Need help choosing my first road bike.... Which of these would you choose and why?

[Dusty Bin]

4. Never a Raleigh. No cred, poor build quaility and overpriced (fact).
3. The Triban isn't a proper brand - it's a sporting goods supermarket bike (snobbery).
2. Moser, the man, is a legend, a sporting hero. His surname has cred - but he's never, of course, actually made a bicycle.
1. Felt is the only genuine bicycle brand among them, and so it's really the only choice.

Not sure I get the logic here. They are all 'brands' - by definition. I suppose it depends on what you mean by 'making a bicycle'. Moser might not be that handy with a welding torch, but he probably knows a thing or two about what makes a good handling frame. Jim Felt used to be a motorcycle mechanic who happened to be handy with a welding torch. In that sense, you could argue that he is no more or less qualified to make bikes than Moser is.

 

[NEO]

I think the remark about Raleigh is a bit harsh you not around for 126 years for no reason, yes they had a bit of a decline like alot of companies but they have come a long way in the last few years kitting out some good bikes that are picking up excellent reviews. The Triban gets some great reviews all round don't be fooled by the snobbery of the badge if its good its good. It's no different with cars years ago nobody would by a skoda because it was a skoda until people realised it was a vw with a different badge on it.

 

[mickle]

Not sure I get the logic here. They are all 'brands' - by definition. I suppose it depends on what you mean by 'making a bicycle'. Moser might not be that handy with a welding torch, but he probably knows a thing or two about what makes a good handling frame. Jim Felt used to be a motorcycle mechanic who happened to be handy with a welding torch. In that sense, you could argue that he is no more or less qualified to make bikes than Moser is.

Logic? I'm a bike snob and a label queen not a frickin' physicist.

 

[Dusty Bin]

Logic? I'm a bike snob and a label queen not a frickin' physicist.

or a philosopher...

 

[mickle]

I think the remark about Raleigh is a bit harsh you not around for 126 years for no reason, yes they had a bit of a decline like alot of companies but they have come a long way in the last few years kitting out some good bikes that are picking up excellent reviews. The Triban gets some great reviews all round don't be fooled by the snobbery of the badge if its good its good. It's no different with cars years ago nobody would by a skoda because it was a skoda until people realised it was a vw with a different badge on it.

I'm sorry, no, Raleigh suck. I'd rather walk. Cholera has been around for a while too, it doesn't make it good.

And I'm not 'fooled by the snobbery of the brand' - but there's more to life, to cycling - particularly owning and riding a road bike - than just good value. Slightly intangible things like history, heritage, credibility. Coolness.

I'm not saying that everyone should be by bike snob, just that I am.

I'd still not drive a post war Skoda.

 

[mickle]

I was told a couple of years ago by a Merida dealer in my town that the Specialised brand were made by Merida in their factory.

Specialized found themselves in the position of owing Merida a great deal of money (for bikes they'd ordered) but unable to pay. As a result Merida ended up owning a controlling share of the company.

 

[mickle]

@mickle what puts you off the tribal other than the name? Its getting great reviews. How does the spec stack against the others?

Snobbery - pure and simple.

 

[Dusty Bin]

I'm sorry, no, Raleigh suck. I'd rather walk. Cholera has been around for a while too, it doesn't make it good.

And I'm not 'fooled by the snobbery of the brand' - but there's more to life, to cycling - particularly owning and riding a road bike - than just good value. Slightly intangible things like history, heritage, credibility. Coolness.

I'm not saying that everyone should be by bike snob, just that I am.

I'd still not drive a post war Skoda.

So - what's it going to be then - De Rosa R838, or Ribble Stealth ? Ciocc Extro or Ribble Sportive ?

 

[Linford]

Specialized found themselves in the position of owing Merida a great deal of money (for bikes they'd ordered) but unable to pay. As a result Merida ended up owning a controlling share of the company.

Shame that the Merida I looked at seemed to be made for a midget

 

[stuart goodliffe]

Raleigh road bikes aren't made in cambodia- their aluminium frames are made by kinesis along with quite a few other big brands including Felt. One of the coolest bikes is the Raleigh Ti retro TDF winner- just a shame its not built in England but so little else is nowadays.

 

[TomSH27]

I need help choosing which bike to go with. I'm buying a bike with a view to completing some endurance cycling next summer.

Which would be the best to go with, with long cycles in mind....

Also can you tell me why you pick the one you do so that I can learn from your experiences as to what I need to be looking out for?

Thanks...

1: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-road-bike-black-id_8239801.html
2: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moser-bikes-speed-sora-2013/
3: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-sora-2013/
4: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/raleigh-revenio-1-2300-2013/

None of them, avoid the Raleigh at all costs. If these are your only options then I'd go for the Felt for style but there's not much to choose from them, I certainly wouldn't consider any of them for a Sportive or similar event. I'd expand to look at a Cannondale Synapse or Giant Defy 4.

 

[TomSH27]

I was told a couple of years ago by a Merida dealer in my town that the Specialised brand were made by Merida in their factory.

Other way around,