Please help, £700 max budget road bike, Do I go Mekk/Planet

benrobinson

Hi Guys,

I'm new to the forum and hoping some of the more experienced amongst you can help me out!

I'm looking to purchase a road bike, maximum budget is £700 I really can't justify any higher than that at the moment.

I've been doing my research and started off in all the usual places but then found myself being drawn to some of the newer makes where perhaps you aren't paying for the brand so get a little more for your money.

I've seen the following;

Mekk 2G Poggio P1.5 Sora - £675

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-2g-poggio-p15-sora-2013/

Appears to be getting good reviews, tried out by Tim Wiggins here http://blog.wiggle.com/2014/02/10/revie ... oggio-1-5/ and also good reviews on http://road.cc/content/review/103273-me ... -road-bike and http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -14-47789/ based on the RRP at £1,099.

Then there's the Mekk 3G Potenza SL 4.0 - £683

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/mekk-3g- ... 80796.html

The spec looks to be that bit better than the Poggio for an extra £8! The only thing that concerns me is that I've searched high and low online and I just can't seem to get a review on it, only the 5.5 version, any thoughts from you guys would be great.

I've also found the Planet X RT-58 Alloy

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58AL ... -road-bike

Slightly cheaper than the others but still at it's original RRP rather than big reductions. From what I have read it seems that the components are slightly better on this model than the first 2 but it's an aluminium frame rather than carbon, but looking at the spec they are all approximately the same weight at 8.9kg.

I've seen the Holdsworth Trentino on Planet X http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBHOTRTIA/ ... -road-bike but to be honest the look of it is really putting me off, I don't think I'm good enough to pull off such a striking paint job!

On looks along I like the Poggio, then the Potenza then the Planet X but they're all pretty cool on the aesthetics.

I live in the Lincolnshire wolds and will be mainly using the bike for relatively hilly 30-40 mile rides at weekends, I'm also entering a 100m charity ride in June.

I have been riding the Carrera Zelos for the last year, which was fine to start me off but looking to upgrade now.

Any help and guidance you could offer on these, or if there's anything better for a max of £700 would be much appreciated!

duckson

Or
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbd/road- ... =HTMLEmail

With Tiagra, Fulcrum 7's and Mich Pro 4 service course tyres?

diamonddog

The Holdsworth is available in green/white option, link to BR review below
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -12-46608/

benrobinson

Thanks very much for replying.

I had a look on the ribble site but I don't feel particularly confident with choosing the specs etc! I put in your suggestions and it came in at £710, suppose I could perhaps downgrade those wheels slightly if I really wanted to keep the cost down? Any idea what sort of weight that bike would come in at?

Also, could anyone pass comment on the 3 I've seen so far, the Mekk Poggio 1.5 and the Potenza and the Planet X rt-58 alloy?

The spec seems to be drawing me towards the latter 2 but what's putting me off is the lack of reviews.

I'm not a massive fan of the Holdsworth in the green either to be honest, I know looks isn't everything but it is a bit gross in my opinion.

Thanks,

Ben

KevChallis

I was looking at this .....

http://www.merlincycles.com/sensa-trentino-sl-ltd-edition-68373.html

But then a used bike came along, have you thought about used?

I am collecting a PlanetX pro carbon with sram force, mavic aksium wheels, and a few other upgrades on Saturday, for £600, just an option

benrobinson

That Sensa looks decent, can the weight be right at 7.9kg?? seems a bit light for aluminium. Again struggling for reviews of that specific model although Sensa's in general appear to be well thought of.

I would certainly consider a used if there's a good deal, where did you find the Planet X pro carbon at that price? (I see you're only in Lincoln I might offer them £650! :P)

KevChallis

benrobinson wrote:

That Sensa looks decent, can the weight be right at 7.9kg?? seems a bit light for aluminium. Again struggling for reviews of that specific model although Sensa's in general appear to be well thought of.

I would certainly consider a used if there's a good deal, where did you find the Planet X pro carbon at that price? (I see you're only in Lincoln I might offer them £650! :P)

LOL!!!!

The sensa is more like 8.9kg I think, it's says that's a minimum weight with certain wheels and groupset etc....

I was browsing eBay (a swear word maybe lol) but numerous have gone through recently under £700

duckson

benrobinson wrote:

Thanks very much for replying.

I had a look on the ribble site but I don't feel particularly confident with choosing the specs etc! I put in your suggestions and it came in at £710, suppose I could perhaps downgrade those wheels slightly if I really wanted to keep the cost down? Any idea what sort of weight that bike would come in at?

Ring Ribble and i'm sure they would go through a spec.
Read the info under the bike picture, it will hep you choose the right size bars at least.
Actually I'd change the wheels to Shimano R501 standard spoke and tyres to Rubino Pro 3 folding will come to £650.

As for weight i dont know, there wont be much difference between any of the bikes you have chosen.

benrobinson

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-2-2013 a friend has just pointed this out to me. Is this a good deal? Better than the ribble/Planet X/mekk options?

Thanks

KevChallis

I have read (so don't hold me to it) there is not a lot of difference between sora and tiagra, and having ridden my mates defy 2, when I had my defy 3 with sora last year, I would kind of agree, it's just a tiny bit smoother, so it depends what you want, the Mekks are full carbon, the only thing I would say, is once you get up close, the giant looks boring, you have to find a bike you like the look of too, otherwise it will put you off riding it

benrobinson

Hi Kev,

I agree on the giant looks! It doesn't look particularly exciting does it. I really like the look of the Mekks but am I going to be making a mistake buying one over the giant?

