Road bike help

[cheesewotsit]

Hi all. I'm just after some advice to help my future purchase. I've always had MTB bikes but I want a road bike to get more in shape and improve my fitness. The nearest town where I live is blessed with lots of cycle paths until I build up enough stamina and bravery to ride on the rode, so I think a proper road bike rather than hybrid bike seems to make sense.

Budget? Up to £750. I've found these which all look fun: is there one better than the other or at this price point are they all the same? I doubt I'll ever see extreme weather so I'm content without disc brakes for the moment.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58V2RIV22/plan...

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/contend-sl-2

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Merida-Scultura-100-2018-...

My question: as an utter novice to this all, am I better spending £500 (what seems to be the next price point lower) or are these extras/higher spec worth it in the longer run?

Going down a step in Giant world gets me this: https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/contend-2

Is the SL worth the extra? As my fitness improves and my use gets greater, woudl I have regretted the higher spec of the SL/higher price point?

(For what its worth; I think the Px and Merida bikes LOOK amazing, but that's the tart in me speaking!)

Thanks.

[louiebaby]

Most people will suggest that the Decathlon B-Twin offerings give some of the best value for money.

A friend got one, and I have to say I agree with them.

Now / soon is the 2018 range sell off, so there might be some bargains springing up on other stuff though...

[lufbramatt]

Give it another month or so and you'll be able to find bikes with RRP around the £1000 mark falling into your budget

[mikees]

I'll be the first to say that you might be better off buying 2nd hand.

You could get 2 times the bike for 2/3 yours budget.

Recently sold a Planet X Pro-Carbon with SRAM Red for 500 on Ebay which would have been 1300-1400 new.

Lots of 2nd hand bikes are hardly been ridden.

M

[cheesewotsit]

I have noticed some 2018 models being discounted already - but I'm assuming I'll need to be far more patient (and quicker off the market) to get an even better bargain?

I have started looking on eBay at 2nd hand bikes. I guess as a first road bike it's more important to get something, rather than something specific, so yes, will start to do that.

Thanks

[Dixie]

That kind of money will get you something quite nice if you buy second hand.

If you use Facebook there are lots of bike sale groups on there. The Yorkshire one i'm in there's been a lot of Cannondale SuperSix in there recently. Nice bikes!

[mcelliott]

You really can't go wrong with any of those choices, I have a Planet X Carbon Pro and it's given me many years of excellent service. As important as choosing the right bike for you is getting it set up correctly. A st set up on a great bike is going to make you feel crap no matter what. And yes, you'll be fine on calliper brakes

[cheesewotsit]

Just an update: thanks for a fellow PHer, for less than my intended budget limit am now the owner of something I thought I'd never been in a position to own and ride; a very lightly used Trek Domane 4.5 now lives in my garage. It even looks fast leaned against the wall!

So, whoever said used - you win!

Very happy. Looking forward to my first ride.

[GOATever]

Bear in mind that the quality of the frame is very important, and don’t get too carried away with groupset trinkets. The Planet X frame will be what’s called an ‘open mold’ frame. This just means that the frame is made in a generic mold which is used by lots of different bike sellers ( Planet X, Ribble et.al.) the Giant will be made in the same factory, with the same hands, but the frame mold will be one of Giants own, and will have had more R&D money and time spent on its design. The quality of the material used in the Giant frame will be a higher grade / quality, and the lay up will be better. You will have a bigger issue trying to outride the inadequacy of a gash frame, than simply updating group sets / finishing kit. In short, buy the best Giant you can afford, and update bits on it as and when you can afford to.

[Barchettaman]

GOATever said:

Bear in mind that the quality of the frame is very important, and don’t get too carried away with groupset trinkets. The Planet X frame will be what’s called an ‘open mold’ frame. This just means that the frame is made in a generic mold which is used by lots of different bike sellers ( Planet X, Ribble et.al.) the Giant will be made in the same factory, with the same hands, but the frame mold will be one of Giants own, and will have had more R&D money and time spent on its design. The quality of the material used in the Giant frame will be a higher grade / quality, and the lay up will be better. You will have a bigger issue trying to outride the inadequacy of a gash frame, than simply updating group sets / finishing kit. In short, buy the best Giant you can afford, and update bits on it as and when you can afford to.

