Looking for advice for a new bike (commuting)

[boselecta]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some advice, I want to start cycling to work (approx 10 miles eachway by road) I also would like to do some longer trips 50-100miles. I have looked at a couple of bikes which i really like the look of but im not sure if they are any good as a brand/spec and if the type of bike is suitable for the journeys I intend on making?

Bottecchia_RS_110_Road_Bike_2011

Meridia Road Race 901-20

Also are there any other bikes that would suit my requirements that you would recomend I am looking to spend around £600-700.

Any advice would be great.

 

[ianrauk]

There's not much between them to be honest. One has Shimano spec the other Campaq. The Merida has Carbon forks over the Bottechia Steel fork. And that tips it slightly in the Merida favour as for commuting and longer rides it will cut out some of the road buzz and will be a lighter bike.

 

[lukesdad]

Ive ridden a couple of Merida s nice bikes very much underated IMO.

 

[boselecta]

Thanks for your feedback,

there is an option to get carbon forks for the bottecchia from what youve said i take it this would be worth doing?

Have you heard anything about the bottecchia brand?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thanks for your feedback,

there is an option to get carbon forks for the bottecchia from what youve said i take it this would be worth doing?

Have you heard anything about the bottecchia brand?

I'm not familiar with the bottecchia brand, but Merida is one of the worlds biggest frame builders and most of its business is building frames for other brands. My pal's just bought one and it looks a decent piece of kit.
Regarding the Chromoly fork, it'll be just fine, just a tad heavier than carbon, but it'll eat-up the road buzz well. Much underated IMO.
However, commuting implies crap roads (decent wheels required), variable weather (mudguards???)and the possibility to carry stuff (rack maybe?) if I was looking for a commuter bike I'd buy this baby without a shadow of a doubt:

http://www.fatbirds....cite_Audax_Bike

Fast, flexible, durable and (IMO) better looking than the other options ;-)

 

[boselecta]

I'm not familiar with the bottecchia brand, but Merida is one of the worlds biggest frame builders and most of its business is building frames for other brands. My pal's just bought one and it looks a decent piece of kit.
Regarding the Chromoly fork, it'll be just fine, just a tad heavier than carbon, but it'll eat-up the road buzz well. Much underated IMO.
However, commuting implies crap roads (decent wheels required), variable weather (mudguards???)and the possibility to carry stuff (rack maybe?) if I was looking for a commuter bike I'd buy this baby without a shadow of a doubt:

http://www.fatbirds....cite_Audax_Bike

Fast, flexible, durable and (IMO) better looking than the other options ;-)

I do see your point about the mudguards didnt really think about that, are the wheels supplied on the meridia/bottecchia gonna be inadiquate for commuting on less than perfect tarmac?

I think the bike you have linked is nice, but I think the it is too high in price as my budget is £700 max/ is tifosi a good brand? do you know of any cheeper models/makes?

cheers

 

[Zoiders]

What foodie said - you wan't a practical commuter and something that will eat up the miles.

This will not be in the form of what is purely a road bike aimed at club racers, you need something a bit more flexible in the braze on and tyre department. That's possibly an audax bike or one of the less racey cyclo cross bikes.