And so it begins...Advice appreciated :-)

rob\'s_lexx

Hi everyone,

I've been lurking around these forums for a little while now and have finally decided to sign up and post away :-)

Hopefully, some of the members can help me out with some questions I have and get me on my way with my first road bike :-))

Basically, my current situation is that i want to get into road biking - recreational riding is my aim, so maybe twice weekly around the Leicesterhire country roads etc. I'm quite an active person (regular gym goer and I play squash) so I enjoy the fitness side of things. I'm oooking for a first road bike and have been scoping out various models for the past month or so. The market is swamped with entry level bikes and i'm rally finding it hard to narrow my choice down.

At present, my criteria is a sub 1000 pound bike that will last me a fair while as is (i.e. i don't want to find myself upgrading components in a month's time!!). A lot of things i've read seem to suggest going for bikes with Shimano 105 groupsets?? A friend of mine has a 2010 Specialized Secteur Elite and its very nice. I went to the local Specialized store to look at the 2011 version and i like the look of it, and this model has SRAM apex which i've read is very nice also. Other bikes i've looked at are the Trek 2.1 (slightly over budget, but we have a Trek bike store locally), Moda Rubato (gorgeous looking, with great wheels and frame by all accounts, but not sure on the Microshift groupset??) and the Giant Defy1 or 2, and, dare I say it, a Boardman Comp (but Halfords custoer serice is a bit of a put off there)

I'm completely stuck as to which way to go, so any advice (good or bad) would be greatly appreciated!! I've managed to negotiate prices on all of the above to include pedal set and shoes for 1000 pounds all in (give or take a few pounds).

Of course, I'm open to suggestions on other bikes that should be worth considering, but one thing i don't want to do is buy something online without having the opportunity to see/ride one in the flesh.

Thanks in advance,

Rob

andrewjoseph

make sure the bike you buy is comfortable, good bike fit is more important than practically anything else.

The shop should be able to fit a more appropriate stem/saddle/pedals before you take it home.

I had a boardman comp, but I bought it boxed from halfords and put it together myself. great bike, my son is now riding it.

rob\'s_lexx

Thanks for the replies guys :-)

Well I don't want to spend more than £1000 top end if I'm honest. So that kind of rules out carbon framed bikes. I'm not intending on racing it, so don't want anything too aggressive - hence the bikes I've listed in the original post are those that felt both comfortable and were suitable for recreational riding but still have the flexibility of ring able to be pushed hard in a race type environment should I want to.

What I really want to gauge from people in the know such as yourselves, is what is the better bike that falls into this price/use bracket? Is the microshift groupset any good? Are moda bikes any good? Is it Breyer to get good components but poorer quality wheels, or vice versa? Is there that big a difference between 105 groups and sora or tiagra fir example?

Basically, if you had a grand to spend on a road bike and those mentioned above were of interest, where would you put your money, and why??

Really do appreciate everyone's time - just want to make sure I'm as clued up as possible before parting with my hard earned ££

Rob

carl_p

For what it's worth Cycling Plus recently reviewed bikes in that price point.

The Moda Rubato scored 9/10 and was equal top with the KHS Flite. Moda has more of a race geometry, whereas the KHS was more of a sportive/lomg ride bike. The KHS has 105 and is also very well specced elsewhere. The Moda has this Microshift - a new kid on the block and I'd wait until it builds up a reputation before I would consider this tbh.

I think you can also get a Cube Attempt for £999, which might also be a consideration.

MattJPaul

Yep, Cube Attempt double or triple for £999, or likely somewhere around £900 with minimal haggling at your LBS (I overheard someone at my LBS asking about prices elsewhere and with that tiny prompt the guy offered 10%).

You get a hell of a lot for the money with the Attempt; it's near if not at the very top of my list.

Bobbinogs

Hello there and welcome on board to the forum.

To be honest, there are not many bad bikes around at that level and many of us who offer a specific preference will be basing it on what we like or have.

I think the best bet is to do what you are doing, as in getting along to a few shops, chat to the folks there and see what test rides you can get. Evans are quite good (although quite patchy in service/knowledge levels), Leisurelakes are excellent (IMHO) and there are many other good independents too (like Epic). Halfords sell the Boardmans which is a good range but I personally would not recommend Halfords to a newbie (many will come on here screaming the opposite btw and their comments will be valid/based on their experience).

There is not that much different between the groupsets (like Tiagra/105 but for a grand I would expect 10 sp as standard). Shimano/Campag/Sram, all very good and again it often comes down to personal preference in the shifters as much as anything else.

See what feels comfortable and make sure the shop talk about a decent fit BEFORE your test ride (getting the seat fore/aft and height position right is very important if you want to spend 4 or 5 hours on your machine and the saddle position can make a big difference to the feeling with the bars). Take you time and enjoy the selection, it can be bewildering but if you listen to your body then it will help you make the right choice!

MattJPaul

Bobbinogs and I have the same LBS, it seems (Leisurelakes), and I agree that they're excellent.

rob\'s_lexx

Guys, thankyou for the helpful input so far!! and thanks for the warm welcome to the forum :-)

I am certinly not going to dive on in and buy a bike in a spur of the moment decision. I definitely want it to be right for me, but importantly i want to mae sure i'm getting value for money.

I think the advice to hang on until the Microshift has become a little more established is a good one. But that Moda is very good looking IMHO. That particular BS also has the Scott S30 and S20 in stock which fall into my price bracket also....

I have yet to see any Cube bikes in the flesh, there is no where immediately close to me that sells them I don't think (i live in Loughborough).

