Which Carrera: TDF or Virtuoso? £80 difference.

forrestgump19
Posts: 2
Halfords (online) is selling the Carrera TDF for £299. I like it, but I probably prefer (slightly) the Carrera Virtuoso, which is £379. I assume the Virtuoso has at least some better components than the TDF, but how superior is it really? This will be my first road bike, so I'm leaning towards the cheaper option. Is the Virtuoso worth the extra £80, though?
Thanks,
CF
Thanks,
CF
0
Comments
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I was in the same situation as you a while back. I to looked at the Carrera Tdf and the virtuoso. If you are set on those 2 bike the go for the virtuoso as it is slightly better but they are both mass produced bike and well you get what you pay for. In the end I wondered into a independent bike shop and got an orbea for £499 I know it's over £200 mor but the quality was a 100 times better. I have ridden the Tdf and it just feels very plasticy and the frame flexes a lot when riding and if you ride hard enough I believe you can break it.
I have listed a few much better quality bikes for under £500
If you need help in choosing a bike just contact me or post it in the forum and buying your first bike is the biggest challenge
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=85758
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=75444
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-z95-2012/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-2012/0 -
FWIW I started out on a Carrera Virtuoso. I really liked it and it was an excellent first bike. I rode it for two years (rides between 35 - 50 miles, including club runs) before replacing it with a Trek 5200. Yes, there probably were better bikes for the money, and you can get something better for not a huge amount more, but I was happy with mine.
If you get it from Halfords, do get it checked over by someone knowledgable - I've seen some fairly basic mistakes on Halfords bikes over the years (although the only thing wrong with mine was slightly over long cable outers).
That said, the bikes Wellbeloved listed are significantly better than the Carrera and are good deals (although they're only available in limited sizes, so you may not get them as cheaply as that).0