Need advice on buying new road bike

euanburt

I am looking at buying my first road bike and need advice in deciding between two.

The first is the Specialized Allez entry level at £550

Frame Specialized A1 Premium Aluminium, fully manipulated tubing with smooth welds, 1-1/8" lower bearing,
Front Fork Specialized Aluminium fork, alloy steerer and crown, 1-1/8"
Head Set 1-1/8" sealed Cr-Mo cartridge bearings integrated w/ headset, 20mm alloy cone spacer, w/ 20mm of spacers
Handlebars Specialized Comp, 6061 alloy, shallow bend
Brakes Tektro dual-pivot
Brake Levers Shimano 2300 STI
Front Derailleur Shimano 2300
Rear Derailleur Shimano 2300
Shift Levers Shimano 2300 STI
Cassette Shimano HG-50, 8-speed, 12-25
Crank Set Shimano 2300 compact
Tyres Specialized Espoir Sport, 60TPI, wire bead, double BlackBelt protection, 700x25c
Inner Tubes Standard presta valve
Saddle BodyGeometry Riva Road, Cr-Mo Rails, 143mm

And the second is the Corratec Dolomiti Tiagra Compact 2012 for £600

Use: Superlight Alloy Road Race Frame
Fork: Corratec Dolomiti Fork
Frame: Dolomiti Pro Size System Technology Alloy 7005
Bottom Bracket: Shimano Tiagra
Rear Derailleurs: Shimano Tiagra 10 Speed Grey Rear derailleur
Shifter: Shimano Tiagra ST-4600
Brakes: Tektro R340 Calipers Pair
Tires: Continental Ultra Sport 700 x 25 C
Saddle: Corratec 2012 Road
Handlebar: zzyzx
Stem: zzyzz
Weight: 9.2kg

If you know any other bikes around the same spec for a similar price that you could recommend, it would be great help too.

tim_wand

The Corratec. Its better value and something different from Omni Present allez. (Saying that though theres a reason they are so popular, Extremely good frameset)

However on this occassion the step up to Tiagra 10 speed over Sora 8 speed is well worth the £50 and some, when or if you come to upgrade, the path will be so much easier with a 10 speed grouppo.

If you can though, ride both bikes and get a feel for them. Bikes are more than just their specs.

kilo

The corratec seems the better vfm, the allez seems poor value when up against the now also getting omni-present triban 3 (or indeed the 5).

nochekmate

Secondhand offers value for money and if a 54cm is your size, one of my sons is selling his Focus Cayo - full carbon with Shimano 105 5600 groupset and Shimano RS10 wheels for the same price as the Corratec & he's not really used it at all much - wheel rims still have the wear marker showing very clearly and shifters are all in excellent condition, so no replacement of worn-out components required on this bike.

Pics available if you send me your email ad - I've sent a PM with my contact details on.

euanburt

I am looking for a 60cm/61cm frame, so the Focus Cayo is too small for me otherwise that would be an offer I would take you up on, but thanks anyway. Do you know of any other places I could look for a second hand bike of similar spec? (Gumtree, Ebay, and Pinkbike have all proven unsuccessful)
Looks like I will go ahead with the Corratec unless I can find anything else thats better value for money.

Thanks a lot for your feedback though!

euanburt

I am looking for a 60cm/61cm frame, so the Focus Cayo is too small for me otherwise that would be an offer I would take you up on, but thanks anyway. Do you know of any other places I could look for a second hand bike of similar spec? (Gumtree, Ebay, and Pinkbike have all proven unsuccessful)
Looks like I will go ahead with the Corratec unless I can find anything else thats better value for money.

Thanks a lot for your feedback though!

nochekmate

Not so many bikes of 60-61cm on the secondhand market of course although on eBay that gives you the advantage that fewer people are bidding on them.

Good luck.

nochekmate

Might be worth contacting the owner of this - possible that you could get this for not much more than the Corractec (tell him that he'll be saving £75 in eBay fees if you can agree a private sale )

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cannondale-CA ... 19d829f922