Focus Variado Expert Compact 2010

NaapjusuN1

jones1328 wrote:

Judging by the picture posted by EdB999, it appears the bike comes with different tyres and a different handlebar compared to the model shown on the Wiggle website. Is this correct?

The tyres that come with the bike are Continental Ultra Sport 25mm. Not sure about the handlebar. It does seem to bother me why they arent using 23mm instead as its what most people prefer to go for.

Even on the Focus website it says that the bike comes with Continental Ultra Sport 25mm, yet Wiggle decide to put Schwalbe Lugano in their description.

bendertherobot

That is a tad irritating. I'll prob stick Krylions on there anyway.

zebulon

bendertherobot wrote:

That is a tad irritating. I'll prob stick Krylions on there anyway.

I have heard that since they are being made in Taiwan, their quality has dropped considerably.
What about Conti GP4000S or Michelin Pro 3 Race?

edb999

NaapjusuN1 wrote:

The tyres that come with the bike are Continental Ultra Sport 25mm. Not sure about the handlebar. It does seem to bother me why they arent using 23mm instead as its what most people prefer to go for.

No, the tyres are 23 mm - Continental ultra sports 700x23c

father_jack

redvision wrote:

sorry mate, wasnt having a dig at you. just wanted some opinions.
my best bike is a focus cayo (i love the focus range) and have been trying to decide if i should get this for the winter.

havent been cycling for long, but i remember what the winter did to my old roadie last year.

saying that, if you clean it after each ride it should be fine right?
and i guess its defo worth paying for the comfort. at that time of year the last thing you want is an uncomfy bike!

Unless you can fit full length mudguards and possibly panniers as well (change of clothes, waterproofs) I would not consider a road bike as a winter bike.

bendertherobot

Father Jack wrote:

redvision wrote:

sorry mate, wasnt having a dig at you. just wanted some opinions.
my best bike is a focus cayo (i love the focus range) and have been trying to decide if i should get this for the winter.

havent been cycling for long, but i remember what the winter did to my old roadie last year.

saying that, if you clean it after each ride it should be fine right?
and i guess its defo worth paying for the comfort. at that time of year the last thing you want is an uncomfy bike!

Unless you can fit full length mudguards and possibly panniers as well (change of clothes, waterproofs) I would not consider a road bike as a winter bike.

Why do I need panniers? I take my clothes in on a Sunday and pick the others up the following week.

As far as mudguards are concerned I'm pretty happy running raceguards.

father_jack

meh raceguards are pants...also being winter bike...filth, wet. Panniers are ace dunno what you're missing..

And how do you take your clothes in? They all fit in a saddle bag? ;-)

bendertherobot

Father Jack wrote:

meh raceguards are pants...also being winter bike...filth, wet. Panniers are ace dunno what you're missing..

And how do you take your clothes in? They all fit in a saddle bag? ;-)

Umm, in the car? Drive in once a week, leave it there? Dead easy see.

Being a winter bike just means not spoiling your other one as far as I am concerned.

father_jack

a car????

KingCustard

My Variado arrived today.

Happy as a pig in poo! It's just gorgeous (to my untrained eyes, anyway). First time I've been out on a road bike, & have to say that it was a dream to ride. Just need to get used to the shifting (kept getting confused as to whether I was shifting up or down on the rear gears, but that's me being a numpty - used to having an indicator tell me where I am in the gearing), & the riding position - handling wasn't too much of a problem although I was a little wobbly at times. Have to say that the hills I used to struggle with on my hybrid were an absolute dream on this. So much easier climbing it was untrue, I was up the one hill before I even realised where I was!

Can't wait to get out on it again & go for another spin! Only downside is that I've got to fit the cleats to my shoes & ride clipless for the first time as well - not looking forward to falling off!

meanredspider

That's good. I fell off mine within a mile (I was too impatient to try it after Xmas and discovered just how little grip Schwalbe Luganos have on ice :oops:) At least I got over the "precious" stage quickly.

1700 miles later and I'm still very happy with it. Dumped the Luganos as I didn't manage to do a single ride without a puncture :roll: whereas the Gators have been nothing short of excellent on the same roads. My only minor regret is the size - wish I'd gone for 58 rather than 56 but that's just a learning curve.

I've only had one unclipping incident - arrived at a junction on my Kona MTB to discover my front brakes had frozen solid (-9c) and a car was coming. I was so busy braking with the rear that by the time I'd stopped, it was too late to unclip the foot on the side the bike was leaning!

Unclip early is my advice until it becomes second nature.

antlaff

ditto

antlaff

meanredspider wrote:

- wish I'd gone for 58 rather than 56 but that's just a learning curve.

