Almost makes sense...but not quite.
This afternoon, in my search for a road bike around £1300 I inevitably was seduced by the offerings above the price I wanted to pay.
So, I had a go on four bikes, a Look655 (2014 model) a Cervelo R2, a Giant Defy Advanced 1 and a Bianchi Intenso Veloce.
It ended up being a shoot out between the Look and the Bianchi....except that I had forgotten what the Cervelo was like.
The one I was surprised to reject most easily was the Giant. It seemed to have none of the features I found so seductive and all that I found unattractive on the other bikes I tried. The ride was harsh on bad surfaces, yet the handling lacked the feedback I found engaging on the others I tried. I was most surprised by the disc brakes, which had made my naive little eyes light up. Disc brakes! Modern! Be the envy of your friends! So, when I got up speed and pulled gently on the levers....nothing happened. So I pulled harder - and I slowed down. As you do. But modulation? Grip? Eyeballs shooting out of their sockets like Chapel hat pegs? Nope. Just brakes. I'm sure they will be better in the wet than calipers, but I won't be going out in the wet. If I'm going out when it's raining, I'm going on the Sirrus, complete with mudguards and big fat tyres on big fat heavy wheels. The Ultegra gears worked fine - if you told me they are better than 105s I would not disagree, but their superiority was overshadowed by the other issues.
I was disappointed in the Giant. I had expected it to be much more engaging.
The Bianchi! Oh I really liked the look of it, bright red, as red as a red bike on a red day. Which I suspect would start to make me feel a bit conspicuous as I lumber and wheeze along. And it was such a sweet ride. The Campag gears, the supple handling, it was gorgeous until I tried the drops. I don't think I would have lasted long down there. Like the Giant, I felt almost upside down and my back was creaking after a few hundred yards. But everything else, the handling, the way it shot forward when I pushed the pedals, the precise steering. Maybe I could do something about the drops.......
The Look 655 was a 2014 model. It handled sweetly, rode smoothly over rough cobbles and is a lovely bike. The drops felt more comfortable and the gears, good old 105s, rock solid. Up, down, clickety click. I felt most at home on the Look because the ride was so comfortable and it all just...worked.
The Cervelo C2 was another looker. The trouble is that I can't think of anything that it did badly, and I can't think of anything that made it memorable, but that's my fault. I should have had another go on it, and I will before making a final decision.
Which is where you come in, if you're still with me. Tenacious, aren't you? Patient also. What would you do?
I think I would be very happy with the Look. I suspect I might fall in love with the Bianchi - if only it wasn't so bloody RED....and I should try the C2 again.
Head equals Look. Heart equals Bianchi, with different bars perhaps. The C2 could still pip them both.
Your advice please. Also, if you have a Giant Defy Advance 1, take no notice of my opinion. I know nowt, me.
Thanks Mike at Palace Cycles Carlisle for your forbearance, patience and help.
This afternoon, in my search for a road bike around £1300 I inevitably was seduced by the offerings above the price I wanted to pay.
So, I had a go on four bikes, a Look655 (2014 model) a Cervelo R2, a Giant Defy Advanced 1 and a Bianchi Intenso Veloce.
It ended up being a shoot out between the Look and the Bianchi....except that I had forgotten what the Cervelo was like.
The one I was surprised to reject most easily was the Giant. It seemed to have none of the features I found so seductive and all that I found unattractive on the other bikes I tried. The ride was harsh on bad surfaces, yet the handling lacked the feedback I found engaging on the others I tried. I was most surprised by the disc brakes, which had made my naive little eyes light up. Disc brakes! Modern! Be the envy of your friends! So, when I got up speed and pulled gently on the levers....nothing happened. So I pulled harder - and I slowed down. As you do. But modulation? Grip? Eyeballs shooting out of their sockets like Chapel hat pegs? Nope. Just brakes. I'm sure they will be better in the wet than calipers, but I won't be going out in the wet. If I'm going out when it's raining, I'm going on the Sirrus, complete with mudguards and big fat tyres on big fat heavy wheels. The Ultegra gears worked fine - if you told me they are better than 105s I would not disagree, but their superiority was overshadowed by the other issues.
I was disappointed in the Giant. I had expected it to be much more engaging.
The Bianchi! Oh I really liked the look of it, bright red, as red as a red bike on a red day. Which I suspect would start to make me feel a bit conspicuous as I lumber and wheeze along. And it was such a sweet ride. The Campag gears, the supple handling, it was gorgeous until I tried the drops. I don't think I would have lasted long down there. Like the Giant, I felt almost upside down and my back was creaking after a few hundred yards. But everything else, the handling, the way it shot forward when I pushed the pedals, the precise steering. Maybe I could do something about the drops.......
The Look 655 was a 2014 model. It handled sweetly, rode smoothly over rough cobbles and is a lovely bike. The drops felt more comfortable and the gears, good old 105s, rock solid. Up, down, clickety click. I felt most at home on the Look because the ride was so comfortable and it all just...worked.
The Cervelo C2 was another looker. The trouble is that I can't think of anything that it did badly, and I can't think of anything that made it memorable, but that's my fault. I should have had another go on it, and I will before making a final decision.
Which is where you come in, if you're still with me. Tenacious, aren't you? Patient also. What would you do?
I think I would be very happy with the Look. I suspect I might fall in love with the Bianchi - if only it wasn't so bloody RED....and I should try the C2 again.
Head equals Look. Heart equals Bianchi, with different bars perhaps. The C2 could still pip them both.
Your advice please. Also, if you have a Giant Defy Advance 1, take no notice of my opinion. I know nowt, me.
Thanks Mike at Palace Cycles Carlisle for your forbearance, patience and help.
