Bikers, any advise?

[jaynana]

non-car topic so apologies , but i know there are keen bikers in here and i like you guys best!

Its time to waste some money, time to change my road bike! - i'm on cyclescheme and its a year since the last, so i'm entitled to go for a new one.

Basic requirements:
- road bike with drop handles
- Shimano 105 gear set or similar
- must look nice (like a beamer    )
- lowest weight possible
- must be reliable, cos i prob wont change bikes after this year
- most importantly has to be less than £1k, the max budget on my cyclesceme voucher.

here are my options, in my order of preference:

1. Bianchi Impulso 105
http://www.bianchi.com/Uk/Bikes/Bikes_D ... ster=60654

2. Trek 2.1 C H2
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec030303

3. Bianchi Via Nirone 7 (Tiagra not 105.. but is that a big deal?)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bia ... 3#features

4. Specialized Allez Elite  (Tiagra not 105.. but is that a big deal?)
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... 7#features

[EDIT
5. Planet X Pro Carbon Rival Road Bike (Sram, carbon frame!!, recommended by a colleague)
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FBP ... _bike_2012
]

I've never used a Bianchi. its italian, very s3xy, but a bit nervous as well about reliability etc.. currently i use a Specialized.


any recommendations, especially from the bikers in u lot, from anybody who uses any of these?, or others please?

cheers

j

[Rusty]

Read the title, then realized you were appealing to cyclists, not bikers :-[

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[jaynana]

edited.. btw, they're called bikes too.. aren't they 

[pvr]

I used to do about 10k km per year whilst I lived in NL, but once I moved to the UK it felt a bit like deathwish cycling on the road so it has dropped to about 250 km a year ...

I used to be really up on bikes, but things have moved on a bit and I have to be very ashamed and just went in a proper bike shop and asked them for an all around bike for about £750. Did not pay too much attention and liked the look / feel and just rode home on it.

[dirtymonkey29]

Dropped from 10km to 250km.... Do you want to do my accounts?

[pvr]

[quote="dirtymonkey29"]
Dropped from 10km to 250km.... Do you want to do my accounts?
[/quote]

Read properly ... 10k km ... 

[jaynana]

that's 6.2k miles/year! damn! that's twice what i do!! just passed 3k miles in 10 months.

havin said that - in NL and in most european countries its a ride than a race.

in UK its a race than a ride!! if u know what i mean, so its a cycle race most mornings and evs.

avg speed, did anybody pass u are like primary parameters of success, on a daily basis.... (until gettin runover one day i guess!!  :'( )

anyways, currently i'm being swayed towards Planet-X, its UK made! carbon frame, sram!!

[X5Sport]

[quote="jaynana"]
edited.. btw, they're called bikes too.. aren't they 
[/quote]
They are indeed....... . But the riders aren't .  'Bikers' tend to go round in grungy leathers and a proper helmet, not Spandex underwear and a polystyrene tea cosy...>:D

As a former 'biker', I was going to suggest a nice Honda VFR1200 'til I read the post.... ) )

[pvr]

[quote="X5Sport"]


As a former 'biker'
[/quote]

I don't believe you, a former biker means a dead biker?

[X5Sport]

[quote="pvr"]
[quote="X5Sport"]


As a former 'biker'
[/quote]

I don't believe you, a former biker means a dead biker?
[/quote]

So I survived my broken neck.......or maybe I'm a Zombie.. ) ) :crazy1: :yikes: :bangin:

[dirtymonkey29]

I stand corrected lol

[AW8]

Not ridden any of these and shamelessly have a cheap 10 yr old Mountain, (style), bike - adequate for local outings & I don't cry if it gets dirty/knocked etc.

Used to ride loads when I lived in East Anglia as a child/teen often out most of the day though again not on  anything grand.

Was considering a road bike a while back and Specialised Allez was the one I considered & on back of recommendations from others including a mate who "used" to run a bike shop.

I was told with so many poor road surfaces nowadays spokes need adjusting/tightening frequently on a dedicated road bike..............Not sure how much of a reality this is.

I see far to many motorists pass far too close to cyclists for my liking as well as cars going into blind hedge lined nasrrow bends far to quickly & this was one reason I decided against.

Such massive variations in prices often for bikes/kit of similar spec/manufacture cost.

[Cannondale]

Stick out for a 105 groupset if you can, better cable routing 10speed and will last longer.

105 is seem as a the first proper groupset by most club riders.

Your first choice seems ok, the wheels are the weaklink and it would be a far better bike if you upgraded the wheels. This would be the same with any bike at thois price point. The shop might do you a deal outside the bike sceam if you ask them. But on a road bike wthe wheels and tyres are the best most cost effect upgrade you can do.

See if you can get a test ride. good luck

I am picking up my new toy tomorow

http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/bikes- ... 011-p88462

I have bought one of these for my trip to the Alps in August.

Rich...

[jaynana]

thanks guys for all the replies, and Cannondale, particularly yours  :thumbup:

btw, cannondale - that's one serious piece of kit!! - full carbon, with ultegra!

one thing i didn't like about it though - the brakes.

ok, back to mine.

thanks, so 105 is the way to go! 2 more questions pls, do you (or anybody else) have an opinion re.:

1. sram rival vs shimano 105?
2. Bianchi vs Planet X?

this is cos Bianchi impulso comes with a mix of 105 and tiagra and the Planet X comes with Sram Rival.

[Rusty]

[quote="X5Sport"]
'Bikers' tend to go round in grungy leathers and a proper helmet, not Spandex underwear and a polystyrene tea cosy...>:D
[/quote]

Pmsl ):)):))

I like your style.
I did progress from leaky leathers to full Gortex kit.
And after 10 operations I'm living proof that not all bikers die, may even sort out my old Africa Twin and ride again. Not that SWMBO would be to impressed.


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