Best bike for £650 with Tiagra

[jay clock]

I know you see dozens of "which bike" threads, so bear with me. I have a 15 year old nephew, mad keen on cycling, and wants a decent road bike. He has it in his head that Sora is terrible and his life will be saved by Tiagra. So he wants a nice looking, light road bike with Tiagra, size must be ok (he is average height for age) so probably a small men's bike 49-51cm at a guess.

I have looked at Ribble and can get one for £689 with Tiagra and room to upgrade later. Any other places to look, or clever ideas. He has mentioned buying bits and building his own, but prices being what they are new seems as good.

All clever ideas welcomed

 

[VamP]

Second hand?

Scour the ads, this or this? Both with 105.

Also he's in that growing spurt territory, I would recommend going larger than he is right now.

 

[mcshroom]

How about the Decathlon B'Twin Facet 3

105 kit, carbon frame (if a bit ugly) and £600. Smallest frame they seem to do is a 55cm though so it may be a little big

 

[smutchin]

For that money, it's possible to get full carbon and 105...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/btwin-facet-3-id_8127608.html

£600 reduced from £900

Caveat: I don't know anything about this bike. But it looks like a bargain.

(edit: cross-posted with mcshroom - great minds and all that...)

d.

 

[Tomba]

Cannondale Synapse 105 for £679 only 48" though. I'd call and ask before purchasing as I had a problem with Triton taking my money for a bike that was on the website but not in stock.

If you shop around for last years models you should get a Tiagra spec bike easily for £650. Bare in mind though, last years Tiagra will likely all be 9 speed.

 

[jay clock]

Thanks for that. The Decathlon one I had looked at but was too big. The secondhand Boardman looks good, but he prob needs a small and that is a medium. The second hand Claud Butler is odd. I can only find it as a cheapish entry level bike but this one is asking for £700 admittedly with better kit on it

So far I think Ribble are the best all round deal. Also looking at a Felt Z95... keep the ideas coming!

 

[jay clock]

That Cannondale looks good but I think he needs the next size up. He is average height but growing very fast and Dad about 6'4"

 

[VamP]

The second hand Claud Butler is odd. I can only find it as a cheapish entry level bike but this one is asking for £700 admittedly with better kit on it

He's actually asking £500, and I reckon a £400 offer would swing it. TBH I only spent a couple of minutes looking, I'm sure there's better bargains out there.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

...The second hand Claud Butler is odd. I can only find it as a cheapish entry level bike but this one is asking for £700 admittedly with better kit on it...

He built it from scratch, so you won't find its like elsewhere: there's some nice kit on there and as VamP says he's corrected the price to £500 and he's not had any interest yet...

 

[jay clock]

Yes, he has corrected it now. My nephew is in South London, so any s/h purchases need to be postable or local-ish. He has currently got his heart set on a Bianchi Via Nirone with Campag. I think he has spotted one on Ebay but he still has to work out how to bid!

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Fair enough.

Nice to hear he's got his Campag on, at such a tender age!

 

[jay clock]

OK.all sorted. thanks for comments and advice. Having looked at an LBS he has fallen in love with a Bianchi Nirone 7 on Ebay which they got for £555. Here it is http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bianchi-Via-Nirone-7-/260974384606?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item3cc34915de