Time for an Upgrade

[Cuchilo]

Ooooo Good find !

 

[vickster]

Cycling plus has a test of 6 carbon bikes around £1100-1300 this month. Might be worth a read. Includes the Giant TCR2 and one of the Cubes

 

[Octet]

Cycling plus has a test of 6 carbon bikes around £1100-1300 this month. Might be worth a read. Includes the Giant TCR2 and one of the Cubes

Thanks, will take a look!

 

[smokeysmoo]

As for my LBS, the following is probably the best regarded where I live (http://www.ianbrowns.co.uk/bicycles.aspx)

You lucky devil you, Ian Browns is a Cannondale dealer, problem SOLVED

[EDIT] just noticed @Peteaud beat to me mentioning the iconic and much revered CAAD10

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I have also heard of carbon frames that flex and are not as stiff as you would expect, in fact I have a very old carbon tubed Giant CFR from the late 90s and its was weighty and flexy. Anyway that was the very early days of bike frame materials. At the £1500 mark I reckon carbon frame would be good.

You have to remember that Carbon fibre is now the material of choice for the aerospace industry, with a large number of aircraft wings being made from it these days. It is also a widely used material in the blades of wind turbines and high performance boats. This is without mentioning Formula1
Carbon fibre is the material of choice where weight as well as strength and stifness is a requirement.

 

[outlash]

Just been researching Giant roadbikes as I have a burning desire for a 2013 TCR 1 Advanced (exact same as Chuchilo's) but can't for the life of me find one in M/L.

But I digress.

Giants website states the Carbon spec for it's road range. It goes like this -

Defy/TCR Composite = Toray T600
Advanced = Toray T700
Advanced SL = Toray T800

T600 is base level carbon
T700 is lightweight
T800 is pro level H.M (High Modulus)

A guy on here posted that he had his Composite weighed(at his LBS) & it came in a similar weight to the Aluminium model.

My point is that not all carbon is created equal & so an Alu bike with the saving spent on light/stiff wheels may be a better all round purchase.

Or maybe not.

You might want to search down a copy of last month's cyclist mag. There's an article that dispels a lot of BS about Carbon.


Tony.

 

[SteCenturion]

You have very good taste Sir I shall ask the manager in my local Giant shop if he knows of one in your size .

Ah - Cuchilo - just the man - I have spotted a large online at a very good price, but, I had a large Defy & felt it was a bit big (6ft 0' & 33 leg).

I had to drop the post in the tube a little too far for my liking & at 58.5 'standard' the top tube seems long for a large.

I might bell them & see what they think as I really like it - a lot.

My white/red 3T bars & stem would go a treat with that colour scheme.

 

[SteCenturion]

Spotted that one last night Peteaud but £2500 for last years model is too - Ouch !!
Spotted another at £1699 but a large - don't believe it will fit though.

As to the Emmerdale - Canondale, your probably spot on there but must confess to not being that informed about them.

Like this

http://louthcyclecentre.co.uk/giant-tcr-advanced-1-2013-m-l.html



Back on topic. Cannondale CAAD 10,, a friend had one with a few carbon bits and weighs in sub 8.0 kg.

Really great bits of kit.

 

[Cuchilo]

Ive just had a quick measure of my Defy 5 and TCR . The geometry for stand over and riding height are pretty much the same . This is with a tape measure though .
Top tube length , seat height , pedal thread to top tube , floor to top tube and floor to seat are all the same . I think the difference is in the bar height that differs by 15mm and the rear wheel is tucked in more making the whole bike more compact by 50mm . I'm sure there are more technical aspects but no point asking me what they are
I would size it the same as the Defy . It doesn't ride like a Defy though

 

[Cuchilo]

Giant , St Pauls ( 0203 598 2535 ) have a 2014 compact in a medium for £2399 . They have demo bikes if you want to try one out . Not sure where you are located though .

Or http://www.roevalleycycles.co.uk/index.php/giant-tcr-advanced-1-2015.html

 

[vickster]

He's in Manchester

 

[Octet]

Ok, I've just got back from Ian Browns, a bit overwhelming to be honest.

One of the people showed me about thirty different bikes in the space of ten minutes and I don't really remember too much. I have scribbled down some models though, in particular two which stood out.

A Cube Agree SL which is £1600 (a bit above my budget) OR
Specialized 2013 Tarmac Sport (which is what he would recommend / was trying to sell)

I have to say I preferred the look of the Cube, and it has Ultegra which if I'm not mistaken is a step up from the 105 however it is more expensive and the Specialized is on sale bringing it to about £1170


Any views, if I was to go for the Tarmac I would preferably need to get a deposit on it soon as they only have one in stock, at the moment I am swaying to the Cube.

 

[Octet]

Ok, I've got the links for the bicycles:
Cube Agree GTC SL

Specialized Tarmac (2013) Sport - (Evans, the 2013 model isn't on the Specialized Website anymore)

Thank you for any views / opinions / tips!

 

[MrGrumpy]

out of those two I have to say I prefer the Cube, seems much better value for money??

 

[vickster]

Specialized give a lifetime warranty on their frames. I don't think cube do, at least not on carbon

Best thing is to go ride on them. Or at least get the shop to stick them on a turbo

Bamboozling you with dozens of choices doesn't seem very good salespersonship. Did they ask you your requirements / preferences and not just budget?

Aesthetically the cube, the specialized looks utterly dull