Brand choice for first serious bike

Flying yorkshireman

Hi, I'm riding a Lapierre alloy cyclocross bike and want to join a road club so plan to get a bike fit and drop some serious money on a new bike - say around the £4k mark. I would appreciate your views on the image / credibility of the brands good and bad as I want the members to accept my choice but without thinking I'm riding something too flash. I like the european aero orientated bikes but don't want to look like a fashion victim??

lc1981

If a club's members judge you by the bike you ride, then I wouldn't be a member of the club.

y9y9

I personally love the look of Cervelo bikes.

There's a 2010 model for sale on Evans Cycles that doesn't look too flash either http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cer ... 4#features

Barteos

Flying yorkshireman wrote:

...I want the members to accept my choice but without thinking I'm riding something too flash...

Most of serious clubs will have an official list of approved makes available to view in the office.
Also please don't forget the Velominati rules.

The Real Radioactiveman

put some 23c tyres on the crosser and let your legs do the talking not your wallet......

Flying yorkshireman

The Real Radioactiveman wrote:

put some 23c tyres on the crosser and let your legs do the talking not your wallet......

I've got some touring tyres on it now and use it to commute but want a new bike 'for best' I just want to get opinions on how the various brands are respected (or not) for performance / ability / style by more serious riders. If I go for say a pinarello will it be seen as ott? I also like Look, wilier, felt, moda, bianchi - or are the American bikes more desirable such as trek, Scott etc?

upperoilcan

lc1981 wrote:

If a club's members judge you by the bike you ride, then I wouldn't be a member of the club.

This....

Do yourself a favour,go look at some bikes,find one you like,try it out and if alls good then buy it.

You only have yourself to please.

Flying yorkshireman

upperoilcan wrote:

lc1981 wrote:

If a club's members judge you by the bike you ride, then I wouldn't be a member of the club.

This....

Do yourself a favour,go look at some bikes,find one you like,try it out and if alls good then buy it.

You only have yourself to please.

Come on, there must be an amount of snobbery over makers / brands that it would be good for a relative newbie to understand before spending hard earn't money; after all your strap line reads "Italian bikes Italian parts" do you say this due to heritage, fashion, technology, quality, admiration of other riders??

Put it another way, do bikes have a reputation based on country if origin similar to cars?
German = solid, fine engineering but a bit boring and expensive, Italian, stylish, sexier, but not as reliable or engineered as well?

If you had to list your top five favourite 5/6 makers in order what would they be?

Pinarello
Look
Cervelo
Wilier
Trek
Canyon

I think this subject matters more than you let on as people's obvious infatuation with their road bikes and following the rules seems almost religious - in a good way and I'm keen to join in.

noiseboyfeetman

£4k is a serious amount to drop on a bike, especially if you're only just about to join a bike club, you can get some serious kit for that. You could potentially look like a typical "all the gear and no idea" cyclist of which there seem to be more and more around. I'd personally look at spending a bit less and do a training camp or something to improve your ability. An Orbea Orca with Ultegra Di2 can be had for just over £2k http://www.ubyk.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=14021&Item=%27Orbea%20Orca%20BLi2%20Di2%20Road%20bike%27

spasypaddy

if youre based in yorkshire go here:
http://www.racescene.co.uk/
they'll help you spend your money wisely.

(get a casati)

diamonddog

Who cares what club members think, if you can get a no name bike for £1k or under that does a great job or a big brand name for your £4k budget that does the same it's the ride that counts and that IMO is subjective. After a certain price the differences are minimal. I bought the bike I wanted that did the job for me not the bike based on price or kudos.
Surely this should be in the Buying Advice section!

flappy8

The problem is that its all so subjective. As other posters have said turning up on your first outing with a TdF bike may look a bit silly anyway. Also there are just biased opinions - buy a Specialized (and they make some good road bikes) and many people will turn their nose up at them as they are fairly common. Maybe they are common because they are pretty good?? Someone hates Focus because they had one and a fork cracked..... There is no such thing as the best brands in a 1 to 5 order. For instance if someone tells you a Bianchi is the best brand, you may not be able get a fit or feel comfortable on the bike - Do you persist beacuse someone tells you Bianchi is the brand to have?

the_fuggler

Personally, the first thing I would do is get a bike fit so that you buy something that fits you well. When it comes to the buying decision itself, my rule of thumb is to buy the one that makes you smile most when you ride it (happens to be a Giant for me - the biggest manufacturer in the world, but it's a joy to ride).

upperoilcan

With a budget of 4k as you put it,the last thing fellow riders will worry about is brand snobbery....

