Specialized or Lapierre

KDX

Hi guys

This is my first post and I'm on the scrounge for info already

I've been in to MTBs for years but I'm completely new to road bikes.

I'm looking for a bike costing less than a grand that'll mostly be used for training/fitness rides of perhaps three or four hours. It's just possible that I might want to do a sportive or similar at some time but probably not more than 50miles/100K.

I've trawled round my local bike shops and looked at bikes from all the obvious manufacturers but the two that are standing out for me at the momment are the Specialized, Allez, Elite and the Lapierre, Audacio, 400.

Now obviously the Specialized is a known quantity. There are plenty of reviews/recommendations for all of the Allez range available on line etc and they're obviously very popular but here's the thing, while my head says that the Specialized is the safe option my heart says "yeah but it's a bit boring to go with obvious choice".

The Audacio looks great in white and blue, has the same Tiagra components and while it costs a hundred quid more it does have a smattering of Ritchey bits (seat post, stem etc) where as the Allez makes do with mostly own brand/no brand parts.

So, what do you folks think?

Anyone ride a lapierre? Know anything about them?

Or perhaps I'm barking up the wrong tree all together here. Should I be looking at something else or should I just buy the Specialized, shut up and go ride?

Cheers

Rich

Wheelspinner

Option (b).

Nobody in the entire history of mankind has ever bought the perfect road bike for their very first purchase. You are better off just getting out there on one and riding till either you or it have had it.

JohnnyAllez

Look for a mint second-hander that`s a couple of years old. The spec on new bikes is crap compared to what you got on the same bikes 2 years ago, due to trying to keep the same retail prices, but with a dodgy exchange rate, so the outcome is the groupsets have all gone south quality-wise. 2008 Allez Elite had carbon back end, 2010 model makes do with what looks like a standard A1 Allez frame painted same as the bog-basic model

KDX

Cheers for the advice guys.

I see what you mean about 08 models having a better spec. Might be worth looking around to see if there's any discounted 09 models as well I suppose but like wheelspinner says nothing is ever going to be perfect (especially at my budget).

Guess I'm just gonna have to make a decision, buy something and then ride it and see if I like it. It's not as though I have another road bike to compare it with anyway

Thanks again.

Rich

cotti

You could try Leisure Lakes I got an 09 Allez from them about 4 weeks ago (they had to order it) you might be lucky

penugent

KDX wrote:

Anyone ride a lapierre? Know anything about them?


Rich

I have 2 lapierre road bikes, although they are 5 years old so my experience of the brand isn't current. Having said that I rate both bikes(1 metal, 1 carbon) very highly. The only problem is that they seem a bit overpriced these days. My 3rd bike is a Kinesis racelight RC frame with Ultegra Sl groupset - which is the mutts nuts!