Spec me a road bike.

[Nick1881]

So I have decided I really want a road bike for this year, I have never had a road bike before.

A few years ago I bought a Scott Sub 30 hybrid bike, I really enjoyed riding it but wanted more speed. I only really rode it for spring, summer and autumn for one year, it then got retired to the shed and eventually sold on.

It does worry me that I will do the same again, give up once the bad weather starts coming in so I'm really not sure what to spend. Do I go all out and spend around £1000 and hope I carry it on, or should I spend half of that and just mess about?

I still have my Shimano shoes I bought for my old bike.

I want something fast but also some comfort, I'm 32 this year and having not rode for years and never rode seriously I'm worried how much I can handle lol.

So far I have looked in the local Trek centre, they recommended the Domane 2 Series and said they would measure me up and set the bike up for me and let me ride it on the trainer.

I also looked at the Boardman Road Team Carbon in Halfords just now.

Am I mad to be looking at bikes this expensive? I'm not really sure what all the spec means so I don't know what I want/need.

Also I have seen Giant Defy 1 highly recommended.

Any advice or suggestions would be great, I feel drawn to the bikes around £1000 with fancy carbon forks or frames but will it all be wasted on me?

Thanks

 

[Nick1881]

My work has a cycle to work scheme but we have to choose it as part of our benefits package for the year which is totally rubbish, the way they put it was like buying your own bike in full and I did this in November, no chance to change it now even if I wanted to.

There are a couple of local bike shops so I might go have a look. How can I tell if a bike will be more comfortable? (More relaxed geometry?) The Trek centre will probably let me ride some on their trainer so I can get a feel of what they are like.

Halfords had a Carrera half price down from £600 to £300, that's a very appealing amount to spend, but I'm the kind of person that would rather spend more and buy quality and I can't stop dreaming about carbon frames and 105 lol.

 

[Nick1881]

Thanks, I'll give Carrera a miss then.

I think I'd rather buy something locally, I'll have a look in the bike shops in Coventry and see what they have.

Is the Boardman Road Team Carbon more race than endurance? If so I will knock it off the list too.

The nearest Evans is Birmingham or Milton Keynes, could take a drive down at the weekend.

 

[Nick1881]

I haven't done the cycle scheme before so will give HR a call.

I went and had a look at a few bikes today, looked at Trek again and they seem to be more expensive in comparison to others for the same spec.

My LBS does Focus and showed me a few different options including a full carbon bike for £1350, if I can do the cycle to work scheme then I could maybe get this.

 

[Nick1881]

I can get the C2W scheme, have a voucher for £1000 on the way, the local bike shop said they would let me top it up so should be all good.

I'm going to Evans tomorrow to have a look there too.

 

[Nick1881]

I went to Evans yesterday and they guy said I can top up, he showed me the Cannondale Synapse 5 and the Jamis Xenith Comp full carbon.

Once I get the voucher I can go back and test ride a few.

 

[Nick1881]

I'm still waiting for my voucher.

Been to a bike shop near to my work today, very much liking the Giant Defy 0 and Defy Composite 2.

The Defy 0 is £1200 aluminium frame and Ultegra gear
The Defy Composite 2 is £1400 carbon frame but SRAM Apex.

Still can't decide if I should go for the Carbon frame or the better gear set.

 

[Nick1881]

Another couple of hundred quid doesn't bother me, I'd rather start out with something good. Also the Defy is said to be good comfort wise and made as an endurance bike, how will the 2 above compare?

I also like the Ribble Sportive carbon but would rather have one built by a local bike shop.