What bike for a new rider ?

shutt015
shutt015 Posts: 19
edited June 2012 in Road beginners
:D Hi all.

I have been interested in getting a road bike for a while after many years of mountain biking, My question is what bike is best suited to a beginner. I dont really want to go to cheap and change in a years time nor do I want to spend the earth and realize that I dont have as much time as I am antisipating.

Bike choices so far: Ally frame and carbon forks

. Bianchi nirone 7 c2c alu carbon = £1250
. Cube petalon = £1150 ish
. Specialized Allez = £ ?

Carbon frame

. Ribble bianco sportive = £1200 ish
. Trek Madone = £1500

All the bikes are based around 105 running gear or equive spec.

Please share any thoughts as I am in a mind field what to buy, I am so far led to believe that a good aly frame is better than a cheap carbon ?
My thoughts are leading to the bianchi as it looks the best by a country mile and the riding possition feels good, not that i have tried the rest but it is also not the lightest.

Thanks in advance

Chris

Comments

  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    Test ride as many as you can and then choose
  • Amoger
    Amoger Posts: 46
    wishitwasallflat wrote:
    Test ride as many as you can and then choose

    I went all the way to PlanetX & they didn't let me ride a single one! ("They've not got pedals on Sir"). Nor LBS - "We need you to leave passport".

    To OP - Similar budget to when I was looking: so many options. May depend on what you'll use it for; mine was for training for/doing first Tri. Like you, I went for 105 spec (no regrets, though haven't ridden the alternatives) & dithered between quality alu or carbon (& even wondered about Ti, seemed popular with those who owned). Agree that "lower end" carbon prob worse than top-end alu.

    I got it down to one of the Giant derivatives, in alu, or Ribble/Cannondale/Scott carbon. Have to say, in spite of some bad reviews, I found my contact on email with Ribble to be excellent. But in the end after huge amount of internet searching I found a Cannondale SuperSix 2011 on offer online, but from reasonably local bike shop. Been back for a few adjustments so that'd be my advice - search the online sites of all your LBS's & let that make up your mind, because I doubt you can go far wrong with any of your suggestions.

    (I looked at Bianchi too, one of the LBS's specialised in them & seemed like good bikes.)
  • styxd
    styxd Posts: 3,234
    A Canyon or Rose aluminium bike, whichever fits your budget. They're basically a top notch alu frame with proper finishing kit and a decent groupset and wheels. I.e. you'll be sorted for a while with one of them.
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    edited June 2012
    You're not going to get a bad bike at that price point.

    Its all about looks and feel and minor preferences in spec - Shimano vs Campag etc. I have an 09 Bianchi Via Nirone alu carbon, its a lovely ride, and as you say it looks the business. I can heartily recommend one, but then owners of the other options would probably say the same. I bought it 2nd hand but shared you view on decent Alu arguably better than cheap carbon. The carbon forks and seat stay do take out a lot of road buzz. i wouldn't worry about a few grammes here or there - manufacturers are notorious for misquoting weights plus you'll be carying more than the difference around your midriff or in your water bottle!

    someone will post in a minute you should buy a bland looking planet X or ribble as they are best value for money. :D Head or heart?
    Bianchi Infinito CV
    Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Ultegra
    Brompton S Type
    Carrera Vengeance Ultimate Ltd
    Gary Fisher Aquila '98
    Front half of a Viking Saratoga Tandem
  • mikeouk
    mikeouk Posts: 148
    no contest
    this http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FBPXPRORIV12/planet_x_pro_carbon_rival_road_bike_2012

    or if you want to spend your whole budget
    this http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPRED/planet_x_pro_carbon_sram_red_road_bike

    i did alot of research before buying, got it down to a choice between planet x and ribble, i went for the planet x in the end and its a superb bike for the money. It also gets more attention than a big brand bike, not sure if you'd view that as a good thing or a bad thing though :?
  • rob21
    rob21 Posts: 284
    look no further than this little beauty :D

    http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Agree-GTC- ... =Froogle02
  • shutt015
    shutt015 Posts: 19
    t4tomo wrote:
    You're not going to get a bad bike at that price point.

    Its all about looks and feel and minor preferences in spec - Shimano vs Campag etc. I have an 09 Bianchi Via Nirone alu carbon, its a lovely ride, and as you say it looks the business. I can heartily recommend one, but then owners of the other options would probably say the same. I bought it 2nd hand but shared you view on decent Alu arguably better than cheap carbon. The carbon forks and seat stay do take out a lot of road buzz. i wouldn't worry about a few grammes here or there - manufacturers are notorious for misquoting weights plus you'll be carying more than the difference around your midriff or in your water bottle!

    someone will post in a minute you should buy a bland looking planet X or ribble as they are best value for money. :D Head or heart?
    Thanks. I guess heart it is, The Bianchi looks way better in my opinion. I know i shouldnt buy for the looks but the running gear seams to be good for the first few years.
    Thanks again.
  • ianbar
    ianbar Posts: 1,354
    you will know when i look at them, i thought i would love a bianchi, when to my local dealer and just stood next to it we were like..not for me, passed another shop who do cannondale and instantly i knew what i wanted.
    enigma esprit
    cannondale caad8 tiagra 2012
  • nickyhoward55
    nickyhoward55 Posts: 148
    edited April 2013
    I bought a cube agree gtc on tuesday. I was wondering about the cheap carbon frame vs good alu frame. I needn't have worried. Its sooooo stiff and very light. 105 is flawless. I love it!
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    ianbar wrote:
    you will know when i look at them, i thought i would love a bianchi, when to my local dealer and just stood next to it we were like..not for me, passed another shop who do cannondale and instantly i knew what i wanted.

    Finally a man who speeketh the truth :D
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • nickyhoward55
    nickyhoward55 Posts: 148
    The cannondale's look superb. And i know you should always buy a bike for the frame as you will no doubt upgrade it later, but the specs are lacking on them for the money you pay....Oh and the white caad10 looks MILES better in the shop than it does on the website. Drooooollll
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    t4tomo wrote:
    someone will post in a minute you should buy a bland looking planet X or ribble as they are best value for money. :D Head or heart?

    Admittedly most PX bikes are very restrained in graphics (probably a good thing - though they have started to put stripes on them recently) but Ribbles stuff is every bit as excessively striped as the products of Bianchi :wink:

    I do quite like Bianchis though but they are very expensive for what you get. You pay a lot for the name and I'm not really convinced it's worth it.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • shutt015
    shutt015 Posts: 19
    ianbar wrote:
    you will know when i look at them, i thought i would love a bianchi, when to my local dealer and just stood next to it we were like..not for me, passed another shop who do cannondale and instantly i knew what i wanted.

    Thanks for this, After reading this post I went to anouther LBS today with Cannondale, I agree these look and feel something special, I liked the Caad 10 but maybe out my budget, I must remember its my first road bike and my budget started t 500 and has now crept to 1250. getting boared of saving but maybe the extra for the Caad 10 could be worth it. Thanks for the help

    Chris.

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