wanted....he did have a Scott CR-1 which was around £1400 but seeing as it was my first bike I said no as I need to buy lots of kit too. Since then I have been back for numerous bits including Assos bibs as they are a stockist for them.
After this Dave Kane happened on Upper N'Ards Road. Again, a good shop with lots of knowledge but wasn't taken with what he was offering for the price.
I then found John Hanna in Lisburn! - Trek stockist who sourced me a 1.9 (Ultegra) and was willing to drop the price from £1200 to £1000 and also throw in shorts, repair kit, tyre levers and also reduce a wireless computer for me by £10....so al in all it was a no brainer!
I hope you get sorted but for what it's worth, I'd go Trek, unless you could stretch to a CAAD 9 then this is a different story as that's a superb frame (mate has one)
Enjoy your shopping.

uiw3026

Thanks for all the replies so far. I had heard good reports about John Hanna before but unfortunately they are not one of the local shops on the scheme and thats the only way i can spend £800.

I like the look of the Bianchi the most, but the shop doesnt have one in stock, they can only order it specially for me. The trek was a nice-looking bike too but not sure about the shop, so i suppose i'm leaning slightly towards the Cannondale, and i found it a helpful shop and they have one i can try out.

I'll still take any advice that's out there though!

Thanks again

pickled

I'd go for the bike you like the most. They're all in the same ballpark.
However you must ride it. I bought a Bianchi but one shop recommended a 53 and the other a 55.
After a ride on both it was clearly the 53 for me.

uiw3026

Thanks everyone. Just ordered the Cannondale CAAD8 Tiagra this evening

molyneux1000

Just bought the Bianchi (but opted for the 105). I did look at the others in my research, but I just think the American bikes a really ugly. The Trek 1.5. is simply bland. But hey, it's not all about looks now is it.

shed-dweller

The Trek 1.5. is simply bland.

Gotta disagree with you there! I have the 2010 1.5 and I can't believe anyone could ever call it bland. It's amazingly good looking, practically glows :P