£500 to spend on first road bike

[jay clock]

OK, if anyone wants a value road bike I just spotted this from Merlin. £299 and a real bargain http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-road-pr7-bike-73113.html

 

[Cyclist33]

Thanks for the clarification, I must have confused something I thought I'd read. Or fabricated the idea entirely!

I'm only going up to 2014 coz I dunno what's happening with this year's!!

All the frames up to the Defy 2 were the same, then the 1 and 0 were identically better than the others. Don't ask me in what way but I think, lighter and cleverer tube manipulations.

 

[AndyRM]

I'm only going up to 2014 coz I dunno what's happening with this year's!!

All the frames up to the Defy 2 were the same, then the 1 and 0 were identically better than the others. Don't ask me in what way but I think, lighter and cleverer tube manipulations.

That makes a lot of sense, thinking about it. I'd feel a little short changed if I was spending a grand on a bike with a blingy group rather than frame.

 

[Cyclist33]

+1

Quite a weight difference between the 2/3 and the 1, when I got my grubby mitts on them all!

 

[vickster]

+1

Quite a weight difference between the 2/3 and the 1, when I got my grubby mitts on them all!

But is that the frame or lighter components...or both?

The geometry is the same across the range

 

[Drago]

The frame is identical, though I think the 1 has slightly different forks.

 

[Cyclist33]

The frame is identical, though I think the 1 has slightly different forks.

It isn't. Or wasn't!

 

[vickster]

In 2012, Defys other than the 1 had rack lugs, not sure any do now

 

[rd83]

The 0 and 1 list an ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum frame, the 2-5 list just ALUXX-Grade Aluminium frame. Don't know what that means.

 

[SteCenturion]

Thanks for the clarification, I must have confused something I thought I'd read. Or fabricated the idea entirely!

I think that 'once upon a time' & all that, they did use the same frame throughout the range Andy.

These days, or at least in the last 2> 3 years the Defy 1 & 0 have both had the Allux SL frame & the rest use the standard Allux frames.

Never the less, as you quite rightly say, they are all damn fine bikes.

 

[SteCenturion]

The 0 and 1 list an ALUXX SL-Grade Aluminum frame, the 2-5 list just ALUXX-Grade Aluminium frame. Don't know what that means.

SL designates Superlight, usually, Superleggera (in Italy) Superlecht (in Germany) in the bike world & the tubing & butting of the frames on the Defy 1 & 0 are lighter than those on lower specced 3, 5 etc.

 

[Cyclist33]

The Defy is an excellent bike and routinely wins awards as one of the best entry level machines around. I think I'm right in saying that the same frame is used from the bottom to the top of the range, with wheels and components upgrading as you spend more.

If that's correct, buy the Defy and upgrade at your leisure. Even if I'm wrong, it's a damn fine bicycle for 500 sheets.

It's highly regarded and I wuvv mine but I'm not sure the cheaper models have actually won many awards, much less, routinely. If I remember right there was one road test a couple of years back in which the Defy 3 featured, can't recall which mag, anyway the specialized allen won it.

 

[Cyclist33]

But is that the frame or lighter components...or both?

The geometry is the same across the range

The frame and wheels I think. The difference in working parts weights is grams essentially.

 

[outlash]

Another question... if you had £500 to spend on an x-road bike, something with slightly wider tyres that can handle a mix of road and dirt, similar to http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/bikes/model/revolt.0/18745/76165/ what would you buy?

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s23p5169/CANNONDALE-CAADX-SORA-2013

 

[vickster]

He's increased his budget to £800, so the 105 CAADX now in reach

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/all-road-bike-for-£600.166777/

He's looking at a 52cm frame