Read lots but more confused!? (big guy)

musgrum

I want to buy my 1st Road bike.

Short story:
1. Buy a cheap bike, upgrade wheels or go straight to a more expensive bike?
2. Buy a cheap bike, lose weight, and then get a more expensive bike?

Yes there are a lot of these threads but I’m still not able to answer some things… (partly as there is no right or wrong answer!).

I’ve been riding fixed for 4 or so months, love it and will keep that bike, Alu Leader 725, Mash Bullhorns, Thomson blah blah blah. Was going to swap frame to a Mash Bolt or Dodici but instead of that I’ll put the money towards a new Road bike.

I will be using the Road bike to get in shape riding around Richmond Park and heading out from Chiswick area to wherever. On the fixed I’m doing 20-50 miles rides easy around London (avoiding hills) and am at about a 100-150 miles per week level.

I will do some London to Reading/Oxford type (charity) rides for fun and a Marlow event but primarily it’ll be used for riding around purely because I enjoy it (got through winter) and need to get in shape. 6’4” (193cm) & the wrong end of 16st (230lbs) but will be below 15st in a couple of months. I’ll be ‘touring’ more than ‘racing’ I suppose, give or take Strava banter at work! Therefore I’m leading towards Shimano MTB pedals and Sidi MTB shoes… for coffe stops and lunch! Hypothetically.

I have read a fair amount (on the interwebs) and know for a fact I won’t be able to test all the bikes I am considering because I want it asap due to the Reading-London ride on April 28th 2013 and I doubt I’ll manage it fixed (even with a bit of MTFU). Again general questions:

1. Buy a cheap bike, upgrade wheels or go straight to a more expensive bike?
2. Buy a cheap bike, lose weight, and then get a more expensive bike?

I typically like to avoid going too cheap as I will not be totally happy and end up spending £1000 only to buy another bike for £1,500-£2,000 12 months later (wife get mad blah blah blah) so I have been looking at bikes from £900-£3,000! and am starting to annoy myself…

If you’re still reading. Here is where I am. I know they are all very different. I know I will probably be happy with any of these but still actually have to pull the trigger so if any of these bikes are a no no for a big guy or if 10r carbon is a better option over better groupset I’d be interested on feedback.

Bikes – all 61cm (ish)
1. Specialized Roubaix Comp Compact 2013 - £2,500 FACT 8r, Ultegra/105
2. Wilier Montegrappa Xenon 10sp 2013 - £899 Alu, Campag. Xenon, Tektro etc
-with Mavic or Rolf type wheel upgrade ie. £900 Mavic 2013 Ksyrium SLR Clincher
3. Wilier Gran Turismo Centaur 10Sp 2013 - £2,499 Full Carbon Monocoque, Centaur Red/FSA Gossamer

Wildcards
1.Van Nicholas Ventus (or Chinook) Titanium - £2,800+ with wheel upgrade
2.Specialized Venge Comp 2013 – Originally wanted this but think I’d like a better groupset over FACT 10r carbon for £2,500 – based on absolutely nothing!!! And the reviews say a wheelset change is needed…
3. I think Condor type stuff is our of my league and decided to post here before looking at brands like Canyon...

Thanks to anyone who actually got through all this,
Cheers
J

Mustn't Grumble

Shark Sandwich

Answer you don't want coming up...

Get the bike from the above list that you want the most. If you dont like going cheap then go expensive.

Although i would be tempted by a Van Nicholas Ventus with some bling wheels.

sungod

i'd look for something secondhand, a tourer or cx bike maybe, something with tough wheels and room for wider tyres if needed

then once you've got some more miles in you'll have a better feel for what you want in 12 months

that way the resale value will not have fallen much, you can either flog it, or keep it and buy a new one to keep it company

pkripper

Shark Sandwich wrote:

Answer you don't want coming up...

Get the bike from the above list that you want the most. If you dont like going cheap then go expensive.

Although i would be tempted by a Van Nicholas Ventus with some bling wheels.

Indeed, there's no consistency in what you're looking at. Personally, I'd go for the venge but have different riding plans to you.

Probably best to narrow it down to a couple at each price point, then choose the best paintjob

goonz

Ideally you want the best frame for your money, other bits you can upgrade.

Think you need to do more research into what you are after personally before putting down over £1k on a bike.