Putting it another way,have you ever heard of a crap bike at the 4K price bracket ??????

Neither have i.

junglist_matty

Yesterday evening, I was riding home at a fairly fast cruising pace, sat at around 70-80% of max effort averaging about 20-22mph when I hear some guy come up behind me and it's a right racket of a noise; as he passes me he's riding a rickety old hybrid with clip on aero bars, fairly flat 1" commuter tyres, mudguards & a pannier rack! I thought it must have been electric power, but nope, just running a normal MTB type cassette with chain on the small sprocket!
...We ride the next 5 or 6 miles together averaging about 23-24mph taking turns on the front; now this is some guy flying along on a bike worth less than £500 designed for commuting to work at about 10-15mph.... I have more respect for that than I do for someone able to ride that on a road bike.... So no, there's not always bike snobbery; I don't exactly have a flash bike, it's an alu frame worth £1300 fully built!

Flying yorkshireman

diamonddog wrote:

Who cares what club members think, if you can get a no name bike for £1k or under that does a great job or a big brand name for your £4k budget that does the same it's the ride that counts and that IMO is subjective. After a certain price the differences are minimal. I bought the bike I wanted that did the job for me not the bike based on price or kudos.
Surely this should be in the Buying Advice section!

Fair comment let me make it a bit more relevant and share my current bike...

diamonddog

That looks a nice bike to me, put some 23mm tyres on it and get out and enjoy it on some nice road runs.
No doubt someone will pick spots off it so be prepared.

stongle

Best fit possible first, the rest is pretty subjective (apart from Zipp 808s if you want to go climbing in the Canary Islands).

The "Reverse Snobs" (looking down their nose at anyone whom has "all the gear", so what; perhaps they worked hard and earned it); are as bad as those that despite having no thumbs expect you to be decked out in matching Italian brands, Bianchi with Campagnola ala 3t etc etc etc… yawn!!!!

You are going to encounter a bit of both in a club no matter what mate; so the best advice is too buy something you are happy with and let the legs do the talking. You'll find that some of the best riders don't give a sh*t (or know anything) about kit (or kit science) and will smash anyone (but often still be very nice about it). Personally I think the "Reverse" snobs have it all wrong. If you buy an all singing and dancing uber bike; you're more likely to ride it more 1) because it makes you more attractive to girls (I have no science to back this up as fact or not, however I do more than all right but other variables come into play) & 2) ride and train harder just in case you get overtaken by someone on a beater and whom sneers at you because you're shoes didn't come from Lidl.

If I might, you should probably ask yourself is, "Is 4k all I'm prepared to ever spend, or is this my entry point spend". If the former, a huge amount of choice at that price point. Very, very will spec'd Ribbles and Canyons (up to Dura Ace level). Even Cervelo S2/S5 with good intermediate level components. You might even pick up a 2012 S Works Venge or something in a local shop somewhere. If its an entry point, get the best frame possible and be prepared to spend thousands on upgrades… A decent saddle is a few hundred quid, ditto handlebars. Proper aero (& lightweight) wheelset, a small car etc etc etc.

As for brands, hugely subjective… I'd also look at BMC (if from a well known high street chain, budget for new wheels and bin the 72pence worth they put on) and Storck (budget creep likely).

Flying yorkshireman

diamonddog wrote:

That looks a nice bike to me, put some 23mm tyres on it and get out and enjoy it on some nice road runs.
No doubt someone will pick spots off it so be prepared.

I changed the knobblies for 28mm commuting tyres (Conti TourRide) and put a bigger (50 tooth) FSA chain ring on.

Will putting 23 low profile tyres on make any more difference? cheers

diamonddog

Probably hurt your back side more A bit lighter maybe but I would ride it with the 28's until you decide what to do about getting a new bike.

