Opinion's on which bike to buy - links provided

[DanPrice]

Bike knowledge and advice needed?

Hi,

I have used road as a training aid to help my chosen discipline in Cycling, which is BMX racing. I have rode many many bikes and have had a few too, but ended up selling them when i took a little while off from BMX.

After many hours of searching forums, reviews, asking people etc I have narrowed it down to 11 bikes I personally like the look of. Although I need some guidance on which one in your opinion is genuinely worth the money.

I am for now looking to use this for training purposes, so quite a few miles, and then hopefully on to some racing in the future.

So best bike for money is what I’m after.

If you would be so kind to take the time to have a look at the links and post your thoughts on which is best in your honest opinions it would be greatly appreciated. As my knowledge on parts isnt the best, and would much rather have someone with much better knowledge point me in the right direction rather than waste my money on rubbish.

They range from £525.00 up to £809.99 (being the top of my budget for now).


1, http://www.awcycles.co.uk/brands/Bianchi/Via%20Nirone%207%20Alu%20-%20Sora,%202008/11908/index.aspx Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Alu/Sora/2008 - £525.00


2, http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bianchi/c2c-via-nirone-7-aluminium-xenon-10-speed-compact-2008-road-bike-ec000026 Bianchi Via Nirone 7 2008 - £549.99


3, http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/bianchi.html Bianchi Via Nirone 7 2008, Sora/Mavic Aksium wheels - £549.99


4, http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus_Variado_2008/5360032370/ Focus Variado 2008 - £615.99


5, http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/12363/Felt_F75_Bike_2007 Felt F75 2007 - £749.99


6, http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/16378/Fuji_Roubaix_2007 Fuji Roubaix - £759.99


7, http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Viner.htm Viner Dedalus £799.99


8, http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/bianchi.html Bianchi Via Nirone 7 105/Easton EA50SL wheelset - £799.99


9, http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/15632/Felt_F75_Bike_2008 Felt F75 2008 - £799.99


10, http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus_Culebro_2008/5360032368/ Focus Culebro 2008 - £807.49


11,
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Focus_Variado_Expert_2008/5360032369/ Focus Variado Expert - 809.99


In advance id like to thank you all for taking the time to help me, I look forward to your responses so I can hopefully go on to ordering one and get back out on the road.


Thanks

 

[DanPrice]

Also any help on sizing would be great. (i know being profesionally sized would help an awful lot but for now a ball park figure will suffice)

I am 5' 9", with an inside leg of 32".

I was swaying towards 54cm

After reading something on the internet, suggested measuring from crotch to floor with feet 20cm apart, and multiplying the measurement by 0.67.

Doing this gave me a measurement of 56.95

So going by this suggests a 56cm frame?

Anyone else relatively the same height as me have any opinions on frame size?


Much appreciated

 

[DanPrice]

Anyone?

 

[Willow]

enjoyed looking at the pics my fav would be based on looks as I know nothing about any of them!

 

[DanPrice]

Anyone?

 

[kyuss]

You might get a few more replies if you narrow your choice down to 3 or 4. Choosing between 11 bikes with such a wide budget is a tall order. In general though the £800 bikes will be better equipped than the £500 ones so if you have the budget you'll get more bike for your money. Maybe choose your 3 or 4 absolute favourites and ask again.

Also any help on sizing would be great. (i know being profesionally sized would help an awful lot but for now a ball park figure will suffice)

I am 5' 9", with an inside leg of 32".

I was swaying towards 54cm

After reading something on the internet, suggested measuring from crotch to floor with feet 20cm apart, and multiplying the measurement by 0.67.

Doing this gave me a measurement of 56.95

So going by this suggests a 56cm frame?

Not necessarily. Somewhere in the region of 54 or 56 sounds about right for your height, but different manufacturers measure their frames differently. One manufacturers 56 could be anothers 58. Most important measurement is the effective top tube length which dictates your reach to the bars. Even then two 56cm bikes measured in the same way but from different manufacturers could have very different top tube lengths and what you need in this respect can be dictated by all sorts of things, like your body size in relation to leg length, how supple you are, whether you prefer a shorter or longer position etc.... The best thing to do is get to your LBS and try a few out for size or even spend £100 of your budget on a proper fitting session.

 

[gbb]

Hi Dan...
I can only comment on the Bianchis
Having had a 2006 Via Nirone 9 speed Xenon, and now have a 10 speed C2C Via Nirone Xenon, i've been very happy with them.

The third one, with aksium wheels...i like the bike in black, but do Aksiums give you anything extra compared with the standard wheelsets.
Mine have both had the standard Ambrosio wheelsets...they're quite bombproof, no broken or loose spokes, no going out of true.

Xenon or Sora ? They both do the job perfectly well, i havnt had any problems with either on a range of bikes. The only thing i could say is i find you (well i do anyway) get a very slightly annoying vibration from the brake/gear levers when riding. Nothing OTT, but it's just noticeable.

Sora front mechs tend to sieze up through the winter...quick to fix when you know how, but it happens on both my Sora shod bikes.

In short, they're both fine, but each has minor shortcomings. Nothing to stop you buying either though.

 

[Steve Austin]

Too many bikes and too much choice to give you a concise answer. Look for a bike with at least a 105 groupset.

If you really don't know what size to get, you need to ride a few bikes. no good buying a bike to find its too small for you. Its waste of money.

Have you had a look in some of your LBS? If you walk in with £600, you will get a very nice bike, in the right size

 

[DanPrice]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replys, long awaited, haha!

Had some help from another member on here, very very helpful for sure.

Been to a couple of my LBS, some what useless. Going to go in to them tomorrow just to sit on/have a ride on 54/56 just to get the feel.

Just 1 question, my inseam am i measuring highest point of my crotch to the floor? or middle of ankle?

Also, think im going to go for either of the top 2 Focuses. Culebro, and variado expert. Any opinions at all on these?

Again thanks everyone