1st road bike

[joe 956]

hi guys

thinking of buying a trek 1.1 (2010) for my 1st road bike i've been looking round for the best one for a small budget and this seems to be the best.

The only bad point that i can find on it is that it has aluminium forks, but this won't bother me as i'm just starting and only a beginner. I just wondered if there are any other bad points with the bike and if i there are any other bikes i've over looked? (max spending money £400)

thanks joe

 

[alecstilleyedye]

this is a good value bike, as is this.

with trek, specialised and the like you are paying extra for having their brand name on the bike. if that's not important to you, either of those bikes from halfords will make a perfect beginner's bike. the only downside is that the level of mechanical competence of their mechanics can vary hugely from store to store (or even within one over time).

where are you located? let us know and there will probably be someone local to you who may know of either a decent local halfords or at least a good local bike shop who'll check the over for you (not for free).

oh, and welcome to cyclechat

 

[Banjo]

hi guys

thinking of buying a trek 1.1 (2010) for my 1st road bike i've been looking round for the best one for a small budget and this seems to be the best.

The only bad point that i can find on it is that it has aluminium forks, but this won't bother me as i'm just starting and only a beginner. I just wondered if there are any other bad points with the bike and if i there are any other bikes i've over looked? (max spending money £400)

thanks joe

Greetings Joe. I have a Trek Valencia Hybrid bike and have to say its been great. over 4000 miles in 18 months without any problems so far.

If you like thje Trek buy it Im sure it will do the job.

My Trek has steel forks, it does transmit the road vibration more than Carbon fibre does but I have done rides over 100 miles in one day on iot so cant be too bad.

Lots of bikes will do the job whichever you buy take great care to get one the right size .

 

[Kestevan]

Theres absolutely nothing wrong with the Trek. The components are basic but decent quality. The frame is cracking and well worth upgrading later if you need to.

The only downside is that although the forks/stays have eyelets for a rack, you'll be lucky to get a standard set of mudguards to fit through the brake clearance (crudguard road however fits easily).

Make sure you try it for size/fit though. Some people love the Trek position, some cannot get comfy and seem to prefer the Specialized Allez (for similar money).

 

[accountantpete]

Hi Joe 956.

You can't go far wrong if you stick to the major brands like Trek & Specialized and have a sit on one before buying.

Looking down the road a bit I think it would be worth saving a bit more and getting carbon forks and a Sora/Tiagra groupset like on the Allez.

 

[cyberknight]

this is a good value bike, as is this.

with trek, specialised and the like you are paying extra for having their brand name on the bike. if that's not important to you, either of those bikes from halfords will make a perfect beginner's bike. the only downside is that the level of mechanical competence of their mechanics can vary hugely from store to store (or even within one over time).

where are you located? let us know and there will probably be someone local to you who may know of either a decent local halfords or at least a good local bike shop who'll check the over for you (not for free).

oh, and welcome to cyclechat

I have both those bikes, well a tdf 08 which looking at the spec is the same as the ventura re badged and a virtuosso , both are good bikes for the price( heck i got the tdf for £100 off ebay hardly used ).

The trek got a very good review in cycling plus , along with the allez and defy .

Will use use the bike for commuting? if so look for bikes with clearance for mudgaurds and points for a rack.

If you can pick a trek 1.1 for £400 its a bargain but always make sure you try a bike for size before buying as i have learnt the hard way that it might be a bargain but no bike is any good if it does not fit .

 

[joe 956]

thanks for your replys very much appreciated, i have read alot about getting the right size bike is very important so be measuring up and getting the right size. Just to let you know that i found the bike at evans cycles for £379
oh and i'm from abbots bromley in staffordshire

 

[cyberknight]

thanks for your replys very much appreciated, i have read alot about getting the right size bike is very important so be measuring up and getting the right size. Just to let you know that i found the bike at evans cycles for £379
oh and i'm from abbots bromley in staffordshire

Great !!

Waves from Burton upon Trent

 

[Marky Mark]

Hi, like you I'm new to road bikes and thinking of buying either specslized allez 16 or cannondale CAAD 8 tiara. Any thoughts or experience with either bike!
Cheers

 

[2Loose]

Joe 956, I've seen the 2010 Giant Defy 4 for under £400 which is worth a look

 

[GrumpyGregry]

The joy of the Trek is surely that frame. iirc it is the same frame as that used on the 1.5 meaning it is a great platform to upgrade on as and when things wear out or funds permit.

 

[jay clock]

I think the 1.1 has the same frame as my 1.2 which I use as a winter bike. It doesn't look like mudguards will fit but they do fit fine.

Excellent bike, and preferable to the Halfords ones in my view

 

[MLC]

Hi, like you I'm new to road bikes and thinking of buying either specslized allez 16 or cannondale CAAD 8 tiara. Any thoughts or experience with either bike!
Cheers

I tried the Trek 1 series, Spesh Allez and Cannondale CAAD 8 (although with SORA) for me I found the CAAD 8 trumped them. The frame just felt perfect however due to the geometery it would suit those with slighter longer arms. I will have to purchase a shorter stem. If you have the funds for a Tiagra shod bike and don't want bum up head down racer could I also suggest the Cannondale Synapse Tiagra also an excellent bike but lacked the feel that the CAAD 8 did.

Please bear in mind what suits me may not suit you. The key is to try them all before picking your favourite. Any bike shop worth their salt should allow you a test ride if they don't, don't buy from there.

 

[Marky Mark]

I tried the Trek 1 series, Spesh Allez and Cannondale CAAD 8 (although with SORA) for me I found the CAAD 8 trumped them. The frame just felt perfect however due to the geometery it would suit those with slighter longer arms. I will have to purchase a shorter stem. If you have the funds for a Tiagra shod bike and don't want bum up head down racer could I also suggest the Cannondale Synapse Tiagra also an excellent bike but lacked the feel that the CAAD 8 did.

Please bear in mind what suits me may not suit you. The key is to try them all before picking your favourite. Any bike shop worth their salt should allow you a test ride if they don't, don't buy from there.

 

[Marky Mark]

Thanks for the advice. Will try the synapse and compare.