Help Me On My First Road Bike?

[ChrisRicho]

Hi All,

I probably appreciate that you get asked this question all the time. But i hope someone can please help. I know from reading that trying out a bike is key to knowing if it is for you or not. But any other further un bias help will be appreciated.

I am in the process of signing up for a charity cycle ride in South Africa next year and would like a road bike for practise, fitness and commuting.

Here are my options:

Cannondale CAADX 105

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cannondale-...le&utm_medium=Product_Search&utm_campaign=V01


Cannondale Synapse Alloy 105 Compact


http://www.drakescycles.co.uk/m1b100s6p2552/CANNONDALE_Synapse_Alloy_105_compact_2011

Scott Speedster S30/35 2011

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Scott-Speed...le&utm_medium=Product_Search&utm_campaign=V01

Giant Defy 1

http://www.fulfordcycles.com/giant-defy-1-425-p.asp

Giant TCR 2

http://www.fulfordcycles.com/giant-tcr-2-2484-p.asp

As said before i would really appreciate any guidance that could be given?

Many Thanks,

Chris

 

[Globalti]

Knock out the two with alloy forks and just concentrate on the three with carbon forks. I once rode an alloy Scott with alloy forks in South Africa and after about 80kms I felt completely beaten up.

 

[ChrisRicho]

Knock out the two with alloy forks and just concentrate on the three with carbon forks. I once rode an alloy Scott with alloy forks in South Africa and after about 80kms I felt completely beaten up.

Thanks for that i will rule the two giant bikes out then. I will give the others some serious consideration. I have seen another that i think may be the best but the company are rude and ignorant which is the link below:

http://www.bikeoutlet.co.uk/products/Claud_Butler_Torino_Carbon_Racer_2010-1368-21.html

Im not sure if it is worth going back to the shop as they dont seem to like to talk at all!

 

[Cyclist33]

Pretty sure the Giant TCR is carbon fork, mate..
stu

 

[ChrisRicho]

Pretty sure the Giant TCR is carbon fork, mate..
stu

This is the website http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bikes/model/tcr.2/7838/45440/

i would have thought at the price that it would have been a carbon fork..

 

[betty swollocks]

What about a Boardman?
Not ridden one, but they look great value and get impressive reviews.

 

[Nufab]

The CAADX is a cyclocross bike as opposed to a pure road bike like the Synapse. If you want something that cab do trails etc, the go for the CAADX from that list. Otherwise I testrode a Synapse and it was nice, but I settled on a CAAD8.