£700 on a Road Bike

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Paulq

Bike Rider, Beer Drinker, Biscuit Eater.
Location
Merseyside
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My favourite is currently the Giant Defy 1 based on the fact it's highly regarded, in an awesome colour. However, the biggest size I can find is a 58cm (which I feel more comfortable on, although being told I'm a 61?...)
http://www.rutlandcycling.com/281113/products/giant-defy-1-compact-road-bike-2014-blue-black.aspx
Other options include:
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-Synapse-Sora-2014-Road-Bike_66123.htm
http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-Caad8-Sora-2014-Road-Bike_66102.htm
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cinelli-experience-105-2014/
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBHOTR105/holdsworth-trentino-shimano-105-carbon-road-bike

Does anyone have any input on this shortlist please?

They are all nice bikes. For me, as your post suggests longer term ownership, I would go for those with the best spec you can get which (to me) look like the Cinelli and the Holdsworth.

However, the real answer to your question lies with you and not with us, as we are always willing to try and help, but the BEST bike is the one that (a) you like the best and (b) fits you the best. So your approach should be go and try them all and apply those 2 criteria. With that selection you can't really make a bad decision so good luck, enjoy whichever one you choose and let us know what you go for in the end! :cheers:
 
OP
OP
September

September

Well-Known Member
Location
Wolverhampton
Thanks Paul - appreciate the input mate.

The issue I'm having with sizing is that I'm a lanky bugger and that I don't know of any LBS that stock these brands. The only LBS I currently know sell Merida only. I need to do some Googlin'!
 

KennaughKickIt

Active Member
@September if your budget's extended to £900 (the price of the Holdsworth, which would be my choice) then I'd be tempted to build a bike at Ribble. You could get a Carbon bike with Tiagra set up for £850, or an alloy frame/carbon fork bike with the 105 groupset (better than tiagra) for £700.

I don't know if guys on here have ribble bikes but I've generally only read good things about them. http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/pu/road-track-bike/bike-builder/bikebuilder/1
 
OP
OP
September

September

Well-Known Member
Location
Wolverhampton
@September if your budget's extended to £900 (the price of the Holdsworth, which would be my choice) then I'd be tempted to build a bike at Ribble. You could get a Carbon bike with Tiagra set up for £850, or an alloy frame/carbon fork bike with the 105 groupset (better than tiagra) for £700.

I don't know if guys on here have ribble bikes but I've generally only read good things about them. http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/pu/road-track-bike/bike-builder/bikebuilder/1
I've heard good about Ribble too, but I'm too green to be building my own bike, I think...

Update

Today, I made the 50 mile round journey to Evans Cycles as advised by @Paulq and it was certainly worth doing.

The guy I spoke to was ace and spent a good 90 minutes with me. He properly got me sized up on different manufacturer bikes and we established that I am a 58 on most bikes (which is what I thought!!!).

So it was certainly worth the trip if for that alone.

Whilst there, I told the guy my short and long term goals, expectations from the bike and my budget. He strongly recommended the Trek Madone or the CAAD8 105.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/madone-21-h2-compact-2014-road-bike-ec041058
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caad8-105-2014-road-bike-ec054397

I told him about the Holdsworth and other items on my list, but he said to forget the Holdsworth. He said he would rather spend then £900 on a Planet X bike instead of a Holdsworth...

Anyway, after a lengthy chat and sitting on a few bikes, I have made my final decision - it's going to be the CAAD8 105.

I'll be popping back in when I return from my holiday to pick it up. :smile:

Really appreciate all the input and @Paulq was on the money with just going in and getting a feel for a bike. Those 90 minutes in Evans were priceless.
 

Paulq

Bike Rider, Beer Drinker, Biscuit Eater.
Location
Merseyside
Excellent - you have done the right thing and bought the bike that's right for you. Cannondale have a pretty solid reputation for making lovely frames so you won't go far wrong - it looks nice too!

Enjoy your new bike. :thumbsup:
 
OP
OP
September

September

Well-Known Member
Location
Wolverhampton
Update!

I picked up the CAAD8 105 yesterday and did a quick 8 miles around the city just before sunset. I've then done another 8 miles this morning.

I've never owned a RB before - I've also never ridden one for more than 2 minutes around Decathlon.

The difference between a MTB and RB is night and day. I guess it goes without saying, but having covered nearly 1000 miles on the MTB in 3 months and then switching to a RB makes me wonder why I even got a MTB in the first place.

Everything about this bike is awesome. It weighs virtually nothing compared to my MTB, the gear changes are awesome and nearly seamless and the brakes work so well!

I was concerned about the Tektro brakes before the purchase, but I've no idea why. They seem great so far!

As for my rides - It felt SO quick. The floor was wet from earlier rain, so I took it steady. I managed to make the back-end step out during braking, which scared me a little...

Not too confident with balance and cornering as the skinny tyres and responsive steering make it feel like I'm learning all over again. I'm also getting used to the way the gears work and the general riding position.

With that said, on my favorite route which ends with a 1-3min cat 4 climb, it was a breeze. I was taking it steady and I smashed my MTB PB by over 4 minutes. I also destroyed all my Segement PBs.

I remember setting my PB for that route on my MTB. I was nearly dead at the end...

The next thing which was pretty nuts was that it rolls so fast and it's so easy to get up to speed. Another worry I had was that the compact chain rings would hold me back, but the easier ones are about 10% harder than the hardest ones on my MTB. That's perfect for me as I regularly ran out of gears on the MTB.

My best ever top speed on my MTB was 34mph downhill on my work commute. Last night, on a flat, I got to 31mph.

I've never had cars sitting behind me before.... I even had no problems keeping up with the traffic leaving the city, which meant I could take the lane for the first time ever. I've never felt fast enough to do that before.

Boy-oh-boy, am I looking forward to getting used to this bike and seeing how quick I can get to/from work!

I'd also like to thank everyone that gave me their input and helped me in choosing this bike.

I'm not sure how much of my joy is a love for the CAAD8 or the RB in general, but I'm smitten! I want to get back out for another ride already!

Thanks again all!
 
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