Wilier IZOARD XP XENON or GIANT TCR 0. or other suggestions

Nigee

Hi

I have found 2 bikes I like the look of and would like to know what people think, they are

Wilier IZOARD XP XENON or GIANT TCR 0. or other suggestions

http://www.wilierbikes.co.uk/2011/detai ... No=11IZXEN

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bik ... 838/45437/

I have a giant TCX which I love but I have 2 mates who have been out and got road bikes. One is a Felt Z85 and the other a Ridley Black..

We ride once or twice a week and look to do 40-50 miles. We are not speed whips but like to ride at a good pace for middle age dads...

I am thinking around the £1500 mark but need to know what to go for.

Carbon?
Alu?
Shimano or other ?

We dont do race meets but like the ride of the race bike.

Please let me have any ideas...

nigee

Pross

Try a few out and pick the one that feels best. If you have two that feel as good as each other pick the one you like best. Bit confused that the poll you set up asks a different question and one that generally stirs up a hornets nest! FWIW I had the same budget and bought a Scott CR1 Comp with Tiagra / 105 kit but there were plenty of other bikes that were as good I just liked the Scott the most.

Nigee

Thanks for that.. My mate has the felt and is well happy with it.

I will look to take the Giant and the Wilier out for a ride this week if I can.

The poll was due to the fact that the 2 bikes have the 2 different sets of equipment on. I was just looking for comments like yours to see what the feelings were.

Thanks
Nigee

Mad Roadie

Nigee
Wilier all the way

Valy

Try between the Shimano and Campag as the shifting methods are different.

Nigee

why are they different?
will one be softer than the other or one out last another..

StillGoing

Campag has thumb levers on the hoods whereas Shimano uses the brake levers as the second part of the shift mechanism. Both manufacturers are as good as each other, it just comes down to personal preference and if you've got small hands, it's easier to shift gear from the drops using Shimano. Campag users will swear blind Campag is the best but they're just more insecure about their purchase and like to convince themselves.

furrag

Try and keep the bikes in your fleet the same groupset manufacturer, so I'd go with whatever your Giant TCX is.

Also worth considering is if you ever start looking for your next upgrade, second hand wheels with a Shimano freehub are a lot easier to find!

DickieH

Good points.

Shimano on a Wilier though, is that allowed?

I heard somebody once suggest choosing based on how the hoods and controls feel to you.

Nigee

Thanks for that.

I like the giant but the wilier just looked the part.
I have been looking for bikes more on looks rather than knowing anything about what I need to have.

Have I got side tracked and should I be looking at another brand of bike.

Ok another question

Carbon frame.. I read that if I had one then some parts like forks or handle bars might need to be replaced in 3 years, Or is this just wrong..

Nigee

Shimano on a Wilier though, is that allowed?

No it's not to put shimano on wilier it was to see what felt the best.
I love the look of the wilier but have not used the campag so wanted to make sure they were a good group set for me...

Cheers nigee

ilm_zero7

DickieH wrote:

Good points.

Shimano on a Wilier though, is that allowed?

.

it should be illegal, 100 lashes with the flexi off my Joe Blow track pump, the first 50 with the valve attachment still on!

ilm_zero7

Nigee
just bought a second Wilier - this time with full chorus - it is so much better than the Ultegra 6700 on my other (US) bike

pst88

If it's the choice between Campagnolo and Shimano I'd pick Campagnolo every time, but.... Xenon is the lowest groupset in the Campagnolo range (in fact it has been discontinued) whereas I believe Ultegra is fairly high up in the Shimano range. There's nothing wrong with Xenon, I have it on my bike, but I think £1500 for a Xenon equipped bike is a bit over the odds?

Although that said, the frame on the Wilier is probably better (because it take up a higher percentage of the overall cost right?). With these two choices you're basically looking at the choice between a more expensive frame with a less expensive groupset or a (comparatively) less expensive frame with a more expensive groupset.