Road bike, £1000-£1200

rah2501

Hi all,

I'm interested in a road bike, not from a big manufacturer (like Specialized, Giant, Trek, Cannondale, etc.) costing between £1000-£1200 that will take full mudguards. I also need to buy it from a Local Bike Shop so that they can set it up for me and deal with any issues that might arrise (I'm not a bike maintenance expert).

Any suggestions?

Bob


PS, I've stared a new thread instead of continuing this other thread in order to avoid confusion.

Bobbinogs

So what is different between this thread and the last one??

If you need (or rather want) to buy the bike from your local shop, why not pop in there and chat to them and see what they have? Otherwise we could all recommend stuff that they don't/won't/can't stock and muddy the water even more.

rah2501

Bobbinogs wrote:

If you need (or rather want) to buy the bike from your local shop, why not pop in there and chat to them and see what they have? Otherwise we could all recommend stuff that they don't/won't/can't stock and muddy the water even more.

There are four local bike shops near me that stock quite a few different brands. Which means there's quite a broad area of the market covered by "local bike shop"; I'm not just referring to one business :-)

Also, suggestions are useful to compare what is available, regardless of whether they're actually stocked locally.

The stipulation of LBS-only really means: no Internet or mail-order bikes.

Bobbinogs wrote:

So what is different between this thread and the last one??

This thread has current information only so as to avoid confusion :-) In the other thread, people are responding to questions from early postings without noting changes in requirements from later postings.

alihisgreat

ok... so now tell us what the "quite a few different brands" are...

Mr Bungle

rah2501 wrote:

Hi all,

not from a big manufacturer (like Specialized, Giant, Trek, Cannondale,

just out of interest why are you avoiding the big boys....?

i must admit when i was looking about 2 years ago, I was the same. Wanted something different, something you do not see all over the place - so fair enough if it is that reason.

FYIW, I ended up going for a cannondale, simply because it ticked all the boxes despite not being ' different '

rah2501

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

ok... so now tell us what the "quite a few different brands" are...

Ignoring the bigger manufacturers, these are the brands of road bike I could find mentioned: Bianchi, Orbea, Genesis, Dawes, Willier, Pinarello, Kuoto, Ghost, Barracuda, Scott, Corratec, Probike.

The bigger manufacturers I've ignored are: Giant, Specialised, Trek, GT, Cannondale, Claude Butler, Raleigh.

Regardless, suggestions of bikes made by manufacturers not included in these lists would still be helpful.

gmacz

Giant tcr composite 3 is in the price range and this is a good bike to ignore.
Nice looking bike and decent spec and in the price range you mentioned, this is the bike I would definitely ignore.

rah2501

Mr Bungle wrote:

just out of interest why are you avoiding the big boys....?

It's an ethical thing. I'd rather not give money to companies whose focus is on 'increasing brand value'. Giant seem to be the worst; they've copied Apple, Disney, Microsoft, Nike and all the rest of the marketroids in opening branded stores that stock only their products (and I'm sure it won't be too long until other bicycle manufacturers follow suit, if they haven't already).

Of course, branded stores are just one emanation of the basic idea of the brand taking precedence over all else. Instead of a company focussing on its products, the production of goods becomes just a method to promote the brand. I have a very strong belief that this idea is wrong and a very strong distaste for the companies that subscribe to it.

gmacz

Hello, Mr Giant, can you make bikes for me and put on my own stickers.
No problems Mr Trek, we can do this.

alihisgreat

rah2501 wrote:

Mr Bungle wrote:

just out of interest why are you avoiding the big boys....?

It's an ethical thing. I'd rather not give money to companies whose focus is on 'increasing brand value'. Giant seem to be the worst; they've copied Apple, Disney, Microsoft, Nike and all the rest of the marketroids in opening branded stores that stock only their products (and I'm sure it won't be too long until other bicycle manufacturers follow suit, if they haven't already).

Of course, branded stores are just one emanation of the basic idea of the brand taking precedence over all else. Instead of a company focussing on its products, the production of goods becomes just a method to promote the brand. I have a very strong belief that this idea is wrong and a very strong distaste for the companies that subscribe to it.

As a student of management this makes me respect Giant more as a company -> one of the reasons why i own a giant, which i bought from one of giant's own stores....

maybe if you went into one of the 'brand' stores you would see the advantage to the consumer (only talking about apple and Giant here... the rest of your examples are irrelevant -> Niketown is a showroom and doesn't sell anything, and tell me where i can find a microsoft or nokia shop?!?!?!)

Natural progression of economic value over time:

Raw materials -> manufacturing -> Services -> experiences

Man started out using raw materials.. then manufacturing was invented and developed (think industrial revolution).. what's the next step after you make something? provide a service to go with it (eg IBM used to sell their PCs/Systems and used the accompanying free service as a selling point)... now you have the service economy, how can it be developed further? provide an experience (e.g. apple store is a great consumer experience.. as is the Giant store.. get the consumer to buy into the brand) and we have the modern 'experience economy'


The bottom line is that manufacturing/service comes before the experience... so you can't have a strong brand or 'experience' without already having the products to back it up.

what does Giant have in common with the other 'brand' examples you gave?

