Need advice on buying new road bike

euanburt
euanburt Posts: 4
edited January 2013 in Road buying advice
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.

Comments

  • tim_wand
    tim_wand Posts: 2,552
    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
    kilo Posts: 174
    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
    nochekmate Posts: 3,460
    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.
  • 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!
  • 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
    nochekmate Posts: 3,460
    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
    nochekmate Posts: 3,460
    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 :wink: )

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