Expertise required!!

[weepiglet]

Hello from another newbie....this cycling lark seems to be catching on!!

Anyway, after speanding a few years off road on a GT Avalanche, I too am on the search for a new road bike. From carrying out a bit of rushed research, I have sort of narrowed it down to a few although I appreciate that I will need to go and try them out before any decisions are made.

Seeing as I'm a beginner at the road stuff, although the mtb was used on road for a bit, I have decided to just look at the bikes that seem to be sprouting up in reviews everywhere, mainly the Trek 1.2 or 1.5 , the Specialized Allez (which has Tiagra gearing system - supposidly better than the Sora one!) the Bianchi Via Nirone (not fussed on green though!) or the Boardman comp (although don't fancy Halfords building it!).

Due to where I live, LBS's are few and far between and the choice for hands on stuff is very limited hence the reason for staying mainstream with a local shop so that if anything goes wrong I can simply get some help.

I'm not sure about any of these choices so if you could please share yours I would be grateful. Thanks to all for all your help and fingers crossed I get lucky!

 

[amnesia]

Firstly - welcome to CC

I really wanted the Bianchi, but my cycle2work scheme can't order it. Second choice (for me) is the Allez Sport, although I am having sizing issues (see separate post).

I think you'll be lucky to find an unmolested Boardman Comp 08 by now - the 2009 bike is good though.

I avoided the Sora shifters as it would appear you can't change down when on the drops, only when on the hoods. Tiagra, Campag and SRAM shifters are nicer for me.


Hope this helps a bit.

Daniel.

 

[HJ]

Really the best way to tell which is write for you, is to try riding as many as you can. That said I am sure there will be plenty of people here willing to give their opinions

Having ridden none of the above the only other thing I would say, is that as you are coming from riding a MTB, make sure you are comfortable with a double rather than triple before you buy. The last thing you want the first time you ride your new bike up hill is to find you have run out of gears and have to get off and walk...

 

[ELL]

Dont know about the bike but gotta love the maths to make the percentages.

150%

 

[just4fun]

PLease bare in mind that im biased because im planning on buying this but....

http://www.birdiebikes.co.uk/defy2VS.htm

 

[weepiglet]

WOW...quite a rave for the Giant there! I'm aware that you may be biased on this but it just doesn't do it for me even though the report is good. I would also like to see the page that is missing and read about the Allez.

I am quite tall at 6'3" so this bike would certainly fit but I don't want to be looking awkward and I certainly don't want to be looking bigger than I already am, although at least cars will take heed!!

The more I read, the more I am getting lost hence teh reason for coming here. I even went out at lunch time and read all the bike mags but again they all have different opinions although they all did agree that the derailleurs and shifters are very important so I'm thinking that Sora is out and I should be looking for 105's / ultegra's /SRAM's (maybe I can do that myself though!)

Keep talking folks, much appreciated.