Newbie, please recommend a brand/model of bike for me!?
- Thread starter Grifterveteran
- Start date
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) Actually it is jolly nice and very red. 
Grifterveteran
New Member
Just had a look at the trek 1.1 in my local bike shop - £505 ??
Seems like a good bike to my untrained eyes, and like the idea of buying local instead of a national store- i used to take my grifter then my old mountain bike in there for repairs as a teenager 20 years ago and now its the son in charge.
Seems like a good bike to my untrained eyes, and like the idea of buying local instead of a national store- i used to take my grifter then my old mountain bike in there for repairs as a teenager 20 years ago and now its the son in charge.
BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
Trek 1.1 and Specialized Allez have both got good reviews in cycle magazines.
Triban 3 is £200 cheaper, but not £200 less of a bike. It has all the same key elements as the more expensive bikes, but with slightly cheaper finishing (tyres, chain).
Either of these options would be a good choice.
Also Boardman Comp is well worth it, but above your budget.
In the classic "look what you could have won" angle of a magazine review, upgrading to a Tiagra groupset (gears and selectors) gives you a much more rideable bike, but costs a few hundred more. If you have the money, have a look before you settle at the £500 budget.
But there again, add a few more hundred on top of that, and you are in Carbon Frame territory. And it goes on from there.
Triban 3 is £200 cheaper, but not £200 less of a bike. It has all the same key elements as the more expensive bikes, but with slightly cheaper finishing (tyres, chain).
Either of these options would be a good choice.
Also Boardman Comp is well worth it, but above your budget.
In the classic "look what you could have won" angle of a magazine review, upgrading to a Tiagra groupset (gears and selectors) gives you a much more rideable bike, but costs a few hundred more. If you have the money, have a look before you settle at the £500 budget.
But there again, add a few more hundred on top of that, and you are in Carbon Frame territory. And it goes on from there.
PpPete
Legendary Member
- Location
- Chandler's Ford
If you should happen to "push" the budget on the bike you can save a bit of money elsewhere...
You mentioned Sportives in the OP. Audax events are usually a lot cheaper (because they are organised by volunteers)
The differences.... Audaxes are not waymarked, you are given a route sheet and expected to be self sufficient.
Your time is recorded on the back of your Brevet Card, but nowhere else, and never published.
... and as someone once famously put it Sportives are folks pretending to race whereas Audaxes are folks pretending not to race.
Oh and did I mention some of them are long....others are LONG.... and some are just seven shades of silly
For the longer distance events this might be more comfortable if perhaps not as "lively"
You mentioned Sportives in the OP. Audax events are usually a lot cheaper (because they are organised by volunteers)
The differences.... Audaxes are not waymarked, you are given a route sheet and expected to be self sufficient.
Your time is recorded on the back of your Brevet Card, but nowhere else, and never published.
... and as someone once famously put it Sportives are folks pretending to race whereas Audaxes are folks pretending not to race.
Oh and did I mention some of them are long....others are LONG.... and some are just seven shades of silly
For the longer distance events this might be more comfortable if perhaps not as "lively"
Grifterveteran
New Member
before i go for the trek 1.1 i'm going to look at a couple of second hand bikes to start me off. Honestly dont think cycling is a fad for me as i loved it as teenager and i need something to replace the long distance running i frustratingly miss so much. I heed what brumjim is saying that for a couple hundred more i can get a better bike but where does it stop - a second hand to start me off then i can really splash out down the line when im sure im in to cycling long term, if im doing longer distance events and know more what im talking about.
thanks everyone!
thanks everyone!
