Entry level road bike
- Thread starter max_hughes
- Start date
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Justinslow
Lovely jubbly
- Location
- Suffolk
Yes the argos bike - ventura cp50 is a great machine IMO, carbon frame and fork, partial sora groupset, Ritchie finishing kit, shimano r501 wheel set. Mine weighs 10.4kg with wedge pack, 2 tubes, multi tool, pump, 2 bottle cages, lights - not super light but light enough for the money, be weary of printed bike weights as they are not necessarily accurate. But I wouldn't pay £600 out of principle, because I know that it was up for £400 back in August, I'm sure at some point it will be back there again and I think they are taking the mickey trying to sell it at £600 or above. It's a great bike and I can't really fault it, I'm doing a 100 mile sportive on Sunday, and have done rides up to 70 miles. Oh, and budget for all the items listed above if you haven't got them, along with decent pedals, all that lot could add another £100 to your bill!
Bike snobs will not like the fact it's from Argos though and that it has Ventura painted on the frame!
Edit, bike now has shimano spd pedals and a shorter stem fitted.
Bike snobs will not like the fact it's from Argos though and that it has Ventura painted on the frame!
Edit, bike now has shimano spd pedals and a shorter stem fitted.
Last edited:
Kestevan
Last of the Summer Winos
- Location
- Holmfirth.
Assuming you plan on leaving it locked up outside school I'd be a bit hesitant at spending so much on a first roadie.
Maybe scale back on the price till you know what sort of riding really appeals.
I'd be very tempted to look at the new Merlin £299.00 entry level bike.
http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-road-pr7-bike-73113.html
It may only have 16 speed Claris groupset, but should be bomb proof/cheap to maintain, and if some scrote does walk off with it whilst you're in class it's not quite so wallet busting.
Maybe scale back on the price till you know what sort of riding really appeals.
I'd be very tempted to look at the new Merlin £299.00 entry level bike.
http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-road-pr7-bike-73113.html
It may only have 16 speed Claris groupset, but should be bomb proof/cheap to maintain, and if some scrote does walk off with it whilst you're in class it's not quite so wallet busting.
smiggs1967
Regular
Hiya mate, I bought a second hand Carrera TDF of Ebay for £200 and did 10,000 miles on it. It was a pleasure to ride. May be a better option to buy a cheaper second hand one to ensure that cycling is your thing. Alternatively I would get a Boardman, pretty sure you can get on for £600, I spent £850 on the CX Team and love it.
rd83
Senior Member
- Location
- Pevensey Bay, East Sussex
+1. Just got one myself so biased. You're going to get a lot off different answers though!
If you are still growing don't forget the 2nd hand market.
Learnincurve
Senior Member
- Location
- Chesterfield
Claris is a lot better or the same as a lot of the bikes linked in this thread, you also get a carbon fork and nice wheels. It's also understated, he's 16 and going to be leaving it at a school, so he does not want something that will draw a lot of attention.
@max_hughes if it were me, I would get the Merlin and a kriptonite new york lock. This thing is huge and if your bike gets stolen while using it they will replace the bike. What you do is ride with it to school once then leave it permanently attached to the racks. Be careful with the key though, it's tempting to leave a spare in your locker but your locker will be easily popped.
I'm no snob but I do want to know how the bike rides on a down hill @40 MPH ? I'd have a go on a £500 Giant but not a £ 4 - 600 carbon Argos bike . I'm bricking myself at the thought of it
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I've not found a big name manufacturer, or indeed any manufacturer that will give me a written guarantee their carbln bikes are suitable for a rider over 105kg. I don't think I'll risk my fat arse on a plastic bike provided by the lowest bidding supplier to Argos.
Justinslow
Lovely jubbly
- Location
- Suffolk
I'm no snob but I do want to know how the bike rides on a down hill @40 MPH ? I'd have a go on a £500 Giant but not a £ 4 - 600 carbon Argos bike . I'm bricking myself at the thought of it
Having ridden this bike a few times over 40 mph down hill I would say it handled fine! The finish of the frame is flawless, top quality Taiwanese workmanship!
It's the same frame as used by several other manufacturers, including the mekk poggio 2.0 which had pretty good reviews at the time, the frame is at least two years old however in terms of when it was first released.
SteCenturion
I am your Father
- Location
- The Dark Side of the Moon.
I might regret this <tries to choose words carefully>
I am a bike snob, only in as much as I believe you gets what you pays for.