.

thinking of getting one myself - what size are you? im 5'11 with 32 leg so was going for the 56 - living in N.Ireland I dont qualify for the 30day free trial so need to make sure!!

zebulon

Hi,

Is it delivered with pedals? Or did you buy them separately?

KingCustard

Mine came with standard pedals, I'd already bought a set of Shimano A530 pedals to fit to it.

chuckrock57

Really looking forward to the arrival of mine too, very pleased to read all the positive comments from the lucky ones that have theirs already.

The Peddler

Bought this as my first road bike, had been looking for a while but budget was tight and this seemed to good an offer to miss (well for me it was) Had it a week now really pleased with it, then I'm easily pleased for a forty seven year old who always had a mountain bike or a hybrid it's well worth the money.

lancejambo

Will the bike take proper mudguards on it. for that price it would be a good winter bike

The Peddler

No place to attach them.

zebulon

KingCustard wrote:

Mine came with standard pedals, I'd already bought a set of Shimano A530 pedals to fit to it.

These are exactly the ones I was considering! Are they good?

antlaff

zebulon wrote:

KingCustard wrote:

Mine came with standard pedals, I'd already bought a set of Shimano A530 pedals to fit to it.

These are exactly the ones I was considering! Are they good?

I have these pedals - great for commuting with the double side - I clip out in traffic sometimes and spin over to the flat side just in case !!!

CRC have them at £33.99 p&p

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28050

zebulon

antlaff wrote:

I have these pedals - great for commuting with the double side - I clip out in traffic sometimes and spin over to the flat side just in case !!!

CRC have them at £33.99 p&p

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28050

Many thanks

alim0229

I'm also considering a road bike and have stumbled across this thread. I have a hybrid and have £500 to spend. I was thinking of getting the Specialized Allez. However, it seems this bikes seem to be very good value at present according to this thread

How does it compare to the Specialized Allez 16 or 24? Is there a big weight difference between the two?

I was thinking of getting the triple chainset as not very fit, do you think I can get away with a double chainset in the focus - I live in a hilly area

zebulon

According to the experts in a store close to my place, compact chainsets are suitable for hilly areas because you can use the whole rear sprocket range with both chainsets. The only reserve would be in a mountain area with really steep roads. He also said that you need to get used to the narrow position of the feet first.

The big advantage of the Focus is the price for this equipment, the Spec Allez having Tiagra shifters for a higher price (I read that there was a big quality gap between Tiagra and 105, compared to 105 and Ultrega). When you look at the price of the 105 shifters, brakes and read derailleur separately, it is extremely interesting.

Hurry up anyway, the 54cm is already sold out for the compact version! Mine should arrive tomorrow :twisted:

alim0229

is this quite a heavy bike or only heavy compared to £1000 bikes and not too bad compared to £500-600 bikes?

southernfriedchicken2001

I looked at the Allez but the spec on the Variado was too good to ignore. The Allez was a nice piece of kit, well desigend (I espicially liked the semi domed top tube) and comfortable to sit on (in the shop at least!), but for only a few pounds more you get the Shimano 105 equipment.

Wiggle phoned earlier to say the bike they were building for me had a damaged frame so I've got to wait until Wednesday for delivery. Hopefully I'll post back then if I'm not lying in a ditch somewhere due to riding clipless for the first time.......

alim0229

Sorry for the really daft question, but what advantages does the 105 kit offer over the cheaper groupset on the Allez 16?

night_porter

alim0229 wrote:

Sorry for the really daft question, but what advantages does the 105 kit offer over the cheaper groupset on the Allez 16?

The really honest answer must be bling or because other bikers will think you have a more expensive bike.

If I press the lever and the bike changes gear I am happy if it doesn't I am not. Shimano make gears that work at all prices.

Don't underestimate the power of bling though!

alim0229

For someone like me, who doesn't know much about bikes and the bling side of it, I am still better of buying the Focus or would I better buying a cheaper perhaps lighter bike.

I live in a very hilly area and the bikeradar review suggests this bike is hard to pedal up hills, hence my concerns

I would really appreciate your advice especially as they seem to be selling fast

Is this really a knowbrainer or actually are there better or more sesnible alternatives for me

I test rode a Specialized Allez Elite with the 105 gearset which admittedly quite nice compared to my hydrid

father_jack

alim0229 wrote:

Sorry for the really daft question, but what advantages does the 105 kit offer over the cheaper groupset on the Allez 16?

It lightens you by about 50grams in money. Every bit of weight saving helps!