What should I look for in my next bike.

1964johnr

2008-2009 Thought I would try a road bike after getting to old for football.Raleigh Europa from the 1970s. First road bike. no decent components of any sort. Like riding a cast iron bath.

2009-2010 Raleigh Team Banana. No integrated shifters, rear mech not to clever, but felt great after the Europa.

2011-present. Second hand Giant SCR2. Entry level bike, aluminium with Tiagra components and as light as a feather compared with my first two bikes. First ride felt like I had the best bike in the world. (I know that's nowhere near the truth)

2012 Looking to obtain yet another vast improvement on my next bike. What bikes should I look at and how much do I need to spend?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

flasher

The SCR2 is a good bike, anything you don't like about it and what's your budget?

bus_ter

I don't think you'll see a vast improvement to be honest.

First of all I would look at the fit. Are you 100% happy with your Giant? What would you change?

After that you could look at a lighter carbon bike, but it will be a little lighter, few kgs less maybe.

Are you happy with the shifting of the Tiagra? If you move up to 105 or ultegra it will be a little slicker and weigh a little less, but certainly not a vast improvment IMHO. What about the gearing? Wish you had some lower gears for hill climbs? higher gears for the flat?

markos1963

What are you looking to do on it? Is it for general fitness riding or racing of some sort? Budget is a big consideration, if you only have £1-1.5k then you'd not notice much improvement on what you have. Stretch it up to £2-2.5k and I'd think you'd notice a big step up in quality and ride comfort. At that price you could look at nice Ti frame, Ultegra and decent wheels if you are just doing general riding

craker

1964johnr wrote:

2008-2009 Thought I would try a road bike after getting to old for football.Raleigh Europa from the 1970s. First road bike. no decent components of any sort. Like riding a cast iron bath.

Excellent machine. I've turned mine into a single speed bike and it's great fun. Agreed about the components, everything bar the frame and forks is now back in the rubbish dump I found the bike in.

alihisgreat

I think you'd probably notice a difference with £1k to spend on something new -> you could get a decent Aluminium frame, 105 groupset (probably not complete though -> different cassette, brakes), nice enough wheelset.

You'd be getting a better, lighter frame than the SCR if you went for its replacement the Defy (with the 2012 version getting amazing reviews http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-giant-defy-1-12-45849), better/lighter groupset, and nice wheels (which even if they weren't lighter.. are going to run smoother than a 4 year old set of <£200 wheels).

I'm not sure how much you'd have to spend to replicate that amazing feeling you get the first time you ride a 1/2 decent roadbike.

It would probably need to be a 7~8kg bike with good power transfer and a nice light wheelset. So you're probably looking at £2k?


I'd just get something that looks better than the SCR though, then it won't matter so much if it rides significantly better because it looks a lot better!


I'd also recommend a bike fit -> a lot of shops include this with the purchase of a new bike... after a fit the bike will definitely feel and ride better.

1964johnr

Thanks for the advice. I will look at the Giant Defy 1 and some other possibilities between £1000 and £1500. It seems that I might not find a massive difference in quality by trading up unless I go to a Carbon frame with Ultegra and that might not be affordable for me.

rolf_f

1964johnr wrote:

It seems that I might not find a massive difference in quality by trading up unless I go to a Carbon frame with Ultegra and that might not be affordable for me.

THe Ultegra won't make any difference - the carbon might.