Road bike recommendations

Mr.Cookie · 22 Apr 2022 at 22:00

Hey all

My brother is looking at doing a triathlon but his only bike is a mountain one!

He can get on the cycle to work schemes and has been looking at this
https://alpkit.com/products/sonder-colibri-al-tiagra
Do you have any recommendations or advise on what to look for?

Cheers

UTmaniac · 23 Apr 2022 at 17:08

Interesting bike, but IMO let down by speccing it with mechanical brakes.

https://www.merlincycles.com/sensa-romagna-disc-limited-tiagra-road-bike-2021-225311.html for ~£1070 isn't bad for hydraulic Tiagra, but frame geo looks quirky for me as someone with short legs and long torso for 178cm. Could work for someone with normal-long legs for height.

If you are open to rim brakes, https://www.merlincycles.com/wilier-montegrappa-tiagra-road-bike-190094.html is a cracking Tiagra buy for ~£700.

But no idea on C2W and Merlin. Are Halfords in that scheme?

Mr.Cookie · 24 Apr 2022 at 20:15

@UTmaniac yes halfords are in the scheme, cheers for advise.

SPG · 25 Apr 2022 at 08:04

The scheme is pretty bad these days, your better off on a 0% Credit card.

Mr.Cookie · 25 Apr 2022 at 10:15

SPG said:
The scheme is pretty bad these days, your better off on a 0% Credit card.

Don't think he needs the finance, just making use of incentives if worthwhile, any reason why you think its bad?

Martynt74 · 25 Apr 2022 at 11:24

SPG said:
The scheme is pretty bad these days, your better off on a 0% Credit card.

In what way? Surely you're still saving a decent chunk on the list price? Unless you mean because you could pick up sale based items possibly cheaper?

I keep circling towards it for an upgrade for my bike, but then i think that with the price of a new bike, i'd be better taking what it'd cost and just spend the money on a second hand bike which would ultimately be a higher spec.

SPG · 25 Apr 2022 at 13:47

That's all the cycle to work scheme is convuleted finance. To get the best deal from it you need to take it out over a number of years as well. The whole concept needs pulling tbh.

Martynt74 · 25 Apr 2022 at 14:26

Well yes it's finance, but you're also saving 33.25% off the price, which you're not getting by paying on a credit card.

Perhaps it varies based on whether the company charges an admin fee or a price to "sell" the bike to you at the end but i know my place doesn't.

Junglist · 25 Apr 2022 at 15:21

I'll be using my works cyclescheme to purchase new wheels in a few months. Seems like a no brainer really.

Jonny ///M · 25 Apr 2022 at 20:58

Martynt74 said:
Well yes it's finance, but you're also saving 33.25% off the price, which you're not getting by paying on a credit card.

Perhaps it varies based on whether the company charges an admin fee or a price to "sell" the bike to you at the end but i know my place doesn't.

Even if they do it should still be overall a saving. Cyclescheme charge 7% for anything over £500. So your saving reduces to 26.25%.

One More Solo · 26 Apr 2022 at 14:24

SPG said:
That's all the cycle to work scheme is convuleted finance. To get the best deal from it you need to take it out over a number of years as well. The whole concept needs pulling tbh.

I'm confused as to how you've reached this conclusion.