Upgrade time

[iamRayRay]

Brand new Allez going for £480 at Leisure Lakes
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/17640/specialized-allez-racing-road-bike-2015
Choice of 3 colours

Cheers for the link, I'm thinking I could get more Bang for my Buck if I go 2nd hand.

If I decided to buy new I'd imagine, I'd be looking at the £800-£1k mark. Just promise you don't tell my wife!

 

[vickster]

What spec are you ideally looking for? The Allez is a bit basic groupset wise and an alu fork, even at £500 I'd say it's overpriced compared to other bikes (even if it does have a good frame, which may not be the right frame for the OP)

 

[iamRayRay]

I have a Carrera Virtuoso 2012 Ltd Edition.

After going on a 60 miler on the weekend I easily kept up with my friend who was riding a £2k Carbon Specialized. However, the thinking was to sell my Carrera to raise some funds to buy a better spec 2nd hand road bike at ideally the £400 mark.

I know I won't be taking it hugely seriously as I play hockey year round at a decent standard which will be my main sport.
So am looking for advice on what to look for. Having read a tonne of reviews, buying a 2nd hand seems to be my best option.

 

[Mike!]

As Vickster says Boardmans geometery a little different, tend to have long top tubes (which for your long torso may work!) Otherwise Giant Defy Range always come out well and always plenty for sale second hand, "M" frame size for you i would say.

with £400 you should be able to find a "2" with Tiagra or if lucky a 1!

 

[Mike!]

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-carrera-virago-12-45868/

One of these for sale near Cambridge, 54cm with Mavic Aksium wheel upgrade for £400, and an Allez 54cm with SRAM rival / apex mix & pro-lite wheels for £350 in Colchester. Bargains around but never local....

Both on a facebook sale page, tend to find better deals there than eBay due to the fees i think.

 

[iamRayRay]

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-carrera-virago-12-45868/

One of these for sale near Cambridge, 54cm with Mavic Aksium wheel upgrade for £400, and an Allez 54cm with SRAM rival / apex mix & pro-lite wheels for £350 in Colchester. Bargains around but never local....

Both on a facebook sale page, tend to find better deals there than eBay due to the fees i think.

Mike, you star. I will continue hunting around. Want to make sure I pick up the right machine next! Thanks for the links

 

[3narf]

I'm 5ft 9ins, but have short legs.

29/30 inside leg measurement. Have a long torso.

You're exactly the same as me! I was wondering about what size frame I should get for my next bike. I don't have anything modern with which to compare...

 

[gmw492]

You're exactly the same as me! I was wondering about what size frame I should get for my next bike. I don't have anything modern with which to compare...

Best to try out in shop ,I am 5ft 8 inside leg 29 and my Specialized is a 54 but had a cube agree gtc pro which was 56 so different sizing for different models,that's why I was reluctant to buy a Canyon or Rose as I couldn't try and didn't fancy shipping it back if the sizing was different,

 

[vickster]

I am sure with canyon if you send all your measurements, they would advise on sizing

 

[iamRayRay]

Best to try out in shop ,I am 5ft 8 inside leg 29 and my Specialized is a 54 but had a cube agree gtc pro which was 56 so different sizing for different models,that's why I was reluctant to buy a Canyon or Rose as I couldn't try and didn't fancy shipping it back if the sizing was different,

I am not alone in the world!

Yes, Canyon did catch my eye, but can't seem to find a decent 2nd hand to my size unfortunately.

There are a tonne of Specialized Allez on the web shops (ebay / gumtree) however, I can't justify a 'mini' jump up in specs and didn't think it was enough to sell my current bike to buy a £300-400 one when RRP is £600.

So I think I will have to up my budget and eat cardboard for a month to fund the jump up to £600-800 area. Where I can potentially get a very light Alu or Carbon Frame and Fork.

 

[gmw492]

I am sure with canyon if you send all your measurements, they would advise on sizing

Still can't beat actually sitting on one and getting the right feel for it

 

[vickster]

Still can't beat actually sitting on one and getting the right feel for it

No indeed, that's why I'd never buy a bike for that sort of cash without sitting on it, and preferably test riding, even if on a turbo

 

[vickster]

I am not alone in the world!

Yes, Canyon did catch my eye, but can't seem to find a decent 2nd hand to my size unfortunately.

There are a tonne of Specialized Allez on the web shops (ebay / gumtree) however, I can't justify a 'mini' jump up in specs and didn't think it was enough to sell my current bike to buy a £300-400 one when RRP is £600.

So I think I will have to up my budget and eat cardboard for a month to fund the jump up to £600-800 area. Where I can potentially get a very light Alu or Carbon Frame and Fork.

A ridiculous number of options up to £800, a small selection

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p4677/CUBE-PELOTON-TRIPLE-2013

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p4331/CANNONDALE-SYNAPSE-ALLOY-TIAGRA-2012

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5228/CANNONDALE-CAAD8-TIAGRA-2013

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p4918/GIANT-DEFY-COMPOSITE-3-2013

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5512/CUBE-AGREE-GTC-2014

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPAPEX/planet-x-pro-carbon-sram-apex-road-bike (Obv a ghastly colour)

 

[gmw492]

Some good deals there depending on your budget,nice and decent pricing for the variety of models

 

[iamRayRay]

A ridiculous number of options up to £800, a small selection

(Obv a ghastly colour)

You don't work for Paulscycles do you

Thrown a spanner in the works, originally I was looking either at a Specialized Tarmac or Boardman Team Carbon - hmm... I will ponder a little more

Thanks for the links though!