Road Bike £400ish?

mattmcv
mattmcv Posts: 8
edited October 2014 in Road buying advice
I know everyone asks this but have decided to get myself a cheap road bike (managed to get on a bike for the first time in years during an adventure triathlon recently, albeit a 29er, but loved the road section of the ride much more than off road so guess that's for me!) Thinking of two and would value advice (or other suggestions) from folk who know what they're talking about. So I have these in mind:

Saracen Tenet 2 for £399 - http://www.rutlandcycling.com/281903/products/saracen-tenet-2-road-bike.aspx

Vitus Razor VR for £420 - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/vitus-bikes-razor-vr-road-bike-2014/rp-prod107023

I'll need a 52cm frame I think, don't really want to push beyond £450 for my first (inc pedals, which I would need to buy extra with the Vitus). Any advice appreciated, cheers folks.

Comments

  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    If you're quick Wiggle have a 51cm Felt F95 in stock at the moment

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-sora-2014/

    Sora drivetrain like the others you have linked to but my guess is that Felt bikes would command a better brand image than either Saracen or Vitus
  • danlikesbikes
    danlikesbikes Posts: 3,898
    Good time to look as plenty of deals out there as stores trying to make room for 2015 stock.

    Could also look at some of the uk brands like ribble, Planet X, Dolan etc as they tend to work on a lower mark up and volume sales basis.
    Pain hurts much less if its topped off with beating your mates to top of a climb.
  • mattmcv
    mattmcv Posts: 8
    Cheers, Felt looks good, might consider (buying next week...) Others a bit out of my price league.
  • dombhoy
    dombhoy Posts: 147
    merlin cycles have some good deals on felts and their own brands merlin and sensa
  • type:epyt
    type:epyt Posts: 766
    A rediculously cheap 'dale is always a good starting point.

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p522 ... -2300-2013

    Ride it as is over the winter/spring and then upgrade as necessary over the summer if you feel the need.
    Life is unfair, kill yourself or get over it.
  • mattmcv
    mattmcv Posts: 8
    Merlin has this http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-maven-road-bike-55803.html which looks reasonable. The 'dale looks great but not available in my size urgh!

    Cheers for all the advice, appreciated.
  • type:epyt
    type:epyt Posts: 766
    How tall/short are you?
    Life is unfair, kill yourself or get over it.
  • dombhoy
    dombhoy Posts: 147
    what about f95 on merlin for £365
  • dombhoy
    dombhoy Posts: 147
    Or btwin triban 5
  • w00dster
    w00dster Posts: 880
    In your price range I think I would be looking at second hand, for example...
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GIANT-DEFFY-R ... 1c46877dde
    Over budget but I do like these....
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Principia-roa ... 4adcc5df1e
    And....
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Planet-X-RT-5 ... 2ed6ea524b
  • mattmcv
    mattmcv Posts: 8
    I'm 5'8" with 29" inside leg. Cheers all - will ponder and report back...
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    I just bought a GTR for well under that a PBK - they have some higher models too, all with 40% off:
    http://www.probikekit.co.uk/bikes/gt-gt ... 29519bca0c

    Also some good deal at Winstanleys bikes on GT, Genesis Volant & others - around 40% off too.

    Otherwise Vitus or Merlin look good.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • type:epyt
    type:epyt Posts: 766
    mattmcv wrote:
    I'm 5'8" with 29" inside leg. Cheers all - will ponder and report back...

    It would def. be the 51cm you would need in the 'dale. I ride a 50cm and have the same inside leg (measurement).
    Life is unfair, kill yourself or get over it.
  • ChrisB200SX
    ChrisB200SX Posts: 19
    B'Twin is worth a look

    This looks pretty good for £300 http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-perf ... 73113.html
  • mattmcv
    mattmcv Posts: 8
    Cheers again all for advice.

    I ended up going for the Vitus Razor VR. It seemed the best spec I could get for the money by the time I was ready to buy (payday...) and the clincher was a mate who I discovered had a Vitus and rated it.

    Been out on a couple of (short) rides with it at the weekend. As with all most newbies the road cycling position feels weird and aches/pains experienced, think I still need to get my setup just right but getting there. The Shimano shifters were new to me but picked them up fairly quickly. Bike rides well, although having experienced no other road bikes can't really comment. Feels stable and smooth on decent roads (a bit juddery on some of the utterly shot tarmac on the back roads near me though, but the roads not the bike I guess).

    All in all pretty happy, next purchase will be decent bib shorts because my cheapo Aldi winter training trousers aren't gonna allow me to ride much more than an hour or so without serious discomfort. Also lights so I can get out midweek, winter tyres are probably sensible (and will give me practice changing tyres when fitting so double benefit), then maybe clipless pedals and shoes... It's a bit of a money pit this thing!
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Good choice.

    Planet X had some good deals on lights. Good shorts do help a lot but will soon be the season for tights.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.

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