Road Bike Suggestion

[dawsonz]

Hey

I'm looking at getting a road bike and wanted a bit of help.

I've got a budget of approx £500 and so far I've found the following four bikes:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/btwin-triban-500-road-bike-id_8306944.html#avantages (when it's released)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f95-so...tes&utm_campaign=triban3owners.freeforums.net

http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-malt-r-road-bike-2013-60087.html

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/230968/products/moda-intro-2014-road-bike---black-white.aspx

What would you recommend I go for?

Thanks

 

[DCLane]

Someone'll be along shortly to contradict me but for my 2p-worth:

What are you planning to use it for / where? That'll make a difference.

Hills; there's a triple in the Triban 500 although the 12-28 cassette in the Merlin should be fine.

The Merlin & Moda have Tiagra (2 x 10 = 20 speed) whilst the Felt and Decathlon have Sora (2/3 x 9 speed). Tiagra = better.

They've all got a carbon fork, all are aluminium frames.

Personally I'd take the Merlin. It's a bit lighter than the Moda with better groupset than the others.

 

[dawsonz]

Someone'll be along shortly to contradict me but for my 2p-worth:

What are you planning to use it for / where? That'll make a difference.

Hills; there's a triple in the Triban 500 although the 12-28 cassette in the Merlin should be fine.

The Merlin & Moda have Tiagra (2 x 10 = 20 speed) whilst the Felt and Decathlon have Sora (2/3 x 9 speed). Tiagra = better.

They've all got a carbon fork, all are aluminium frames.

Personally I'd take the Merlin. It's a bit lighter than the Moda with better groupset than the others.

Thanks for your response. I'll only be using it on the country roads locally with a select few friends (no intention of anything competitive).

Thanks for your advice it is much appreciated I was swaying towards the Merlin with the Tiagra, only thing putting me off the Moda is that it's largest frame size says:

Large/X Large (51.5cm) - Recommended if you are between the heights of 5'7" and 6'1"

I am 6ft 2" so was a bit concerned it may be a bit small.

 

[vickster]

It's actually a 55.5cm frame

Large/X-Large 555mm - although that does seem a large size range for a single frame size

You should be able to compensate with a slightly longer stem, better a bike that is a smidge small than too big

Find one to sit on, Evans sell Moda or did last year

 

[SteCenturion]

The one that does this

 

[dawsonz]

I've given the Moda a try as a friend has it, it felt a bit small but i think that was because of the low seat and the fact i'm not used to a road bike yet.

 

[Stephen C]

I have the cheaper Merlin S2200, brilliant bike for the price, still going 18 months and 7000 miles later. Would recommend Merlin in general, they have always been very helpful with any questions.

 

[Sharpy]

Both the Merlin and the Moda are extremely heavy for what they are.. don't be fooled by the components, the frame is always more important than the components. I recently test road the Moda at Evans cycles for a friend of mine who is new to cycling and it was sluggish at accelerating and the overall feel of the bike was poor.

 

[dawsonz]

I have the cheaper Merlin S2200, brilliant bike for the price, still going 18 months and 7000 miles later. Would recommend Merlin in general, they have always been very helpful with any questions.

Thanks for that, useful to know.

I'm swaying towards the Merlin at the moment.

 

[dawsonz]

Both the Merlin and the Moda are extremely heavy for what they are.. don't be fooled by the components, the frame is always more important than the components. I recently test road the Moda at Evans cycles for a friend of mine who is new to cycling and it was sluggish at accelerating and the overall feel of the bike was poor.

I was under the impression the Merlin was under 10kgs?

 

[Stephen C]

I was under the impression the Merlin was under 10kgs?

My S2200 is just over 10kg with steel forks, and I read a review saying the Malt-R was 9.7kg. I've never noticed the weight, but this is my first road bike so have no real comparison, I still love riding it!

 

[Cyclone1]

I have a Cube Peloton Race in great condition (frame unmarked - just a year old) coming up for sale very shortly, far superior to the bikes you mentioned. Let me know if you are interested.

Jules

 

[dawsonz]

This is certainly proving more difficult that I first thought, I keep finding a bike but it's not got the components i'd hoped for or it's a bit over budget etc.

I'm debating extending the budget a bit and looking at something like so:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f85-tiagra-wiggle-exclusive/

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-defy-2-2013

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58ALUTIA/planet-x-rt-58-alloy-shimano-tiagra-road-bike

I just want to know i'm getting the best I can for my money and I won't regret my choice.

 

[Sharpy]

I was under the impression the Merlin was under 10kgs?

I believe that figure was for the medium and is excluding the pedals. But if it helps we had a look at one of their £600 merida's and when picking both bikes up side by side there was an extreme weight difference and the Merida was quoted to weigh 9.5kg again without pedals.

 

[SteCenturion]

I can heartily recommend the Giant Defy as I had one myself.

The Planet X RT 58 looks an interesting prospect too.