My brother has no money...
Discussion
...But wants a road bike, so I suggested to him this:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Taking a look at one today, it seems pretty good for the money. Weak points appear to be weight at 11kgs and suspiciously anonymous wheels, but Sora gears are good and it's hard to fault for the money.
The only other thing that gets close for value is the Triban 3 which is a bit worse (although somehow even cheaper), and the Triban 5 which is a bit more expensive (although if it were me I would find the extra £££ for this).
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Taking a look at one today, it seems pretty good for the money. Weak points appear to be weight at 11kgs and suspiciously anonymous wheels, but Sora gears are good and it's hard to fault for the money.
The only other thing that gets close for value is the Triban 3 which is a bit worse (although somehow even cheaper), and the Triban 5 which is a bit more expensive (although if it were me I would find the extra £££ for this).
Triban 3 is worse ? Get an old stock 3 for £249
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-uk-id_8274036....
Spend your change on other bits.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-uk-id_8274036....
Spend your change on other bits.
Mr Gear said:
...But wants a road bike, so I suggested to him this:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Taking a look at one today, it seems pretty good for the money. Weak points appear to be weight at 11kgs and suspiciously anonymous wheels, but Sora gears are good and it's hard to fault for the money.
The only other thing that gets close for value is the Triban 3 which is a bit worse (although somehow even cheaper), and the Triban 5 which is a bit more expensive (although if it were me I would find the extra £££ for this).
There are worse choices.http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
Taking a look at one today, it seems pretty good for the money. Weak points appear to be weight at 11kgs and suspiciously anonymous wheels, but Sora gears are good and it's hard to fault for the money.
The only other thing that gets close for value is the Triban 3 which is a bit worse (although somehow even cheaper), and the Triban 5 which is a bit more expensive (although if it were me I would find the extra £££ for this).
Its basically identical to the carrera tdf - only it fixes one of the most glaring issues for a beginner with the tdf - the gearing - and has a compact chainset.
The wheels are damn heavy though! I'm assuming they are the same.
I had a tdf as my first road bike. Thought it was a rocket compared to my old mtb when I first rode it.
I'd argue with it being better than a triban though - especially the red one.
Upsides of the virtuoso
- cheap
- not a bso
- a steal at eBay or Gumtree prices
- some cheap wheels and some new tyres and its transformed
Downsides
- heavy
- low end throughout
- the tyres need to be changed instantly - the kendas are Shiite.
Honestly I'd suggest with a minimal budget, hitting up eBay while road bikes are still cheap. My tdf was barely used and cost £150. Which I suggest is what its worth - same applies to the virtuoso which is in some ways better.
Sub £200 should be easily achievable for either - and parts are dirt cheap.
I still have my tdf as a pub bike, I've a strange attachment to it as my a first road bike.
Justin S said:
Triban 3 is worse ? Get an old stock 3 for £249
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-uk-id_8274036....
Spend your change on other bits.
Bear in mind this triban is over a kg lighter, http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-uk-id_8274036....
Spend your change on other bits.
has carbon forks,
over a hundred quid cheaper new.
Has a triple (great for a beginner).
At least two of the guys in the cycling club have them and like them.
There's a reason these are the "go to" suggestion for beginners road bike and now they are on sale....
TheLemming said:
Justin S said:
Triban 3 is worse ? Get an old stock 3 for £249
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-uk-id_8274036....
Spend your change on other bits.
Bear in mind this triban is over a kg lighter, http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-3-uk-id_8274036....
Spend your change on other bits.
has carbon forks,
over a hundred quid cheaper new.
Has a triple (great for a beginner).
At least two of the guys in the cycling club have them and like them.
There's a reason these are the "go to" suggestion for beginners road bike and now they are on sale....
Edit: The biggest they have is a 54 - the same size as mine and I'm not tall at 5'8".
Edited by voicey on Sunday 9th February 21:34
Cheers for teh comments. He was bidding on a 2nd hand Virtuoso on Ebay earlier that ended at about £210... he missed out, but it would have been OK at that price. He's now looking at a few other nearly new ebay bargains including a Triban 3, so thanks also to the people who PM'd me with links. I'll let you know what he ends up with.
Mr Gear said:
Cheers for teh comments. He was bidding on a 2nd hand Virtuoso on Ebay earlier that ended at about £210... he missed out, but it would have been OK at that price. He's now looking at a few other nearly new ebay bargains including a Triban 3, so thanks also to the people who PM'd me with links. I'll let you know what he ends up with.
Also worthwhile looking at better bikes on eBay as well - surprisingly some go for sod all without any real rhyme of reason (although anything collection only tends to be cheaper).I picked up a 2009 boardman team for £200 + the petrol to go get it. Admittedly it needed a tiny bit of work, but £30 later its like new.
