FabSwingers.com > Forums > The Lounge > calling all road cyclists

calling all road cyclists

By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

I need some advice please, I'm looking at getting a new bike, I have around 1500 quid to spend, my question is do I go down the planet x/ribble route? Because they are great value, or stick with a mainstream bike/dealer, the bike has to be shimano fitted so I can fit my own wheels on it

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I need some advice please, I'm looking at getting a new bike, I have around 1500 quid to spend, my question is do I go down the planet x/ribble route? Because they are great value, or stick with a mainstream bike/dealer, the bike has to be shimano fitted so I can fit my own wheels on it"

I bought a bike from halfords for downhill racing. half way down the track the handle bars came loose. probably a one off but I won't buy one from there again.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I bought a bike from halfords for downhill racing. half way down the track the handle bars came loose. probably a one off but I won't buy one from there again. "

i agree i got my new bike from halfords 2 months ago and it already needs new bits ..i bike loads but still!!

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I bought a bike from halfords for downhill racing. half way down the track the handle bars came loose. probably a one off but I won't buy one from there again.

i agree i got my new bike from halfords 2 months ago and it already needs new bits ..i bike loads but still!! "

Don't what it is about halfords, as soon as something go through there doors the item just falls to pieces

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

i wont be buying from them again....

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"i wont be buying from them again...."

welcome to the forums by the way

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

thank you

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By *ickstartmyheart103Man over a year ago

near the east coast

Get over to hull and go to Cliff Pratts on spring bank,they are good and will help you get what you are looking for.

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By *imtomyMan over a year ago

manchester

I bought a kona apps 20 yrs ago secondhand, as long as your crank is ok, everything else is pretty easily remedied. All I ever needed to repair were changing brakes pads and cable adjusting. A guy I work with gets from halfords and has to renew each year because of wear and tear, andhe doesn't ride hard like me. Get a quality one and you won't regret it.

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By *ossnsecretaryCouple over a year ago

Epsom

Stick to your local bike shop. If there are any issues they'll be happy to fix them and should give you a free check up after a short while of riding to tighten and cables etc.

Avoid Halfrauds. Their mechanics don't know how to put a bike together.

Now is a great time to buy as the 2013 stock is on sale to make way for the next model year.

While Planet X, Ribble and the like are very good value you won't get the backup and support or ability to test ride the bike. The different geometries between manufacturers give quite different feels of ride. Your local shop should let you have test rides of a few in your price range to find the one you like.

You've got a healthy budget to find a good bike possibly with Ultegra components on.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Stick to your local bike shop. If there are any issues they'll be happy to fix them and should give you a free check up after a short while of riding to tighten and cables etc.

Avoid Halfrauds. Their mechanics don't know how to put a bike together.

Now is a great time to buy as the 2013 stock is on sale to make way for the next model year.

You've got a healthy budget to find a good bike possibly with Ultegra components on."

excellent advice

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

and dont forget to get a couple of good locks while you are at in

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

go to ribble. They often have good deals on. Get a half decent plastic frame, and buy what you can afford for groupset/components, then upgrade as you see fit. Go for as much plastic (carbon) as possible without wasting coin on gimmicky shit. Get a good chair for it tho, numb cock isnt funny 1st time it happens.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Hi Liddy

You seem to have a sizable budget, have you tried the specialist bike shop in Brighouse? Or Ellis Briggs, a Bradford (Shipley) dealer , who've been there at least 40 years or more so they must be doing something right?

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I ride everywhere, but never really thought about taking the time to build a bike perfectly suited to my needs - I tend to buy a second hand one and just hammer it around till its smashed to bits then buy another one, I'm really not a fan of using off road tires on concrete but on the plus side my thigh muscles are like granite.

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By *heMusketeersMan over a year ago

Most West Mids Towns

i had a few good bikes from ribble,track and road bikes,good value and you just adjust the saddle height, put your pedals on and away you go!.

they are not in the same league as a pinarello or colnago but then again we are not riding the grand tours!.

as others have said though go for shimano ultegra groupset as bloody good value!.

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By *heekyFiferMan over a year ago

Lochgelly

Thats a very healthy budget so im assuming your not new to cycling seeing as you have wheels to use already.

