Buying a bike with Heart or Head?

D4N

Ok so my problem is, I bought a bike off ebay only to get an email 2 weeks later from the police sayings it's a stolen one.
DOH!
They are collecting it in a few days.
It was a Specialized Allez Elite 2012.
Now i need to get another one.
I originally wanted to keep the price to £500, hence ebay in the first place.
Now ive decided to stick with my LBS.
So should i get the 2013 version of what i had or?
Because i'm now in that 1k bracket i'm spoilt for choice.
I find myself drawn to either
1- Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Tiagra
2- Trek Madone 2.1
3 - Specialized Allez Elite
I've ridden all 3 and the Trek felt the best.
But the Bianchi is just so dam sexy?
The other 2 felt similar.
The trek comes with Shimano 105 and the other too both come with Tiagra?
What to do?
All the bike shops would rate them
2.1, Allez then Nirone.
Can anyone sheld some light on what they think i should do?
p.s i prefer the 2012 colours on the bianchi and i can get it for around £200 less than the others?
Thanks
Dan

ju5t1n

I think you've answered your own question. It's got to be the Bianchi

maddog 2

depends on how much you let marketing influence you.

letap73

ju5t1n wrote:

I think you've answered your own question. It's got to be the Bianchi

-1 I think not, have you actually read his post, to clarify:
1. He prefers the ride of the madone.
2. His post implies the lbs appear to rate the Bianchi last.
3. The Trek has a better groupset.

OP - Usually you should go for the bike that rides best for you, unless of course there is very little in it in which case looks may come into it. Not surprised the ugly one "rides" better though.

dwanes

Go for the trek as long as you like it. It is the best of the three, it has been designed for the ride and not marketing.

daviesee

Up to £1000 for a budget manufacturer or £1500 for a premium manufacturer (same thing -ish) buy with the head.
Anything over that will be good so buy with the heart.

In your situation buy the best frame using your head and upgrade components later as the fitted ones wear/cash becomes available.

bmxboy10

I have bought a few bikes in recent years and most have been bought with my heart rather than my head. Trouble is the novelty of a new bike wont last long and after a few rides you soon start to realise the pros and cons of your bike espicailly when it comes to fit and feel. You can spend hundreds getting a bike to feel right and i should know as i have lost quite a bit of money doing this. I would say if the Trek feels right regardless of the spec, colour, look etc go for it. FWIW i had a Allez Elite a few years ago and it was good but not the best bike i have ridden thats for sure - no idea on the Bianchi. Good luck

chrisvanderkaap

solboy10 wrote:

I have bought a few bikes in recent years and most have been bought with my heart rather than my head. Trouble is the novelty of a new bike wont last long and after a few rides you soon start to realise the pros and cons of your bike espicailly when it comes to fit and feel. You can spend hundreds getting a bike to feel right and i should know as i have lost quite a bit of money doing this. I would say if the Trek feels right regardless of the spec, colour, look etc go for it.

+1

D4N

Thanks for all your input guys.
Sorry what i should have also mentioned is that the Bianchi i test rode was a smaller frame size than i should have been riding.
I was fitted by the shop and they said a 54cm is best for me.
Of course each manufacturer is going to vary slightly?
The Trek was a 54 my allez is a 54 but the Bianchi was a 53 where as the 55 would have suited me best according to the bike shop. He didnt have one to hand at the time.
It felt slightly crapped but that should be sorted with a 55?
Also it had Campagnalo which i didnt like.
If i were to get it id have to stick with Shimano.
Personal preference.
Dan

alihisgreat

I'd be looking at the Scot Speedser 20 and Giant Defy 1 in that price range.

danlikesbikes

letap73 wrote:

ju5t1n wrote:

I think you've answered your own question. It's got to be the Bianchi

-1 I think not, have you actually read his post, to clarify:
1. He prefers the ride of the madone.
2. His post implies the lbs appear to rate the Bianchi last.
3. The Trek has a better groupset.

OP - Usually you should go for the bike that rides best for you, unless of course there is very little in it in which case looks may come into it.

^-^ Agree with this.

aka Arthur

Buy with your heart because cycling is as much about beauty as practicality. And on that basis ...

... Bianchi, because you like the look of it, so it will give you more pride of ownership. Also, Bianchi is steeped in 100+ years of European cycling history, whereas Trek (still tainted by Armstrong in my eyes) and Specialneedz are Yankee upstarts.

Also, there's no practical difference between Tiagra and 105 - so don't be swayed by people who say 105 is 'better'... if you are, upgrade the Bianchi and still save money.

danlikesbikes

aka Arthur wrote:

Bianchi, because you like the look of it, so it will give you more pride of ownership. Also, Bianchi is steeped in 100+ years of European cycling history, whereas Trek (still tainted by Armstrong in my eyes) and Specialneedz are Yankee upstarts.

