Help choosing a good road bike for £800

[Hartley Hare]

I have recently got the cycling bug and want to go from a Hybrid bike (Specialized Crosstrail Pro Disc 2011) to my first road bike, I am 6'2" and weigh approx 96 kilos and the other side of 40.......

I have tried the Specialized Allez 2012 model (£800) but i have also read the reviews on the Verenti Millook (£960) from Wiggles, my dilema is do I stick to the £800, or spend a bit more......

The main use will be for pleasure, getting fit and charity rides, (London to Paris later this year) currently I get out twice during the week for an hour each time, and twice at the week ends for one and a half - two hours, but struggle to get decent speeds, currently getting 12.3 mph ave.

One other note, i have no technical knowledge on gears etc...... so there's a challenge

 

[PaulSecteur]

WARNING: Specialized biased advice below!

First question, did you ride the allez for a decent distance, and did you find it comfortable?

If you did then I would look at this for £800... http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/Detail/12allez/allez/Allez Elite

If you found the allez uncomfortable, or just think you would prefer something designed for distance rather than racing (A bit more upright, so less weight on wrist and shoulders) then I would say go for the Secteur. It also has Zerts on the forks and seatstays. These help reduce the road buzz, but they are not suspension.

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/Detail/12secteur/secteur/Secteur Elite

These 2 both come with the new 10 speed tiagra, the Verenti has sram rival, the rival is the better one in terms of quality. However, Im guessing that the tiagra will do you fine and the bits will probably be cheaper to replace when needed (I havent checked this, you will need to do your reseach here). Also, the Spesh bikes have a 12-30 cassette compare to the 12-27 on the verenti which will give you a lower gear for hills.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Warning. Cannondale biased advice below!

Or you could go for something like this and save a few quid to put towards your apparel/pedals/shoes etc
http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/products/cannondale-caad8-sora-2012.htm

The gears are one step down from Tiagra, but as they are 9 speed everything will be considerably less expensive to replace than any 10 speed set up. Plus your getting a CAAD frame which is infinitely upgradeable should you feel the need. That said you could even pick up a CAAD10 105 for about £900 until recently, but if you shop around you might get lucky and still be able to find one.

Test ride as many bikes as possible and buy which ever you find most comfortable, simples

 

[cyberknight]

Warning boardman biased lol .
Boardman road comp.
sram apex groupset with double tap so theres only 1 lever to worry about, the cassette on the back goes to 32 tooth so you can spin up any climb and still have a top gear that can keep up withthe fast boys.
Apex is the same weight as 105 and is regarded to be between tiagra and 105 for quality.
Clerance for mudgaurds, triple butted frame and a full carbon fork with a sportive geometry for a very comfortable ride along with curved seat stays to take the sting out of the road.
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_comp.html

 

[PaulSecteur]

Warning boardman biased lol .

*Cough, cough*
Halfords
*Cough, cough!!*

...with double tap so theres only 1 lever to worry about...

But the one lever has to do both up and down changes.

Snobbery aside, for £800 I dont think you can buy a bad bike from the ones you are looking at, there will be ones that suit your needs more than others. Get round the bike shops and have a look and a ride. Dont be swayed by just a sit on. If I just sit on my roubaix at a standstill its uncomfortable because Im not in the right position, get it moving and its an armchair. Also, make sure the tyre are pumped up for your test ride to around 100psi. If they are lower and you have a test ride round the car park it will feel artificially smooth.

 

[Bluenite]

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-bi...e/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/41565

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-bi...e/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/41564
Cube Bikes Peloton Race 2012


Just saying

 

[vickster]

No bias in anyway (having a carbon Pearson that is lush but would be rather over budget)

http://www.dryburghcycles.co.uk/products/Z85-Felt-Road-Bicycle-2012.html This looks a very good deal, with 105 groupset (versus Specialized Tiagra) and carbon fork for £800 (I don't know the seller, Wiggle has for £900)

Looks rather nice too

The same seller has clearance on the 2011 model in 56cm/58cm for £670! http://www.dryburghcycles.co.uk/products/F85-Felt-Road-Bike-2011.html

I would think one or other would fit someone of 6'2!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I must admit to having a liking for this
http://www.surosa.co.uk/369896/products/surosa_toledo_audax_2012_s46t.aspx
Having just got a small payout from a pension I'm trying to resist N+1.

 

[cyberknight]

*Cough, cough*
Halfords
*Cough, cough!!*



Why post this then say snobbery aside then? the cycling press regulary review boardmans and carrera`s and they get good press, the boardamn carbon got in the top 25 in c+ review .There can be horror stories about the level of competence in some
branches but you can find plenty of bad press for other bike shops,even the LBS drops the ball ,like the time it took them 3 week to respoke a wheel for me because the bike got put at the back of the shop and forgotten, the time i was sold the wrong BB even though i took the old one in.

The lever mention was not a stab at other methods of gear changing ,merely a way to say it uses a different method .Did i annoy you accidently ? seems to me you just wanted to slate the whole post.

 

[vickster]

Maybe because Halfords don't sell Specialized?

I have SRAM and find it very simple to use (probably why the LBS recommended it to me as a free upgrade from Tiagra )

 

[PaulSecteur]

*Cough, cough*
Halfords
*Cough, cough!!*

T`was ment in jest. The snobery bit was me poking fun at myself.

 

[cyberknight]

T`was ment in jest. The snobery bit was me poking fun at myself.

I withdraw my gunfire then, the 3 bikes i have had from the company in question ( 2 on C2W, our company have the halfords only type) have all been excellent and i get a little paranoid when it comes to Halfords bashing

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Full 105 Groupset here at £849

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose-pro-2000-double/aid:557602

 

[Sittingduck]

£773 (if you apply the code for a 10% discount, this weekend) at Chain Reaction

 

[Monsieur Remings]

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...6y9KkH&usg=AFQjCNGymYt4p4ShLZqPrdf4Yus2Ak-rKw

This is the 2012 version reviewed.