Buying my first Road bike Specialized Allez v Triban 500SE
Discussion
Hello,
I am looking to buy my first road bike soon and had my heart set on a B'TWIN Triban 500 SE.
I then noticed that my Tesco vouchers can be exchanged into Evans Cycles vouchers @£5 for every £2.50!
So looking at the Evans website they have this:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al...
Which looks lovely and was at £600, now £480, with some Tesco magic I can £280 plus some vouchers.
So my questions is, is the Specialized worth the extra money? I have seen the Triban in the metal and like it.
I don't want a second hand bike (personal preference).
I am looking to buy my first road bike soon and had my heart set on a B'TWIN Triban 500 SE.
I then noticed that my Tesco vouchers can be exchanged into Evans Cycles vouchers @£5 for every £2.50!
So looking at the Evans website they have this:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al...
Which looks lovely and was at £600, now £480, with some Tesco magic I can £280 plus some vouchers.
So my questions is, is the Specialized worth the extra money? I have seen the Triban in the metal and like it.
I don't want a second hand bike (personal preference).
I would squeeze up to the Norco Valence A3 - £20 more gets you a carbon fork and 9-speed, again from Evans.
I would imagine you could put in a great many enjoyable miles on the Spesh or the Triban, however.
Best of luck whatever you decide to go for. That Tesco point deal sounds fantastic.
I would imagine you could put in a great many enjoyable miles on the Spesh or the Triban, however.
Best of luck whatever you decide to go for. That Tesco point deal sounds fantastic.
Think the price makes the Spesh the winner. Triban get rave reviews against similar specced and priced bikes, but don't get compared with Allez's normally. I got my son a secondhand Allez last year, and have ridden it a couple of times. Very impressed with it too.
Meant to say, if you don't enjoy it, or your circumstances change, the Allez will be easier to sell on and should hold more of its value. That was the reason I bought my son his, I need to get him out on it more!
Meant to say, if you don't enjoy it, or your circumstances change, the Allez will be easier to sell on and should hold more of its value. That was the reason I bought my son his, I need to get him out on it more!
Edited by Daveyraveygravey on Monday 13th April 21:41
DuncanM said:
So looking at the Evans website they have this:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al...
Older version which is cheaper and http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al...
May not be in your size though.
Edited by TheInternet on Tuesday 14th April 08:50
Blimey never knew you could still get 8 speed on decent road bikes!
Spesh looks a good bike , a guy turned up last month for a century club ride on the black model, looked really good, never realised they could be had for so cheap
Another guy at our club won our hill climb on an Allez as well, must have been the cheapest bike there!
Spesh looks a good bike , a guy turned up last month for a century club ride on the black model, looked really good, never realised they could be had for so cheap
Another guy at our club won our hill climb on an Allez as well, must have been the cheapest bike there!
Thanks for the responses everyone 
I'm leaning toward either the 2015 Allez or the Norco I think. Reading reviews, the Allez has a very good frame for its price point and is an upgrade compared to the previous model (E5 v A1 and special welding).
So not knowing anything really about these makes, is the Norco Valence A3 a fantastic deal with a better chainset (9 speed) and carbon forks?
I cannae deny I'm excited ha ha, bikes are so sexy, even relatively cheap ones
I'm leaning toward either the 2015 Allez or the Norco I think. Reading reviews, the Allez has a very good frame for its price point and is an upgrade compared to the previous model (E5 v A1 and special welding).
So not knowing anything really about these makes, is the Norco Valence A3 a fantastic deal with a better chainset (9 speed) and carbon forks?
I cannae deny I'm excited ha ha, bikes are so sexy, even relatively cheap ones
TwistingMyMelon said:
Blimey never knew you could still get 8 speed on decent road bikes!
Shimano recently released the 8-speed Claris groupset specifically for entry-level road bikes and very nice it is too, it even has proper downshift paddles rather than the unloved Sora-style buttons.They also brought out a new 7-speed group too, Tourney, which seems to me to be of most use for upgrading a classic 7-speed bike to STI shifters. It often appears specced with a 7-speed 14/28 freewheel which doesn´t really work that well with a 50/34 compact, and no other 7-speed road freewheels are readily available.
New 9-speed Sora is lovely stuff too.
Bear in mind that:
-an 8-speed drivetrain with a compact up front and 11-32 rear will get you up just about anything, and enable you to keep up with the fastest group rides, but will leave you with big gaps between ratios. If you are a cadence-sensitive butterfly of a rider this might be annoying.
