Picking up my Carrea TDF today - having a wobble.....

[da_murphster]

Started a new job with a 10 mile country lane commute (each way) - been using my old mountain bike but I cannot keep up with a guy i cycle in with and my gears/chain/something is shot so rather than sort my old bike out I want a road bike.

I was going for a carrea TDF for £200 from Halfrauds (I get a 20% discount on their current £250 price) - the idea is I use the bike and get to know what I want from a bike and upgrade later (hopefully at minimal loss) - I've never even been on a road bike and am not sure if I want a roadbike/cyclecross/hybrid etc.

Bike orderd for pick up today but having seen a couple of triban 5 for £350ish in the classifieds I'm having a wobble and wondering if I should pay the extra £150 and go for one of those?

So my qu's:
Will the TDF - 'cope' with a daily commute? I need the bike to be reliable and easy to use (my current tired gearshift is driving me nuts)
Does the extra 1.7 kg of the tdf make much difference on a commuter? (11.7 kg vs 9.9kg)
Which will hold its value better?

I think if I get the TDF I am likely to upgrade as soon as I know what I'm after - if I get the triban 5 I will feel the need to stick with it to justify the extra expenditure!

Opinions? Have to decide today!

 

[Linford]

Get the best you can...something you really want to ride. A new cycle will be a waste of money if you only ride it for a couple of weeks and then give up because it is a bit pants. Also the extra cost is a good incentive to justify the use of it.

 

[BSRU]

Only commenting on the weight difference, 11.7kg vs 9.9kg, no issue. My main commuter bike is over 10kg heavier than my road bike commuter, I only notice when I pick the bike up.

 

[da_murphster]

Get the best you can...something you really want to ride. A new cycle will be a waste of money if you only ride it for a couple of weeks and then give up because it is a bit pants. Also the extra cost is a good incentive to justify the use of it.

But is it pants?? Reading around there are some pretty positive comments. My main concern is that it will fall apart or let me down 10 mile sfrom home.

I was thinking potentially go with the tdf and later treat myself to upgrades that are good enough to take forwad on to my next bike - eg light wheels, decent seat.

I'm worried I might buy the triban and realise its not the bike for me.

Leaning back towards the tdf with guilt free upgrade when I know what I'm talking about

 

[Steaming Pile]

11.7kg is boat anchor weight for a road bike, ive lifted a triban 3 and id estimate those bikes to be in the 10+ kg weight bracket. If it were3 my cash id go for the triban 3 and forget about the Carrera, the triban 3 offers outstanding value for money and you can do little upgrades as time passes and funds permit.......forget about the carrera .

 

[DCLane]

The TDF is fine for a £250 bike; I did a winter 10+ mile each-way commute on an old Carrera Virtuoso, which is pretty much the same, although I now use a Raleigh Airlite 100.

A review's at: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-carrera-tdf-ltd-road-bike-11-44902

Mind you, try it and you'll soon be wanting a much better road bike for the 'non-commuting days'

 

[mynydd]

No its not pants.
I bougt a TDF two years ago to commute roughly 10 miles a day on country roads, like you.
Its been fantastic. It was my first road bike too.
The only slight issue I had was the gear ratios (I live in VERY hilly North Wales). and I did quickly change the tyres due to puncture issues on the thorny autumn country roads.
It got me hooked, I commute more and more days, have got fitter and want to be out on it more and more. If it wasnt for my work having recently signed up to the cycle to work scheme I'd be more than happy to use it for another couple of years.

 

[JoeyB]

My mate has had a TDF for over a year now I think and he commutes about 13km each in all weather and has no issues with it. For £200 I don't think you can argue either!

 

[michaelcycle]

Buy the TDF. You'll be fine.

 

[johnnyh]

The TDF is the same bike, pretty much, as my 6 or 7 year old blue/black Carrerra Virtuoso... it is now heading into its 6th year of Winter commuting and all is still good.
Change chains as needed, clean and look after, it'll give you many years of service.

Heck I even got 2 years out of the original wheels by greasing well.

 

[Born2die]

Tdf is a great bike for 250 I did 3000+ miles on mine last year also you know its new and not abused with no hidden problems or has been crashed abused. The tdf is a fast reliable machine

 

[da_murphster]

Thanks all - will stick with the TDK - just checked Gumtree and second hand ones are selling for £180ish so if I can get some use and upgrade when I want to and only loose a few quid I'll be happy.

I would be fustrated if I went to the hassle of sourcing and buying a second hand bike to find out it was not the right one for me.

Out of interest - where does the weight lie on the TDF - I read something somewhere about someone getting it down to under 9kg?

Is there an obvious (heavy) thing to upgrade on the tdf that I could use on a later bike? If so what is it and how much are they (looking second hand).

Thinking a heavier bike will get me fitter on my commute - my main aim at the moment!

 

[Born2die]

It's not worth any upgrades on the tdf as I said it was my 1st bike I put clipless pedals on and that was it I rode it for a year flogged it for £150 to a bloke from the local club the bought a boardman just buy ride enjoy its a fast capable machine and unless your commute includes alp style climbs and standing sprints you won't notice the extra weight

 

[Arjimlad]

I owned a used tdf for a short while to see how I got on with drop bars.

It was a solid reliable bike which was very comfortable to ride & easily coped with a 10 mile commute.

I sold it to a colleague who rides it 17 miles into work and 17 miles home again every now & then. It is still going strong with no component issues or anything like that. When he tires of it I might buy it back for my eldest son to use to & fro school.

If you want a reliable day to day bike to ride through the winter rains and salty roads, which you won't cry about if it gets dirty or acquires a scratch or two, and which you can upgrade later if you wish, the TDF you have ordered will be very good in my view. You could buy a best bike for weekends/sportives if you really want.

 

[JoeyB]

Is weight really that important for this kind of distance?

I have a full carbon CR1 Pro road bike and an alu framed Carrera hardtail and to be honest I get down the road on my MTB just as quick as if I'm on the road bike without any noteable additional effort. I have some slicks on my MTB which made all the difference for me. Top end speed....now that is a different matter!