My Shortlist - Help Me Pick...

[e-rider]

+1 (Or Manchester)

or almost anywhere in the world!

 

[stan leyden]

Hi all!

Right, over the past few weeks I’ve been scanning the internet and researching the options for sub £2,000 carbon framed, 105 and up spec’d bikes.

I’ve pretty much narrowed it to down the bikes listed below.
Once I’ve finalised my decision, I’m looking to purchase the bike this week. I’m just after a few opinions on them to help make my decision a little easier.

I’ve sat on all the bikes and know which sizes fit me best, but haven’t spent any decent amount of time on them to say which feels most suited to me.

The bike shall be used for commuting to work in London and days out at the weekend, ranging from short sprints to long (for me) trips up to Cambridge with the option of joining a local (Fulham) cycle club and going from there...

Here’s my shortlist:

• Cube Agree GTC SL - £1,899
• Giant TCR Advanced 2 - £1,899
• Giant Defy Advanced 2 - £1,899
• Trek Madone 3.5 - £1,800
• Wilier GTR 105 - £1,799
• Giant TCR Composite 1 - £1,599
• Giant Defy Composite 1 - £1,599

So if any of you would be so kind as to pass comment on the above bikes and tell me which you would advise as the ‘best buy’, it would be much appreciated. I’m always one to listen to more seasoned riders and their experiences.

Cheers all in advance,

Ryan

Cube for me di2 gears amazing

 

[ryan_w]

Last year I paid off all my debt and swore to myself that I would never get a credit card again.
0% finance is the only path I'd go down, paying off around £350 a month to clear it in 6 months. I could save hard for a couple of months and buy a Rose but I'm after a bike now and there's many out there which are nigh-on on par with the Rose bikes.

I haven't ever heard of Ridley, are they a reputable brand?

Cheers.

 

[vickster]

Big Belgian brand, especially in Cyclocross http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ridley_Bikes

Why is a CC paid off over 6 months any different to 0% finance. Buy bike, cut up card?

 

[ryan_w]

Like this 2013 model?
http://www.bikesheduk.com/cube-agree-gtc-di2-slt-compact-2013

Have it in my size too (58cm)... Would you choose this over a 2014 SL though with full 2x11 Ultegra?

 

[ryan_w]

I have the breaking strain of a wet kit-kat... Too much temptation!

 

[vickster]

Go and actually test ride some of them!

 

[Dave Davenport]

It's probably my age but I find it quite odd that people 'have' to have non essential stuff (even a bike!) for which they've not got the cash for. Why not buy an old hack bike for a couple of hundred quid until you've saved up for the carbon dream machine? I recon you'd enjoy and appreciate it more when you did get it if you did.
The bikes I ride range from an 80's gas pipe framed fixed worth a couple of hundred quid (at best) to a Ti job worth £3.5k, I get the most smiles per mile out of the fixed.

 

[ryan_w]

I've been on a couple of them and had a quick blast up Liverpool St, but not spent enough time on them to make a decision.
I know they are all great bikes and I'll no doubt be chuffed to bits with whichever I choose.

Already been talking to a chap from work about a London to Paris ride for charity........ Think I need to calm down and actually buy a bloody bike!

 

[ryan_w]

It's probably my age but I find it quite odd that people 'have' to have non essential stuff (even a bike!) for which they've not got the cash for. Why not buy an old hack bike for a couple of hundred quid until you've saved up for the carbon dream machine? I recon you'd enjoy and appreciate it more when you did get it if you did.
The bikes I ride range from an 80's gas pipe framed fixed worth a couple of hundred quid (at best) to a Ti job worth £3.5k, I get the most smiles per mile out of the fixed.

I have the money sitting in my bank now, but I don't think Mrs W would appreciate me 'investing' our holiday spending money on a bike! haha

Unless anyone can talk me out of it, I'm thinking Cube... I can't seem to find any bad reviews on them. Some used to have a BB issue on their 2012 and earlier bikes but can't find any recent issues....

 

[Cuchilo]

I looked at Di2 when looking at carbon but decided ( maybe wrongly ) that I was getting more bike without the di2 . In other words if Di2 costs a grand then the rest is the price of the bike . I went for the TCR 1 Advanced . Its insane to ride
P.S I think you will find the Giants are Di2 ready should you want to add it in the future . My 2013 model is .

 

[MikeW-71]

I have a Defy Advanced 2 and since I got it I just want to ride it more and more. Comfortable, quick, responsive and stable

 

[ryan_w]

Hoping to have a test ride on a Defy Advanced 2 this weekend.

I think it'll be between that (full 105 group set) and the Cube (full Ultegra group set).

Is the 2014 Ultegra 'that' much better than 105?....

Cheers,

Ryan

 

[Cyclone1]

If they are fairly equal on price then go for the one with a better groupset. Both are great bikes, but you'd need to ride them to determine which is best for you.

Given your indecisiveness (like me!) and coupled with the cost factor, then why not wait a couple of months at which point the 2014 models will be discounted...

 

[MikeW-71]

Is the 2014 Ultegra 'that' much better than 105?....

I haven't tried Ultegra personally, but it seems that the difference is nowhere near as significant as between Sora/Tiagra and 105.