From Mountain Biking to Road. Can I get your opinion please Road bikers?

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Jnapier

New Member
Hi there and Happy Christmas!

Ok so I'm looking to move into Road biking and I'm really excited about the transition to be honest.

Anyway. I would like your opinion on these two bikes.

Which one would you go for out of

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...goryId=165710&productId=1038568&storeId=10001

Or

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-se-road-bike-black-id_8306187.html

I have a decathlon mountain bike currently and it's been very good. I have read a few reviews of the 500 but am wondering whether the shimano gears on the Carrera is a better option.

Looking to ride once a week until it gets lighter.

Currently I do one ride per week of 28k.

Thanks in advance for your input.
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
The carrera has a 7 speed freewheel rather than 8 speed cassette , a steel fork rather than carbon .
Its no contest go for the triban , micro shift is no better or worse than shimano at this level and in fact it will be easier to shift from the drops as the shimano shifters fitted to the bike still have the thumb shifter on the inside that you can only reach from the hoods whereas the microshift has a paddle under the brake lever and an outer shifter button you can reach from the drops if i remember rightly from when i had a similar set up.
IMHO the carrera is over priced at £300, in fact if you could get hold of a merlin p7 for the same price with 8 speed shimano claris , carbon fork and mavic wheel but they are like hens teeth.
http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-road-pr7-bike-73113.html

But of the two the triban is the better option at good spec for the money
 
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Jnapier

New Member
Hmmmmmm that's food for thought Cyberknight thanks. The feltz looks a better spec for the price by far doesn't it.
 

screenman

Legendary Member
I read something yesterday I found interesting, price up the individual components. Generally the more expensive the better they are, Shimano rear mech £15 Michroshift £28 for instance.
 

DRM

Guru
Location
West Yorks
I did the same & bought a Carrera Zelos in january however I have thoroughly enjoyed getting out on the road and I soon realized that it was holding me back and wasn't worth upgrading, it's the same spec as the one you linked to, the Triban seems a better bet, the Felt better still, have a look at Pauls Cycles too, they seem to have some bargains of previous years, unused models.
 

screenman

Legendary Member
There are some very good used bikes in that price bracket, many with very little use.
 
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Jnapier

New Member
Hmmmmmm. Keep them coming people. Really appreciate your help. Looking to order on the 27th as a Birthday present.
 

Paul.G.

Just a bloke on a bike!
Location
Reading
Hi there and Happy Christmas!

Ok so I'm looking to move into Road biking and I'm really excited about the transition to be honest.

Anyway. I would like your opinion on these two bikes.

Which one would you go for out of

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...goryId=165710&productId=1038568&storeId=10001

Or

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-se-road-bike-black-id_8306187.html

I have a decathlon mountain bike currently and it's been very good. I have read a few reviews of the 500 but am wondering whether the shimano gears on the Carrera is a better option.

Looking to ride once a week until it gets lighter.

Currently I do one ride per week of 28k.

Thanks in advance for your input.
Just a thought, as your moving over from mountain biking, have you considered a cyclo-cross bike?
 
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Jnapier

New Member
Not really Paul. To be honest I use my mountain bike like a road bike now. It doesn't see mud anymore.

Also I'm sick of being over taken by guys on road bikes! Ha
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
Not really Paul. To be honest I use my mountain bike like a road bike now. It doesn't see mud anymore.

Also I'm sick of being over taken by guys on road bikes! Ha
I can do 20 mph on the flat on my subway with semi slicks,its a rigid MTB so if you want to go faster on the cheap lock any suspension and fit slicks on yours
 
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Jnapier

New Member
Well I managed to get a triban 500se before the price went up.

I have another question people.

Do you need cleats or can you start off without and then upgrade later?

The sales man said it's better to jump straight in but I'm not sure what to do.
 
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