OP
OP
tjw_78
Active Member
- Location
- Winnersh, Berks
I was slightly suprised when the guy on the 'phone said this. The lbs has a very good reputation.
Cube Pelaton Race or Giant Defy 1?
- Thread starter tjw_78
- Start date
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I was slightly suprised when the guy on the 'phone said this. The lbs has a very good reputation.
Moodyman
Legendary Member
The heart of any bike is the frame & fork. Everything else will be replaced over time due to wear.
Giant frames are highly regarded and come with a lifetime warranty. Not saying that Cube frames are bad, but I would look beyond the components. Unless you're a seasoned racer, you're unlikely to detect a difference (in the real world) between different groupsets.
Giant frames are highly regarded and come with a lifetime warranty. Not saying that Cube frames are bad, but I would look beyond the components. Unless you're a seasoned racer, you're unlikely to detect a difference (in the real world) between different groupsets.
paulw1969
Ridley rider
- Location
- Long Eaton, Notts.
yep.....thats exactly what my LBS said to me
At the end of the day i suppose the frame can be "built upon" but it is the frame which gives you the ride quality from the start.
Oh yeah, I agree totally - my most recent bike is from Kinesis - that's a pretty niche bunch. I was only pointing out that going for Cube over Giant on the basis of 'rarity' value is flawed.
Herzog
Swinglish Mountain Goat
- Location
- Bern, Switzerland
When spending around 1K, not to be able to give both bikes a good test ride is crazy. In your position, I would insist on testing the bikes for a reasonable length of time, or find another shop that will allow you to do so.
Its not always that simple. I'm 6'4" and called many LBS to request a ride but very few carry bikes in my size. Some said they would need to charge me a stocking fee - about £40 per bike. Fortunately, there is a Specialized Concept Store quite near me who did carry a few so I pretty much decided to buy a Spesh - then decided which model e.g. Allez, Secteur, Sirrus, Tricross etc.
Everyone always says to go for a test ride - what do you learn on a test ride, truly? That you don't hate the bike. OK it's good to eliminate that, but beyond this?
Comfort is so dependent on set up, handling is dependent on ability and confidence to push hard - not really what happens on test rides. I am not advocating against test rides, but I do have to question it when people say that they are ''essential''. I learn more about a bike from a good review, and a look at the bike's geometry than I do from a brief test ride. It takes me much longer to evaluate a bike just on 'how it rides' than one short ride.
Combine the above with other real world factors, such as time constraints, bike availability in the right size, LBS willingness, and I wonder how many new bike purchases are actually decided (and decided 'correctly') on test rides. None of the 5 I've bought.
Comfort is so dependent on set up, handling is dependent on ability and confidence to push hard - not really what happens on test rides. I am not advocating against test rides, but I do have to question it when people say that they are ''essential''. I learn more about a bike from a good review, and a look at the bike's geometry than I do from a brief test ride. It takes me much longer to evaluate a bike just on 'how it rides' than one short ride.
Combine the above with other real world factors, such as time constraints, bike availability in the right size, LBS willingness, and I wonder how many new bike purchases are actually decided (and decided 'correctly') on test rides. None of the 5 I've bought.
As a "new" rider and one that cannot look at geometery and know what is good for me i think a test ride is essential. When i brought my commuter (Specilialized Sirrus) i first tried the Trek 7.5fx which i found very light on the front end, skitish and just didn't feel right at all. As soon as i got on the Sirrus it was obviously much better for me and i ended up buying it there and then.
I'm currently saving for a road bike and will rule out anything that i cannot ride (even if just for a short distance), that rules out things like Ribble & Planet X etc (to far away, unless i find second hand close by) but for me i cannot justify spending £1k plus on a bike that might end up feeling just like the Trek did for me. I like the look of the Boardmans but if halfords don't let me ride i'd walk away...
I have Specilized, Giant, Bianchi, Orbea, Cube, Trek, Wilier & Cannondale dealers quite close to me (and probably others i haven't thought of) - i ought to be able to find something that feels nice for me!!
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
Evans will order in any bike for you for a £50 deposit. If it's not right for ANY reason you get your £50 back and walk away
FWIW I know exactly where you're coming from, I'm 6'5"
Evans will order in any bike for you for a £50 deposit. If it's not right for ANY reason you get your £50 back and walk away
FWIW I know exactly where you're coming from, I'm 6'5"
Thats good to know. Unfortunately Evans weren't on CWS last year, which ruled them out. So if you have say, 2 or 3 bikes that you've narrowed your choice down to, you take the plunge with one of them and take it back if you're not happy?
BTW, I just signed up with mycyclinglog, how do you get that goal into your sig?
smokeysmoo
Legendary Member
- Location
- Bolton, not very far from Nob End
Have a look at this thread, it tells you how to sort out the tracker in your sig
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/how-do-i-get-a-mycyclinglog-ticker-in-my-signature.91272/
As for Evans, no that's not how it works. If you pay a deposit they will order any bike(s) you want. Then you can see them and test them, (but not take them home). If your not happy you get your deposit back and walk away. If you decide to buy they knock the deposit off the price.
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/how-do-i-get-a-mycyclinglog-ticker-in-my-signature.91272/
As for Evans, no that's not how it works. If you pay a deposit they will order any bike(s) you want. Then you can see them and test them, (but not take them home). If your not happy you get your deposit back and walk away. If you decide to buy they knock the deposit off the price.
Have a look at this thread, it tells you how to sort out the tracker in your sig
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/how-do-i-get-a-mycyclinglog-ticker-in-my-signature.91272/
As for Evans, no that's not how it works. If you pay a deposit they will order any bike(s) you want. Then you can see them and test them, (but not take them home). If your not happy you get your deposit back and walk away. If you decide to buy they knock the deposit off the price.
Seems fair.
Thanks for the link. I'm definitely in that group, I guess it will update some time soon.
Banjo
Fuelled with Jelly Babies
- Location
- South Wales
To be honest unless a test ride is over 20 miles your not really going to learn much. Go for the one that catches your eye. there both good bikes ,go for the one that you would feel proud to own.
OP
OP
tjw_78
Active Member
- Location
- Winnersh, Berks
Thanks for the thoughts on test ride (I had thought about starting another thread on this - seems I might not need to). I bought my mountain bike without a test - mainly through ignorance - and its great! I'm completely new to road bikes, so what will test ride teach me?
The lbs said that they can't have a test bike for everything they stock in every size - which seems pretty fair. They do seem very hot on getting it set up right for each particular rider.
The lbs said that they can't have a test bike for everything they stock in every size - which seems pretty fair. They do seem very hot on getting it set up right for each particular rider.
paulw1969
Ridley rider
- Location
- Long Eaton, Notts.
i am waiting ten weeks for my bike (6 weeks to go and counting) my LBS had the next half size up to the one i am ordering, but he did say it was slightly too big for me once i had put a leg over it....now he could have lost a sale there and then by saying that.
....i think the main point is as you say the fitting.....so long as its roughly the correct size for you (and your LBS should be sufficiently familiar with the particular model to say what size you require) and you know the general style of the bike you want I.E the Giant has a more upright rather than aggressive race stance according to the reviews and my LBS (don't know about the Cube). i think you will find the fitting to be the most important aspect, tweaking the fit for you...we'll thats what i'm hoping at it must be 30 years since i rode a road bike...or as i knew them a racer