Carbon road bikes mainstream or custom made

[vickster]

Try to look at a bike with SRAM shifters and see how they feel

Eastway use SRAM on some bikes for example...indeed so do Boardman on the Team CX, see if they have one in local branch to look at the hoods

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/boardman-cx-team-bike-2014

Virtually no one else does unfortunately off the peg

What makes you think Rival is less impressive than Ultegra out of interest?

 

[Our connor]

I don't think anything vicksters,like I said my trek is the first road bike I have had in forty odd years and the first with sti levers so I thought I'd try some continuity by using the same brand. When I tried to buy my first bike virtually no dealers in north west England had any small size bikes in stock to try and some were just not interested the two firms who have been helpfull are Dolan bikes and to a lesser degree giant liverpool so in answer I'm not ruling anything out yet!

 

[vickster]

I hope to buy my first carbon road bike in the spring I have been looking at the giant defy advance 1 with ultegra gears but have also been to terry Dolans shop and was advised that the tuono sl frame would fit me although the gearing was SRAM rival or shimano 105 for around the same price so do I go for the giant or the custom made Dolan with slightly less impressive kit ?

You said the dolan has less impressive kit, assume you were referring to ultegra vs rival or 105

 

[Our connor]

Yes vickster giant comes with ultegra . For the same price the Dolan tuono comes with a choice of SRAM rival or shimano 105. To kit the tuono with ultegra basic bike £1800 .

 

[Our connor]

Just looked on terry Dolans website price of tuono gone up hugely over the last 24 hours almost £2000 now for ultegra equipped ,oh well suppose i will have to settle for the giant.

 

[vickster]

No, my point was is why do you think Ultegra is superior to Rival, on what basis? Because Dolan charge more? I think a full Rival group set is a similar price to Ultegra

 

[Our connor]

No I don't know the difference because I have never riden a SRAM equiped bike I don't know why terry Dolan charges £400 pound more for ultegra over SRAM rival if they are the same price all I can point out is that he does

 

[vickster]

Maybe he hates Shimano and wants to discourage its use...or he gets a better deal from SRAM

Planet X do an Ultegra bike for about a grand if you're hung up on it...however, if you have small hands, you may find braking from the hoods tougher on Shimano...I went shooting through a red light when I test rode the 105 genesis, had to use my feet...on my Giant with Tiagra I could never use the brifters, luckily had bar mounted cross brakes....with SRAM no such issues

 

[youngoldbloke]

Worth knowing that the reach on the Ultegra 6800 shifters is really easily and effectively adjustable. Also I have small hands and have no problem braking on the hoods

 

[vickster]

For me, it's not so much the reach but the width and shape of the hoods. Not looked at Ultegra

 

[Our connor]

Thanks vickster I will try a SRAM if possible, as this will probably be my last bike I want to get it dead right so it will last a few years i will call in halfords to have a look but to be honest it will more than likely come down to frame fit.

 

[Our connor]

After being let down by giant ,today I have orderd a Dolan tuono sl with a 11 speed 105 groupset. I tried the SRAM rival shifters but felt more comfortable with the shimano. I was measured and generally advised as to what to put on the bike. In all it was a very good experience (apart from paying for the bugger) well it was a change from ,have you tried a woman's bike?

 

[Drago]

Just had a rummage round their website. What's so 'custom' about them? So far as I can see you choose a frame in your size from a standard range, and then dress it in whatever gruppo and finishing kit you choose, much like Ribble.

 

[Our connor]

Well they spent 40 minutes measuring me and explaining my choices. Then you have 4 different gruppo makers with different levels of kit, 12 choices of wheels and tyres same with saddles and handlebars etc. yes they are bolting things on but at least they are my choices, it makes a change from what what height are you? Setting the saddle and see you in 6 weeks when we will tighten the cables. I have no ties to Dolan bikes and up to 4 weeks ago didn't know they existed but on my dealings would recommend them.

 

[Drago]

They may have spent 40 minutes measuring you, but they're still going to give you the frame from their range which fits you best. These may be small volume, but they're still off the shelf, not tailored for each individual. Its a real stretch of the word 'custom'.

PS, I'm nevertheless sure they are still very nice.