Need help choosing a biike for events

[K1mmy88]

Hi Guys,

I've never had a road bike before, so I am in drastic need of some advice as I am a little clueless when it comes to components.

Requirement = Triathlons and road races ranging from 20-52 miles. Approx. 5 events a year.
Budget = Origionally £600-£700 (Although I've fallen in love with a £800 bike! So might stretch it).
Constraints = A little bit of a bad back which makes a long reach forwards rather uncomfortable.
Height = 5"6

I've visited 3 local bike shops and was told the following...

*Always try to find a mens bike that fits well because the components will be better quality for a lower price compared to a female specific bike.
*Shimano Tiagra STI, 10 speed is what I want because it is better than others (Can't remember his reasoning behind this other than it being lighter).
*On a ladies Scott I require a frame size of 54.
*On a Mens Claude Butler I require a frame size of 50.

So from the above advice I have picked out the following 8 bikes...

Specialized Secteur Elite Road Bike | Red / White | 2012
Now £810.00

Trek 1.5 10-Speed Compact Road Bike | White/Gloss Black | 2012
Now £720.00

SCOTT CONTESSA SPEEDSTER 25 (Found it comfortable to ride)
£807

Claud Butler Vicenza
£491

Scott Speedster S30 Triple - 2011
£700

Specialized Secteur Triple Road Bike | White / Red | 2012
£585

Specialized Dolce Triple Women's Road Bike | Black / Blue / White | 2012
Now £585.00

Trek Lexa SL T 2012
£800




So any advice regarding any of these bikes or any others would be greatfully recieved and please let me know if you require any more info!

Thanks,

Kim

 

[biggs682]

kim , theres a lot of bikes on that list and loads of money even for the cheapest one . why not consider a second hand machine ?

will it be used for just the events listed or other rides as well ?

you might find another cc er who is local to you may be able to help as they might own one of the above and might even be prepared to let you try it if they did ?

 

[Mapster5]

Get a boardman

 

[K1mmy88]

Thanks for your reply.

I have considered second hand and I'm willing to give it a go! Just need to find something suitable.

The only 2 that I have tried have been the Scott Contessa and the Claude Butler. I can't find any local shops that stock specialized and haven't come across Trek yet (althought I think I may have seen some in Evens). So I'm unsure as to what size I'd need for them.

I'll be using it for the events, training and the odd trip round Anglesey.

If anyone is in the Manchester area and has got any of the above bikes and were willing to let me try then I'd be extremly grateful!

 

[festival]

Being 5'6" means you shouldn't have a problem getting a bike to fit but if you put 6 people the same height together you would see a list of differences in body dimensions. This may mean different size bikes suit some but certainly some makes which are built differently will suit some better than others. This why a gents Claud butler would be a compromise and is why its very important to have faith in being sold the right bike for you.
Mens bikes have a longer top tubes and may affect your back, wider bars which probably will be too wide for your shoulder width. and at this price range the comment about gents having better kit than ladies models is very dubious.
Yes,Tiagra is fine, but e.g If you get a better frame or wheels it would be better to except lesser kit.
Boardmans are excellent value for money, the ladies models seem to be hard to get at times and to be honest you need a bike shop that will put it together properly and look after you in the future and halfords are suspect when it comes to both these things.
You may be lucky buying 2nd hand but you will learn so much more if you cultivate a good relationship with a good LBS and dont forget you get the warranty and a free service.
I would suggest looking at the Giant Avail 2 which has 10 speed tiagra. Giant are less well known but are the worlds largest bike maker,and are at the top when it comes to fit, performance and comfort.
Probably none of the bikes you mentioned are made in house, they are made by companies like Giant which means there is often more chance of a compromise to make a bike fit a price point. Giant on the other hand make

 

[festival]

