newbie road bike for £600

[Peteaud]

No problems with my current hybrid, but i am looking at roads bikes for when the spring arrives, thing is there are some good sales on, and i am tempted.

£600 budget max and i am not excactly fit, although getting better.

ive looked at the Giant defy 2 - on sale at £599

NoSizes XS (43cm), S (46.5cm), M (50cm), ML (53.5cm), L (55.5cm), XL (58.5cm)
Colors Black / White / Blue
Frame AluxX SL aluminium, Fluid FormedTM
Fork Advanced-Grade, Alloy OverDrive Steerer
Shock N / A
Handlebar Giant Connect
Stem Giant Sport
Seatpost Giant Sport
Saddle Giant Defy
Pedals Wellgo Caged w/ Clips
Shifters Shimano Sora 18 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano Sora
Rear Derailleur Shimano Sora
Brakes Tektro TK-R 340
Brake Levers Shimano Sora
Cassette Shimano HG50 12-25
Chain KMC HG73
Crankset Shimano Sora 34/50
Bottom Bracket Shimano Sora External
Rims Giant S-R 2 DW aluminium
Hubs Shimano 2200 rear/Formula front
Spokes Stainless Steel
Tires Giant P-R3 Flatguard 700x25mm front/rear specific compound
or theTrek 1.2 on sale at £599

Frame Alpha White Aluminum
Fork Bontrager Approved, carbon legs
Wheels Alloy hubs; Bontrager Approved alloy rims
Tires Bontrager T1, 700x23c (43: 650x23c)
Shifters Shimano Sora STI, 9 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano Sora
Rear Derailleur Shimano Tiagra
Crank FSA Vero, 50/34 or 50/39/30
Bottom Bracket Cartridge type
Cassette SRAM PG-950 11-26, 9 speed
Pedals Nylon body w/alloy cage
Saddle Bontrager Affinity 1, steel rails
Seat Post Bontrager Alloy, infinite tilt adjustment, 20mm offset
Handlebars Bontrager Race VR-C, 31.8mm
Stem Bontrager SSR, 10 degree, 31.8mm
Grips Bontrager gel tape
Headset 1-1/8" semi-integrated, semi-cartridge bearings
Brakeset Alloy, dual pivot w/Shimano Sora STI levers
Extras Fender mounts

Now, i have to say i prefer Trek over Giant, but am open to other makes.

Anyone have either of the above and would you reccomend it / them.

Thanks in advance.

 

[cyberknight]

If your new to road bikes i would suggest you try before you buy unless you know what geometry fits as different brands + makes of bikes with the same brand can fit differently and even though a bike might fit on paper you could be out of pocket for a bike that is wrong for you (says the voice of experience).
That all said ...
cannondale synape with better shifters for £599...
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m7b65s6p3670&rs=gb&vid=13181

Decathlon triban 5
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-5-id_8167039.html#ancre-detail

specialized allez sport

http://www.thebikefactory.co.uk/productdetails.asp?productid=59274

Of the 3 i listed i would say the cannondale is the best value , i personally ride a boardman which have currently gone up so although its a great make i cannot recommend it as current price levels as the one i own has gone up £100 in the last 6 months

 

[Milo]

Not much between them. You seem to have the option of a triple chainset on the trek which will give you lower gears for hills.

 

[Milo]

Not much between them. You seem to have the option of a triple chainset on the trek which will give you lower gears for hills.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Both look pretty good for the money. Can you let your body decide?

 

[Peteaud]

Thanks for the replys and the links

I will ride before i buy and both the giant and the Trek are at my LBS, so i will try to get there between xmas and the new year (dont get much time off work until then). I would prefer a triple and i am biased towards trek, that said i will still try themboth.

The Cannondale looks good value, just need to find one to test ride.

 

[cyberknight]

Go with what you can try that rides the best , both bikes you linked to are good bikes.Couple of guys at work swear by treks .

Most of all enjoy it !!!!!

 

[Mrbez]

I have the Cannondale and I love it. My first bike also.

 

[rowan 46]

I just bought my first road bike a cannodale synapse tiagra. I would recommend you try one and see what you think. Mine is lovely for me.

 

[david k]

i like the defy and considered buying one but went for the carrera vanquish on sale at halfords, it has a slightly higher spec

 

[tiswas-steve]

Gotta be the Allez Sport, IMO the perfect first " proper " road bike you can buy. I've had mine for over a year now and I still Luvs it to pieces...

 

[2wd]

+1 for the Allez Sport

I bought the triple this year and have been very pleased with it

Gave it a bit of a pimp as well
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/2011-specialized-allez-sport-27-with-red-schwalbe-ultremo-zx.90745/

 

[tiswas-steve]

+1 for the Allez Sport

I bought the triple this year and have been very pleased with it

Gave it a bit of a pimp as well
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/2011-specialized-allez-sport-27-with-red-schwalbe-ultremo-zx.90745/

Liking the red big time , good case for the Allez to the OP methinks.

 

[tiswas-steve]

+1 for the Allez Sport

I bought the triple this year and have been very pleased with it

Gave it a bit of a pimp as well
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/2011-specialized-allez-sport-27-with-red-schwalbe-ultremo-zx.90745/

Liking the red big time , good case for the Allez to the OP methinks.

+1 for the Allez Sport

I bought the triple this year and have been very pleased with it

Gave it a bit of a pimp as well
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/2011-specialized-allez-sport-27-with-red-schwalbe-ultremo-zx.90745/

 

[Monkspeed]

I think what ever bike you go for, try to get it with tiagra shifters at least. It's such a pain to keep getting up from the drops to use the thumb shifter and tiagra style makes it a million times more pleasurable to ride.

You can find some 2010-2011 spec giant defys with tiagra shifters floating about on the interweb.

My 2p worth.