Hard bike choice

whitestar1

Hi I have to make up my mind on the choice of a road bike. I have £300 can possibly push to £500 but really dont want to. Been looking at the following:
B'twin 3 and 5
Specialized Allez 2012
Trek 1.1

Any sugguestions?

TakeTurns

Hands down the Allez.

whitestar1

TakeTurns wrote:

Hands down the Allez.

Looking for one, the 2012. I saw it listed as £500 with a carbon front fork. Can't find any listed in any of the stores here in the midlands, UK.

TakeTurns

The Allez sport has carbon forks. If you're looking for a 2012 one it will be tricky because they're already selling the 2013.

owenlars

Look at the Edinburgh Bike Cooperative web site, they have some pretty good value bikes.

whitestar1

owenlars wrote:

Look at the Edinburgh Bike Cooperative web site, they have some pretty good value bikes.

Thanks but no 2012 Allez listed

lotus49

Having been in a similar position myself recently I would go for the Allez every time assuming you really can get it for that price. I recall that the 2013 version is about £750 though.

unixnerd

At that price range I'd strongly consider a second hand bike. Many are cycle-to-work scheme bikes that have seldom seen the light of day. You'll get far more for your money.

mikeouk

buy the btwin 3, cant buy anything much better second hand for that money and you know you wont have to start renewing worn out bits . if you want to go better if you get into cycling, sell it on ebay next year and you'll maybe loose £100

whitestar1

mikeouk wrote:

buy the btwin 3, cant buy anything much better second hand for that money and you know you wont have to start renewing worn out bits . if you want to go better if you get into cycling, sell it on ebay next year and you'll maybe loose £100

Sounds like good advice to me. Was thinking I could actually get a set of Shimano wheels for it as some have been saying the wheels are heavy. I will be getting it this month end. Was thinking of the b'twin 5 but unsure if I want to.