I commute 6 days a week in all weathers so needed a decent but reliable bike so went to Decathlon as their bikes are very well spec'd for a very fair price...I got the Triban T7 road bike which is £600 and has full tiagra set up, carbon forks and seat tube, excellent gears and brakes too.....only thing that lets the bike down is the wheels are shit due to the cones/bearings being too tight from the factory....easily re-greased and untightened or use your other wheels?

Only had this bike for 3 months but its going really well....loving it.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Go Ribble unless you can afford custom built stuff.

I much prefer Campag gear as it has never let me down, I still have a Record track chainset of my dads still going strong.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Get yourself to bransholme in hull plenty of bikes there and cheap aswell

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I know it's not a carbon frame but if it were me purchasing a road bike with a carbon frame I'd be looking to spend a little more than £1500 on one, but that's just me.

My choice would be a Cannondale CAAD10 105. It has an aluminium frame that is pretty much as light as the carbon frames in this price range and is renowned for being a nice frame. You also don't have to worry so much about getting it checked over if you do bin it or a stone smash into it etc.

I'm not against carbon at all, I just like the CAAD10 and wish I'd got one instead of my Trek2.3

Saddles are an individual thing but as said you don't want numb cock. I have had that a few times and its horrible. Specialsed BG saddles work for me, I have a Toupe saddle but you'd have to try before you buy.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Cannondale and Trek are a nightmare when you need to fit a new headset, strange bearing sizes etc

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

if you can fix every thing yourself go the ribble route, if not a local bike shop, ffs though don't go to halfords or evans.. coz there utter shit

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

also get a mountain bike..

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Ribble get a lot of negative publicity. I brought from them earlier this year and was pleasantly surprised at how good the service was and far from disappointed with the bike either.

If you have decent wheels their bike builder app is great as you can spec the cheapest wheels and spend the budget elsewhere on the build. That said unless you know your stuff speccing every components can be a little daunting.

The Ribble stealth black frame (on my phone and their site is beyond it's capabilities so don't know the exact name) is identical to a far more expensive de-rosa and incredible value.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I work in a bike shop and it depends on the style your looking for. I would recomend looking at the giant defy 0. good sportive style with high end aluminium frame, plus new 11 speed ultegra groupset or the specialized allez race for a good race style. Both manufacturers offer lifetime warranty on there frames

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

The defy is a decent enough bike, but when value is the key talking point the only person that would ever mention specialized is someone that gets commission for selling them.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"The defy is a decent enough bike, but when value is the key talking point the only person that would ever mention specialized is someone that gets commission for selling them."

I ride a allez and its a very good bike. the allez race has amazing frame for this year. its using the e5 aluminium which is amazing to ride. its running 105 with fsa chainset but your getting one of the best frames on the market.

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By *icked weaselCouple over a year ago

Near Edinburgh..

If Your Going To Spend 1500 on a Bike. How Much Are you Spending on Lycra !!!

Yeah ok.. loads of cyclist have told me its not lycra anymore..

and all i can see is Bollocks..

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Gaints warrenty is very good if any thing goes wronge

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"The defy is a decent enough bike, but when value is the key talking point the only person that would ever mention specialized is someone that gets commission for selling them.

Being ridiculously overpriced does not make it one of the best frames on the market.

Aluminium frame and not even full 105 is so far short of industry norms at this price point it is laughable. Tell me how it is even close to the canondale someone else mentioned.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Go Ribble unless you can afford custom built stuff.

I much prefer Campag gear as it has never let me down, I still have a Record track chainset of my dads still going strong."

Used to run an old record track chainset of my dads on a winter fixed, keep an eye on it for cracks because if it does let you down, I can tell you from experience it hurts!

Im campag all the way too but with the way they dominate this price point it really is hard to not recommend shitmano.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"The defy is a decent enough bike, but when value is the key talking point the only person that would ever mention specialized is someone that gets commission for selling them.

Being ridiculously overpriced does not make it one of the best frames on the market.

Aluminium frame and not even full 105 is so far short of industry norms at this price point it is laughable. Tell me how it is even close to the canondale someone else mentioned.

hahahha what a crackandfail thats why its better. yeah its aluminium but the e5 frame is a amazing bit of kit yeah its expensive but the frame has a lifetime warranty and as parts need to be upgraded you have a fantastic frame to fit them to.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

yeah I agree. campag is amazing but so expensive but keep a eye on chicken cycles as they have good deals on full camoag groupsets

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"The defy is a decent enough bike, but when value is the key talking point the only person that would ever mention specialized is someone that gets commission for selling them.