Giant -> great bikes (look at the reviews that the new 2012 defy series is getting!)
Apple -> good products (think about how revolutionary the 1st gen iphone was, then the Iphone 4 with the retina display)
Nike -> great products... (would pro athletes wear bad shoes?)


Just a quick question, i'm curious -> even if you tried a Giant or one of the other big brands, and found it to fit like a glove, and ride like a dream... would you still go for an inferior bike from a smaller company?


And to answe your question -> out of your list of brands, I'd probably be looking at Bianchi, probably the Via Nirone 7 105, although i'm unfamiliar with the bikes higher up their range so its possible that they offer something in carbon within your price range.

Had a quick peek at the Via Nirone when I was picking my bike up from a service today, and they look very nice in the flesh.

rah2501

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

out of your list of brands, I'd probably be looking at Bianchi, probably the Via Nirone 7 105, although i'm unfamiliar with the bikes higher up their range so its possible that they offer something in carbon within your price range.

Thanks, that's helpful.

---

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

As a student of management this makes me respect Giant more as a company

I recommend you read No Logo by Naomi Klein, particularly if you're studying management.

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

tell me where i can find a microsoft or nokia shop?!?!?!

Here is a list of Microsoft branded stores.

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

what does Giant have in common with the other 'brand' examples you gave?

They are a brand-focused company.

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

Just a quick question, i'm curious -> even if you tried a Giant or one of the other big brands, and found it to fit like a glove, and ride like a dream... would you still go for an inferior bike from a smaller company?

Yes

simon_e

Visit a couple of bike shops, or even three. Kick some tyres. All the bikes from £600 up are great bikes, based on excellent frames and quality components.

Most important is that you buy a bike that (1) fits you and (2) you like it.

Specification - no. of gears, wheels - is secondary, those things can be changed. Nobody ever got fitter / 'won' a sportive / was happier solely because their bike had more gears, a 150g lighter groupset or the same saddle as a pro racer (who is paid to use it anyway).

Finally, if you don't have much cycling gear, set some money aside for decent SPD shoes, shorts, tights, winter jacket etc. It's not an issue for pootling across town but when you're out on a longer ride decent clothing can make a big difference.

Bobbinogs

What about something classic like Mercian? You could have a look through their website and then visit the shop (obviously after prebooking) to get measured up for a bike that will last with time. They will either recommend something off the shelf or even go full custom if needed. Beautifully built and finished bikes that can be fitted with any groupset (although for me a steely has to have Compag at its heart).

I have a Strada from '97 and when I needed it fixed (bent frame...but that's another story) Mercian were great and fixed it up a treat and at a very reasonable price.

They are based in Derby but the bike itself can be delivered and then maintained by anyone (yes, even you with a bit of online help or your LBS for the tricky things).

rah2501

Bobbinogs wrote:

the bike itself can be delivered and then maintained by anyone (yes, even you with a bit of online help or your LBS for the tricky things).

I obviously haven't been clear: I don't want to have to deal with issues that arise from the new bike. If any issues arise, I want to go into the shop I bought it from and say, for example, "the rear derailleur on this bike you sold me is misaligned" or "the BB30 bearings on this bike you sold me are making lots of noise" and have them fix it, for free. I want the reassurance of people in a building near me that I can go to should anything go wrong. I don't want to deal with a company far away.

I'm happy to fix my bike but I don't want to deal with issues, or pay other people to deal with issues, on a brand new bike.

I want to buy from a local shop.

rah2501

No more suggestions?

simon_e

rah2501 wrote:

I want to buy from a local shop.

So shut up and find one!

:roll:

rah2501

rah2501 wrote:

No more suggestions?

Simon E wrote:

rah2501 wrote:

I want to buy from a local shop.

So shut up and find one!

I'll take that as a 'no' :-)

mog1404

go for the bianchi i got one last year fab bike to ride and to look at i got the via nerone with campag veloce dont know about fitting guards to it tho could try crud catchers. cube bikes are a good make to take a look at try a few in your lbs narrow it down to the ones that feel good then pick the one you like the look of the most

ianbar

my first bike was a forme rapid, loved it....just when some f*** nicked it! but i would not have even thought of getting it unless i hadn't gone to my lbs. when i got my insurance through i paid more and got cannon dale caad8 and when i had a problem i still took it too my local and they sorted it for me, i do think they are a very friendly store though as i know other local ones that would not have helped. i personally love my caad, i did look at bianchi but same as scott when i actually started poking around i just didn't like them, for some reason felt they just didn't fit even though frame should have been right size. i am 6'3 and 16st and the caad felt like it had a bigger frame that suited more.