Half of me is wondering whether spending £550 on a Giant Defy 3 is going to do me just fine in comparisson to spending £1000 on a Specialized Secteur Elite of Trek 2.1 for example? I believe the Giant comes with a Shimano 2300 group?? Any good?

What I really don't want to happen is to save a few hundred pounds by buying a cheaper bike, but then end up regretting not buying the more expensive one because the components on the lower priced bike are naff/unreiable etc etc. I guess in essence what i' asking is are the £500-600 priced bikes worth the money, or are you better off spending that little bit more??

With regards road testing bikes, what is the best thing to do if my LBS has the bike i'm interested in stock, but the frame is the wrong size etc?? Do i take the smaller/larger framed bike out to at least get a feel for the bike?

I can see this being a long drawn out selection that's gonna make my head hurt!!

Bobbinogs

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12774691

rob\'s_lexx

An interesting read, thankyou :-)

So are the KHS bikes a big name in road bikes then? I haven't stumbled across them until now, but that Flite 500 sounds/looks like a great value well specced bike! Is it a relaxed geometry bike similar to the secteur? Would someone like leisurelakes be likely to sort a deal out on a their bikes or are they not like the smaller bike stores in that respect?

Rob

night_porter

Having read your original post I would suggest that you have already eliminated a few bikes. The Moda is out because of the groupset - The Trek is out because it is over budget - The Boardman is out because of Halfords. I must say that I agree with these decisions and the logic behind them.

Without adding different bikes into the mix because they are not in your local bike shops and you are unable to see them. Also you have already negotiated good prices so the value side is taken care of.

This leaves the Defys and the Secteurs. I deliberately used the plurals because both bikes are actually a group of bikes both groups use exactly the same frames e.g. all Defys use the same frames and all Secteurs use the same frames albeit they all come in different colours.

The result of this is that you can pay more and get a more expensive groupset or pay less and get a cheaper groupset. This is the important part of my post all groupsets change gear when asked to do so, the high and the low gears are usually the same, the number of gears doesn't really make a lot of difference!

I own and ride 8 speed, 9 speed & 10 speed bikes and it makes no difference which one I am riding I ride at my speed. IMHO the 8 speed is stronger because the chain is thicker followed by the 9 speed and then the 10 speed.

So choose a bike because you like the ride and then the groupset you feel most comfortable paying for or the one you get the best discount on.

Ride and be happy with your choice.

ThatBikeGuy

I'd go for the spesh, looks good, SRAM is a good groupo to have and the bike will last you ages so long as you look after it!

rob\'s_lexx

Thanks for your advice night_porter :-)

You are right in that the frames are the same - I believe there are differences in the front fork on the defy range, with carbon coming into the mix at the Defy 3.

I am interested in this KHS as it looks like a nice bike and certainly is well specced for the money - just trying to ascertain how good/well established the company are in terms of their road bikes?

I know what u mean about all the groups changing gear when u want them to and this is exactly what a perhaps 'ignorant' me assumed when I first started looking around for bikes. So why the reason for the difference in price/opinions on say 2300 vs sora vs tiagra vs 105 etc etc? What is it that makes one groupset more expensive that the other? Is it weight, is it longevity of use etc?

Rob

ThatBikeGuy

Basically it's just what you said there, lightness and longevity. The 105 obviously being the best however i run the Sora groupset on one of my bikes and it functions OK. I'll probably upgrade it to 105 at some point but you won't really notice too much difference except in weight, with perhaps better shifting and brake power on the 105 as compared to the 2300.

night_porter

I don't believe the weight will make any difference and as for longevity I can honestly say I have never worn a mech out I have broken them through misuse but not worn them away.

The real difference is desirability/marketing and our yearning to believe that if we pay more it must make us go faster.

My wifes bike uses a basic Shimano index rear mech and it has worked fine for the last 15 years but she is totally unaffected by bike bling like we are.....I rest my case!

BelgianBeerGeek

Got to agree with NP above. Most components will work just fine for your type of riding. I'd look more carefully at the frame as a good fitting one will be with you for longer, the other bits can be changed easily enough. Also, I think the Giants have fittings for mudguards, not sure about the Spesh. A good set of guards will extend your cyclng season and keep you and your bike cleaner. Unless you don't mind getting a wet backside.

solboy

Cayo 105, its carbon has a great spec and you can buy from Wiggle on their 30 day test ride scheme meaning if its no good you can return it all hassle free. No Braininer - BTW i dont ride a Cayo but i have ridden them and pound for pound they are the best £1000 bike on the market.

night_porter

There is a lot to be said about buying a bike from Wiggle or Evans with their 30 day test rides, providing you know how to "tweak" the setup for your needs. I think they both will also price match other internet suppliers too.

There is a few warnings that go with it too, they are:

Any accessories that you buy are not included in the trial period, so if you use them you own them.

Any bike that is discounted more than 15% is not included in the test period, if you use it you own it.

You are unable to negotiate on price or to get discount on the things you buy alongside the bike, the price you see is the price you pay.

You are limited to what bikes/models they carry, I don't think either of them sell the KHS you were thinking about.

rob\'s_lexx

cheers for the heads up guys :-)

so what are KHS like as a road bike manufacturer?

are evans/wiggle likely to negotiate on price - i mean, for example, would they chuck in a pedal set and shoes for 'no extra cost' on top of the bike (that's what managed to negotiate wih a few other LBS's)??

The cayo seems a good buy for sure, i assume the full carbon frame will be lighter as well as help in reducing vibration?

rob

rob\'s_lexx

also, are ribble bikes only available from their online bikebuilder store? is there nowhere that sells them and allows test rides etc?