KevChallis

You are much more likely to ride a bike that you like the look of in my honest opinion, sora and tiagra (in my opinion) are close, there is nothing wrong with sora (apart from my brake pads were crappy lol) I can't tell you what the mekk's ride like, the giant was a decent ride, quite relaxed, like I said, depends if you want carbon frame or not lol

kingofthetailwind

A friend has the Poggio, it'd be my choice. Great looking bike. Considered one when I was buying my Felt but couldn't stretch the budget. The Potenza's 3G frame is slightly lighter than the Poggio's 2G, but the Potenza has massive headtube. 18.5cm on a medium frame. Fine if you want a very upright position though.

benrobinson

Thanks, is the potenza's spec any better than the poggio? And do you know anyone who has the potenza?

KevChallis

benrobinson wrote:

Thanks, is the potenza's spec any better than the poggio? And do you know anyone who has the potenza?

Looks almost identical spec

apreading

Potenza seems to get some good user reviews here: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-3g-potenza-sl40-sora-2013/

And although its the older model with external cabling and a higher model in the range, the writeup seems good here: http://road.cc/content/review/68946-mek ... tenza-sl55

The clear thing though is that the Poggio is more race oriented and lower at the front, the Potenza is for all day comfort. That, rather than spec should be the deciding factor between these bikes - which suits you best?

wilko21

Have you thought about this?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/battaglin-s11-105/

which is what i bought recently. under your budget and 105 shifters and derailleurs, fulcrum 7 wheels.

no doubt someone will say its terrible or something but i quite like it and it seems to be better spec'd that the others you are looking at

benrobinson

Thanks, I'd not seen that one! Anyone else got some thoughts on the Battaglin?

Spec sounds really good, only thing that I would say is that it's nearly a full kilo heavier than the Planet X, the Mekks and the giant. I don't know if I'm getting too hung up on the weight thing?? My current Carrera weights abount 11.8kg and it feels like I'm dragging twice that up the climbs at times which is one of the reasons I'm wanting to upgrade.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

menthel

Don't worry about the things you can upgrade- concentrate on a good frame and go from there. I also wouldn't get too het up about a bike having current generation sora- its fine. It has the same STI shifting method as the higher spec sets and is robust. Personally I would go for the first bike you suggest or the defy. The wheels, groupset etc can all be upgraded at a later date.

apreading

as menthel says, if the Mekk is a kilo lighter, with heavier wheels and lower spec groupset - just think how much lighter it would be if you upgrade these later... The frame gets good writeup and is the same as on their much more expensive bikes. the Battaglin seems to be the opposite - surprisingly high spec components for the money but poorly welded and heavy frame with external routing. The components will wear out and need replacing at some point if you ride either - so at that time replace the sora with 105 if you want and you still have the better, carbon frame with the Mekk. If you get into it, you will probably find that you want a best set of wheels and a winter set which get abused - which the R500s on the Mekk would be ideal for.

benrobinson

duplicate message

benrobinson

Thanks for the very useful advice. I'm looking for something that is going to last me long term so if there's something that I'm going to be able to upgrade the components on should I ever wish to then that's the kind of thing I'm going to be after.

I just wish the defy 2 looked a bit nicer :? not the most important thing I know but still counts for me. Any idea what the 2013 defy weighs in at? and should I be getting too hung up about weights?

KevChallis

I don't know weight, but another option could be to pick up a defy 3 from last year, yes it's sora but looks so much nicer!!!

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=6198

apreading

Personally, I think I would go for the Mekk as it has very good wheels for the money as well as carbon frame.

If you want the peace of mind that a big brand gives then I would go for the defy but upgrade the wheels to R501 for around £80 here http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/WPSHOEM501 ... r-wheelset

The branded bikes will also be better for resale value and easier to sell but if you only want to ride it that isnt relevant.

apreading

KevChallis wrote:

I don't know weight, but another option could be to pick up a defy 3 from last year, yes it's sora but looks so much nicer!!!

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=6198

even better in red

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-3-2013-red and would leave you enough money left over to buy some decent wheels (r501 from planet-x or Fulchrum 7 from Merlin)

I would still take a punt on the Mekk personally, but this in red with r501 would be nice...

Edit: The giant looks like it would give mudguard and rack mounts if that is of interest too.

KevChallis

I had it in red last year

benrobinson

There's so much choice! All gets very confusing haha! So is the only difference between the Defy 3 and the 2 that the 3 has Sora and the 2 has Tiagra?

And as for the Mekk's, is there not much between the Poggio and the Potenza other than that the Potenza has a more upright ride position? I'm 26 so not opposed the racier style and I'm guessing it's not going to be anymore aggressive than say the specialized allez?

KevChallis

As far as I am aware yes, the defy frame is the same right up to the defy 0, what size so you need out of interest?

rickeverett

The Mekk frameset is probably the best one out of the other bikes mentioned here. Lightest bike too with nice touches like full internal cables etc. Gets excellent reviews too.

The new Poggios for 2014/15 will be 100% full group-sets apparently. At the current Wiggle prices they are hard to beat.

KevChallis

Now in same boat, my buyer let me down

benrobinson

KevChallis wrote:

As far as I am aware yes, the defy frame is the same right up to the defy 0, what size so you need out of interest?

I'm not sure, I'm 5'7" but heard that the sizing is a bit funny on the giants. Might try and get into Arrow cycles tomorrow to try one. One you going for now your carbon pro has fallen through?