Buying 2nd Road Bike

rando

I currently have a Trek Pilot 2.0 (Tiagra) 2010 and am now considering purchasing my next road bike. Nothing wrong with my Trek but I just fancy another bike but the problem is I only have upto £1500 to spend. So with this in mind do you think the following bikes that I am considering are a worthwhile upgrade to my Trek or would I be better waiting until I can afford a little more money (say £1800-2000).
I am only a weekend cyclist that likes the odd sportive and rides of between 50-60 miles on a Saturday morning but do like to push it occassionally.

These bikes are on my list :

Van Nicholas Mistral SRAM Apex
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... ?&id=17367

Cube Agree GTC Pro Compact
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... ?&id=17274

Giant Defy Composite 2 SRAM Apex
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Defy-Comp ... _48739.htm

Trek 2.5 Compact
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... 7#features

All are approx the same price and I know I need to try and test them all out for size and fit.
Just got it into my head to upgrade from my Trek ! Would any above offer a much better ride ?
Opions very welcome to help me decide. Thank you.

bmxboy10

I think most if these are good bikes but for me the Van Nicholas stands out just because its different. If i were you though i would consider waiting and getting the Canyon Ali Di2 for about £1900 and this may get discounted when the TDF is on.

If you dont "need" another bike i would wait until the end of the season or for the TDF as wiggle had some of the giant bikes going for silly money last year and you could save a packet whatever you buy. The Van Nics dont get discounted and the price you pay can vary depending on the euro.

I have a Mistral by the way

rando

solboy10 wrote:

I think most if these are good bikes but for me the Van Nicholas stands out just because its different. If i were you though i would consider waiting and getting the Canyon Ali Di2 for about £1900 and this may get discounted when the TDF is on.

If you dont "need" another bike i would wait until the end of the season or for the TDF as wiggle had some of the giant bikes going for silly money last year and you could save a packet whatever you buy. The Van Nics dont get discounted and the price you pay can vary depending on the euro.

I have a Mistral by the way

Yes I did read the Bikeradar review of the Canyon Di2 and thought how good a bike it was but not being able to see them in the flesh prior to ordering put me off Canyon's a bit . (I think I am am right in saying you can only buy direct from them). Also admit that I would like to see how electronic groupset bears up over time.

How do you find the Mistral ? Can only find raving reviews on the Ti frame. Is yours equipped with SRAM Apex ?
I am going to LBS near work in a couple of weeks when they get a Mistral in stock and am assured it looks even better in real life.
Thanks for your reply.

bmxboy10

well it rides really nice. I have a 105 version but the sram will be as good. I have a set of handbuilt wheels on mine and that made a difference to the ride (even more comfotable and plush). i would seriously recommend one but i still lust for a CF bike with a wicked paint job! Try one and see ehat you think. where are you thinking of buying from?

ilm_zero7

the Van Nicholas is a nice bike - get something thats different to the one you own already..... and second bike! at least another still to acquire then !!

rando

solboy10 wrote:

well it rides really nice. I have a 105 version but the sram will be as good. I have a set of handbuilt wheels on mine and that made a difference to the ride (even more comfotable and plush). i would seriously recommend one but i still lust for a CF bike with a wicked paint job! Try one and see ehat you think. where are you thinking of buying from?

I would most likely buy from an online retailer as these generally offer the best prices and 0% finance sometimes. Would love to support LBS but we don't have many decent ones in Leicester. The VN Mistral I am going to look at once in stock is in Leamington Spa which is close to my work so will see how they fair on price. I know its not all about the price but sometimes it is !

rando

ILM Zero7 wrote:

the Van Nicholas is a nice bike - get something thats different to the one you own already..... and second bike! at least another still to acquire then !!

Would love to purchase my next bike as the 2nd in my collection but to fund a new one I need to sell my current one.
Actually I do already have another bike - Hybrid bike for going out with the kids on gravel paths etc but I donn't really count that bike.

bmxboy10

Fat Birds Dont Fly are not that far from you. i drove 3 hours each way to buy from them as they were the cheapest and they abuilt the bike to my specification. You my find that for the same money you can get a better bike or at least one that is to your spec i.e wheels, stem, seat post etc. Give them a try.

doubledenim

I'd go with the Canyon Di2. I know you are worried about buying online however the Di2 and spec of the bike is by far the best at that price.

Di2 would equal very little bike mechanics from your behalf too

MattC59

You'll get a different opinion from just bout everyone who replies.

Personally, whilst the Canyon is one hell of a bike, I'd go for the Mistral. If't got a fantastic frame and plenty of room for upgrade as and when you want to. And let's be honest, it's a road bike you'll want to upgrade at some point, even if it's just a few little bits.

Then of course there's the fact that it's a Van Nicholas and it's Titanium, neither of which you see very often. It's nice to be different, and titanium has a certain 'quel heur et il' about it. (something for the Only Fools and Horses fans )

EarlyGo

rando,

From your list for me it would be the VN or the Cube. You still don't see many Cubes and they have a good reputation. However, the rarity of VNs plus the amazing ride that Ti gives, along with the lifetime frame warranty would swing it for me. Give Fat Birds a ring and have a chat about what you're looking for. I can thoroughly recommend them for both service and quality of build. They also do good deals because apparently they are the UK's largest VN importer. I also got the impression that they quite enjoy haggling over bike prices! PM me if you want any more glowing references for them! (Yes, my summer bike is a Euros from Fat Birds.)