Also, there's no practical difference between Tiagra and 105 - so don't be swayed by people who say 105 is 'better'... if you are, upgrade the Bianchi and still save money.

Your right in that you shouldn't be swayed by the group set as their is a small difference but it still is a difference none the less and the 105 is better.

Personally I wouldn't agree with the pride of ownership thing over a better bike, the only time I look at my bike is when I'm cleaning it or photographing it. The most of the time I only see the bars & shifters when I'm riding & care much more about how its important that my bike fells & rides well rather than what it looks like.

But each to their own.

daviesee

Danlikesbikes wrote:

.....But each to their own.

Each to their own indeed. I get a distinct pleasure every time I look at the Colnago.

smoggysteve

You could buy with your heart and get the Bianchi. But, I did that. I got a Via Nirone, loved it as I saw it was a smart looking bike and until I knew better it was. I soon found out its flaws and was soon looking for a better bike. My heart had me spend a fortune upgrading wheels and saddles etc. If I had used my head I would have gone for a more boring Trek or Specialized but I wanted the flashy Italian bike. The feeling will soon wear off and you will wish you got the more capable bike. I had to save up and wait to get a better bike, albiet another Bianchi, but one far superior.

As much as I love Bianchi, I don't think I would get another for my next bike. My heart says a Sempre Pro but my head says get a Canyon Aero CF. Just because having ridden one I know for me its an outstanding bike and a bargin for what I would get. Not as glamorous as an Italian brand like say a De Rosa or Basso but the Germans certainly know how to make a good bike.

danlikesbikes

daviesee wrote:

Danlikesbikes wrote:

.....But each to their own.

Each to their own indeed. I get a distinct pleasure every time I look at the Colnago.

Don't get me wrong I love my Felt & it looks damn good, but I could have purchased a Scott at the time which was a little beauty too look at. Thankfully they both rode well, but the Felt won over in terms of ride & being a slightly better deal from the LBS.

I'm sure the OP would be happy with any of his choices though - for the money they are all good bikes.

letap73

aka Arthur wrote:

Buy with your heart because cycling is as much about beauty as practicality. And on that basis ...

... Bianchi, because you like the look of it, so it will give you more pride of ownership. Also, Bianchi is steeped in 100+ years of European cycling history, whereas Trek (still tainted by Armstrong in my eyes) and Specialneedz are Yankee upstarts.

Also, there's no practical difference between Tiagra and 105 - so don't be swayed by people who say 105 is 'better'... if you are, upgrade the Bianchi and still save money.

I hope this post is a joke.
Anyway whether a brand is steeped in 100+ years of history has no relevance in the now especially if that brand has been superceded by others. Specialized are used by a number of pro teams so I think they are a little more than Yankee upstarts.

D4N

Well I bit the bullet and bought the Bianchi.
Collected it tonight.
Love the look and finish.
Superb!
I've ridden it up and down the road.
It's very nice.
I'm out on it tomorrow round my local track so i'll see how she goes.
Again thanks for everyone's input.
Dan

smoggysteve

Congrats on your new bike. I will say, start saving for some better wheels for it as the Reparto Corse wheels supplied really let the rest if the bike down. They are good for a start but when you put some better ones on you will notice A big difference.

daveyruthers

letap73 wrote:

aka Arthur wrote:

Buy with your heart because cycling is as much about beauty as practicality. And on that basis ...

... Bianchi, because you like the look of it, so it will give you more pride of ownership. Also, Bianchi is steeped in 100+ years of European cycling history, whereas Trek (still tainted by Armstrong in my eyes) and Specialneedz are Yankee upstarts.

Also, there's no practical difference between Tiagra and 105 - so don't be swayed by people who say 105 is 'better'... if you are, upgrade the Bianchi and still save money.

I hope this post is a joke.
Anyway whether a brand is steeped in 100+ years of history has no relevance in the now especially if that brand has been superceded by others. Specialized are used by a number of pro teams so I think they are a little more than Yankee upstarts.

I think bike manufacturers pay teams to ride their bikes?????

daviesee

daveyruthers wrote:

I think bike manufacturers pay teams to ride their bikes?????

Yes.
History full of top riders on non-team bikes painted in team colours.
I doubt it is a prevalent today but it is a fact that the bikes are chosen on a financial basis, not what the riders like.

D4N

Thanks Steve.
I'm sure for now i'll be fine but eventually that will be my first major upgrade.
What would u recommend?
I prob wouldn't spend too much. Obviously the more u spend the better.
I think i'd prob limit myself to £250.
Or would that not make much difference?
It's never ending.
I started out with a £22 Viking 2 months ago.
No 3 bikes later i'm almost on a Grand
Thanks again
Dan

smoggysteve

Get some solid performing mavic wheels. Can't fault any of the range. Whatever price you pay.