my options are.....

[newcs1]

Hi everyone, very keen newbie to the forum here.

having recently given up football i plan to spend far more time enjoying the other sport i am passionate about...Cycling.
i currently regularly ride about 35/40 miles on my cube mtb but have longed for a road bike and now that i have more leisure time on my hands its time to invest!!

entered a few sportives (including dartmoor classic) so need somthing robust and comfortable!

with a budget of approx £1200 i have currently narrowed it down to the following carbon bikes-

(1) Trek Madone 3.1 (2011)
£1200
full Shimano 105 and a very solid feeling bike.

(2) Felt Z6 (2011)
£999
Shimano 105 front and rear deraillier with "microshift" shifters.

(3) Willier Iozard XP Xenon (2012)
£1500 (will need to stretch budget / 0% finance)
Compag Miche gearing


in my opinion they are all lovely looking bikes as are a couple of aluminium bikes that i have been offered (new canondale Caad 105 and Pinarello FP1)

having ridden the Trek and the Felt from my local bike store they are both as nice as each other. test riding the Willier on Friday morning.

would really really appreciate any feedback or opinions from you guys.......especially around the microshift shifters and the compag set up on the Willier.


many thanks in advance for your comments.

 

[nocheckmate]

I wouldn't be using my money for the Wilier - absolutely crap spec for the price! Look at other options, Xenon groupset on a bike for £1500??? Christ the frame had better be good because the Xenon groupset is really nothing to write home about and no doubt you'll get hit with a cheap wheelset too.

I suspect that brands like Cube or Canyon offer you far better value for your money than the likes of Wilier, especially if you can pick up a discounted 2011 model.

 

[cyberknight]

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_team_carbon.html

 

[Glover Fan]

Out of those I would go for the Trek.

 

[amaferanga]

Planet X Pro Carbon SRAM Red £1299

(not full SRAM Red, but still a great buy for the money)

 

[PaulSecteur]

If sportives (and therefore assuming big mile training rides) are your bag, why not go for something desinged for that... Like a spesh Secteur?

The comp is £1000 and has front and rear zertz, should make big miles fly by.

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/Detail/12secteur/secteur/Secteur Elite


Cannondale do a similar "endurance road" with the Synapse, which is also worth a look.

Not doubt if you are a fit young thing you will get on with the race bike you suggest, if you are a bit more "well worn" like me you will appreciate bike with a more relaxed geometry. Of the few sportive I have done I have heard people moan of the neck and shoulder pain from race bikes, but never heard anyone on a Secteur/roubaix/synapse say "I wish my bars were 2 inches lower".

 

[newcs1]

went for the felt.
took her out for a spin this morning......35 very comfortable, very exhilarating miles in the saddle,

i know its only one ride but couldn't be happier, great service and deal from my LBS.

 

[goody]

Looking good! (except the spoke reflectors) What are the microshift shifters like?

 

[newcs1]

funny you should say that.....i removed them when i got back from my ride this morning!!!

micro shifters feel fine. although only been out once they are very easy to use and similar to 105 technique in that all shifting is from the outside of the bars pushing inwards. so you have your brake lever that doesnt have any lateral movement, a normal size shifter that sits adjacent to brake lever and then another small lever that also has inward lateral movement.

far better than something that has a lever on the inside of the handle bar (sora for example) in my opinion

i suppose if anything they are a bit clunky but i quite like that, time will tell and absolute worst case scenario i'll just replace shifters to 105's (rear and front derallieurs are 105 as standard)

 

[montyboy]

went for the felt.
took her out for a spin this morning......35 very comfortable, very exhilarating miles in the saddle, Iknow its only one ride but couldn't be happier, great service and deal from my LBS.






That is a gorgeous bit of kit.

If I ever get fit enough not to look an idiot I would like to treat myself to something like that.