Help please - What not to get?

[tjw_78]

I started with an Allez on the basis that if I don't like the bike I haven't wasted any money, then over the past 18 months I have upgraded pretty much most of it and regularly beat riders on top of the range carbon bikes. I would say that the best upgrade is wheels and tyres to any bike and get the best frame for you money. You can get plenty of bargains for group sets when you feel you need them.

The best upgrade however is riding and getting yourself fit, losing a stone also helped me more than any fancy carbon frame.

The assistant in Evans guided me toward an Allez the other day...

 

[tjw_78]

That's really interesting to know, thanks I was going to wait until the new year!

Ditto. Useful info

 

[vickster]

Where do you live (sorry if I missed it), you may have a good local store with some more unusual stuff?

 

[tjw_78]

Where do you live (sorry if I missed it), you may have a good local store with some more unusual stuff?

Currently Barnet, but I won't buy until after I move. So, it will be Wokingham (hopefully by July).

 

[vickster]

Lots of choice in London if you can get in. I would try to get to On Your Bike at London Bridge and perhaps Condor on Grays Inn Road (but pretty high end). If you want to see lots of bikes, the new Evans on Mortimer Street is mahoosive! There is a Decathlon at Surrey Quays too for good value bikes. Did you mention a budget?

 

[Norm]

You don't need to go as far as London.

Avoid Bracknell Cycles in (wait for it!) Bracknell, the chap in there doesn't seem helpful, charging £3 just to use their track pump if you have a puncture, for instance.

However, Stows in Dedworth, on the Wokingham side of Windsor, is most excellent and has always offered good advice, IMO.

 

[tjw_78]

Lots of choice in London if you can get in. I would try to get to On Your Bike at London Bridge and perhaps Condor on Grays Inn Road (but pretty high end). If you want to see lots of bikes, the new Evans on Mortimer Street is mahoosive! There is a Decathlon at Surrey Quays too for good value bikes. Did you mention a budget?

I keep meaning to pop into Decathlon on the way home from work...

 

[tjw_78]

OK, so I'm thinking, wait until September for sales (no need to wait until Jan), and then look for someting with Sora, Tiagra, or even 105, and then just try it out for comfort. No real bad buys. Opinions split on Carbon, but probably will avoid it to err on the side of caution. Then upgrade the wheels as soon as poss.

 

[Glover Fan]

If I had your budget I'd be looking at Tiagra minimum.

 

[tjw_78]

If I had your budget I'd be looking at Tiagra minimum.

The budget isn't fixed yet (depends of all sorts of things), but that aside, is Tiagra that much better? Why?

 

[Norm]

...is Tiagra that much better? Why?

IMO, and it is just an opinion, no it isn't.

I've got Sora on one bike and Tiagra on the other, and both the quality and the accuracy of the gear changes seems little different.

Some complain about the thumb switch on the Sora STIs but I reckon that's a psychological issue rather than a practical one, as it's not exactly a long way away (for people who have lived with down-tube shifters) and I have never needed to change gear on the drops anyway.

 

[tjw_78]

The fact that there is a debate suggests that a newbie like me won't be too fussed either way, or that it is subjective. So again - test ride a few bikes, and see what feels good.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

In my experience it is unlikely that an LBS will sell you crap. They survive by word of mouth. A corporation like Halfords on the other hand.....,.

I'm getting the 'any top name is pretty good' message, which is reassuring that my local bike shop won't sell me a load of old rubbish, which will get people saying ' why on earth did you get that'.

I read somewhere that Focus have some amazing sub £1000 bikes. Anyone esle concer with that?

 

[cyberknight]

In my experience it is unlikely that an LBS will sell you crap. They survive by word of mouth. A corporation like Halfords on the other hand.....,.

That might be true of the lower end stuff but carrera and boardmans are well respected bikes, couple of guys at my local club have them and they really rave about them so i will be getting the Boardman road comp next.

£799
Sram apex gives you the abilty to run up to a 32 rear cassette so you will get up any hill and the quality of apex according to what i have read is between tiagra and 105.
Full tapered carbon fork
mudgaurd clearance...

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_comp.html

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Accepted. I missed price bracket in the OP.

That might be true of the lower end stuff but carrera and boardmans are well respected bikes, couple of guys at my local club have them and they really rave about them so i will be getting the Boardman road comp next.

£799
Sram apex gives you the abilty to run up to a 32 rear cassette so you will get up any hill and the quality of apex according to what i have read is between tiagra and 105.
Full tapered carbon fork
mudgaurd clearance...

http://www.boardmanb.../road_comp.html