Specialized or Giant or B'Twin first bike

Rockinroadie

Hello

Posted on 'road buying advice' section but no one responded... help appreciated.
I've decided mountain biking isn't for me, and want to buy a road bike.
I don't want a drop bar race bike for now, but still want to be able to go fast.
Uses of bike are for fitness. I ride 60km onroad a week now on my mtb, and aiming to increase a bit with the road bike.

The bikes available for me are:
Specialized Sirrus (2014)
Specialized Sirrus Sport disc (2014)
Giant Escape 2 (2014)
B'Twin Fit 5

I want the best bike regardless if it is the most expensive or cheapest.
I like the looks of the Specialized bikes, but I'm lost:
I don't need disc brakes (no rain or traffic in my commutes) but the Sirrus Sport disc is the higher spec'ed bike, so are the specs on the Sirrus Sport disc worth the extra weight and cost over the base Sirrus?
Or is the Giant Escape 2 a better bike?
Or will the Fit 5 be quickest given its gears: 11 cassette and 50 chain gearing?

Last question: will these bikes be able to keep up with fellow amateurs on drop bar race bikes or will it be harder for me to keep up? I'm fine being passed by more experienced and fit riders on race bikes, but my ego will not allow me to be passed by regular riders on race bikes (at least not easily ).

Thank you all.

http://www.specialized.com/ae/en/bikes/ ... rrus#specs
http://www.specialized.com/ae/en/bikes/ ... disc#specs
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bik ... ifications
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/btwin-fit-5- ... 39798.html

night_porter

If you are looking at the spec of the bikes then the BTwin is the best on paper but you should test ride all of them to see which you prefer to ride as the diffence between groupsets performance is zero (assuming they are setup correctly).

They are all geared with mtb gearing, have wider tyres, are heavier and have a less aerodynamic position than a true road bike so if your ego needs to win then get a road bike to start with.

Alternatively a flat barred road bike might close the gap somewhat look at the Giant Rapid or the Scott Speeder for a couple of examples.

matt@theforce

The Decathlon Fit5 is the closest you will get to a road bike out of your list. ie.. gearing/wheels/tyres.

I had the previous model Fit5, also known then as the Forme5. I soon found I only ever used the 39/50 chainrings & also changed to dropped handlebars. It was a fantastic bike for my 35mile round trip commutes (all year round) and the odd 100mile sportive ride.

The best advise is togo and try them out, while the BTwin is the best on paper you might not find it's fit right for you.

Here's a link to my thread on my Forme5/Fit5 to give you and idea on how I got on with it. http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12854817&hilit=forme5

Matthew

vertigo16

Is there a strong reason why you don't want a drop bar bike, out of interest?

Rockinroadie

Thank you all for your inputs.

I just want something a bit less serious than a drop bar bike, as I just want a bike to get me started in the sport.

At the same time I don't want to be put off and discouraged by having a slow bike, since my whole motivation to getting a flat bar road bike is because I realized I ride more on road (at a cycle track) and in turn found myself working real hard on my mountain bike only to be creamed by the most unfit looking people on race bikes which wasn't motivating.

I'm sure if I catch the bug I'll buy a drop bar bike eventually.

But for now, I just want a good comfortable bike that can still keep up with the proper road bikes ridden by regular amateur folk (I am slim and fit to an extent). Can this be achieved by one of the bikes I listed, or will it be stretching it and too much effort to keep up with others?

If so, which is better the Giant or Specialized...(I'm really leaning toward the basic Sirrus)?
The B'Twin is actually $200 more expensive, so it is my least favored one currently... although it does look great and is better equipped.

P.S. my preference was a Giant Rapid, but they're unavailable where I live.

Thanks again.

night_porter

There is nothing wrong with the basic sirrus or the giant and you will be happy to own either of them. If you want the bike to go faster then pedal harder and get fitter. Trust me once you get started you will thoroughly enjoy it and love whichever bike you have chosen.

Do not buy a bike and have the nagging doubt that you wish you had bought a different bike, buy the one you like the most and just enjoy it.

vertigo16

Go for a secondhand one, then once you're more into it you'll know what you really want in a bike and will be able to trade up. Plus you will probably be able to sell it again without making much/any loss.