viking xrr are they any good for a total beginner

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hughes31

New Member
Location
telford
Hi can any body help me im 53 and fancy getting on a racing can someone help can you please tell me is a viking xrr any good for a total beginner as funds are low so I need a cheap bike to start me off thanks nigel.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
How low are funds? You'd be better off looking at a better bike second hand :smile:

There are a few Viking owners but most have upgraded or moved on quickly to other bikes
 

biggs682

Touch it up and ride it
Location
Northamptonshire
@hughes31 if thats what you want then go for it , but being honest . I would look at 2nd hand market loads more choice and if you are careful you should end up with a nice older but quality built bike rather than a mass produced modern one that you dont enjoy as much .

ps i always have a couple of retro bikes for sale
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
Does the OP meana viking roma ?
£260
http://www.bikes2udirect.com/B3876.html
B3876.jpg

16 speed sti
alloy frame
In this price bracket the best you can get atm is the merlin
http://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-performance-road-pr7-bike-73113.html
£299
carbon fork
16 speed claris
mavic cxp 22 wheels which are fitted to bikes 3 times the price.
16188_merlin_pr7_road_bike.jpg

Of course you can get the triban 500 e from decathlon which is similar with microshift , still 16 speed , but more basic wheels and £350
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-500-se-road-bike-black-id_8306187.html
triban 3
as above but alloy fork £299
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-red-road-bike-id_8274036.html
Carrera from Halfords
They have the TDF , cant find a link on the site but they are in stock and the virtuoso which are similar .

As i said out of all of them the merlin offers the best bang for the buck atm
 
OP
OP
hughes31

hughes31

New Member
Location
telford
How low are funds? You'd be better off looking at a better bike second hand :smile:

There are a few Viking owners but most have upgraded or moved on quickly to other bikes
Hi thanks for thr reply my limit is £300 what is a carrera like.
 

cyberknight

As long as I breathe, I attack.
Hi thanks for thr reply my limit is £300 what is a carrera like.

The Merlin is the best specced with carbon forks to absorb road buzz

Carrera's are ok, but heavy...and "built" by Halfords

Carrera zelos , cheapest 14 speed £299

Carrera TDF 16 speed , cant see it on the website but still in stock for a similar price

Carrera virtuoso 16 speed £379 although saw them at £329 in store
Keep an eye out as their bike prices go up and down all the time so next week they could be on sale again and they may have 2014 bikes knocked down to clear .
AS @vickster says you have to be a bit careful as some stores have whats best called " inexperienced " staff putting bikes together and others employ really good staff dependent on on what store you go to .Its easy enough to put a boxed bike together if you dont trust them as its jsuts a matter of putting things likes wheels, bars etc on an indexing the gears .
Nothing wrong with the bikes , good solid machines but the triban 500e and the merlin both outclass them.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
hughes31

hughes31

New Member
Location
telford
Can someone please tell me is the carrera zelos better than the carrera virtuoso as I only have £300 to spend so which one is the best can someone please help as im a total beginner thanks nigel.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Xelos very basic components, steel fork (even the saddle sounds rubbish)

Overview
  • Forks: FULL HI-TEN STEEL - 1.1/8 Steerer
  • Frame Material: Alloy
  • Front Brake: Tektro R312 Dual pivot
  • Gender: Unisex
  • Number of Gears: 14
  • Rear Brake: Tektro R312 Dual pivot
  • Wheel Size: 700c
Detailed Specs
  • Chainset: PROWHEEL, A1-221C - 50/34T - 170mm
  • Front Mech: Shimano Tourney
  • Gear Shifters: Shimano Tourney, 14 speed
  • Handle Bars: Alloy
  • Headset: SEMI-INTEGRATED STEEL BLACK
  • Hubs: Alloy
  • Pedals: VP -399T ROAD TYPE
  • Rear Mech: Shimano Tourney
  • Rims: DOUBLE WALL ALLOY BLACK
  • Saddle: Velo foam, Carrera branded
  • Suspension: Rigid
  • Type: Road Bikes
  • Tyres: KENDA K191
Virtuoso, marginally better groupset (Claris over Tourney, the lowest of the low)

Overview
  • Forks: FULL HI-TEN STEEL - 1.1/8 Steerer
  • Frame Material: Alloy
  • Front Brake: Tektro R312 Dual pivot
  • Gender: Unisex
  • Number of Gears: 16
  • Rear Brake: Tektro R312 Dual pivot
  • Wheel Size: 700c
Detailed Specs
  • Chainset: PROWHEEL, A1-221C - 50/34T - 170mm
  • Front Mech: SHIMANO AFDA070AM
  • Gear Shifters: Shimano Claris, 16 speed
  • Handle Bars: Alloy
  • Headset: SEMI-INTEGRATED STEEL BLACK
  • Hubs: Alloy
  • Pedals: VP -399T ROAD TYPE
  • Rear Mech: SHIMANO RD-2400, DOUBLE, 31.8mm
  • Rims: DOUBLE WALL ALLOY BLACK
  • Saddle: Velo foam, Carrera branded
  • Suspension: Rigid
  • Type: Road Bikes
  • Tyres: KENDA K191

The Merlin is the best specced bike for £300 as above by a country mile, carbon fork, Claris, good wheels
 

iggibizzle

Senior Member
Location
blackpool
My 1st road bike was a Viking Xrr. Coming from mountain bikes and not really ridden them for years, it felt pretty nimble. Used daily tho and going on a few 40kmh rides soon had it crumbling. The wheels and tyres 1st things to crumble.
 
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