Felt f95

ajlowin1983

Looking at buying first road bike, found a Felt 95. Does anyone know if the bike has mud guard clearance? Also is the bike a decent starter bike? I'm not too sure on the microshifters.

Any other suggestions on first road bike, budget of £600 but dont want low end groupset etc i.e 2300 and not typical allez/defy etc. Need a 58cm or equiv.

Finally is the Btwin triban 3 worth a punt for a year then turn into winter bike?

Thanks

Andy

chadders81

The Ribble 7005 Audax comes in under your budget. It's got Sora groupset for that price, which is much improved over 2300, or Tiagra for an extra £100.

It probably beats any of the other bikes you've mentioned and has mudguard and rack mounts so there's your winter bike right there. Not ridden one myself but I gather they're sprightly enough for quick summer riding and more than up to the task of a cold winter.

cleric101

I've got a 2013 f95 and love it. The sora shifters are absolutely fine and no longer have the button type shift. As for mudguards after a bit of messing I got some crud road racers on. Clearance is tight but mine don't rub after a bit of adjusting and settling in.

ajlowin1983

Thanks for advice. I do like the ribble bikes but not the audux. Like the look of the sportive 7005 but none in stock until end of feb, can easily get carried away on the bike builder! Anyone any experience with Merlin frames? They've got some good deals!

Thanks

bobones

ajlowin1983 wrote:

Looking at buying first road bike, found a Felt 95. Does anyone know if the bike has mud guard clearance? Also is the bike a decent starter bike? I'm not too sure on the microshifters.

Any other suggestions on first road bike, budget of £600 but dont want low end groupset etc i.e 2300 and not typical allez/defy etc. Need a 58cm or equiv.

Finally is the Btwin triban 3 worth a punt for a year then turn into winter bike?

The Felt F95 is a very fine entry level road bike. It doesn't have mudguard eyelets but will take Crud Roadracers with 23mm tyres. The 2013 models have new Sora (without thumb button), not Microshift levers. The Triban 3 has mudguard eyelets but very little clearance so fitting even Cruds seems to be a problem.

The team edition F95 seems to be out now, and looks a beauty to me.

IrishMac

I've a Trek 1.2 and can vouch for it's brilliance. It has the 2013 Sora shifters as well, not Microshift and mud guard clearance. Very stable handling bike for anyone new to road bikes as well