Best Buy Road Bike - Sub £800

[Lee540]

Hi all,

Looking for my first road bike, using the cycle scheme through work. I've been around a few shops and looked at a few different models but wondering what would be a best buy for this price bracket of sub £800.

Must be lightweight and as a minimum shimano 105 shifters..

So far I quite like the Giant Defy 3

What do you think? Covering approximately 80 miles per week commuting.

Thanks

Lee

[Mave]

I'm guessing there's not that much choise in your price range with 105s - have you checked out Ribble?

[craigthecoupe]

must be lightweight compared to?
weight is important, but not the be all and end all of riding.
if you put an a-series engine in a ferrari it won't go like a ferrari.
at this price point, i'd buy the bike that feels best out on the road.
this is my first year of riding proper, and i ride a giant ocr with some nice wheels, and a mish mash of campy.

in the two sportives i've done, ive passed some lovely exotic machinery, and wished, and wished i had more money to spend.

i'm not a very quick rider, but can hold my own, and would always rather be on a bike that is designed for my intentions, rather than taking a superlight, rigid, spec'd, up bike out and feeling like i could never exploit it's benefits.

for me, building an engine (you!) is greatly overlooked, bikes will be similarly spec'd so buy the one that encourages you out every time you look at it. i gaurentee it will be the best value for money!

just my two pence from a newbie.

craig

Edited by craigthecoupe on Tuesday 9th July 21:22

[Hobzy]

My Scott has a 105 rear and that was £699 reduced from £999. You'll be lucky to get full 105 for that budget I would have thought. Even that weighs in at 20lb - somewhat down to the cheap wheels I suspect. Look in a months time when they start massively discounting last years bikes.

[Maracus]

Lee540 said:

So far I quite like the Giant Defy 3

I bought my first road bike for my 40th last year. I didn't know where to start, but read reviews and sat on a few!

I was looking to buy an entry level bike and spend no more than £600. I bought a new 2011 model Defy 3 (in 2012). It's a revelation after sitting on a MTB for the past X years

I paid £470 for it, and my cycling has taken off far more than I thought. May upgrade to something more exotic next year, but for the money I can highly recommend one.

[rockandrollmark]

Can you stretch the budget by another £100?

Boardman ltd edition. Tiagra 4600 ten speed, with a 105 rear mech, but carbon frame and 10% off for online orders takes it down to £899.

Or join British Cycling for another 10% off to bring it in to budget?

Edited by rockandrollmark on Wednesday 10th July 00:45

[Laurel Green]

rockandrollmark said:

Can you stretch the budget by another £100?

Boardman ltd edition. Tiagra 4600 ten speed, with a 105 rear mech, but carbon frame and 10% off for online orders takes it down to £899.

Or join British Cycling for another 10% off to bring it in to budget?

Er, I think you forgot to include the web address in the above link. Clicking on it just opens this thread again.

[rockandrollmark]

Laurel Green said:

Er, I think you forgot to include the web address in the above link. Clicking on it just opens this thread again.

Oooops. Fixed it now!

[Matt_N]

Lee540 said:

Hi all,

Must be lightweight and as a minimum shimano 105 shifters..

Can I ask why?

If it's to get rid of the thumb shifter then even this years Sora doesn't have it anymore.

[paulmon]

Hobzy said:

Look in a months time when they start massively discounting last years bikes.

This is good advice. Aug/Sep sees the prices start to drop and then the just keep dropping and dropping. A colleague bought a 105 Carbon Felt for £750 last year which had been reduced from over £1500. I'm itching to buy a FS mountain bike but I'm going to hold off until the sales are in full swing.

[deanogtv]

I've just bought the entry level Allez (Specailized) and its brilliant, I was amazed at how quick it feels. I was considering the Allez Sport for £750 but I wanted to get some other bits at the sport was my top budget.

[Lee540]

Matt_N said:

Lee540 said:

Hi all,

Must be lightweight and as a minimum shimano 105 shifters..

Can I ask why?

If it's to get rid of the thumb shifter then even this years Sora doesn't have it anymore.

Yes, its the thumb shifter, I haven't seen any 2014 bikes yet but all of the 2013 models with the Sora still have the thumb shifters

Lightweight comment was I tried the Merida Race Lite 904, thought it was very cool but unfortunately the shop just wanted to sell me something they wanted to get rid of and it was out of my budget.

I'll have a look at the Boardman, thanks!

[Matt_N]

Lee540 said:

Yes, its the thumb shifter, I haven't seen any 2014 bikes yet but all of the 2013 models with the Sora still have the thumb shifters

They shouldn't do, this years Sora 3500 9 speed and Tiagra 4600 10 speed have both done away with the thumb shifter.

[Lee540]

Matt_N said:

They shouldn't do, this years Sora 3500 9 speed and Tiagra 4600 10 speed have both done away with the thumb shifter.

Thanks for this, I've got to wait a week for admin to sort out the paperwork, then I'll head off to find my new bike. With this information.

Cheers

Lee

[Mave]

Yep, I've got a 2013 caad8 sora, and it has the same style shifters as the tiagra, ie without the 2012 type thumb shifters.

[Smartboy]

I picked up a 2013 Trek 1.2 in Feb (for £700 CTW Scheme) and the Sora shifters do not have the thumb thing happening.

[Lee540]

I suspect my local shops are still selling 2012 models and because I went in saying I want my first road bike they could sell me anything but found the thumb gear lever really awkward.

Thanks for your posts, I'll put picture up of what I buy next week or so.

Cheers

[Disco You]

£50 more, carbon frame and Tiagra:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/fc-3-road-bike-black-id...

[rockandrollmark]

Not meaning for this to be a thread hijack, but I had a nosey in my local Halfords tonight at that Boardman and enquired about getting a test ride on the Team Carbon Ltd... They cannot offer test rides!! How on earth can they expect anyone to part with 'real bike' money without riding what they're looking to buy first?!? The sooner CB breaks his tie-in with Halfords and gets distributing through proper bike shops the better. He's got some really good stuff out right now but his the sales network is frankly pony.

[Lee540]

rockandrollmark said:

Not meaning for this to be a thread hijack, but I had a nosey in my local Halfords tonight at that Boardman and enquired about getting a test ride on the Team Carbon Ltd... They cannot offer test rides!! How on earth can they expect anyone to part with 'real bike' money without riding what they're looking to buy first?!? The sooner CB breaks his tie-in with Halfords and gets distributing through proper bike shops the better. He's got some really good stuff out right now but his the sales network is frankly pony.

Also thought this.. but wouldn't buy from Halfords out of principle now.. their aftersales is rubbish and having bought a Carrera Vengence mtb a couple years back with loads of problems, I will go elsewhere