How bad (or good) is the Carrera Virago?

jonbob78
jonbob78 Posts: 70
edited May 2012 in Road beginners
Like a number of people I've always been sceptical around buying a bike from a car auto parts shop.

That was until I picked up my Boardman Limited Edition Team Carbon earlier this year. I must say whilst I don't know a huge amount about bikes I've been 100% satisfied with it. Also the fella at said auto parts shop seems to know what he's taking about and has been very professional!

Thinking ahead to next year and what I'm going to spend my money on a TT bike is probably up there which leads the the question.

What do people make of the Carrera Virago?

Yes its from Halfords!
Yes it's Carrera!
Yes the carbon frame wont be a patch on X or Y
Yes.....etc etc!

BUT.......I can get it through Cycle to Work and only pay £600 for it making it nearly half the price of any other carbon framed TT bike on the market
............and whilst loving all the cycling lark I'm never going to be competing seriously enough to warrant spending a huge amount on a bike......yet!

Comments

  • ilm_zero7
    ilm_zero7 Posts: 2,213
    you dont just have to go to Halfords to get the cycle to work benefits - and you get what you pay for - I got my Wilier through cycle to work - OK it cost more than the £1000 limit, but I too great satisfaction in Alister darling coughing up £500 towards my bike - now that cant be bad. So dont be limited by the cap or halfords

    I suspect if you really take to it - you will soon want to upgrade the bike and my advice on bikes is its like buying a house - go for the best you can afford at the time!
    http://veloviewer.com/SigImage.php?a=3370a&r=3&c=5&u=M&g=p&f=abcdefghij&z=a.png
    Wiliers: Cento Uno/Superleggera R and Zero 7. Bianchi Infinito CV and Oltre XR2
  • jonbob78
    jonbob78 Posts: 70
    Sadly I am limited restricted to Halfords !
  • ilm_zero7
    ilm_zero7 Posts: 2,213
    go for the Boardman - they are great VFM
    http://veloviewer.com/SigImage.php?a=3370a&r=3&c=5&u=M&g=p&f=abcdefghij&z=a.png
    Wiliers: Cento Uno/Superleggera R and Zero 7. Bianchi Infinito CV and Oltre XR2
  • jonbob78
    jonbob78 Posts: 70
    jonbob78 wrote:
    That was until I picked up my Boardman Limited Edition Team Carbon earlier this year.
  • cotti
    cotti Posts: 96
    jonbob78 wrote:
    Sadly I am limited restricted to Halfords !

    No your not you only think you are........
    My Bike http://homepage.ntlworld.com/paul.cotte ... C00170.JPG
  • engy
    engy Posts: 131
    My limited experience is all based around the Boardman range.

    I had a C2W voucher for a £1000, i had my sights firmly set on a Dolan mythos, following them failing to return my emails and phone calls. I reluctantly took a pop with the new Carbon virgao, Purely reluctant based on the negative press mainly from cycling forums.

    I have to say im well impressed, the bike is smooth, comfortable, fast and it feels planted to the ground. The frame seems to pur and ooze class. The 105 groupset is smooth and precise, I far more prefer it to the sram apex.

    Performance wise, im a fit type of a guy but I have no problems on the front and taking the best clubs riders on with it.

    Ok its poor totty on the eyes or the mind should i say.... but i have to say its a great bike. I would recommend it to anyone
  • thescouselander
    thescouselander Posts: 549
    Looks like a bit of a bargain to me. I think Carrera suffer from a bad image because they're sold by Halfords but I've had a few Carrera bikes and they've all been pretty good. Pound for pound you also seem to get a better spec on Carrera bikes when compared with the more accepted brands.
  • alihisgreat
    alihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    Just a quick point... the Virago isn't a TT bike?

    The Boardman you already have is better than the Virago.. so just buy a proper TT bike?
  • Penfold06
    Penfold06 Posts: 161
    Just a quick point... the Virago isn't a TT bike?

    The Boardman you already have is better than the Virago.. so just buy a proper TT bike?

    Just what I was thinking. I know they did used to do a tt bike a few years back. They actually stopped making the Virago back in 2009 when they used to do both a road and tt version and have only just brought it back this year. As far as I can tell they are only doing a road version atm.

    I had a 2009 road Virago and for what it's worth I thought it was a great bike for the cash, back then they were mainly Ultegra specced (shifters and rear derailleur) making them an almost unbeatable value for money bike. They got some great reviews as well, Bikeradar gave it a 4.5, just a shame there is a stigma attached to the brand. I'd have another without a doubt, only got ride because I needed a bigger frame size.
  • engy
    engy Posts: 131
    Halfords have released a 2012 carbon carrera virago road bike....... may have confused it as i have jumped on the back of an old thread. Personally I love the bike.....
  • engy
    engy Posts: 131
    very well specced for the cash.... and to top it off I got it price matched from the web sale at £900 ....

    Yes not fashionable by any means but as of yet I cant fault it..... Im sure if you lost the Careera stickers people would be raving about it.
  • rob21
    rob21 Posts: 284
    Yes not fashionable by any means but as of yet I cant fault it..... Im sure if you lost the Careera stickers people would be raving about it.
    + 1 i always look at the spec not the name,but then some peeps are snobs when it comes to bike's as with most other thing's.....
  • plife
    plife Posts: 97
    jonbob78 wrote:
    Sadly I am limited restricted to Halfords !
    There are other shops which accept the Halfords vouchers - Pearsons, Sigma Sport, Leisure Lakes to name a few. Halfords will also source other bikes for you. I had a Halfords Cycle to work voucher and Halfords coudl get me Cannondale, Cube, Trek, Felt for example, however I ended up taking my voucher to Sigma Sport and got my bike there. :D
    Boardman FS Pro 2010
    Felt F5 2011
  • rob21
    rob21 Posts: 284
    jonbob78 wrote:
    Sadly I am limited restricted to Halfords !
    I bought my specialised hard tail through CWS and you dont have to use halfords,you just ring up and you order your bike from whatever bike shop you wish.
    instead of getting a voucher to collect if from halfords,they will arrange for the bike to be sent to you.
    i got mine from evans cycles....see below details of the bike........................




    Thank you for your enquiry about a special order bike through your Halfords Cycle2Work scheme. Please note your reference number 00127965

    Please could you respond to this email confirming that the detail below is the bicycle that you wish us to order.

    Bike Make: Specialized
    Bike Model: Hardrock Comp 2010
    Frame Size: 19"
    Colour: Charcoal
    Price: GBP 450.00

    You have requested that the bike is delivered to HOME DELIVERY

    Please note we are unable to check availability and order your bike until we have received your return email confirmation.

    Kind regards

    Lee Johnson
    Halfords Cycle2Work Team
    cycle2.work@halfords.co.uk
  • rob21
    rob21 Posts: 284
    plife wrote:
    jonbob78 wrote:
    Sadly I am limited restricted to Halfords !
    There are other shops which accept the Halfords vouchers - Pearsons, Sigma Sport, Leisure Lakes to name a few. Halfords will also source other bikes for you. I had a Halfords Cycle to work voucher and Halfords coudl get me Cannondale, Cube, Trek, Felt for example, however I ended up taking my voucher to Sigma Sport and got my bike there. :D
    +1

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