-the performance of *any* cheap groupset will be radically improved by the use of posh cables and housing (Jagwire Race Teflon/Kevlar for example).
Barchettaman said:
Shimano recently released the 8-speed Claris groupset specifically for entry-level road bikes and very nice it is too, it even has proper downshift paddles rather than the unloved Sora-style buttons.
They also brought out a new 7-speed group too, Tourney, which seems to me to be of most use for upgrading a classic 7-speed bike to STI shifters. It often appears specced with a 7-speed 14/28 freewheel which doesn´t really work that well with a 50/34 compact, and no other 7-speed road freewheels are readily available.
New 9-speed Sora is lovely stuff too.
Bear in mind that:
-an 8-speed drivetrain with a compact up front and 11-32 rear will get you up just about anything, and enable you to keep up with the fastest group rides, but will leave you with big gaps between ratios. If you are a cadence-sensitive butterfly of a rider this might be annoying.
-the performance of *any* cheap groupset will be radically improved by the use of posh cables and housing (Jagwire Race Teflon/Kevlar for example).
Brilliant info thank you!They also brought out a new 7-speed group too, Tourney, which seems to me to be of most use for upgrading a classic 7-speed bike to STI shifters. It often appears specced with a 7-speed 14/28 freewheel which doesn´t really work that well with a 50/34 compact, and no other 7-speed road freewheels are readily available.
New 9-speed Sora is lovely stuff too.
Bear in mind that:
-an 8-speed drivetrain with a compact up front and 11-32 rear will get you up just about anything, and enable you to keep up with the fastest group rides, but will leave you with big gaps between ratios. If you are a cadence-sensitive butterfly of a rider this might be annoying.
-the performance of *any* cheap groupset will be radically improved by the use of posh cables and housing (Jagwire Race Teflon/Kevlar for example).
I am going to show my noobness here, but surely you should get pedals with a bike?
The Triban comes with loads of acaccessories, including pedals which I think are kinda important, and has Carbon forks.
Hmm, leaning back towards the Triban.
jamiebae said:
Most riders have their own preference of clip in pedals so bikes often ship with nothing, then you can fit your choice of SPD, SPD SL, Look, egg beaters, Speedplay etc.
+1.Illogical as it may seems, the further up the food chain you go, the less likely it is that your road bike will ship with pedals.
I am of the opinion that beginner road riders should start with combination platform/SPD pedals, for example the Shimano M324 or A530, and use an MTB shoe with a good fit. That way the rider can use the bike for commuting with 'normal' shoes, and clip in for group rides/triathlons without skittering around and falling over whilst walking.
If the rider decides to subsequently go for a 'road' pedal/cleat/shoe system, she/he will have a useful system available for a winter or commuter bike on hand. Win-win.
Normal trainers with platforms and straps are also OK but will make you look a bit of a cock.
DuncanM said:
Brilliant info thank you!
I am going to show my noobness here, but surely you should get pedals with a bike?
The Triban comes with loads of acaccessories, including pedals which I think are kinda important, and has Carbon forks.
Hmm, leaning back towards the Triban.
You're more than welcome, glad it was useful.I am going to show my noobness here, but surely you should get pedals with a bike?
The Triban comes with loads of acaccessories, including pedals which I think are kinda important, and has Carbon forks.
Hmm, leaning back towards the Triban.
Rather than start a new thread I thought I'd ask on this one as fairly related.
Looking to get my first road bike this weekend, current contenders are a 2015 Specialized Allez Sport for £550 from Evans (small additional discount through work) or a B'Twin 700 Alur for £600.
The B'twin has 105 rather than Sora on the Allez and looks better value, but I suspect the Allez might be easier to sell on at a later date if I want to upgrade, and also felt "right" when I tried one in a shop. I haven't had a chance to look at and try the B'twin yet. Would just like thoughts from experience road bikers on the spec of these and which way they would go?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/alur-700-road-bike-id_8...
Looking to get my first road bike this weekend, current contenders are a 2015 Specialized Allez Sport for £550 from Evans (small additional discount through work) or a B'Twin 700 Alur for £600.
The B'twin has 105 rather than Sora on the Allez and looks better value, but I suspect the Allez might be easier to sell on at a later date if I want to upgrade, and also felt "right" when I tried one in a shop. I haven't had a chance to look at and try the B'twin yet. Would just like thoughts from experience road bikers on the spec of these and which way they would go?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/al...
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/alur-700-road-bike-id_8...
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