new bike for etape

boborange

Hi,

im doing the etape du tour for the first time this year and as a reward for losing weight and getting fitter (not yet fit) im treating myself to a new bike to do the etape and then used for other sportives and for sunday rides.

The choice is down to two, albeit different bikes, firstly an off the shelf bianchi sempre pro with athena for £2700 from my lbs. They will let me have a test ride first so will know if its for me, fit me, offer finance and all round very helpful.

Second choice is a bit more involved, a lynskey cooper which i will get a bike shop to build up with my choice of athena groupset, hand built wheels and my choice of finishing kit which will come in at slightly more than the bianchi but i get my 'own' bike.

Down side is i cant ride it before its built as they are frame only, sourcing the parts i would like means a bit of running around to get the best offers from different suppliers and i will have to front up most of the cash which is a pain as finance is not available. I have built up my own mountain bike before so have gone down that route and for some reason i did not enjoy the experience but hoping second time round will be different.

Would be interest to know your thoughts.... thanks

YIMan

Test ride the Bianchi and that may make your decision.

If I can summarise your choices:

1) Bike 1 - can test ride and get fit/size right before buying, ease of finance, good customer service.
2) Bike 2 - can't test ride it before you've bought it, finance a pain, hassle of sourcing parts which you haven't enjoyed before, costs more!

ShutUpLegs

For that money i'd want Di2

boborange

YIman, when you put it like that the choice does seem a bit more obvious.

however to comlicate things since my post fatbirds and mosquito bikes will be able to fit me so will know what frame size, stem length etc before i drop my cash and i think fatbirds have a cooper built up that i can ride before i buy.

head and wallet say bianchi, heart lynskey

Calpol

ShutUpLegs wrote:

For that money i'd want Di2

Good point - not that it helps the OP but I spotted this the other day..
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k974/a61759/scultura-evo-905-e-com-di2-carbon-white-red.html

YIMan

boborange wrote:

YIman, when you put it like that the choice does seem a bit more obvious.

however to comlicate things since my post fatbirds and mosquito bikes will be able to fit me so will know what frame size, stem length etc before i drop my cash and i think fatbirds have a cooper built up that i can ride before i buy.

head and wallet say bianchi, heart lynskey

Ok, when you put it like that, I'd say ignore what I said before and follow the heart - you want a bike that you love, that inspires you. You don't want to buy the Bianchi because it's a sensible choice (weird....because usually something like a Bianchi is the heart-not-head choice) and then always have your inner voice telling you that you'd have enjoyed the Lynskey more.

If you can test ride the bike and the shop will take the hassle out of the build for you, great.

Just to complicate things further though.....why not a (supporting British) Enigma rather than a Lynskey?

KentPuncheur

Calpol wrote:

ShutUpLegs wrote:

For that money i'd want Di2

Good point - not that it helps the OP but I spotted this the other day..
http://www.bike-discount.de/shop/k974/a61759/scultura-evo-905-e-com-di2-carbon-white-red.html

Unbeleivable deal! Sub £2k for Di2 on fulcrum comp zeros!

boborange

ive got a ride on the bianchi next saturday in richmond so when i have done that i might be in a better position to make an informed choice

YIMan

Cheap 2012 Bianchis here by the way : http://www.bianchibikes.co.uk/store/

nunowoolmez

Go with your heart, then you will have no regrets. From what i have seen Lynkseys are lovely bikes & although Bianchi's look nice (i have one) they are not so 'different' or exclusive these days & look a lot like many other bikes out there. The lynksey will be 'your' bike & it will be pretty much unique & set up the way you want it with the kit you want on it. I think a Lynksey has more character too.

Both good bikes mind, both will do you well. Good luck!

itboffin

I'd go with pretty much anything from Canyon http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3087

6.9Kg campag chrous 11 speed carbon bike for £2300 :shock:

or the athena 11 carbon for £1780 http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3084

mental value for money, they do also have SRAM & ShimaNO models.

do eeeeet 8)

boborange

thanks for all your advice and help.

Last years Bianchis come in pretty cheap compared to 2013 models and those Canyons seem un-believable value.

I know if a don't buy a lynskey it will always bug me where as if i don't by the bianchi it wont bug me at all, so on that note i did more research into lynskeys and found primera sports on the south coast that sell them and use the Retul fitting system so should get it to fit right.

They will also build the bike with the brands i want, namely campag and 3T and offer 0% finance aswell