Road Cycling

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mike gunnz said:
Giant TCX SLR 2 2015 (£1049)
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/tcx.slr.2/19221/77317/

Ridley X-Ride 20 Disc 2015 (£1240)
http://www.ridley-bikes.com/gb/en/bikes/4/222/136/cyclocross/x-ride-20-disc-1503am


Decided to get a CX bike via the ubiquitous Halfords C2W scheme (even though I've no intention of buying from Halfords), so spent a few hours at my local independent test riding the Giant and Ridley bikes I've linked above.

There's not a wide selection of CX bikes available to walk in and test in my area but I'm determined to buy from an independent and have the bike properly set up even if it means having to select from a narrower choice and paying a slight premium.

Despite this I'm satisfied that both bikes represent decent value for money within my budget.

Whilst the Giant felt great, really light and very responsive, the Ridley just felt 'right'. The Ridley X-Ride is 200 quid more despite very similar componentry.

My LBS has made an appointment for me to go back in this weekend for setting up, testing and getting the geometry right and suggested I put several hours aside to make sure it's all done right.

Have to say as a cycling novice I'm impressed by the service so far.

Despite favouring the Ridley for intangible reasons, I feel I should get the Giant, because it's 200 quid cheaper - cash which can go towards upgrading pedals and other accessories.

Let me know what you think. :)
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:rolleyes::p
 
Vonhelmet said:
But the point is that on a single speed you have to learn to cope without those gears, so when you need to go uphill you just push and stand up if you have to, and when you want to go fast on flat ground you just pedal faster. It's also so much quieter and smoother than a full drivetrain.

Obviously there's routes I can't do on that bike (Sunday's wall :eek:) but for the flat stuff it's way more fun than my geared bikes.
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Three gears, right? Sitting down, standing up, pushing it. :)

I'd love a single speed for my commute tbh. Nice simple set up, very little to go wrong. Would be perfect for the winter.

Sadly i just don't think i could manage my daily route on it without either knackering my knees or my back. Heading to work would be fine, but to get home i need to climb a 2.5km 5% hill with 10-20% sections in the first km. I had a crack at it in 34/12 the other week and got up, but only just. Almost came to a standstill at one point and knees/back were sore after. The wind can be an absolute killer on the route as well. Bit of a shame.

https://www.strava.com/activities/340481651
 
mike gunnz said:
Giant TCX SLR 2 2015 (£1049)
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/tcx.slr.2/19221/77317/

Ridley X-Ride 20 Disc 2015 (£1240)
http://www.ridley-bikes.com/gb/en/bikes/4/222/136/cyclocross/x-ride-20-disc-1503am
<snip>
My LBS has made an appointment for me to go back in this weekend for setting up, testing and getting the geometry right and suggested I put several hours aside to make sure it's all done right.

Have to say as a cycling novice I'm impressed by the service so far.

Despite favouring the Ridley for intangible reasons, I feel I should get the Giant, because it's 200 quid cheaper - cash which can go towards upgrading pedals and other accessories.
Click to expand...

Sounds like they're spending the time to do a decent fit with you which is always good, much of 'comfort' on the bike can come from saddle, geometry and pedals/shoes/cleats. Are pedals and shoes part of it or will you be sourcing them independently? If so I would suggest getting them to do a 'refit' for you as part of the initial purchase (if you can!) to make sure they're right. If you're getting them (+setup) as part of the bundle then all the better. You may find the Giant when setup correctly will feel 'right', the Rose probably being closer to your setup will be why it feels better.

The only real difference between the bikes I can see are the BB7's on the Rose and the TRP Spyres on the Giant. Don't know which is better!

As you're 'spending' £1k+ on a bike I wouldn't be worried about 200 difference. I'd get the bike which felt 'best'/'right'. At the end of the day if you're not happy with the cheaper one you'll regret it for ages!
 
Saytan said:
it isn't a lot lighter than my 25 year old steel frame and fork with a 10 year old midrange groupset either

but the finishing kit on the eastway is cheap, probably cheaper than your giant, and cheap carbon isn't a lot lighter than decent alu anyway
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Dolan have the carbon framed etape for £850 with campagnolo veloce and decent finishing kit - deda cockpit, selle italia saddle. Only ten speed, but it's campag, so you get bragging points there.
 
I thought the rule was to get the one that looked the coolest ;)

Going back to that Wiggle bike... I'm not sure I'd want "cheap" carbon. I fell off my bike at 0mph the other day when I got caught out by a car on the wrong side of the road as I was exiting my drive :o :rolleyes: :o If I had a carbon frame I'd be convinced I'd cracked it :o
 
Vonhelmet said:
Dolan have the carbon framed etape for £850 with campagnolo veloce and decent finishing kit - deda cockpit, selle italia saddle. Only ten speed, but it's campag, so you get bragging points there.
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that's a great price actually, and apart from the 10 speed, veloce is easily as good as 105
 
Good price on the Garmin edge 500 with cadence meter and heart strap available from amazon france, free 30 day prime trial.

Not bad for 149 euro, £105 ish, use google chrome to translate the page, remember to select pay in euros at the end.

I love my edge 500, very small, good battery.

You could probably sell the cadence meter for £25 and the strap for £15-20 maybe more.



http://www.amazon.fr/dp/B002O0QBN4/?&tag=curiua00-21


qDUGiZ.jpg
 
FrenchTart said:
It's a great unit but I don't think I'd want to get a GPS unit that doesn't have automatic upload to Strava/etc.
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As soon as you connect this to your pc, its syncs with garmin express, and uploads to strava at the same time, when you have linked your accounts.

its simple

you sell the strap and cadence sensor and it will have cost you £50 for one of the best bike computers out there, loads and loads of folk still use 500,s , love mine.
 
I'm aware of that but why would I want to have to connect it to my PC all the time to upload rides? I can have it do it automatically when I finish riding without even having to go home on my 810 (and of course on 510s and other GPS unit models).
 
FrenchTart said:
I'm aware of that but why would I want to have to connect it to my PC all the time to upload rides? I can have it do it automatically when I finish riding without even having to go home on my 810 (and of course on 510s and other GPS unit models).
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none of them have internet capabilities, you have to do it via the PC
unless you use strava on your mobile and use your mobile for your ride
 
FrenchTart said:
I'm aware of that but why would I want to have to connect it to my PC all the time to upload rides? I can have it do it automatically when I finish riding without even having to go home on my 810 (and of course on 510s and other GPS unit models).
Click to expand...

I have 800 and it charges while connected so I'm always at good battery level :o
 
TBH if I didn't need to plug my Edge 200 in to get the data off it then the thing would probably rarely be charged enough for me to use. Having to plug it in means it is always at 100% when I want to go for a ride.

I kind of wish I'd gone for a 500 but at the time I didn't think I even needed a GPS at all but it is easily the best cycling accessory I've bought.
 
I have an Edge 500 and 810.
The 500 is a great lightweight compact unit but you can't beat the convinience of the 810 with auto syncing to Garmin and Strava via a connected phone.
I'm also looking forward to the Strava segment info coming soon for 810/1000/520.
 
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