First proper road bike on cycle2work

[the_exile]

Hi all,

Looking for some thoughts and opinions on the bikes I'm looking at. Basically my workplace has joined the Halfords cycle2work scheme, now I'm not keen on buying a bike from Halfords as a few friends/family members have had a fairly horrific time of it with them (seems like a common story round these parts!). Mercifully, my LBS accepts the Halfords cycle2work scheme vouchers so I'm very likely to go through them.

My LBS stock mainly Merida, Giant and Argon 18, the 4 I've narrowed it down to are:

Merida Scultura 300
http://www.merida-bikes.com/en_gb/bikes/road-bikes/aluminium/2015/scultura-300-3457.html

Merida Ride 300
http://www.merida-bikes.com/en_gb/bikes/road-bikes/aluminium/2015/ride-300-3467.html

Giant Defy 2
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/defy.2/19187/77295/

Giant Defy 1
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/defy.1/19187/77294/

Now there's 2 schools of thought here in my opinion. Currently I'm riding around on a third hand beat up old Carerra mountain bike, it's really heavy (around 15-16kg if I'm not mistaken) so regardless of which of the above bikes I get, I'm going to notice an immediate difference in how fast I'm shifting along the road. Having said that, a couple of friends who have good road bikes have said the same thing, get the best bike you can afford as eventually I'd want to upgrade and if go for the Defy 1 (the only 1 of the 4 with the 105 groupset) I won't really need or want to upgrade from that for a while.

I really love the way the Scultura 300 looks, I think it's bloody gorgeous, and am wondering if I should go for that purely on aesthetics for the time being? I can't see too much difference between the 2 Merida's really, apart from perhaps the geometry and obviously the colour. The Defy 1 and 2 obviously have the 105/Tiagra difference, although to be honest I'm not sure I'd notice a whole lot of difference, I'm going into this a bit ignorant as to what benefits the 105 would bring over the Tiagra set.

So, all thoughts and opinions welcome

 

[toeknee]

Ermmmmm...........let me see, I will give you a clue.......

 

[the_exile]

That is a thing of unbridled beauty!!!

I was looking at the ride 400 as one of the options but was hoping to stick a Garmin on as an accessory to the cycle to work vouchers. Thinking I'll go a couple of months without now and go for a £999 bike. Ah the dilemma!!

 

[iamRayRay]

Beautiful Merida! ^

 

[helston90]

The two Defy's and the Ride are a bit more sportive/ endurance geometry whereas the Scultura is their race geometry- this may well then come down to trying the scultura to see how you fair with the head down a$$ up position (that's not to say the other two aren't quick mind).

The 105 is supposed to be lighter, smoother and features under bar tape cable routing- aesthetics I'll leave up to you but I know which I'd find sexier.

The 'buy the best you can' mantra is always good- because if you find yourself dying half way up a massive climb with the Defy 2 wondering if you'd be fine with the Defy 1 you'll forever think it- if you own the best your money could get you then there's no doubt it's down to your own ability.

 

[vickster]

Which is best at taking mudguards and potentially a rack for commuting. Check clearances and bosses

Then go test ride

 

[the_exile]

After much deliberation (not really, mind 99% made up after seeing toeknees Ride 400) I've plumped for the Merida Ride 400, went to see it in the flesh at the LBS today and it made my mind up, it's an absolute wee cracker and just waiting on my letter of collection from the scheme and it's off I go to place the order, cannot wait!

 

[SteCenturion]

Which is best at taking mudguards and potentially a rack for commuting. Check clearances and bosses

Then go test ride

Or disregard mudguard & rack compatibility completely if you have no interest in touring & don't care about water (as I would)

Devils Advocate

 

[SteCenturion]

2015 105 will be 11 speed, therefore 22 gears available on a compact chainset. The spread between gears will be narrower, so notably jumps between are smaller & you have more choice over Tiagra.

The materials on 105 will no doubt be of higher quality & lighter too, while under bar cable routing is better.

Not much in it for me between the Scultura & Defy 1 apart from spec.

Consider other stores further afield & brands like Focus & Cube.

 

[vickster]

Or disregard mudguard & rack compatibility completely if you have no interest in touring & don't care about water (as I would)

Devils Advocate

Commuting, not touring...it's a C2W bike

 

[mrbikerboy73]

I can't vouch for the Merida bikes although I do like them and did consider one. I've got a 2013 Defy 1 with 105 and it's a brilliant bike, you wouldn't be disappointed with a Defy.

 

[Tojo]

Which is best at taking mudguards and potentially a rack for commuting. Check clearances and bosses

Then go test ride

I may have missed about why you mentioned being able to fit mud guards, If I'm not mistaken if you look at the bikes they're considering, I think the OP is looking at a road bike, not Granville's delivery steed......

 

[cyberknight]

Nowt wrong with the boardman/13 range as they consistently get top marks in th cycling press , take it home and build it yourself if you dont trust the local halfords .
You can get the carbon with tiagra for your grand .

 

[vickster]

I may have missed about why you mentioned being able to fit mud guards, If I'm not mistaken if you look at the bikes they're considering, I think the OP is looking at a road bike, not Granville's delivery steed......

But those are often useful on a bike used for commuting

 

[screenman]

Best bike is one you will still be riding and enjoying before you get fed up of making the payments.