Are there any bad bikes out there?

sparkins1972

I am currently toying with moving from my much loved Ridgeback Genesis Day 2 flat barred bike to a drop barred road bke. I have spend literally days scouring the web for reviews on bikes in my price range (circa £1k) and have a large shortlist. I have included second hand bikes from the usual sources in my research and to be honest I am coming to the conclusion that I am probably wasting my time. Are there any truly bad bikes out there and would I as an experienced road cyclist on flat barred machines notice hugely an subtle differences in spec, frame etc that more experienced cyclists would notice? For example, my machine is currently equipped with Tiagra, so would I notice a huge step up to 105 for example given that I have nothing to really compare it to having used flat shifters etc.

The kind of bikes I have looked at are the usual suspects in that price range:

Boardman Team Carbon
PX Carbon Pro
Ribble Sportive / Gran Fondo
Focus Cayo
Trek 1.x & 2.x
Giant Defy
Specialized Allez

Obviously there is some difference between forking out £500 for a Allez compared to >£1k for something like the Gran Fondo etc. Would I notice the difference - I currently ride around 100 miles per week split into one 50 miler and two 25 milers, occasionally pushing up to 75 miles but have ambitions to push on to the 100 mile sportive type rides.

I guess the answer is get out there and test ride a few, which I have already done but I am coming ot the conslusion that anything I picked from that list would probably be OK and once I had accepted that a bog standard Allez is not as cool as some of the others on offer I would probably end up 6 months down the line wondering why I ever considered paying twice as much - whaddya all reckon?

STEFANOS4784

This one;

sparkins1972

Oooh I dunno - nice alloy frame, interesting spoke config on the front - maybe a bit too 'sit up and beg' but with a bit of tweaking that could go well

Weejie54

My bike wouldn't eat its Ready Brek this morning. Definitely a bad bike.

CiB

Are there any bad bikes? No, and certainly not at the price points that most of us in here start looking - around £500 and upwards.

The number of threads asking 'what bike' are generally a waste of time. We all post replies saying that <insert my own bike here> is the best. Better to go and buy what you like the look and feel of, and not admit to anyone what you bought so that no-one can tell you that you picked the wrong bike.

ian_s

One thing to be aware of is that there are significantly differing geometries for different riding styles.

If you compare an Allez with a Defy - the Allez is rather more racey geometry than the Defy which is more relaxed and suitable for longer rides touring/sportif etc. The Spesh Secteur is more like the Defy. Machines like the CAAD 9 and Focus are more in the racey category.

Then there is double/compact/triple..

None of them are bad, but they are significantly different.. So you need to decide what you intend to use it for and test ride accordingly.

rich164h

so would I notice a huge step up to 105 for example given that I have nothing to really compare it to having used flat shifters etc.

If you did a back to back test on two bike with these two groupsets, yes you would notice the difference. The 105 is definitely a step up in quality, but that's not to say that Tiagra is bad, it's not, but 105 is definitely better.

None of them are bad, but they are significantly different.. So you need to decide what you intend to use it for and test ride accordingly.

Indeed. This pretty much sums it up.

Weejie54

Just don't buy a Trek!

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12719455

Not a bad bike, but a bad warranty policy.

louthepoo

CiB wrote:

Are there any bad bikes? No, and certainly not at the price points that most of us in here start looking - around £500 and upwards.

The number of threads asking 'what bike' are generally a waste of time. We all post replies saying that <insert my own bike here> is the best. Better to go and buy what you like the look and feel of, and not admit to anyone what you bought so that no-one can tell you that you picked the wrong bike.

good answer, totally agree

sparkins1972

Yep I am fast realising that geometry and long ride comfort are the most importnat things for me more than necessarily having the lightest, flashest components.Now that that is clear I reckon I could get a list of about 5 bikes together stick a pin in and be happy with whatever I choose - the same was true when I bought my golf clubs, cricket bat etc etc. Whatever I get it has to be a bit better suited for my riding than my Ridgeback although I still reckon it is the dog's nuts.

On another tangent, Louthepoo, do you have any connection with Louth in Lincolnshire?

Simontheintrepid

I decided to avoid Boardmans and Carreras when I was looking for a road bike about a month ago because they are sold in Halfords and I (and the other cyclists I was talking to) don't rate the shop. Someone in a local store (who otherwise gave me some very good advice) was also quite vitriolic about Boardman design philosophy and said they were the only ones to avoid.

I can't help wondering if I'm being misguided though. Are these bikes any good?

Biles

Just try and test ride as many as you can and then buy the best you can afford that you feel comfortable with, cant go wrong then

CarleyB

defy 2 here http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Defy-2-20 ... _28367.htm

Bargain

sparkman

My mate bought a Boardman Hybrid comp.
He says he would NOT buy the bike again.
He does like my Ridgeback Velocity though, and it is a lot cheaper.
My roadbike is a Defy and I find it very comfortable on longish rides ie 60-80 miles +

louthepoo

sparkins1972 wrote:

Yep I am fast realising that geometry and long ride comfort are the most importnat things for me more than necessarily having the lightest, flashest components.Now that that is clear I reckon I could get a list of about 5 bikes together stick a pin in and be happy with whatever I choose - the same was true when I bought my golf clubs, cricket bat etc etc. Whatever I get it has to be a bit better suited for my riding than my Ridgeback although I still reckon it is the dog's nuts.

On another tangent, Louthepoo, do you have any connection with Louth in Lincolnshire?

no mate, originally from wellington shropshire but now living in wolverhampton. My nick name is lou and i'm amused by poo hence the name

bilirubin

CarleyB wrote:

defy 2 here http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Defy-2-20 ... _28367.htm

Bargain

Wow, I will second that, I paid £825.00 for my Defy 2 2010 in July.

Thanks for showing me that Carley

sparkins1972

louthepoo wrote:

sparkins1972 wrote:

Yep I am fast realising that geometry and long ride comfort are the most importnat things for me more than necessarily having the lightest, flashest components.Now that that is clear I reckon I could get a list of about 5 bikes together stick a pin in and be happy with whatever I choose - the same was true when I bought my golf clubs, cricket bat etc etc. Whatever I get it has to be a bit better suited for my riding than my Ridgeback although I still reckon it is the dog's nuts.

On another tangent, Louthepoo, do you have any connection with Louth in Lincolnshire?

no mate, originally from wellington shropshire but now living in wolverhampton. My nick name is lou and i'm amused by poo hence the name

a-ha - that makes total sense although I am not sure I would admit to a poo fetish on a public forum, I understand there are 'specialist' forums that cover such stuff