Viking Roubaix Carbon

Weeman1973

Hi - Relatively new into the world of cycling and currently riding a Btwin Triban 3 which I got from Decathlon a few months ago. Great bike for what I want it for but I feel it's a bit big for me (I got the 54cm frame and I am 5'6" with a 30" inside leg so finding it a bit of a stretch) so I am on the look out for a new steed. Not interested yet in racing or anything like that, just want a bike that I can spend a few hours mile crunching on that won't leave me crippled afterwards so I guess I am looking at a sportive / relaxed geometry frame. I have a budget of about £800 so have come up with the following options:

Viking Roubaix Carbon - Can get a 52cm 2011 bike for £780 delivered. Good points are it's a carbon frame (if that is good?) but bad points are the 9 speed rear Tiagra mech which I believe would be a nightmare to upgrade if I wanted too later. Also I cannot find any reviews of this on the net so that in itself is somewhat off putting.

Trek Alpha 2.1 - My LBS has a 2011 model that he is willing to do me for £850 in a 52cm frame. I like the look of this with it's 10 speed 105 mech but I am thinking will I be better off buying the carbon frame?

Bianchi Via Nirone - There is a lovely looking Celeste (2010?) on eBay not too far from me with 105 groupset and it looks to be generally tidy for £500. I am slightly concerned that the 53cm frame maybe too large and I will be stretching again and also concerned about buying any 2nd hand road bike as you cannot be 100% of it's history.

So there's my dilemma. Any help / advice you can give a noob would be gratefully accepted.

nochekmate

Stay well clear of the Viking - it's a brand that generally produces a pile of shite so going for their carbon framed bike is a recipe for disaster and resale value (when you inevitably want to move on from it) will see you taking a massive hit. Trek wouldn't interest me either at that price either.

Look secondhand - pal of mine is picking up a 2011 Spesh Tarmac tonight with full 105 5700 for £675 (which I sourced for him) - good purchases are around and if you are not confident in looking secondhand, try to find somebody who is who might be willing to help you out.

navrig

Check online that the Trek is priced about right and get that as the LBS will check the size is right and will set it up for you.

I don't think Viking have the Same pedigree as Trek and the Trek has better groupset.

navrig

Spend £15 on a shorter stem on the Triban? Might be worth the effort.

Weeman1973

Thanks for the heads up on the Viking - I kind of guessed that myself but wanted to be sure I wasn't missing out on a good deal!

Navrig thanks for the advice on the seat stem but it's more the reach to the handlebars is where I am struggling. The Trek didn't seem as 'far away' if you know what I mean?

Weeman1973

nochekmate wrote:

Stay well clear of the Viking - it's a brand that generally produces a pile of shite so going for their carbon framed bike is a recipe for disaster and resale value (when you inevitably want to move on from it) will see you taking a massive hit. Trek wouldn't interest me either at that price either.

Look secondhand - pal of mine is picking up a 2011 Spesh Tarmac tonight with full 105 5700 for £675 (which I sourced for him) - good purchases are around and if you are not confident in looking secondhand, try to find somebody who is who might be willing to help you out.

I am really tempted by the Bianchi I mentioned (C2C Via Nirone 7) which has the 105 groupset for £500. Just not sure about the 53cm frame being too big again. Don't want to hit the buy it now button on eBay only to find it's not right for me again.

navrig

Weeman1973 wrote:

Thanks for the heads up on the Viking - I kind of guessed that myself but wanted to be sure I wasn't missing out on a good deal!

Navrig thanks for the advice on the seat stem but it's more the reach to the handlebars is where I am struggling. The Trek didn't seem as 'far away' if you know what I mean?

The stem is the bit between frame and handlebars. You can get 60mm stems.

Weeman1973

Navrig wrote:

Weeman1973 wrote:

Thanks for the heads up on the Viking - I kind of guessed that myself but wanted to be sure I wasn't missing out on a good deal!

Navrig thanks for the advice on the seat stem but it's more the reach to the handlebars is where I am struggling. The Trek didn't seem as 'far away' if you know what I mean?

The stem is the bit between frame and handlebars. You can get 60mm stems.

Apologies - told you I was a noob! I thought you meant the seat post! Maybe worth looking at that then however I did feel more comfortable on the 52cm Trek than I do on the Triban. It just felt all round smaller and closer to me.

navrig

Weeman1973 wrote:

Navrig wrote:

Weeman1973 wrote:

Thanks for the heads up on the Viking - I kind of guessed that myself but wanted to be sure I wasn't missing out on a good deal!

Navrig thanks for the advice on the seat stem but it's more the reach to the handlebars is where I am struggling. The Trek didn't seem as 'far away' if you know what I mean?

The stem is the bit between frame and handlebars. You can get 60mm stems.

Apologies - told you I was a noob! I thought you meant the seat post! Maybe worth looking at that then however I did feel more comfortable on the 52cm Trek than I do on the Triban. It just felt all round smaller and closer to me.

The words of a man who has made a decision and no amount of advice will change