Someone should have told Cadel Evans that when he rode a rebadged Planet X frame in a TdF time trial a few years back.

[g7jhp]

I'd be looking second hand.

Do you know what frame size are you OP?

[bakerstreet]

GOATever said:

Bear in mind that the quality of the frame is very important, and don’t get too carried away with groupset trinkets. The Planet X frame will be what’s called an ‘open mold’ frame. This just means that the frame is made in a generic mold which is used by lots of different bike sellers ( Planet X, Ribble et.al.) the Giant will be made in the same factory, with the same hands, but the frame mold will be one of Giants own, and will have had more R&D money and time spent on its design. The quality of the material used in the Giant frame will be a higher grade / quality, and the lay up will be better. You will have a bigger issue trying to outride the inadequacy of a gash frame, than simply updating group sets / finishing kit. In short, buy the best Giant you can afford, and update bits on it as and when you can afford to.

As far as I'm aware Ribble don't use the Planet X Pro Carbon frame.

Anyways, the Planet X looks to be pretty good and Rival 22 is a good groupset. Sadly for Planet X, you will have to go to their factory store to have a look at their bikes. Eventually they will realise that a shop down south might be a good idea. They had one, but it only lasted about two years

[GOATever]

Barchettaman said:

Someone should have told Cadel Evans that when he rode a rebadged Planet X frame in a TdF time trial a few years back.

I’d expect a top flight pro like Cadel Evans could outride a Halfords Apollo’s inadequacy. He’s not exactly a new road rider, looking for a bike which won’t put him off riding forever though.

[GOATever]

g7jhp said:

I'd be looking second hand.

Do you know what frame size are you OP?

Good shout, a lot of very nice bikes go on eBay et.al. second hand, and have hardly been ridden. There are some real bargains to be had, just check it’s not ‘hot property’ and take someone who knows what to look for regarding problems with a used bike, that may not be immediately apparent to the untrained eye. I’ve been to look at some second hand ‘bargains’ that have had some issues, that would have made them not as good as they first looked, in the past ( think stuck seat posts, cracked frames, and odd / cheap substitute finishing kit and groupset parts ).

[FredClogs]

My local bike mechanic guy said Giant are the best frames at any price point and have the best warranty and customer service which if going carbon is something of real value.

[bakerstreet]

GOATever said:

I’d expect a top flight pro like Cadel Evans could outride a Halfords Apollo’s inadequacy. He’s not exactly a new road rider, looking for a bike which won’t put him off riding forever though.

What are you on about?? An £700 Planet X Alloy bike isn't going to be a terrible bike.

[askew]

GOATever said:

g7jhp said:

I'd be looking second hand.

Do you know what frame size are you OP?

…that would have made them not as good as they first looked, in the past ( think stuck seat posts, cracked frames, and odd / cheap substitute finishing kit and groupset parts ).

Hmm. I got stung by this recently. An older carbon fibre Canyon Ultimate, still with Ultegra, but the wheels were a considerable downgrade - think stock would have been Mavic Ksyrium? - while the handlebars were an S-Works carbon fibre model – had a nice crack under the clamp where it had been overtightened.

[GOATever]

bakerstreet said:

What are you on about?? An £700 Planet X Alloy bike isn't going to be a terrible bike.

They are okay, but I wouldn’t rate them above ( particularly) a Giant.

[GOATever]

FredClogs said:

My local bike mechanic guy said Giant are the best frames at any price point and have the best warranty and customer service which if going carbon is something of real value.

And he’d be right. They have the best R&D and knowledge in the market. They also have the biggest production facility for bikes. It’s surprising how many manufacturers use their facilities.

[Barchettaman]

GOATever said:

I’d expect a top flight pro like Cadel Evans could outride a Halfords Apollo’s inadequacy. He’s not exactly a new road rider, looking for a bike which won’t put him off riding forever though.

Mate, you don’t half post some rubbish.

A poor bike fit would deter a beginner rider, a Planet X of whatever vintage won’t!

On the subject of Halford Apollo bikes, coincidentally I found a hybrid one this week that had been dumped. It’s not actually too bad! Hubs and BB all running smoothly, saddle OK, nice spread of gears etc etc. And it fits me! A bit heavy but plenty of life in it!