Advice Required

ScreaminWargasm
ScreaminWargasm Posts: 289
edited September 2011 in Road buying advice
Hi all,

First of all I am new to this forum and would like to say hi to you all!

Sorry if this kind of thing has been done a million times however, I'm about to buy my first road bike and have narrowed down my search to two particular models.
The first is a Cannondale CAAD8 Tiagra 2011 that I have found on several websites for £679.
The second is a Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Xenon mix which I have found for £20 more than the CAAD8.

As both bikes are now coming to the end of their line prior to the 2012 range, I am struggling to find either in any bike shops and therefore cannot test ride them.
I would like advice on which is a better first decent bike for around £700 and if you have expeience (good or bad) with either, I'd love to know.
At the moment, I'm leaning towards the Bianchi on looks alone, as I have no experience with Tiagra or Xenon gears or any other components each bike has.
On reading a few reviews about Campag, I get the impression that they are a bit plasticy compared to shimano and I'm concerned that the Xenon may not last as long!

Thanks in advance

Comments

  • Keith1983
    Keith1983 Posts: 575
    The gears I've had experience of are Campag Xenon and Shimano RSX. I prefered the shimano and they were a good few years older than the Campag. It's a shame you can't get the Bianchi with Shimano in my opinion, but lots of people will tell you that an italian brand with Shimano gears is sacrilige!
  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    Both similar bikes - i prefer Campag but never used Xenon TBH - although the Cannondale has the better frame. The biggest factor will be which one fits you best - a £700 bike that fits is better than a £3k bike that doesn't
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • ScreaminWargasm
    ScreaminWargasm Posts: 289
    Keith1983 wrote:
    The gears I've had experience of are Campag Xenon and Shimano RSX. I prefered the shimano and they were a good few years older than the Campag. It's a shame you can't get the Bianchi with Shimano in my opinion, but lots of people will tell you that an italian brand with Shimano gears is sacrilige!

    Thanks for the quick replies. I would get the Bianchi with the Tiagra gears but cannot find it anywhere for less than the RRP of £920 :cry:
  • Keith1983
    Keith1983 Posts: 575
    It's not that the campag are useless though, and my campag are 2005 so they're bound to have improved since then. I think if I was buying with my head it would be the Caad, if I was buying with my heart it would be the Bianchi.

Categories