Rocksteadyeddie said:
As above Ebay is your friend. You'd be more or less cerifiable to buy a new bike for £250 given the quality and variety on Ebay. Any minor maintenance jobs can be easily tacked in the garage with some chain lube, grease and a set of allen keys.
Unless its one of the red triban 3s that we were all pretty much unanimously agreeing were a bargain on various threads this year - before they were on sale!TheLemming said:
Rocksteadyeddie said:
As above Ebay is your friend. You'd be more or less cerifiable to buy a new bike for £250 given the quality and variety on Ebay. Any minor maintenance jobs can be easily tacked in the garage with some chain lube, grease and a set of allen keys.
Unless its one of the red triban 3s that we were all pretty much unanimously agreeing were a bargain on various threads this year - before they were on sale!Rocksteadyeddie said:
Unicorn spotting aside... You'd still have to borderline certifiable to have one of those over a barely used Boardman as referred to above.
True but that was a retardedly good deal. If I saw another at that price I'd buy it, strip it and sell it piecemeal. Or just drop it back on at twice the price...Rocksteadyeddie said:
TheLemming said:
Rocksteadyeddie said:
As above Ebay is your friend. You'd be more or less cerifiable to buy a new bike for £250 given the quality and variety on Ebay. Any minor maintenance jobs can be easily tacked in the garage with some chain lube, grease and a set of allen keys.
Unless its one of the red triban 3s that we were all pretty much unanimously agreeing were a bargain on various threads this year - before they were on sale!Triban 3's (the red one) are (or were) incredible value for money. stick some new wheels and kool stop salmons on them and you have a very good bike for the money.
Brand new and under £400
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viking-Vittoria-Gents-Al...
There are loads of bikes on eaby and the above is just to give you an idea.
105 groupset and carbon fork are not bad..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viking-Vittoria-Gents-Al...
There are loads of bikes on eaby and the above is just to give you an idea.
105 groupset and carbon fork are not bad..
Dr Imran T said:
Brand new and under £400
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viking-Vittoria-Gents-Al...
There are loads of bikes on eaby and the above is just to give you an idea.
105 groupset and carbon fork are not bad..
True but its a Viking and they are notorious for making shttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Viking-Vittoria-Gents-Al...
There are loads of bikes on eaby and the above is just to give you an idea.
105 groupset and carbon fork are not bad..
te.... I'm actually shocked they make a bike that isn't a bso.
Edited to add :
I've been googling this bike repeatedly to try and find detailed spec because despite brand prejudice it might have been a bargain.
From what I can find I suspect my knee jerk was right. 105 shifters, unknown rear mech, unbranded cranks and brakes. The wheels and frame appear to be heavy as hell and the same as some of their cheaper bikes (according to forum posts) so as a result I'd go with the "avoiding it like the plague" option.
Edited by TheLemming on Wednesday 12th February 23:58
TheLemming said:
True but its a Viking and they are notorious for making ste....
I'm actually shocked they make a bike that isn't a bso.
Edited to add :
I've been googling this bike repeatedly to try and find detailed spec because despite brand prejudice it might have been a bargain.
From what I can find I suspect my knee jerk was right. 105 shifters, unknown rear mech, unbranded cranks and brakes. The wheels and frame appear to be heavy as hell and the same as some of their cheaper bikes (according to forum posts) so as a result I'd go with the "avoiding it like the plague" option.
it was just food for thought te.... I'm actually shocked they make a bike that isn't a bso.
Edited to add :
I've been googling this bike repeatedly to try and find detailed spec because despite brand prejudice it might have been a bargain.
From what I can find I suspect my knee jerk was right. 105 shifters, unknown rear mech, unbranded cranks and brakes. The wheels and frame appear to be heavy as hell and the same as some of their cheaper bikes (according to forum posts) so as a result I'd go with the "avoiding it like the plague" option.
Edited by TheLemming on Wednesday 12th February 23:58
not sure if it is really any worse than many of the budget bikes. Point I was making that there are other brands of bikes on ebay to be had. Carrera or Triban seem default.
He's got an eye on ebay too. A bit of a change in circumstance might come about if he sells his beautiful old steel touring bike. It's retro bid-bait so should get good money on ebay, but he doesn't ride it much. He could easily get £200 for that and that would help him get something a little better to replace it.
Dr Imran T said:
it was just food for thought not sure if it is really any worse than many of the budget bikes.
Point I was making that there are other brands of bikes on ebay to be had. Carrera or Triban seem default.
Oh definitely, there's lots out there. not sure if it is really any worse than many of the budget bikes. Point I was making that there are other brands of bikes on ebay to be had. Carrera or Triban seem default.
The carreras have visibility, and aren't terrible especially at eBay prices. The red triban is just a steal new let alone lightly used :-)
There are a myriad of other options, some a hell of a lot better.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff