Don't rush into new bike too fast, work yourself out, get better stamina and better overall and then switch for something more advanced like carbon 9speeds/10speeds about bikes branding i wont tell you anything because in my opinion most of "brand" bikes are damn overpriced, why would every one of you ask?
Hi @glenjarvis & firstlyto Cycle Chat from The Peoples Republic of Mancunia.
Some good points are raised here, not all I am in agreement with though.
Firstly, every post (including mine) will be personal opinion & eventually you will take from it the best parts that suit you at this time.
The Carrera TdF is a fine bike for it's price but was made to hit a price point as an entry level bike & to sell lots of units to newbies (we were all newbies once).
I agree with upgrading bikes generally, but in the middle to high end price bracket.
You might need to spend £200 on wheels, £80 > £100 on a Chainset/Crankset £25 > £30 on a derailleur & £15 on a cassette, as changing one part can sometimes necessitate changing another (long cage derailleur for a wider cassette) for example.
All of the above might save 250 > 300 grammes & give you a wider range of gears & a little better acceleration (wheels) also making climbing easier.
If your current TdF has a compact 50/34 chainset you will save a little outlay there. The numbers might be printed on the outside of each ring or on the spider of your front rings, if not you can simply count them.
I believe that you have 2 options.
1. Keep your TdF for another year, (change the saddle if you like) but nothing else, I don't think you would see much return on your £££ when you sell, (& you will sell).
2. Sell the TdF & get the best price you can for it, then buy the best bike you can manage to afford.
This doesn't mean a £1000 carbon racer.
A 2014 Giant Defy 3 (9 speed Shimano Sora) can be had for £449 from www.rutlandcycling.com or www.pedalon.co.uk
A Felt F 95 for £395 (9 speed Shimano Sora) or F 75 (10 speed Shimano 105) for £599 from www.merlincycles.com
All of the above will be significantly lighter than your TdF, have lighter higher quality frames, lighter carbon forks, lighter higher end gears/groupsets, better range of gearing & out perform your TdF. (you might not even need to change the saddle).
I think you will notice the difference.
If you could manage to get £200 for your TdF you would need another £200 > £250 to get one of the above.
or you could spend £250 "improving" your TdF, (how much of that would you get back come sale time) ?
Best of Luck with your decisions/decisions (tough job this cycling lark)
Hi @glenjarvis & firstly
Some good points are raised here, not all I am in agreement with though.
Firstly, every post (including mine) will be personal opinion & eventually you will take from it the best parts that suit you at this time.
The Carrera TdF is a fine bike for it's price but was made to hit a price point as an entry level bike & to sell lots of units to newbies (we were all newbies once).
I agree with upgrading bikes generally, but in the middle to high end price bracket.
You might need to spend £200 on wheels, £80 > £100 on a Chainset/Crankset £25 > £30 on a derailleur & £15 on a cassette, as changing one part can sometimes necessitate changing another (long cage derailleur for a wider cassette) for example.
All of the above might save 250 > 300 grammes & give you a wider range of gears & a little better acceleration (wheels) also making climbing easier.
If your current TdF has a compact 50/34 chainset you will save a little outlay there. The numbers might be printed on the outside of each ring or on the spider of your front rings, if not you can simply count them.
I believe that you have 2 options.
1. Keep your TdF for another year, (change the saddle if you like) but nothing else, I don't think you would see much return on your £££ when you sell, (& you will sell).
2. Sell the TdF & get the best price you can for it, then buy the best bike you can manage to afford.
This doesn't mean a £1000 carbon racer.
A 2014 Giant Defy 3 (9 speed Shimano Sora) can be had for £449 from www.rutlandcycling.com or www.pedalon.co.uk
A Felt F 95 for £395 (9 speed Shimano Sora) or F 75 (10 speed Shimano 105) for £599 from www.merlincycles.com
All of the above will be significantly lighter than your TdF, have lighter higher quality frames, lighter carbon forks, lighter higher end gears/groupsets, better range of gearing & out perform your TdF. (you might not even need to change the saddle).
I think you will notice the difference.
If you could manage to get £200 for your TdF you would need another £200 > £250 to get one of the above.
or you could spend £250 "improving" your TdF, (how much of that would you get back come sale time) ?
Best of Luck with your decisions/decisions (tough job this cycling lark)
Thanks Big Dave im going down the saddle route for now if I can choose one from the recommendations given!
thanks torvi will check out some pricesSelle SMP TRK then for you, it's fairly cheap, big and comfy (at least from reviews) its not too heavy too but we are now speaking about comfort so lets throw weight problems away for now
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/selle-smp-trk-saddle/rp-prod23428
he did.
Im at this moment wearing a pair of Shimano Mt34 SPD shoes they are great for its price
thanks for info when I change bikes(prob next year ) I ll prob ably give clips a go im pretty accident prone though
