Road Bikes

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  Thread Started By:   wildebeest   On:   Monday 07/07/2008 @ 21:41 Show Newest First    
wildebeest
Posts: 4033
Switzerland
  #1  Road Bikes  Posted 07/07/2008 @ 21:41
OK, so there's a mountain biking thread but no road bike thread.

I thought I would start a new one as I'm after ideas for a commuter and weekend ride road steed at around the £700-£800 price mark.



Shimano 105 groupset, not sure about the frame though... any thoughts. web based retailer through wiggle. The triathlon forums seem to rate Focus plus Wiggle have a 7 day trial ride offer. Being 6'2 I would probably go for the 58.

Better value than big name brands such as the Trek 1.7 I was looking at. Any other thoughts?
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jonny
Posts: 1411
Advertising Partner
France
  #2  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 07/07/2008 @ 23:42
In reply to post #1 ...
I've just gone over to the darkside myself and have bought one of these:



Very happy so far, especially as it's 30speed so I can actually get it up some of the small hills we have around here!
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wildebeest
Posts: 4033
Switzerland
  #3  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 07/07/2008 @ 23:47
A little bird tells me you've got the lycra to go with it.
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bing14
Posts: 21
UK - England
  #4  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 08/07/2008 @ 00:44
In reply to post #1 ...
I bought a focus cayo just last week! Absolutely love it, though have since decided that its far too nice to leave in the bike racks outside work so am gonna pick up a dirt cheap 2nd hand mtb for the commute. Top marks to Wiggle, no problems there - was all delivered (in the biggest box you've ever seen!) in a couple of days.

You sure about the frame size though? I'm 6'3" and went for the 60 frame - its just about perfect.
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mea00csf
Posts: 1174
West Yorkshire
  #5  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 08/07/2008 @ 10:36
In reply to post #1 ...
If your planning on doing long rides you could easily be out on it for a few hours and unlike mountain biking your not moving around as much. I'd try out at least a few road bikes, find some you find comfortable and look at the geometries so you can compare that with the focus.
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Bods
Posts: 2130
  #6  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 08/07/2008 @ 12:53
In reply to post #5 ...
I'd consider something more upright for the commute - traffic plus droppies is a nightmare - a chap at work has just got a relatively cheap Giant FCR (flat handlebars, 700*28c tyres, mudguards etc) - it fair on flies up the hills - but then if your wanting to do road riding - I'd reckon it was a little too compact and you'd get a lot of wind resistance from the riding position.

£800 is a lot for a commuter. why not get a cheap £100 rig (old road bike) then fit some flats to it.

Spend the other £700 on a speed machine.
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wildebeest
Posts: 4033
Switzerland
  #7  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 08/07/2008 @ 13:00
Revision #1 (Last edited: 08/07/2008 @ 13:01)
In reply to post #6 ...
Traffic won't be an issue as it is 28miles of lanes for my commute. It will be in addition to my Trek EX8 and my ancient Raleigh steed of cast iron that weighs a tonne, which will be used on wetter days - muguards

I think you may be right about the 58cm, as 23 1/2 equates to a shade off 60cm. I do need to try some bikes out as what I found with my MTB may look good on paper, but doesn't fit right when you try it. I am also tempted to buy from bricks and mortar as decent cycle shops are few and far between as it is.



Just found a picture of what David Millar will be riding today.


Good to see he's changed from the exploding Mavics.
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fatbob
Posts: 9037
Forum Mod
Nottinghamshire
  #8  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 08/07/2008 @ 13:11
In reply to post #7 ...
Sweet. A good ride today and he may sneak yellow.
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_DM
Posts: 108
  #9  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 08/07/2008 @ 13:38
Revision #1 (Last edited: 08/07/2008 @ 13:39)
Cube have got this, hmmm cool, new collapsible bike...

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/02/cubes-collapsib.html

Looks pretty dam space age and cool! not sure i would trust it though. Just imagine those handlebars folding up and that saddle dropping at 25mph in the bike lane....ouch!
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Chorlton
Posts: 1813
  #10  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 08/07/2008 @ 14:37
In reply to post #6 ...

QUOTE (Bods - 08/07/2008 @ 12:53)

I'd consider something more upright for the commute - traffic plus droppies is a nightmare - a chap at work has just got a relatively cheap Giant FCR (flat handlebars, 700*28c tyres, mudguards etc) - it fair on flies up the hills - but then if your wanting to do road riding - I'd reckon it was a little too compact and you'd get a lot of wind resistance from the riding position.

£800 is a lot for a commuter. why not get a cheap £100 rig (old road bike) then fit some flats to it.

Spend the other £700 on a speed machine.

to be honest, i'd say you will struggle to get anything vaguely rideable for 100. i had to spend 160 on a second hand thing and it is was way old. bikes are EXPENSIVE
my other one got half inched recently .
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wildebeest
Posts: 4033
Switzerland
  #11  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 08/07/2008 @ 19:26
Compact gears. What's the point?

When I was a lad, 52/42 on my 10 speed was the norm, then it dropped to 53/39.. now it's 50/34 on a lot of the bikes I've been looking at with a high range rear derailleur. Just wondering what the advantages are, apart from the obvious high revs vs grinding a big gear.
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Dennis
Posts: 2598
London
  #12  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 09/07/2008 @ 10:00
Mine cost me £220, is an original specialized carbon fibre job (alloy butts and forks).
I've spent a 100 sheets on mavic aksium rims and hubs (20 spoke front, 24 spoke rear).

The thing absolutely flies - I managed 45 miles in 2.15 hours the other weekend.

Started using for commuting now though as I'm back in the smoke and it's a bloody death trap - it's not the riding position but the breaks. - you really need mtb style breaks
Back in the smoke
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Chorlton
Posts: 1813
  #13  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 09/07/2008 @ 10:05
In reply to post #12 ...

QUOTE (Dennis - 09/07/2008 @ 10:00)

Mine cost me £220, is an original specialized carbon fibre job (alloy butts and forks).
I've spent a 100 sheets on mavic aksium rims and hubs (20 spoke front, 24 spoke rear).

The thing absolutely flies - I managed 45 miles in 2.15 hours the other weekend.

Started using for commuting now though as I'm back in the smoke and it's a bloody death trap - it's not the riding position but the breaks. - you really need mtb style breaks

for 220 it sounds spiffy. where from?
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M the S
Posts: 972
South Yorkshire
  #14  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 09/07/2008 @ 10:13
Revision #2 (Last edited: 09/07/2008 @ 10:16)
i picked up one of these at the end of last year reduced to 600 notes from 850


Its a giant scr 1.0

not really had the weather to go out too many times but managed to do a loop from sheffield, huddersfield, holmfirth the other week - bike performed well, i struggled with the hills between holmfirth and sheffield

good training though as i am planning to take it to the alps in the summer
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Dennis
Posts: 2598
London
  #15  Re: Road Bikes  Posted 09/07/2008 @ 10:51
In reply to post #14 ...
Just a lcoal bike shop - they wanted 300 - did some bartering
Back in the smoke
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