Felt, Carrera, Merlin, B'TWIN - First Road Bike Recommendati

SAM28

Hi Guys,

New member here looking to get into cycling/road biking and hoping to get some advice from experienced bikers.

Currently going through the touch decision of choosing a new bike. I've been to various bike shops around Manchester and Bolton over the last couple of weeks as I want to make sure I make the right choice. I've been recommended £600.00 plus bikes (Cube Peleton, Pinnacle 3 etc), which is nearly £200 over my budget. I've made a list of what I think my be some good options below

BUDGET - £400-00 (upto £420ish)


Halfords
Carrera TDF £249.00
Carrera Virtuoso 2011/2012 £329.99
Carrera Virtuoso 2015 £379.99

Decathalon
B’TWIN Triban 500 SE £349.99
B’TWIN Triban 500 – Not in stock

Merlin Cycles
Merlin Maven £399.99
Felt F95 – Boxed £365.00
Felt F95 – Built £419.00

Could you guise advice on any of the above, looking to get a bike where I won't need to make many changes to it till a year or so down the line (ie forking out for new tires, better casettes etc).

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers,
S

nirurin

I've only heard good things about the Triban 500se.

There is also this that has just come out:
http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-perf ... 73113.html

Seems like a lot of bike for the money.

I'm in a similar situation to you, but the issue is with you wanting not to make any changes until a year or so down the line. A lot of the more "budget" bikes on the list are very good, but they manage to keep the price down by using some very cheap components. Depends on how much you expect to ride really.

Another thing (something I'm particular looking out for) is that its autumn/winter coming up, and so if you plan to ride regularly still you may want mudguards and grippier tyres. The Tribans dont have a lot of clearance for mudguards on anything much bigger than their stock 23c tyres. I *believe* you can get good winter 25c tyres plus mudguards fitted, just about, but personally I wanted something a little more comfortable.

You can tell im bored lol.

If you're happy with skinny tyres then I've never heard anyone say anything bad abut the Triban for the money it costs. The £70 you save over the Felt, you can put towards lights and mudguards (if you plan to need either of them)

SAM28

nirurin wrote:

I've only heard good things about the Triban 500se.

There is also this that has just come out:
http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-perf ... 73113.html

Seems like a lot of bike for the money.

I'm in a similar situation to you, but the issue is with you wanting not to make any changes until a year or so down the line. A lot of the more "budget" bikes on the list are very good, but they manage to keep the price down by using some very cheap components. Depends on how much you expect to ride really.

Another thing (something I'm particular looking out for) is that its autumn/winter coming up, and so if you plan to ride regularly still you may want mudguards and grippier tyres. The Tribans dont have a lot of clearance for mudguards on anything much bigger than their stock 23c tyres. I *believe* you can get good winter 25c tyres plus mudguards fitted, just about, but personally I wanted something a little more comfortable.

You can tell im bored lol.

If you're happy with skinny tyres then I've never heard anyone say anything bad abut the Triban for the money it costs. The £70 you save over the Felt, you can put towards lights and mudguards (if you plan to need either of them)

Hahaha your not the only one, hence me making bike thread on Saturday night.

The Merlin PR7 looks quite interesting, I'll have to make a trip to Merlins shop in Chorley, there a few of their bikes which I'm interest in, the PR7, the Maven, there's also a couple of BeStorm bikes with 16% discount on their website, you might be interest in them as well. Their BeOne Storm sport comes to £400.00.

Need to make the decision but I want to make sure its the right one.

howiish

If you are interested in the Triban 500, although the website says out of stock, the Warrington store had plenty in yesterday. Nice bike for the money.

poacher13

I have a TDF, great first bike but upon reflection i really should have gone for the Triban to start with. The forks on the TDF dont give a gentle ride in the slightest!
If your in Co.Kerry, Ireland feel free to pop round for a try. 8)

keezx

1 Vote for Felt F95 (boxed)

Jules Winnfield

The problem I have with the Triban is the poxy triple chainset.

keezx

davidmt83 wrote:

Keezx wrote:

1 Vote for Felt F95 (boxed)

Tough on the climbs though... 11-25T on the Felt vs 11-30T on the PR7...

SAM28 wrote:

looking to get a bike where I won't need to make many changes to it till a year or so down the line (ie forking out for new tires, better casettes etc).

OP will likely struggle on hills with an 11-25T cassette...

I don't read that anywhere.....nothing about age , weight, capabilities......
I wouldn't let a good bike in the store only for a cheap cassette....

keezx

Jules Winnfield wrote:

The problem I have with the Triban is the poxy triple chainset.

The TS won't have any problem with that as he is a beginner.

Jules Winnfield

So what you are saying is then Keezx, that just because the OP is a "beginner", he should have a triple chainset and most probably a 11-32T cassette then?

That's quite presumptuous on your part TBH. I really can't see any need..... Even for a beginner with a limited cardiovascular system..... To need anything other than a compact chainset and a 12-28T cassette.

To the OP, one thing I will say regarding your Halfords choices of bikes is that the 2011-12 Carrera Virtuoso is a better spec than the new 2015 version. If you decide on the Virtuoso at some point, the 2011 one is the one to go for.

keezx

Come on, i'm 61, no lightweight and have no trouble on hills with 34x25......

Ps, I'm not a beginner....
To be fair, I didn't look at the gears.....

keezx

Jules Winnfield wrote:

So what you are saying is then Keezx, that just because the OP is a "beginner", he should have a triple chainset and most probably a 11-32T cassette then?

That's quite presumptuous on your part TBH. I really can't see any need..... Even for a beginner with a limited cardiovascular system..... To need anything other than a compact chainset and a 12-28T cassette.

I don't say he needs a triple, but it certainly does no harm.
Whats the difference between 50x34 + 12-28 and 52x42x30 +12-25?
With the triple he has closer ratio rear and much more useful overlaps in front.

11-32 is plain stupid because 11 and 32 are no useful cogs.

Ameeno

I'm following this thread, I'm torn between f95 (Boxed) and the triban 500Se (£349.99)

It seems the F95 is better value, but i have no clue about the building of the bike, and decathlon will offer me a setup for free and lifetime warranty on frames, 2 years on the rest of the bike and generally seem like a nice shop to visit.

Merlin is just an online shop which i have no experience with.

Also the Built f95 is over £55 more!!!

Ameeno

At that price, am i not better off buying the BoneOSport from merlin?

donnyadz

Recently bought the felt it took only 1/2 hour to unpack and assemble, far better feel out on road to carreras which I've previously had, in regarding gears fine at present for general riding although I havnt pointed it at any big inclines just yet.

roubaixtom

Received a felt F95 from merlin today. Put it together and took it out for a ride. Really nice. im using it as my winter bike and its a very, very nice one at that. Light, comfortable and fast. You may want to change the saddle and tyres though so take that into account on all the bikes your looking at. Im going to put a 90mm stem on just for a slightly more relaxed geometry.