Is this bike worth £450?

rando

I am still deliberating which road bike to buy and for value for money I keep going back to the bike with the following specification for £450:

Frame: Airlite AL6061 Butted semi-compact frame with Mudguard clearance
Fork :EVO Carbon fork with alloy steering stem
Front Derailleur: SHIMANO TIAGRA
Rear Derailleur: SHIMANO TIAGRA
Shifters: Shimano Tiagra Sti
Chainset: OMEGA COMPACT
Chainrings: 50 /34T
Cassette: 12-25T
Pedals: Wellgo alloy pedals with toe clips
Front Brake: Tektro R320 short-reach calipers
Rear Brake: Tektro R320 short-reach calipers
Brake Levers: Shimano Tiagra Sti
Handlebars: FSA RD-320 S compact handle bar
Stem: TDS 362
Grips: White EVA bar tape
Rims: Rigida Flyer
Front Hub: Formula QR Alloy
Rear Hub: Formula QR Alloy
Front Tyre: Michelin Dynamic 25mm
Rear Tyre: Michelin Dynamic 25mm
Saddle: San Marco Ischia saddle
Weight: 9.8kg

Now the other bike I am considering is this for £420 :

Frame: Alpha White Aluminium
Fork: Aluminium
Front Derailleur: Shimano 2300
Rear Derailleur: Shimano 2300
Shifters: Shimano 2300 STI, 8 speed
Chainset: FSA Tempo
Chainrings: 50/34 tooth Chainrings
Cassette: Sun Race CSR86 12-25 tooth, 8 speed
Pedals: Nylon body with alloy cage
Front Brake: Alloy dual pivot
Rear Brake: Alloy dual pivot
Brake Levers: Shimano 2300 STI levers
Handlebars: Bontrager Sport, 26.0mm
Stem: Bontrager Approved, 15 degree, 26.0mm
Headset: Aheadset Slimstak with semi-cartridge bearings, sealed
Rims: Bontrager Approved alloy rims
Front Hub: Alloy hubs
Rear Hub: Alloy hubs
Front Tyre: Bontrager Sport, 700x23c
Rear Tyre: Bontrager Sport, 700x23c
Saddle: Bontrager R1
Seatpost: Bontrager SSR
Weight: 22.35lbs (10.14kg) Approx.

So surely for roughly the same money the first bike with Tiagra is the better bike ?
I have purposely not given the make & model numbers for either bike as I am sure the brand names play a part in people stating a preference.
I suspect some of you will guess the makes anyway but please tell me why the bike with Tiagra is not better value for money than the one with shimano 2300.

ride_whenever

I've ridden the first one and I know why you've left the brand names off!

It is far better specced for the money and a rather nice little bike to ride. Personally I hate the colour, but if you like the crazy euro styling then go for it!

spasypaddy

the bontrager is a bit of a give away on the second one as well (i also know what the first one is)

the parts are better on the first one, but until youve test ridden them both you wont really know which one you want.

ride quality >>> parts.

ShutUpLegs

No, you'll get better value for money buying 2nd hand

rando

ShutUpLegs wrote:

No, you'll get better value for money buying 2nd hand

Well I have looked at the second hand route and have not come across anything with a better spec for the money. Also i am wary of second habd route as i don't really know what i am looking for so i could end up buying a dud and wasting my money. At least buying new i can take it back if i get any problems.

JamesFree

Keep looking secondhand,

I managed to pick up a barely used Ribble with 105/Ultegra mix for only £400

andy46

i have the second one and love it

nochekmate

My best secondhand buy for the £400 budget?

Full carbon Isaac Pascal with Shimano 105 10 speed throughout. Shimano wheelset WH500 (nothing startling I know). Bike in excellent condition as were components. Owner was emigrating. Bought for a colleague who is delighted with it!

The occasional bargain is out there at all budgets.

unixnerd

Keep looking secondhand,

I managed to pick up a barely used Ribble with 105/Ultegra mix for only £400

Same here with a Cannondale.

Slow Downcp

I sold a Bianchi Via Nirone Alu Carbon Veloce for £450 with less than 200 miles done on it - luckily on cycle to work so didn;t lose any money. Kepp looking, for less than £500 second hand bikes are the best bet

rando

Seems that there are bargains to be had second hand then so I will keep looking . I notice that there is a Trek 1.5 in the classifieds that looks good for £600 ono.
Still not sure though if buying new is better for me just for the piece of mind. I will only have this money to spend once and so do not want to make a mistake.
Can't believe buying a bike has proved so difficult !

rando

Does this look a good buy for the money ? see http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0694309422

(if links to ebay are not allowed then please remove this post)

cooper.michael1

rando wrote:

Does this look a good buy for the money ? see http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0694309422

(if links to ebay are not allowed then please remove this post)

Massive frame, be careful with size if this is your first bike.

cooper.michael1

The Raleigh is better spec'ed but the trek will have a better resale value, if you decide to sell it in the future.

rando

cooper.michael1 wrote:

rando wrote:

Does this look a good buy for the money ? see http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0694309422

(if links to ebay are not allowed then please remove this post)

Massive frame, be careful with size if this is your first bike.