Cheers, EarlyGo

jordan_217

EarlyGo wrote:

rando,

From your list for me it would be the VN or the Cube. You still don't see many Cubes and they have a good reputation. However, the rarity of VNs plus the amazing ride that Ti gives, along with the lifetime frame warranty would swing it for me. Give Fat Birds a ring and have a chat about what you're looking for. I can thoroughly recommend them for both service and quality of build. They also do good deals because apparently they are the UK's largest VN importer. I also got the impression that they quite enjoy haggling over bike prices! PM me if you want any more glowing references for them! (Yes, my summer bike is a Euros from Fat Birds.)

Cheers, EarlyGo

I was looking on fat birds site last w'end. Handed the iPad to my Missus aftwerwards and she shot me the most filthiest look ever, snarling "WTF is this?" I looked at the screen and the browser search was simply "fat birds". It took a few minutes to defuse that one......

rando

EarlyGo wrote:

rando,

From your list for me it would be the VN or the Cube. You still don't see many Cubes and they have a good reputation. However, the rarity of VNs plus the amazing ride that Ti gives, along with the lifetime frame warranty would swing it for me. Give Fat Birds a ring and have a chat about what you're looking for. I can thoroughly recommend them for both service and quality of build. They also do good deals because apparently they are the UK's largest VN importer. I also got the impression that they quite enjoy haggling over bike prices! PM me if you want any more glowing references for them! (Yes, my summer bike is a Euros from Fat Birds.)

Cheers, EarlyGo

Thanks for the positive review for VN bikes. I am just waiting a call from LBS in Leamington when they get a VN Mistral in stock (although not in my size but at least I will get to see one in the flesh). If they don't get back to me within the next week then I may pay Fatbirds a visit.

Doubledenim - The Canyon Di2 does look excellent value for money although it was above my initial budget i had in my head. If I decide though that this really is the bike for me then I will have to save a little bit harder and be a bit more patient ! Real shame though that you can't test ride a Canyon especially spending all that money (maybe not be much money for some but it is to me).

Anyway thanks for everyone so far for all the replies and suggestions. Much appreciated.

bmxboy10

When i collected my Mistral from FBDF a guy came in for a test on a Euros. I was in he shop for a few hours doing the bike fit and waiting for the final build. The guy doing the test was allowed a good couple of hours to test the bike so i would definetley go check FBs out. Richard (i think thats his name) is a proper old school cyclist check this out (the last minute or so).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICr2iXZYP60

Flexisurfer

I went into Fat Birds today and the Van Nicholas looks really nice deffinately a one off for looks. They also had a bike set up on a turbo with the Ultegra Di , whilst I use Campag, it was really nice. I bought my Bottecchia from them and they offered part exchange and finance (cheque spread). I think if you want a second bike it needs to be really special and the one you go to for your morning rides.

nathancom

I did a test ride on a Mistral recently and it is a very nice frame for the money. The ride is great, much better than you will get from an equivalent CF frame at the price.

I don't like SRAM shifters much myself and Apex ones felt flimsy to me somehow.

Have you considered buying a new frame and moving equipment across. You could get a top end Enigma steel frame for that money and upgrade as you go along:

http://www.enigmabikes.com/bike/bike-en ... ensor.html

It would be a frame in a different league and would last for years.

rando

nathancom wrote:

I did a test ride on a Mistral recently and it is a very nice frame for the money. The ride is great, much better than you will get from an equivalent CF frame at the price.

I don't like SRAM shifters much myself and Apex ones felt flimsy to me somehow.

Have you considered buying a new frame and moving equipment across. You could get a top end Enigma steel frame for that money and upgrade as you go along:

http://www.enigmabikes.com/bike/bike-en ... ensor.html

It would be a frame in a different league and would last for years.

That is a really nice bike but I would need a complete bike. Certainly not got the skills or knowledge to be moving equipment across and by the time I had built the Enigma to a complete bike I was well over £2K. Might have a better look at their other bikes though when I have more time to sit at the computer without the kids in my ear !

tonye_n

Of the bike listed by the OP.
Giant Defy Composite 2 SRAM Apex
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-Defy-Comp ... _48739.htm

This most closely matches the geometry and target market of the Trek Pilot.
I test rode this and although I ended up with a Genesis Equilibrium (I needed mudguards), I am sure that had I bought the Gian Defy Comp2 I would not have felt the need to look elsewhere for quite a long while.

Very well made. The paint job and lacquer is also of really good quality. The chassis rides very refined indeed.

neeb

EarlyGo wrote:

You still don't see many Cubes

Unless you go to Mallorca, where they appear to breed in the wild and parasitise all German visitors... Nice bikes though!

doubledenim

Here is a review of the Canyon...

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 2-12-45907

wait and save

rando

doubledenim wrote:

Here is a review of the Canyon...

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 2-12-45907

wait and save

As mentioned earlier i do like the look and spec of the Canyon but am slightly put off by not being able to physically see one.
I am still waiting for the LBS to get the VN Mistral in stock. Good job I am not in a hurry.

iPete

Keep us posted!

Also been looking at VN and only have room for one bike. Tempted to get a Euros frame and transfer everything off my Allez.

rando

Received email from LBS today that VN is at the shop so I will go and see it early next week in my lunch break.

bmxboy10

Bet someone buys it before you get there