Newbie wanted bike advice

dwaynemaxi
dwaynemaxi Posts: 22
edited June 2013 in Road buying advice
Hi Guys,

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post my questions,

I am looking to buy my first road bike I have a budget of around £250 ideally I would like to buy a new bike rather than a 2nd hand. I have seen afew people mention you could get bikes with better parts from sites like ebay but I am kinda hoping to have my very own baby that's all mine and never used by anyone else.

I was browsing through some sites and instantly liked this bike (Bright green Viking Milano 2013) However i'm am fully aware that its the look of the bike that I was drawn too and not the great specs...
http://www.parkersofbolton.co.uk/p-4781-2013-viking-milano-gents-road-race-bike-14-speed.aspx

I done some digging around and have found a fair few people that would advise against buying a Viking, however these seem to be the bikes that i am drawn to visually plus the fact that my budget is so small kind of limits my range.

My second bike that i liked was the following (Yellow 2013 VIKING GIRO D'ITALIA)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MENS-2013-VIKING-GIRO-DITALIA-ALUMINIUM-ROAD-RACING-BIKE-14-SPEED-SHIMANO-/360636992167?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&var=&hash=item53f7a3caa7

I havent been able to find any reviews about the Viking Milano but I have found a couple for the Viking Giro D'Italia and generally people seem to be happy with it.

Could someone look at the specs and give me some opinions as to which bike would be better for the complete beginner please.

Thanks,

Comments

  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    The answer is Decathalon Btwin...the end.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • cwbb
    cwbb Posts: 16
    as above the B Twin triban 3 from decathlon £299 :D
  • chris_bass
    chris_bass Posts: 4,913
    cwbb wrote:
    as above the B Twin triban 3 from decathlon £299 :D

    good luck finding one! they have been discontinued now so there are only very few left in stock. I dont think the new one is as good as the old red one either.

    have a look at this:
    http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/b ... -bike.html

    I think it looks good for the money.
    www.conjunctivitis.com - a site for sore eyes
  • dwaynemaxi
    dwaynemaxi Posts: 22
    Thank you for your replies guys,

    I do appreciate your suggestions but I think the replies have gone slightly off topic, I was asking for some opinions regarding the bikes I mentioned. I wanted people with some knowledge to compare each bike and inform me of which was probably best from that selection...

    The Btwin really does not appeal to me, its such a plain looking bike and although it may have better components its not what I would look to buy and also the bike in my price range doesn't have drop bars which I was hoping to have.

    I do like the look of that Merlin Bike, but tbh it would stretch my budget too far. I know that after I've brought the bike i'm then going to have to spend more out on a decent lock and accessories so I really need to stick to my price budget. I have never owned a road bike previously and I have not been on any type of bike since I was a postman about 5 years ago so I really am starting from the very beginning...

    Anybody got some ideas regarding the Viking Bikes?

    Thanks,
  • zx6man
    zx6man Posts: 1,092
    With the triban bikes being only a few more pounds and considered good road bikes, I doubt the viking bikes are on anyones radar to be honest. The components are proper rubbish compared. The 2 you posted have handlebar shifters as well.

    The next 100 posts will also point to the triban, although I do have a carrera tdf which I got for 265 in halfords sale, which again is way better than the vikings. I did look at those at our local go outdoors and just thought they were cheap and nasty for the price.
  • dwaynemaxi
    dwaynemaxi Posts: 22
    Thanks zx6man,

    I have looked at the carrera tdf and quite a few of the components are similar to what the viking bikes have, Front Mech: Shimano FD-A050, Tyres: Kenda road tyre, Chainset: Shimano FCA050 52/39

    This bike business is confusing...

    I think I need to try to find somewhere that stocks the viking bikes to go visit them rather than just web shopping.
  • zx6man
    zx6man Posts: 1,092
    All the other bits on the tdf are way better. I did change the chainset to a compact 50/34 to make the hills easier so got a 2300. I also changed the front mech to a matching 2300. And...also changed the tyres as the front had a bulge in it.

    I wasn't aware of the triban 3 when I first started a few years ago, and to be honest I would have gone that way, as they were matching groupsets and even had carbon forks.
  • zx6man
    zx6man Posts: 1,092
    Agreed, the brakes on the viking I saw in go outdoors lookedthe same as some on an old raleigh I had 20 years ago...
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    dwaynemaxi wrote:
    Anybody got some ideas regarding the Viking Bikes?

    Yes, but as you have already said you are not interested so I will not bother to tell you to avoid it.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • dwaynemaxi
    dwaynemaxi Posts: 22
    Oxoman,

    Thank you for explaining a great deal about why the viking bikes are seen below par. I think I will have to re-assess my budget and my targets. I didn't think that the components would greatly effect someone starting at the bottom of the tier but this is exactly the type of info I came on this forum searching for.

    I think I will have to keep looking on ebay for anything that pops up on the cheap.

    Do many beginners bikes go on sale in the classified section on this forum? I had a browse yesterday but most seemed to be the higher end bikes?

    Smidsy - I was not looking to get into a confrontation, I just wanted some information regarding the 2 bikes I had my eye on and why people generally hold the Viking bikes in such low regards. Your previous post gave me no information other than "buy this bike"

    I want to get some understanding and knowledge about bikes so I can make informative decisions. I want to become part of this cycling community.
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    dwaynemaxi wrote:
    Smidsy - Your previous post gave me no information other than "buy this bike"

    You are confusing definitive information with no information there I think. :wink:
    Yellow is the new Black.

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