Cube Pelaton Race or Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Tiagra?

Cube Pelaton Race or Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Tiagra?


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JtB

Prepare a way for the Lord
Location
North Hampshire
Cube Pelaton Race or Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Tiagra?
Both come in at just under £1000 (which is the limit on my c2w scheme) and look really nice for the money. The Cube seems to have the marginally better Shimano 105 groupset compared to Bianchi's Shimano (2012 - 10 speed) Tiagra Compact groupset, but I hear Bianchi probably have the edge on frame design and overall ride. Anyway, if I don't reach a decision soon its going to be a coin in the air I think.
Cube:
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Bianchi:
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Don't toss a coin what ever you do. You can't categorically decide on any bike without testing it. You need to get a feel for the bike, know it's comfortable, feel confident on it etc, etc, etc. You might find you don't like either when you actually ride one, but if that's not until you've bought it you're snookered, and then you'll be very unlikely to use the bike to your full potential, or maybe not even use it all!

PS: can't vote unless you amend the poll to include none of the above until test rides completed :thumbsup:
 
OP
OP
JtB

JtB

Prepare a way for the Lord
Location
North Hampshire
Good advice, I will definitely arrange a test ride before buying. The problem is though that unless I do at least 10 miles (which is obviously not feasible on a test ride) then I'm probably not going to be able to distinguish between them.
 

Scoosh

Velocouchiste
Moderator
Location
Edinburgh
Why is 10 miles not feasible on a test ride ? :scratch:

If you are intending to spend the best part of £1,000 on a bike and your LBS won't let you ride it for more than 10 mins - find another LBS.

IMHO
 
OP
OP
JtB

JtB

Prepare a way for the Lord
Location
North Hampshire
So typically how far is it reasonable to take a bike on a test ride? and looking at it from the perspective of the LBS, what safeguards does he have that he will get his bike back in the same pristine condition it left the shop?
 
IIRC Evans either take a deposit or take assurance against your credit/debit card, then they let you loose. I was even offered a test ride at Evans in Manchester City centre on a Saturday afternoon once.
As for distance it's upto you really. What I mean is, I personally know from sitting on a bike if it will be technically right, then a short test ride, (almost round the block type of thing) will make my mind up. Others may need longer but I've bought too many a fair few bikes in my time and it's like any other knack, it just develops :thumbsup:
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Your credit card? I would say 30 minute test ride is perfectly reasonable. Evans don't have time limits on their testrides as far as I know? They take an imprint of and put 1p on a CC
 

Alexvs

Well-Known Member
Location
Milton Keynes
I like both bikes and wish there was a Cube dealer nearby to me when I was buying as didn't want to do the whole internet purchase and then not be happy. I bought a bike recently from Evans and like vickster said they don't have a time limit, they put 1p on your card, then lock your card and driving licence/other photo ID up giving you the key to the safe box thing and take a photo of you. I read the small print on their test ride form and it said there will also be a £10 cleaning charge if the bike is brought back dirty so ride on a dry day lol I actually went back 2 separate days and rode the bike I ordered in but only for about 10 mins each time round the nearby redway.

Compare this with my LBS who told me to get kitted up and come back and then set the bike up for me and let me off with no ID or anything held back as I'd previously bought a bike from them and am in there every now and then. They also offered to buddy up with me for a distance ride if I wanted to go out on a Saturday to test it over a number of miles which I thought was fantastic service. Only reason I didn't buy the bike was it was on back order till April.

Good luck on your decision as they're both lovely bikes but the Cube is probably the value for money option. Look on the forums and you'll see someone else recently bought this exact model.
 
OP
OP
JtB

JtB

Prepare a way for the Lord
Location
North Hampshire
As for distance it's upto you really. What I mean is, I personally know from sitting on a bike if it will be technically right, then a short test ride, (almost round the block type of thing) will make my mind up. Others may need longer but I've bought too many a fair few bikes in my time and it's like any other knack, it just develops :thumbsup:
Is it just an intuitive feeling or do you have a tick box of things to look out for on a test ride?

I’m currently leaning towards the Bianchi. The Cube seems to have the marginally better groupset and has the better looking wheels. However, I don’t think I will notice the difference between the groupsets (although that remains to be seen), while the groupset on the Bianchi is supposedly more resilient. Aesthetically the Cube may have the better looking wheels, however I think everything else on the Bianchi (especially the frame) is much better looking (I’ve always thought Bianchi frames to be rather iconic in design). For me what’s most important is the overall ride and I’ll be surprised when I test ride the bikes if the Cube is able to match the Bianchi (but again, that remains to be seen).
 

martint235

Dog on a bike
Location
Welling
For my tuppence, I've found the difference between Tiagra and 105 to be noticeable so would go for the Cube. I tend not to notice much difference between 105 and Ultegra but then there's another noticeable difference between Ultegra and Dura-Ace.
 
By the time I get round to visiting a shop I usually know from research what I want anyway, then it's simply a case of is right for me. The other main thing with me is that I'm 6' 5", so I pretty much know that the largest frame they do is the one I need! There are exceptions, but more often than not it's how it is. I sometimes have to tweak stem length as the like, but other than that if it fits, if it feels right and if I like it that's enough for me. May not be technical, may not be correct, but I've never bought a duffer yet.
I'd agree to a difference between Tiagra and 105, but after that the boundries get inreasingly blurred IME. Tiagra is bascially the best of the budget groupsets, whereas 105 is the lowest of the top end ones. That said 105 is great kit, and I'd go for it over Tiagra every time. I've had 105, Ultegra and DA, and in their current versions I've felt very little difference TBH. Now I had DA on a 2006 Trek Madone, and that was sublime, but I find the current DA to be much closer to Ultegra than it ever used to be.
It sounds to me like your heart wants the Bianchi, and perhaps your head wants the Cube. I can't give you the answer to tat one I'm afraid. There is nothing wrong with buying a bike with your heart - as long as it suits your needs, fits you right and gives you confidence to ride it well. You need to go and get sat on some bikes IMO. You may find the Bianchi just doesn't feel right when you sit on it, and the Cube may feel perfect. Then again you may see something comepletely different.
I don't rate Halfords at all, but the Boardman bikes get very good reviews, a lot of CC'ers have them and are very happy, so that could be another option. Also Focus bikes, they have always offered great value for money. I bought a Focus Cayo Pro a few years ago. It had full Dura-Ace and cost me £2200. If it had been a Scott, Specialized, Giant or any other big name I wouldn't have any change from £3000!
All I'd say if buy the best spec you can, this will help avoid, (or at least delay) upgrade costs if you get severely infected by the virus that is cycling. On the other hand, if you have no desire to upgrade then Tiagra components will be cheaper to replace than 105 and are entirely functional and used happily by 1000's of cyclists every day. Then again, by the time you may need anything in the way of replacement parts or upgrades you can usually pick up new old stock cheaply anyway :thumbsup:
 
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