Help...Need to choose today!

mardybum72

Hi guys, at my wits end trying to make a final decision on a road bike...I'm down to a choice of two now....it has to be ordered today (CTW Scheme)...please, can anybody offer and advice/opinion/rhetoric that will persuade me either way?

The two bikes in question are the Felt F85 Tiagra or the Bianchi Nirone Sora. The way I see it, the Felt is a top branded bike with decent components, the Bianchi is, well Bianchi...lower level components but can be upgraded in the future.

I'm an experienced commuter but up to now only ever done it on mtb or more recently, single speed. My commute is around 12 miles each way...4 times per week. Is the lower spec of the Bianchi likely to cause any issues with this mileage?

All thoughts and opinion will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

herzog

mardybum72 wrote:

Hi guys, at my wits end trying to make a final decision on a road bike...I'm down to a choice of two now....it has to be ordered today (CTW Scheme)...please, can anybody offer and advice/opinion/rhetoric that will persuade me either way?

The two bikes in question are the Felt F85 Tiagra or the Bianchi Nirone Sora. The way I see it, the Felt is a top branded bike with decent components, the Bianchi is, well Bianchi...lower level components but can be upgraded in the future.

I'm an experienced commuter but up to now only ever done it on mtb or more recently, single speed. My commute is around 12 miles each way...4 times per week. Is the lower spec of the Bianchi likely to cause any issues with this mileage?

All thoughts and opinion will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You've ridden both?

mardybum72

Erm..No!

Not in a position to ride either I'm afraid....both are 'online'....I know it's not advised, but dem's der rules!

keef66

mardybum72 wrote:

Erm..No!

Not in a position to ride either I'm afraid....both are 'online'....I know it's not advised, but dem's der rules!

Son just bought a Felt F95 Sora and is very pleased with it. I've given it a good looking at and it's a decent bike / spec for £400, so on that basis I'd say go for the Felt with Tiagra. The basic alu Bianchi frame is no more / less upgradeable than the Felt.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Well without a test ride, it is a gamble, I risked it for a bargain Felt F5C and a Saracen Pylon8. The irony is my cheapest bike (Tricross Singlecross) was test ridden from my local Hargroves and was also a sale bike, but it was bought a year or so after a back injury that made aggressive geometry bikes consigned to the past for me, being able to take it for a 15min spin and know my back was happy was invaluable.

Which store(s) are you limited to for your C2W scheme?

What value is your voucher? £1000 is normal, but it can be lower or higher.

Flexibility/fitness issues?

Hilly terrain?

Strictly for tarmac, or would you like to safely go offroad?

mardybum72

NitrousOxide wrote:

Well without a test ride, it is a gamble, I risked it for a bargain Felt F5C and a Saracen Pylon8. The irony is my cheapest bike (Tricross Singlecross) was test ridden from my local Hargroves and was also a sale bike, but it was bought a year or so after a back injury that made aggressive geometry bikes consigned to the past for me, being able to take it for a 15min spin and know my back was happy was invaluable.

Which store(s) are you limited to for your C2W scheme?

What value is your voucher? £1000 is normal, but it can be lower or higher.

Flexibility/fitness issues?

Hilly terrain?

Strictly for tarmac, or would you like to safely go offroad?

Well it's not a normal CTW scheme...our company buy the bikes on Credit Card...savings are made by taking the cost of the bike by way of salary sacrifice. We need to order from Evans or Wiggle. Basically we can spend up to £1000...but my budget is around £500.

The Bianchi is priced at £721, but I have a price match code to bring it into £566. The Felt is £499.

I'm pretty fit and well used to road riding...there are several climbs but nothing I couldn't get up out of the saddle on my single speed (tough ratio on the mother!)

In the past I have ventured down gravel paths/canal towpaths en route...but I will be sticking to tarmac now.

ai_1

mardybum72 wrote:

Erm..No!

Not in a position to ride either I'm afraid....both are 'online'....I know it's not advised, but dem's der rules!

I wouldn't worry about not doing a test ride. Not necessary.
On the other hand it is rather important to get the sizing right.

Tjgoodhew

I am guessing the Bianchi is 9 speed Sora and the Felt 10 speed Tiagra.

You mention upgrading so on that basis I would go with the Felt as it would be much easier to potentially upgrade if you choose to.

However Tiagra is a fantastic groupset. I have it on my Cannondale and its pretty much faultless.

mardybum72

Tjgoodhew wrote:

I am guessing the Bianchi is 9 speed Sora and the Felt 10 speed Tiagra.

You mention upgrading so on that basis I would go with the Felt as it would be much easier to potentially upgrade if you choose to.

However Tiagra is a fantastic groupset. I have it on my Cannondale and its pretty much faultless.

Thanks for that.

Small development over lunch...I have been granted permission to buy from elsewhere on the net....which means for the extra £30 over the Felt mentioned above....I could get the Felt F75 from Merlin (boxed)...for £599....full Shimano 105 groupset plus Mavic rims.

This sounds like a no brainer....agree?

N0bodyOfTheGoat

CAAD8 Claris for £519? The frame has been highly regarded for years. http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec053958

derosa

Have a Felt F75 myself. It's a cracking bike - you won't go far wrong with that.

mardybum72

derosa wrote:

Have a Felt F75 myself. It's a cracking bike - you won't go far wrong with that.

Thanks for the reply mate. Can I ask a (probably dumb) question?

Is the F75 gonna be up to commuting ok? by that I mean potholes and pretty rough road surfaces.

I only ask cos I read an article comparing Tiagra to 105 groupsets, and I kinda got the feeling from it that Tiagra is more suitable to the rigours of city riding? I find it hard to believe to be honest, but is the extra £100 spend between the F85 and the F75 going to be actually worth it?

derosa

mardybum72 wrote:

derosa wrote:

Have a Felt F75 myself. It's a cracking bike - you won't go far wrong with that.

Thanks for the reply mate. Can I ask a (probably dumb) question?

Is the F75 gonna be up to commuting ok? by that I mean potholes and pretty rough road surfaces.

I only ask cos I read an article comparing Tiagra to 105 groupsets, and I kinda got the feeling from it that Tiagra is more suitable to the rigours of city riding? I find it hard to believe to be honest, but is the extra £100 spend between the F85 and the F75 going to be actually worth it?

Myself and two colleagues use F75s for commuting - would suggest you upgrade to 25c tyres though.
F75 also plenty sharp enough to enjoy at the weekend as well. Given the choice I'd always go for 105 over Tiagra - but that's a personal choice. Nowt intrinsically wrong with Tiagra.