Specialised Secteur vs. Merida Road-Race 880-24 vs. Kona Dew Drop

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SonofSid

Active Member
Hello, newbie roped into LEJOG and thinking a new bike is in order and hoping for some opinions about the above, all of which have been recommended by various LBS (and available through ride to work scheme, which makes an upgrade possible.)
It's all the tech specs that mean nothing to me yet. My thinking is comfy riding position for long days rather than fast sprints, light as poss for the hills, ideally mud guards and and rack, but know some won't do easily BUT do have a support car for most of the way so don't need to carry much.

Specs on links below if useful to anyone. Many thanks in advance....
Cheers.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/secteur-2010-road-bike-ec019551

http://www.discovercycling.com/bikes/bikes-road/merida-road-race-880-24.html

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Kona_Dew_Drop_2010/5360047421/#more
 

g00se

Veteran
Location
Norwich
Hi,

I love my Kona Dew (Plus, not Drop) but the alu frame is quite stiff. Fine if you're bombing round town (and quite fun as it's very responsive) but for a long tour it could be a pain in the a*se - literally (please correct me, someone, if I'm wrong though).

A streel framed tourer sounds the thing. Kona Sutra?
 

e-rider

crappy member
Location
South West
I'm not sure if the secteur can take mudguards, but it does have rack mounts.

You choice of bike will depends largely on whether you need to carry your stuff in panniers or not. A bike with seperate pannier and mudguards fittings would be very useful and almost essential I'd say. If you have a support car you could go for a lighter, faster bike though.

the kona dew drop is a well designed bike and on paper would be good (although it has disc brakes which make mudguard and pannier fitting more difficult). I recently had TWO of these but sent them both back as the quality of the frame was far below what I was expecting (I'd go as far to say it was rubbish), and the 'condition' of the bike was poor on both occassions. eg. buckled wheels, scratches, damaged front brake, gears/brakes not adjusted etc. shame as I was really looking forward to it. Ended up buying a cheaper Specialized globe which was fine (used for commuting)
 

Russdee

New Member
My other half has the Secteur. It is a great bike, nice and light, she fly's up the hills on it (I struggle at times to keep up!).

It will not take full mudgards but will tske the little race blades.

She finds the saddle really uncomfortable and is waiting for a new one in the post. Other than that, the bike is well specced for the money.

Would recommend this model to anybody. Would consider one when my Allez finally gives up the gost.

Cheers

Russ
 
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SonofSid

Active Member
Thanks tundragumski and Russdee. Do either of you have an opinion about the vibration absorbing inserts in the frame. Think they were called zert..something... I think a pannier rack is essential so good to hear the Secteur will take one but shame about the mudguards. I'm a newbie but anticipate on a long wet day they might well ease the discomfort. Certainly like them on my commute bike.
Thanks again.
 

ianrauk

Tattooed Beat Messiah
Location
Rides Ti2
I have a Secteur elite (and also a Roubaix Elite) and the Zertz inserts definitely dampen road buzz compared to my other road bike that doesn't have any.
 

e-rider

crappy member
Location
South West
couldn't really comment on the Zertz inserts as I've never tried them. I can however say that I've had road bikes with steel, alu and carbon forks and never noticed any significant difference between any of them - so I'd guess that any 'dampening' effect from the zertz is going to be small.
 

Russdee

New Member
Hi,

Difficult to say as this is the first time my other half has had a road bike so not much to compare with.

She tried out several bikes in the LBS and this was by far the most comfortable.

Cheers

Russ
 
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