I don't like or believe you need a Pinnerello for example, but neither would I buy a bike from Argos or one of those Apollo jobs from Halfords etc.
I don't think any worse of someone who does & I don't look down my nose at any cyclist, barr heroin Dave off the estate who steals 'em to order, but it is just not for me.
I am definitely not wealthy & have to use some sort of credit for major purchases (0 % or Cyclescheme etc).
Back to the bike search for the OP.
With a budget of £600 - I would only look at aluminium or steel bikes if buying new. A 2014 bike from Felt at www.merlincycles.com or www.wiggle.co.uk
or maybe a 2014 Giant Defy or Cube Peloton from www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk
If buying carbon I would have saved ebay searches/notifications for USED Giant Defy Comp or TCR's, Boardman Team & Cube Agree bikes.
Sometimes these can get down just below the magical £600 mark.
I am a bike snob, only in as much as I believe you gets what you pays for.
I don't like or believe you need a Pinnerello for example, but neither would I buy a bike from Argos or one of those Apollo jobs from Halfords etc.
I don't think any worse of someone who does & I don't look down my nose at any cyclist, barr heroin Dave off the estate who steals 'em to order, but it is just not for me.
I am definitely not wealthy & have to use some sort of credit for major purchases (0 % or Cyclescheme etc).
Back to the bike search for the OP.
With a budget of £600 - I would only look at aluminium or steel bikes if buying new. A 2014 bike from Felt at www.merlincycles.com or www.wiggle.co.uk
or maybe a 2014 Giant Defy or Cube Peloton from www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk
If buying carbon I would have saved ebay searches/notifications for USED Giant Defy Comp or TCR's, Boardman Team & Cube Agree bikes.
Sometimes these can get down just below the magical £600 mark.
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
It's externally then same, doubtless come out of an identical mould, but a pound to a pinch of carbon says it isn't actually the same, the manufacturing process and actually structure are significantly different.
In Any case, Mekk are also unwilling to guarantee their frames for a 105kg+ rider.
In Any case, Mekk are also unwilling to guarantee their frames for a 105kg+ rider.
Justinslow
Lovely jubbly
- Location
- Suffolk
Fair enough, but a bike is hardly a complex machine and you do get what you pay for, for example, the frame us as used on a number of (older) bikes, the sora gearing is the same sora gearing as used on a number of other bikes, the bars, stem, seat post - Ritchie, wheelset -shimano again used on other bikes, it's just a collection of half decent components with an unfashionable name and dealer.
At least it probably won't get stolen if the OP chooses one!
At the end of the day we can all choose what we want, it's just another bike.
SteCenturion
I am your Father
- Location
- The Dark Side of the Moon.
All good points & I don't disagree, just said it's not for me, I wouldn't have the same trust in a catalogue bike as I would in a dedicated cycle shop bike from a renowned & respected brand.
Some Halfords store cycle mechanics are good, some o.k, some bad.
I have taken a chance & bought 2nd hand before now & had lower end bikes & understand that people have a budget & circumstances that dictate their purchases to one extent or another. This is all good too.
All I say is do the best you can for your budget & if that means 2nd hand or steel/aluminium then great, there are some excellent bikes even on a small budget.
Myself, I believe in the old adage "buy cheap, buy twice".
Was it Bontrager who said "you can have cheap/light/strong, pick two" ?
Glad you like your bike, your cycling & that's all that counts at the end of the day.
Some Halfords store cycle mechanics are good, some o.k, some bad.
I have taken a chance & bought 2nd hand before now & had lower end bikes & understand that people have a budget & circumstances that dictate their purchases to one extent or another. This is all good too.
All I say is do the best you can for your budget & if that means 2nd hand or steel/aluminium then great, there are some excellent bikes even on a small budget.
Myself, I believe in the old adage "buy cheap, buy twice".
Was it Bontrager who said "you can have cheap/light/strong, pick two" ?
Glad you like your bike, your cycling & that's all that counts at the end of the day.
Justinslow
Lovely jubbly
- Location
- Suffolk
I totally understand where you are coming from aswell, but I kind of like the fact that it's a bit of an outcast. I wonder how many I will see on the sportive on Sunday? Not many I will wager and again I like that. Like I said before I don't think it's worth the higher prices being quoted but well worth a punt at £400.......but that f85 at £500, now that sounds a good deal!