Flying yorkshireman

would you recommend your planet x and what is your +1 soon?

diamonddog

Planet X has been great for me, they are near to me so easy to visit etc. Bike itself is very responsive and it is a good bit lighter (I'm only 51kg) now with a few upgrades saddle, seatpost, bars. Some people say that they are twitchy on the front end, I would say that they are light on the front end but you don't notice it after a couple of rides. I have never felt anything but confident on the descents I have done. There are a few people on here with them that seem to love 'em
The +1 is still being decided, looked at Dolan Tuono - good vfm and kit selection, Scott Foil 10/20/30 or equivalent waiting for 2014 models, Canyon - mail order?? but look great bikes. I like SRAM gearing so all would be Force or Red but not sure about Di2 yet. So a long way to go just like you.
Planet X Mondo is their top end bike but don't know much about it except that some of the race team they sponsor in Italy use them.

bencolem

Setting aside the fact this is the wrong forum for this topic...

The first answer is that fit is the single most important thing and £200 spent of a bike fitting before anything else will be money well spent and let you look for the bike you can get the best fit on. It also means you will need to try lots of bikes to ensure they feel right - unless you go for a custom build (Rourke 953 forever bike springs to mind at this price point).

The second answer is that it then all depends on what kind of riding you're going to be doing. Does your club ride in the hills or on the flats? Are you planning on conquering some Euro Cols or incorporating a but of TT into your club riding?

Having said all that, if you like your Lapierre they do some pretty awesome road bikes (and a matching stable always looks pretty cool) whilst Canyon will probably give you the most bike for your £4k money.

Be warned that age and experience change your view and in time you'll hanker after a more understated 'forever' bike in either a long-lasting material (like Ti or stainless) or a boutique carbon frame (Serotta - RIP -, Cyfac, Parlee etc.) but hopefully that stage will be quite some way away for you!

Nearly all bikes can be made to be lightweight and fast (at either climbing or sprinting) so the 'feel' really becomes important. At £4k you get a lot of choice but they'll all still feel different - super stiff for power, compliant for comfort, stable or twitchy, stiffer at the back or the front etc. etc.

Sounds like your about to have a lot of fun choosing - get a fit and then test ride as much as you can!

Yossie

Raise the middle finger at the w%nkers in the club and find a new club. I hate people like that. Weapons, the lot of them.

I'd go for a Boardman Air 9 or whatever they are called - full carbon pro spec frame, Zipps, Red, the full Monty. Or one of these http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc ... t-ec049278 and slap full Red on it, some P/X carbons, decent finishing kit. Then still show the w4nkers the finger and go and ride with some people who aren't knobs. If they moan you just give them the finger and point out you've got a pro level frame for billions off the RRP that you've spent on Columbian to snort off their daughter's breast.

I hate people in clubs, I really do sometimes. Ooooh, you're not cool enough to join our gag. Your bike isn't cool enough to join our gang. Well f6ck off then.

Please, please, please, please, please, whatever you do, don't turn into one of them. Please continue to wear whatever you want - don't go looking like a nonce in full club kit.

Yossie

Or a Ritte Bosberg with Lightweights/Zipps/Reynolds. Now that would be cool. One of tehse that they be: http://www.pedalroom.com/bike/ritte-bosberg-1299

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=ritte+ ... B537%3B357

lc1981

Yossie wrote:

Raise the middle finger at the w%nkers in the club and find a new club. I hate people like that. Weapons, the lot of them.

I think the w%nkers are imaginary at the moment, as the OP hasn't yet joined a club.

Yossie

Depending on which club he joins he will find them in abundance.

Flying yorkshireman

What do you think of my Lapierre then? Do you think I'll be ok going on club rides with it?

diamonddog

Definitely IMO If they are anything like a good club they will give advice/ideas etc for your new bike and/or possible improvements to the Lapierre.
Put the specs up for your Lapierre.

Flying yorkshireman

diamonddog wrote:

Definitely IMO If they are anything like a good club they will give advice/ideas etc for your new bike and/or possible improvements to the Lapierre.
Put the specs up for your Lapierre.

It is all stock apart from the touring tyres and bigger 50t chain
Easton Carbon Cross forks
Rear derailleur: SHIMANO 105 2x10 speed
Font derailleur: SHIMANO CycloCross
CrankSet: SHIMANO AFCCX50
Shifters: SHIMANO 105
Brakes: SRAM SHORTY 4 cantis
TEKTRO CX Brake levers
RITCHEY Finishing kit
SELLE ITALIA X1 saddle
MACH1 Road Runner rims
Manufacturers quoted weight: 9.7 kg

diamonddog

With the right cassette 11/26 -11/25 or similar I would use this on the club runs, it's not the lightest bike in the world but there will be people on heavier machines.