Carrera TDF

[Roscoe]

Any opinions on this bike? Currently looking for my first road bike, very limited budget and all the reviews seem positive. Just a bit worried about buying from Halfords, not read much that's positive about them.

Would be buying from their East Kilbride branch, if that's any help.

Although it's my first road bike, I have been riding a Trek mountain bike on and off road for the last 5 years.

Oh, and I'm not overly technically proficient! Keep it clean and lubed, can change the brake blocks, not much else!

 

[migrantwing]

Buy it! Can't go wrong for the money. It's not gonna be as good as a Specialized or the like, but it's a good starting point.

 

[xxmimixx]

You are asking to the right forum, everyone here will love you for buying a Carrera, they cant sing praises high enough!

 

[HLaB]

Good bike, their staff unfortunately are a bit hit and miss (more miss actually), I hope you get one of the hits :-)

 

[DCLane]

I'm running a Carrera Virtuoso as a winter bike (secondhand off eBay for £100) - and there's a number run Carrera's on here (Virtuosos / TDF are pretty much the same).

As a basic bike it's fine - the times I'm doing aren't far off the usual Ridgeback Platinum 105 ride so it's been OK. I'm struggling to find mudguards to fit since the fork/frame don't have clearance and the fork's not great but otherwise it's well worth the price.

Overall you'll probably find that it's about as good as you'll get if you are buying new.

 

[david k]

i have a vanquish and a subway 2 and think they are both brill.
halfords gets a lot of bad press but the guys at st helens re fantastic, not sure wer u from but ive been some places which are poor but cannot say thsta of st helens

 

[cyberknight]

I use a virtuoso for commuting and i have done club runs and a sportive , great bike !

I used to use a TDF and it was a great bike for the money untill i sold it to make room for my new bike as the wife gets annoyed at the expanding bike collection .

As migrant wing says the bike will not be as proficient as entry level bikes from other brands but your not paying as much , at the end of the day the bike will give you many thousands of miles of enjoyment and it is better ,cheaper and easier to lose a few pounds off yourself than how much money it will cost to save a little bit of weight from the bike.An example .... my nice bike weighs 20llbs, spend another £200 for the next model up and save ...... 1.5 llbs and it gets worse the more you spend as the return is less and less .
Many quotes can be found about how its not about the bike but the rider/ engine but my favorite is.."Don`t buy upgrades ride up grades "

 

[Roscoe]

Thanks guys, really helpful

 

[cyberknight]

Here is another option i totally forgot about ,
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html

Cheaper with the same basic components , has a triple chain ring to give you more gear options and a carbon fork to reduce road buzz.

If i was for a "budget " road bike this is what i would be looking at now .

 

[migrantwing]

Forgot to mention. I have the Carrera TDF 2008 model. The groupset on the latest TDF is better than on mine as they are now equipped with Shimano components. The bike has served me well for nearly 4 years, I just want to get something different now.

As cyberknight mentions, the Triban 3 from bTwin is also a good budget bike with a higher number of gears and a carbon fork. Get yourself to either, or both stores for a fitting to see which size suits you best. This is the most important advice I can give you.

 

[172traindriver]

Hi There, if the price is right buy it you won't regret it as a starter bike. I bought one from Halfords in Worcester in 2009 for £260. I use it as my winter training bike and it is a sound investment.
I have upgraded bits and pieces as I have found various bargins and recycled old stuff off my good bikes. Latest addiition, cheap set of Aplina carbon forks. I put cheap set of Shimano R500 wheels on (£65 Merlin), cheap carbon seat post (£27 JE James), old Fizik Aliante saddle etc. It is now a cracking winter bike with full mud guards, just got over 120 miles in this weekend and have no aches or pains to complain about. Obviously heavier than my best summer bikes, but brilliant for slower winter training miles.

 

[Wades]

Here is another option i totally forgot about ,
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-id_8167038.html

Cheaper with the same basic components , has a triple chain ring to give you more gear options and a carbon fork to reduce road buzz.

If i was for a "budget " road bike this is what i would be looking at now .

Second this. Had a look at one in the Reading branch on Saturday. Looked really nicely finished for the money.

No idea what the staff are like though.