At this price point the comment about gents bikes having better kit is dubious to say the least.
Gents bikes have longer top tubes, wider bars etc which may affect your back.
Some brands will suit some people better than others as they are not all built the same dimensions,
this is why its very important you cultivate a good relationship with your LBS to ensure you get the right bike and a good after sales service.
Tiagra is fine but dont get hung up on an extra gear ,e.g. 9 speed is fine and its more important to have a better frame or wheels.
Buying 2nd hand can be hit or miss, you won't know what may be worn or what its going to cost to get it right for you.
Boardmans are fine, the ladies models can be hard to get hold of and frankly you cant be sure the bike will be built and set up correctly from halfords and there aftersales service is generally poor.
I would suggest looking at the Giant Avail 2, it has tiagra 10 speed and they have good kit and excellent frames.
They are not as well known to the public as the brands you mention but are the biggest and have a long history of testing and development. None of the ones you mention I believe are made in house, they are made by companies like Giant for the likes of specialized etc, that's ok but means they probably have to compromise in reaching a price point.
There should be someone in your area that sells Giant but the most important thing is getting help with the fit.

 

[mcshroom]

Hi Kim.

I would concentrate on getting a bike that fits nicely ahead of other components really. For reference the order of shimano equipment (lowest to highest) is 2300 (soon to be called Tourney) - Sora - Tiagra - 105 - Ultegra - Dura Ace - DI2.

All of those levels of kit work fine (my bikes are a mixture of 2300 and Sora) but many people don't like the little side buttons on the 2300 and sora shifters.

On bikes the standard womens specific ones are the Giant Avail and Specialised Dolce, but do have a look at other bikes either male or female specific as well. With a mens bike you will need to change the saddle to a womens' one, and may need to get narrower shorter drop bars. Any decent LBS should be open to doing that with a new bike (many would be amenable to doing that for free).

 

[K1mmy88]

Thanks FESTIVAL, the Giant Avail 2 looks like a similar spec to the SCOTT CONTESSA SPEEDSTER 2. They are both the same price so do you see any differences that I should be aware of?

Tiagra is fine, but e.g If you get a better frame or wheels it would be better to except lesser kit.

Tiagra is fine but dont get hung up on an extra gear ,e.g. 9 speed is fine and its more important to have a better frame or wheels.

What do I need to look for when it comes to frames? and wheels?

For a mans bike are there any brands that generally have a shorter top tube that may suit my shorter reach?

When it comes to fitting I've been told that I want a 54 on a ladies Scott (because that's all the had in, I suspect!)
And I want a 50 on a mans Claud Butler. So I don't have a great deal of faith in the LBS's ability to size me up as they seemed a bit bias to what they had in stock.

MCSHROOM thanks a lot for ordering the spec of components, that's a huge help!

I really wouldn't mind a second hand bike but I'm just finding it hard to find a small frame & I wouldn't know if it was in good condition!

 

[PaulSecteur]

As a fan of specialized, and particularly the Secteur (and the carbon version, the roubaix) it pains me to say these bikes are probably ones you should rule out. They are deigned for comfort, where as proper road ikes can get closere to a TT bikes geometry (riding position) with the aero bars. Specialized do a bike called the Allez that will better match your requirments.

That said, the trek with the 10 speed tiagra does seem a bargain.

One option to consider... Some specialist bike shops may have a "sizing bike", it looks a bit like an exercise bike, but all the bits are movable or replaceable so they can get you in exactly the right position and you can get the measurments for saddle height, crank lenghts, stem lengths and so on. If you go to a specialist and tell them what you requir the bike for, they should be able to size you up so you can pick one in the right size. Im not sure how much they charge, but I would guess about £50. Might seem alot, but you would probably wish you had spent it if you get the wrong bike.

Im not sure of any shops oop norf that can do that, but Adrian Timmis of Cadence sport in Barton Under Needlewood has one. I had a fitting from him a few weeks ago, highly recommended.

 

[Browser]

One word, stretch! If you can find any elastic in your budget at all, use it, the pay-off should be better-quality components and thus a nicer ride.