Look, Cervelo, a Giant Bianchi!

[Cuchilo]

I don't get why Giant push the Defy so much when the TCR is a nicer bike to ride . Its not far off the Defy but has the power

 

[vickster]

@vickster I agree that titanium is another option. However, correct me if I am wrong but a titanium frame bike will be more expensive to buy.

Yeah probably looking at £1800+ tis true. The Ribble is £1500 with SRAM rival, but sportive style

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbd/r...ing?part=BB15RIBTISPRA&sub=conf_BB_ALL&bike=1

That said I've never seen anything much in condor under £1500...

 

[Bicykell]

I felt thoroughly at home on the Look and would have done a deal but felt that £1600 for a slightly shop soiled 2014 model was pushing it if I can get a new 2015 one for £1400 (on eBay, admittedly). I was expecting to buy the bike for £1450 - 1500. I don't want to go past Mike at Palace cycles, he has been very friendly and helpful, but £200 and a model year earlier is hard to swallow. He has a current 2015 model in but that would be even more expensive.
So I'm buying a saddle for the Sirrus as a sop to my conscience for all the time I've taken up and hope I can do a deal with him later on in the year.

 

[zizou]

Presumably it is the same bike you have had the test ride on - in that respect then you cant IMO really expect a pristine un soiled bike or a big discount for it not being fresh out the box.

However it is perhaps worth asking if he will do a deal on the 2015 as its getting near to the 2016 models being released

 

[mythste]

I felt thoroughly at home on the Look and would have done a deal but felt that £1600 for a slightly shop soiled 2014 model was pushing it if I can get a new 2015 one for £1400 (on eBay, admittedly). I was expecting to buy the bike for £1450 - 1500. I don't want to go past Mike at Palace cycles, he has been very friendly and helpful, but £200 and a model year earlier is hard to swallow. He has a current 2015 model in but that would be even more expensive.
So I'm buying a saddle for the Sirrus as a sop to my conscience for all the time I've taken up and hope I can do a deal with him later on in the year.

Have you asked to meet him in the middle? For great service, provided the models are similar, I bet you could comfortably consider £100 a pretty good opportunity cost against warranty/maintenance/conscience over the next few years!

 

[Bicykell]

It has a chip on the top tube, the white tape has yellowed slightly. I am not that worried about it being not quite pristine,and if I was he has another unmarked one. £1500 is bang in the middle, but at the moment he is sticking at £1600, and says that is is far as he wants to drop. I was ready to do a deal at £1500.

 

[Boyfrom64]

@Bicykell If you are in no hurry I would hang on. Just let your LBS no that £1500 is the most you are prepared to pay and I am sure that if he does not get any other interest in the bike he will come back to you.

 

[172traindriver]

My apologies if I am stating the obvious, but the point about dropped handlebars is that you rarely ride on the drops. Watch the pro's. Most of the time they are gripping the top bend. The idea of drops is that you have a massive variety of hand positions and a more even spread of weight over your body. If you are put off drops because you think you have to ride in a low position, that is not the whole story. Most people only use the dropped position for riding into the wind or screaming descents where you might need a big handful of brake lever.

Even riding on the tops though the pros bikes are seriously slammed, if you look closely at the stems some of them are flipped on the negative angle with no spacers, so when they ride on the drops they must be seriously flexible

 

[Bicykell]

And the winner for prevarication and dithering is....
The Bianchi has that something. Is there a way to raise the bars? It didn't look like there was. Could the stem be change to raise the bars? Or different bars?
I know that head says the Look but bloody hell the Bianchi just grabbed me.

 

[vickster]

You could look at a more sportive model, I'm not familiar with the Bianchi carbon range. The Via nirone are the more relaxed alu models

 

[midlife]

"Mike the Bike" let you leave the shop without you buying a bike ....... ! Did you mention the word discount? Lol

Shaun

 

[Bicykell]

He knows when I'm about to enter the shop because the mice all run out and throw themselves on the traps.
Ba-boom.

 

[bikeman66]

My apologies if I am stating the obvious, but the point about dropped handlebars is that you rarely ride on the drops. Watch the pro's. Most of the time they are gripping the top bend. The idea of drops is that you have a massive variety of hand positions and a more even spread of weight over your body. If you are put off drops because you think you have to ride in a low position, that is not the whole story. Most people only use the dropped position for riding into the wind or screaming descents where you might need a big handful of brake lever.

Totally agree. Time on the drops probably amounts to less than 10% for me. Longest time I've ever spent on the drops in one go was the 30 minutes it took me to get down Mont Ventoux.............as you so rightly say, because I wanted a good handful of brake lever available.

P.S......... Would be the Look for me!

 

[bpsmith]

You could look at a more sportive model, I'm not familiar with the Bianchi carbon range. The Via nirone are the more relaxed alu models

The Intenso IS the sportive model in the Bianchi carbon range. In saying that, it's the Italian idea of a sportive frame in that it has a sloping top tube, as a result of the longer head tube, but then they don't leave the steerer tube really long. Gives it a sort of race styled look but with a sloping top tube like other sportives.

 

[Bicykell]

Another point about the 2014 Look is that is has the 10 speed 105 v the 11 speed of the 2015 model. Admittedly the 2015 has shimano wheels versus aksium race, but these can be upgraded easily in the future. The Bianchi also has lots of upgrade potential, though the veloce is 10 speed.
Then to throw everything in the air, along come Scotby cycles with a 50% saving on a 52 cm Cannondale Supersix EVO sram red, at £1899. Now that's a bargain......