Advice appreciated - Upgrade of bits, brand new bike...

boxrick

I just purchased a brand new Specialized Secteur bike at a cost of £650. However one thing that I am unhappy with is the gearing. It shifts "ok" through the gears then around the middle on the back it doesn't sit cleanly and always wants to change ( makes that noise ), it came with a basic Shimano Claris 2400 groupset, and some ugly Suntour bits in places.

I spent hours looking over youtube videos and trying to adjust the dérailleurs. After not being able to get it quite right I took it to my local bike store where I left it with the mechanic for the afternoon. When I got back he said he just couldn't get it right and didn't even charge me.

A couple of options:

1) Ignore it, use my bike and call it a day.
2) Upgrade a few bits ( Shimano 105 entire groupset is ~ £300 and stick some new wheels on it £250 ) I got a pretty nice bike with a gorgeous looking frame for £1000 then sell all the old components and make a few quid back.

Wheel options:
- http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/pro- ... -prod29086
- http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... tAodNlkAvg

or more expensive but likely pointless on such a bike:

http://www.wheelsmith.co.uk/news/63-wheelsmith-race23
http://www.stradawheels.co.uk/shop/h-pl ... archetype/

Groupset:
- http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/r ... black.html

3) Attempt to return and buy an entirely different bike, this time around the £1000 mark. Some nice ultegra - carbon bikes at £1000 from PlanetX but not particurly nice looking.

Thoughts would be appreciated!

rolf_f

It's brand new so you need to get it checked by the shop you bought it from. If they can't make it work, you are within your rights to reject it.

Option 1 is plain silly
Option 2 is even worse - a great way to waste a whole lot of money - you are talking about increasing the cost of the bike to £1200. There's better ways to spend £1200 than that. Yes you can sell some stuff back but it still won't be as good a deal as buying the right bike in the first place.
Option 3 - yes; insist on it. And there are other places than Planet X if the look of those doesn't appeal.

simonhead

Got on fine with my old secteur, lasted me 18 months but did require a bit of tinkering from time to time to ensure gear changing was acceptable (never totally smooth), its now relegated to Winter duty. If you have the extra cash to upgrade to a £1k bike (assuming you can return the current bike) for a refund the PX is a good buy, however in the next few weeks you will find some really good deals as shops try and clear stock to make way for 2014 models.

boxrick

Cheer for the responses guys... Assuming we go with option 3.

A couple of nice options around the £1000 mark, anything else I could be considering? Really like the look of the Specialized bikes with the matt finish and curved frame, ashame the groupsets they use are rather basic.

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/b ... -bike.html
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... _road_bike

simonhead

This time of year there are loads of deals to be had. You may even want to look at the Boardman Team Carbon, shop around, try loads of different things and get whichever you like best.

boxrick

I am liking the look of this bike for the money. Thoughts?

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/44947/Gia ... -2013.html
or
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/43057/Gia ... -2013.html

thoughts?

nochekmate

Nothing wrong with the Giant bikes but they will have a completely different feel to the Secteur due to the frame geometry. Personally I hate riding bikes like the Secteur and Roubaix with their massive headtubes and their upright positions but be aware of it - you chose the Secteur for a reason which may have been linked to the idea of 'comfort' or ride position.