Being ridiculously overpriced does not make it one of the best frames on the market.

Aluminium frame and not even full 105 is so far short of industry norms at this price point it is laughable. Tell me how it is even close to the canondale someone else mentioned.

The E5 is an amazing frame? Yeah and I'm Eddy Merckx..

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"The defy is a decent enough bike, but when value is the key talking point the only person that would ever mention specialized is someone that gets commission for selling them.

Being ridiculously overpriced does not make it one of the best frames on the market.

Aluminium frame and not even full 105 is so far short of industry norms at this price point it is laughable. Tell me how it is even close to the canondale someone else mentioned.

The E5 is an amazing frame? Yeah and I'm Eddy Merckx..

really. can I get your autograph

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

I've rode an aluminium frame and it just seemed too stiff and it really hurt my back with the vibrations, giant are out because everybody I ride with has a giant, and I don't like to go with the norm, but they do seem good bikes,

My only real other option over ribble/planet x is the new Ridley Orion which I can get for 1450 from my local bike shop, I like the new fenix but it's just a little too much,

I'm riding an halfords special now because I got it through cycle to work and they only dealt with halfords, I've got a carrera with 105, I've upgraded the wheels to fulcrum Quattros and the tiagra cassette to sram

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

nice wheels. get a nice steel frame.much more forgiven than aluminium.have a look at the new genesis equilibrium is out next week. for 1100 pound your getting a reynolds 720 frame with full tiagra group set

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

"nice wheels. get a nice steel frame.much more forgiven than aluminium.have a look at the new genesis equilibrium is out next week. for 1100 pound your getting a reynolds 720 frame with full tiagra group set"

I don't want to drop my groupset, I'm on 105 now and I'm looking at that or ultegra in a good deal

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"I need some advice please, I'm looking at getting a new bike, I have around 1500 quid to spend,"

You mean a push bike?

£1, 500 quid?

I'll find you one..deal is I keep the change.

Pm me if that sounds ok?

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Campag is great, especially the front mech as you can trim it all the way across the cassette range. SRAM is really good, I have Red on my road bike but Ultegra Di2 is awesome on my cross bikes, if you can afford electronic go for it

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

"Campag is great, especially the front mech as you can trim it all the way across the cassette range. SRAM is really good, I have Red on my road bike but Ultegra Di2 is awesome on my cross bikes, if you can afford electronic go for it"

I can't afford electronic lol, I don't like the whole double tap idea on sram, my mates had his ages and still goes the wrong way sometimes,

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I am about to sell a specialized tri cross comp, has campag wheels with conversion hub to suit shimano. £1500 worth of bike for £750. Immaculate bike which is very capable on the road but can also deal with trails. Pm if interested, or its going on eBay tonight if you want to keep an eye out.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

there is so much choice out there now,its a mine field

lots of deals if you don't mind last years model.

just spend as much as you can on one.

get what you pay for.

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

I've had to succumb to the giant from my local bike shop, giant defy composite with full 105 groupset, 959 and free black seat because I hate white, should be 1300

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"there is so much choice out there now,its a mine field

lots of deals if you don't mind last years model.

just spend as much as you can on one.

get what you pay for."

to be honest with you more does not always mean better, half the time your paying for the name, there are a lot of bikes out there that have the same specks as well known names but nowhere near as much money

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

thats a bargain fair play.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Go Ribble unless you can afford custom built stuff.

I much prefer Campag gear as it has never let me down, I still have a Record track chainset of my dads still going strong.

Used to run an old record track chainset of my dads on a winter fixed, keep an eye on it for cracks because if it does let you down, I can tell you from experience it hurts!

Im campag all the way too but with the way they dominate this price point it really is hard to not recommend shitmano."

I broke too many things when using shimano 1055 & ultegra, switched to Campag and only broke 1 axle in 22 years.

Used to work for cougar cycles back in the day, I personally can't see the point of carbon drop it once and the frame is written off. I will stick to a custom hand built steel frame, got a Reynolds 708 frame custom made to fit me and it is still as good as when it was first made.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Have you tried Mercian cycles, or Terry Dolan see what else is out there.

