claud butler bikes, which one?

pieman99

Hello all, looking at buying one of these bikes:


http://www.all-about-the-bike.co.uk/cla ... 4921-p.asp

http://www.all-about-the-bike.co.uk/cla ... 4923-p.asp

With a difference of about £100 between the two, will i really notice much difference in performance between the two, in terms of ride, etc. My bike at the moment is about 10 years old, 12 gears, gear lever on the down tube! So any bike i think will be an upgrade to what i have, but will either of the above ones be better than the other?

Thanks (hope the links work!!)

Sgt_Pepper

I'd take the bike with Tiagra over the other.

What about this bike.

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... &vid=13241

or for a little more than the Claud you could have a 105 groupset only 56 and 58 left tho.

http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/bikes- ... ogle#93943

pieman99

Thanks for that sgt_pepper, i have looked at the cannondale bikes online, but my lbs dont stock those bikes and i wanted to buy a bike from a place that can set it up properly for me since i'm not sure what sizw, etc i need!

night_porter

Although I would be tempted by the Cannondale too I think your logic is ultra sound.

When I was a lad Claud Butler bikes were hand made top class racing bikes that we all wanted to own. They were bought up by Falcon and (like Raleigh) went through a period of making ultra cheap bikes but recently they seem to have changed and now are selling higher spec'd bikes although still aimed at the entry level of the market. This has made them more desirable imho.

As far as the 2 bikes are concerned there will be very little to choose between them from a performance level as they both have Shimano 9 speed drivetrains. The difference will be in the operation of the shifters and as such it is a personal choice to which one you buy.

To make your mind up try getting a test ride on both and see which one you find more comfortable, as a guide try changing gears up and down both from the hoods and from the drops. See which ones you feel most comfortable with and go with that. If you find no difference then choose the one you like the colour of the most or the cheapest if that is equal too.

Just out of interest 2 of my bikes have Tiagra levers because I prefer them but lots of people are happy to use the different method of changing used by Sora or 2300.

pieman99

Thanks night porter, i will try and test ride both bikes, has for the gear change, i've not used either type before so i'll have to learn how they work in the first place!

Ginnel

http://www.allterraincycles.co.uk/product/122831.html

Looks decent spec and good value

Keith1983

I've got a 2005 Vicenza and I like it alot, the frame is worthy of upgrading in my opinion and even the Mavic wheels that came on it are still going strong, I don't know if the wheels on the 2010 ones are any good though. You'll not go far wrong with either of those transmission set ups. I'm not a fan of either colour schemes on the 2010 bikes but that's just my opinion!

Get which one you prefer after a test ride and enjoy! There are some Claud Butler haters on here but they tend to be people who haven't ridden a CB for a long, long while.