Have been measured for a Trek bike at lbs and 60cm was the right size for me. I am only 6ft 2" tall but have long legs according to the man that did the fitting. They adjusted the saddle and bars for me and must say it felt comfortable.

cooper.michael1

Try to take out a 60cm on a test ride. I'm 6'1 and my first bike, I was recommended to buy a 60cm, by a local specialist which in reality was miles too big for me.

Leg length is only on factor, and reach i'd say is as important if not more so. If the frame is too big, and the reach is too long, you have to run a short stem which affects the steering. If what he is saying is that you have long legs and a short back for your height, do you want a long bike? test ride, test ride, test ride.

I now ride a 56cm frame, with a longer stem and compact bar so it is personal choice. This combination allows the drops to be comfortable, and therefore aids the variety of positions I can use and my aerodynamics. I could have never got into the drops on the 60cm bike.

hammerite

rando wrote:

cooper.michael1 wrote:

rando wrote:

Does this look a good buy for the money ? see http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0694309422

(if links to ebay are not allowed then please remove this post)

Massive frame, be careful with size if this is your first bike.

Have been measured for a Trek bike at lbs and 60cm was the right size for me. I am only 6ft 2" tall but have long legs according to the man that did the fitting. They adjusted the saddle and bars for me and must say it felt comfortable.

Agree with Michael, you can put your saddle up higher if you have long legs, it's the reach which is important.

You're 3" taller than me, and would be riding a bike 6cm bigger, now I know other proportions may be different, but it sounds quite a big frame for someone 6' 2. I think a 56 or 58 would be more suitable.

nochekmate

I'm almost 6ft 2 (6ft 1 and 1/2) and would never be riding a 60cm bike irrespective of what the shop told me because the top tube length is usually far too long - for my normally proportioned upper body. Looking at it cynically the shop might be struggling to shift the large-framed bike! 58cm is as big a frame as I ever need tbh.

The Trek 1.5 that you mentioned at £600 would not have me itching to pick it up - they usually fetch around the £500 mark IME

rando

nochekmate wrote:

I'm almost 6ft 2 (6ft 1 and 1/2) and would never be riding a 60cm bike irrespective of what the shop told me because the top tube length is usually far too long - for my normally proportioned upper body. Looking at it cynically the shop might be struggling to shift the large-framed bike! 58cm is as big a frame as I ever need tbh.

The Trek 1.5 that you mentioned at £600 would not have me itching to pick it up - they usually fetch around the £500 mark IME

It did cross my mind that the lbs were trying to get rid of the 2010 stock of Trek's. But having said that it did not feel too stretched on the reach on the 60cm frame. The same shop also stocks Giants and tried a Defy 4 which they stated I needed an XL but not sure how giant frames measurements compare to Treks. Would be easier for a beginner if all manufacturers used the same measurment criteria !! Maybe I need to try another lbs and state I want a 2011 bike so that I can try different sizes. I do not want to be too stooped over the drop bars though - I prefer them to be raised more to give a more upright position to help with my lower back .
Also thanks for the advice on the Trek 1.5 in classifieds.

cooper.michael1

Do not buy a bigger frame becuase you dont want to be 'stooped', you should look at a bikes geometry so solve this. In reality a bike that is too big is dangerous, as it will not be stable, and you'll have difficulty reaching the drops especially going downhill where the front of the bike falls away from you.

Buy a bike with relaxed geometry and but 2cm of spacers on the steerer tube. A bike with a relaxed geomerty will have and longer head tube, and with the spacers you'll be resonably upright.

This is where you should avoid bikes becuase the have 'tour de france' geometry etc...you and I and 90% of the people on here are not a supple as the professionals. It is also why you should buy a bike not on the groupset but the frame, and how well it fits. You can always upgrade parts, but if the frame is wrong, its just wrong.

I'd agree with nocheckmate and suggest a 58cm sportive frame would be worth a test ride,

MrIP

Hi rando

I ride a 2008 Trek 1.2 in a 58cm with 11 cm stem which is perfect size for me and I'm 6' 2" with long legs. The Trek frame have good geometry for you with a good length head tube. As most people have said a 60 cm Trek sounds too big. I would say you need to be looking for around a 57cm H top tube and 11 cm stem. Based on my 3 bikes and my size which sounds about the same as you.

Good luck with your choice.

Regards

Mrip

rando

MrIP wrote:

Hi rando

I ride a 2008 Trek 1.2 in a 58cm with 11 cm stem which is perfect size for me and I'm 6' 2" with long legs. The Trek frame have good geometry for you with a good length head tube. As most people have said a 60 cm Trek sounds too big. I would say you need to be looking for around a 57cm H top tube and 11 cm stem. Based on my 3 bikes and my size which sounds about the same as you.

Good luck with your choice.

Regards

Mrip

Thanks for the advice Mrip......I am going to take another visit to the lbs and try out some smaller frames and get them to set the stem to a comfortable height.
Appreciate all the advice from everyone so far. Thanks.