I bought a hybrid Voodoo Marasa from halfords, good spec for the money. Only issue I had was the back wheel broke some spokes, but they replaced it with another one. It was great till someone nicked it.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I was given a Specialized MTB bike by someone because it didn't have disc brakes!

I never researched how much they cost until now!

Its a shame as I don't do MTB'ing!

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Seems like you're getting a fair bit of advice already but for what it's worth here's mine:

* Don't restrict yourself to one dealer, be openminded - although in my opinion you're more likely to bag a bargain if you do your research & use your local independent bike shop (you'll get more attention, a better fit etc, maybe free servicing etc)

* It's a good time to buy as you can get 2013 models at knock down prices

* If you're feeling brave you can get some bargains from online only places - Canyon do some nice specs

At the end of the day, once you're on it you don't see it so get out there & enjoy!

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By *heMusketeersMan over a year ago

Most West Mids Towns

"Have you tried Mercian cycles, or Terry Dolan see what else is out there.

ah!,terry dolan from liverpol,used to be boss & frame builder of cougar cycles along with ex anc halfords pro joey mcloughlin!.

terry used to do as lot of frames for for ribble at one time but dont think he does anymore as his own business took off and all trackies & even continemtals ride his bikes now!.

does some good deals if you look on his website.

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By *etitesaraTV/TS over a year ago

rochdale

Ive just bought a MEKK Potenza SL 5.0, last yrs model so £300 lopped off - £1099.

3K carbon frame and full carbon fork, 105 groupset.

Ive changed the saddle and seatpost to a carbon post and lighter saddle, shorter stem and most importantly upgraded the brake calipers from no name generic to 105 calipers.

Now weighs around 8kg.

Its a sportive-style bike but its pretty fast and very comfy.

Available online and in the dealerships. Worth looking at in that price bracket.

Very happy with mine

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

I've bought a giant defy composite should of been 1300, got it for 959, plus bought 2 new cages and new pedals all for 1020

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Have you tried Mercian cycles, or Terry Dolan see what else is out there.

ah!,terry dolan from liverpol,used to be boss & frame builder of cougar cycles along with ex anc halfords pro joey mcloughlin!.

terry used to do as lot of frames for for ribble at one time but dont think he does anymore as his own business took off and all trackies & even continemtals ride his bikes now!.

does some good deals if you look on his website."

I know back in the early 90s I used to work for cougar cycles, when they sponsored the Kodak cycling team. they also made the frames for the olympic english road & irish track teams.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I did the London - Brighton on a 300 quid bike from Decathlon....make is 'btwin'.

Decathlon sold out as they were so popular and a great price (and super light if you have to carry them for any reason) highly recommend and isn't overly pricey

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By *heMusketeersMan over a year ago

Most West Mids Towns

"Have you tried Mercian cycles, or Terry Dolan see what else is out there.

ah!,terry dolan from liverpol,used to be boss & frame builder of cougar cycles along with ex anc halfords pro joey mcloughlin!.

terry used to do as lot of frames for for ribble at one time but dont think he does anymore as his own business took off and all trackies & even continemtals ride his bikes now!.

does some good deals if you look on his website.

I know back in the early 90s I used to work for cougar cycles, when they sponsored the Kodak cycling team. they also made the frames for the olympic english road & irish track teams."

yes i can recall that the north wirral velo/kodak yeam!

chris boardmanns team that was,terry used to build the frames for chris in n his pro years too with his sponsors decals on as well as a lot of uk pro teams,anc halfords,falcon,team brite. to name just a few!.

i miss riding with the hairy egg on the IOM week chain gang into douglas for the 30 sign!.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I can't afford electronic lol, I don't like the whole double tap idea on sram, my mates had his ages and still goes the wrong way sometimes, "

SRAM is piss easy to use, hardly notice the double click

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Go Ribble unless you can afford custom built stuff.

I much prefer Campag gear as it has never let me down, I still have a Record track chainset of my dads still going strong.

Used to run an old record track chainset of my dads on a winter fixed, keep an eye on it for cracks because if it does let you down, I can tell you from experience it hurts!

Im campag all the way too but with the way they dominate this price point it really is hard to not recommend shitmano.

I broke too many things when using shimano 1055 & ultegra, switched to Campag and only broke 1 axle in 22 years.

I've used carbon road, cross and MTB frames for years and never broke one yet.

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