Carrera Virtuoso advice.

malik01
malik01 Posts: 8
edited August 2011 in Road buying advice
Looking for an entry level bike for commuting to work. Have just seen the Carrera Virtuoso on sale at Halfords and with discount codes have got the price down to £260. Is it a good buy at that price. Thanks.

Comments

  • martincashman
    martincashman Posts: 116
    Yes.

    Have one as a winter bike and it is a very enjoyable ride, sturdy with good gear range. Not the lightest bike but for the price it's hard to beat.

    http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... o-09-34691
    MTB HardTail: GT Aggressor XC2 '09
    Road Summer(s): Kuota Kharma '10
    Road Winter(w): Carrera Virtuoso '10
    Full Suspension: Trek Fuel Ex 8 '11

    http://app.strava.com/athletes/130161
  • mouth
    mouth Posts: 1,195
    Consider the TDF as well, if you can stand the colour scheme. I've got one and there's little to choose between the two.
    The only disability in life is a poor attitude.
  • Berk Bonebonce
    Berk Bonebonce Posts: 1,245
    Eyelets for full length mudguards are no bad thing on a commuting bike. But I am not sure what an 'entry level' commuting bike is.
  • mouth
    mouth Posts: 1,195
    Berk Bonebonce wrote:
    Eyelets for full length mudguards are no bad thing on a commuting bike. But I am not sure what an 'entry level' commuting bike is.

    Doesn't matter. Before long I predict the following posts:

    "£1k budget for new bike. help"

    "Should I join a club?"

    "London-Paris advice"

    "Should I take the kids to Legoland or buy new wheels?"

    Entry level or not, before long we will have ourselves another fully fledged roadie. FWIW the TdF has a slightly better spec, but by God its real ugly compared to the virtuoso.
    The only disability in life is a poor attitude.
  • okeydokey79
    okeydokey79 Posts: 89
    lookin at the same 2 bikes myself the TDF and the Virtuoso but both have different chainsets(hope i got that right :oops: ) the tdf on reviews seems to have a bigger lower gear than the Virtuoso making it harder for the hilly climbs? am i correct with this assumption? maybe my legs would be better with the virtuoso?
  • bails1310
    bails1310 Posts: 361
    What was the code you have for that price?
    Kuota Kharma Race [Dry/Sunny]
    Raleigh Airlite 100 [Wet/Horrible]
  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    Owned a Virtuoso and sold it after four weeks. It was just too 'low rent' in every way to be a 'proper' bike- unbranded chainset,heavy wheels, non carbon fork, shifters/gearing that were a sod to set up right etc etc.

    Having said that,it all depends what you are used to and it IS only £260 so you can't expect much more than this.

    And it would be ok for commuting.
  • mouth
    mouth Posts: 1,195
    okeydokey79 wrote:
    lookin at the same 2 bikes myself the TDF and the Virtuoso but both have different chainsets(hope i got that right :oops: ) the tdf on reviews seems to have a bigger lower gear than the Virtuoso making it harder for the hilly climbs? am i correct with this assumption? maybe my legs would be better with the virtuoso?

    Right about the gears my friend. Hills are a bit of a killer but eventually you'll get used to them. Before long you'd shift up to the next gear anyway on the Virtuoso unless on a major climb. On a positive you do get Shimano 2300 shifters on the tdf.Couldn't be sure of the Vitruoso. Sturmey's comment about low-rentedness is about right, but under £300 there is very little else. Next step is the basic Allez/Trek stuff starting around £500, which is a big step.

    As a first road bike I think its a good buy for the price. And will make a good winter trainer/commuter next year after you spend £1k on something carbon for Summer...........
    The only disability in life is a poor attitude.

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