The bike buying dilemma with Pros and cons.

[vickster]

Why have you ignored the Giant Defy in your assessment? Especially as there is 20% off them right now
Massive brand (the biggest) but seem to have a better price to spec ratio than Specialized for example

 

[doog]

Ive two road bikes..both Cannondale - CAAD10 and a Supersix. I had no opportunity to test ride either but having previously owned 58cm frames I opted for the same size. (Im 6'1")....

Decide on your frame size and you can always adjust from therein....for example Im a bad back merchant so shorter stems on both but adjustable stem on my touring bike.

I did test a few bikes before settling on my frame size but a few minutes around the block on any bike isnt comparable with a 40 mile ride where it will all come home to roost pretty damned quick..nothing that cant be dealt with like saddle height, stem length etc.

 

[outlash]

Well, wether true or not. They aren't doing too badly on it.
It is a misconception that other brands are better because they have Specialized or Cannondale written on them.
You buy a medium standard Cannondale for example. £1500 maybe. You get shite wheels and low grade groupos.
Planet X sell you a carbon frame(eg) with the likes of Ultegra or Force or Dura ace, even Di2. For probably the same price as you pay for the Cannondale. But everyone assumes it's miles better because of the name on it.

How many Planet X bikes do you own again?

To be fair they also invest in R&D which isn't the case for PX who buy large quantities of pre designed frames out of Asia and bulk buy components

FTFY.

Thing is, a lot of the big brands like Cannondale and Giant do put a lot back into the sport by sponsoring and running teams, organising events and so on. How much that bumps up the price is debatable, R&D certainly does.

 

[gbb]

And everyone assumes a Planet X is automatically better because some bits say 'Ultegra', but that ain't automatically the case. All the bling in the world won't make a mediocre frame better. I would have hoped folk approach the buying proposition with a bit more thought than that. No downer on Planet X, I just use it as a hypothetical example.

While what you say is true....would the 'average' cyclist actually feel the difference and does he need it ?
My Ribble sportive carbon, while no doubt mediocre in quality compared to some, is without doubt THE best bike I ever had. Stiff, comfortable, and coupled with Fulcrum5 wheels and full Veloce was cheaper than the big brands and gave me full groupset, not a mix.
I could indeed have had a better frame, but i'd have paid more for it and when I already consider mine perfect for my needs, spending more on a better frame seems a bit pointless.
A mediocre frame can be perfectly ok for us mere mortals is what I guess i'm trying to say.
Just another point of view...

 

[mustang1]

I am thinking the same I started with a £500 budget now £1000 as I kept looking. Although I am finding the savings buying second hand are quite low.

I keep going back to check eBay but the Ribble website seem to be my go to brand, Im just a little concerned at buying a bike "blind" with comments on some bikes on flee bay like "52cm but more like 54cm" etc.

Their "Special additions" where you get a Ribble Gran condo with 105 group for £899 its very hard to find a bike that spec on other brands (other than Planet X but this poses the same problem) or at a reasonable saving second hand.

I know it's hard to spend money, you feel guilty, not really sure if you should buy it, how you will feel about it, and maybe how others in your life will feel about it. It's difficult convincing others to accept your purchase, so I get it.

Years and years ago when I bought my bike for £400, my wife had a melt down telling me I could have bought one for £50 or even £100 for "a really good one"

But I just went with what I wanted to buy and that was that. The £400 was the cheapest in the shop and the cheapest that Specialized smad at the time. I figured after a year I'd buy a really pricey one. It just so happened even after 5 years, that low end bike was perfectly adequate for me and it's the best bike I've ever had, the most fun I've ever had. It's gone now and I miss it. It's been replaced by more expensive stuff but that bike has a soft spot for me.

Idk what is stopping your purchase, is it you are trying to convince yourself to buy, or trying to convince someone else why you should buy it? Ya know, in marketing, they taught us you buy a product not only for yourself, but others in your life must also approve of the product. That's why lol buy expensive cars

Go forth, and buy!

Btw if this all backfires and your SO disapproves then I know some great divorce lawyers.

Joking, im sure it won't come to that. The only thing you need in addition to the bike are some.tools and eventually probably new wheels. Oh yeah and some clothes. Get a bike for about £700, even a dot one at an lbs, spend the other 300 on tools and clothes. After a year, buy wheels if you need to. You should be all set for another few years while you continue researching. (hint: cyclists never stop researching )

 

[slowmotion]

My first road bike was a 58cm Specialized Secteur which all the sizing charts (and the salesman) said would be the size that suited me. The problem was that I was totally inexperienced as regards riding a road bike so I had no idea how I would get used to the riding position. Fast forward two years and a friend lent me a 54cm frame Cinelli. It was wonderful, and I bought one a few weeks later. It's been an enduring love affair ever since. It actually cost £100 less than the Secteur.

As others have said, you simply have to test ride as many bikes as you can, for as long as possible.

Have fun.

 

[Saluki]

Boardman Road Team Carbon Bike now with 20% off looks alright as well. £800

Hubster has one of these, had it for 2 years now and he loves it to bits. Not just a great bike for the money but a really great bike.

 

[richie244]

Dolan have a rep on here at least for being super helpful

The 105 etape is also £850 http://www.dolan-bikes.com/road/road-bikes/dolan-l-etape-carbon-road-bike-shimano-5800.html

Push your budget by £50 for Ultegra and Mavic wheels

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/road/roa...oad-bike-shimano-ultegra-6800-aksium-one.html

@Cyclone1 should be able to help you out having sold one not too long back

Thanks you have just added further confusion I do like the look of these bikes.

How many Planet X bikes do you own again?

FTFY.

Thing is, a lot of the big brands like Cannondale and Giant do put a lot back into the sport by sponsoring and running teams, organising events and so on. How much that bumps up the price is debatable, R&D certainly does.

I only used Planet X as an example because I was mentioning Ribble too much. Sorry.

Idk what is stopping your purchase, is it you are trying to convince yourself to buy,

Go forth, and buy!


Get a bike for about £700, even a dot one at an lbs, spend the other 300 on tools and clothes. After a year, buy wheels if you need to. You should be all set for another few years while you continue researching. (hint: cyclists never stop researching )

Thanks for the advice, I only had my left shoulder rebuilt 10 weeks ago so can only just get on a Bike although have been riding a static bike for a month. Had I not had an injury I would have bought with in a week. The injury has caused me to over think (a lot.).

 

[richie244]

Hubster has one of these, had it for 2 years now and he loves it to bits. Not just a great bike for the money but a really great bike.

I am tempted as I almost bought a Boardman when I first started looking but a previous post on here has made me look more toward a relaxed frame because of my shoulder and these look nice but quite racey if thats the word.

 

[Saluki]

I am tempted as I almost bought a Boardman when I first started looking but a previous post on here has made me look more toward a relaxed frame because of my shoulder and these look nice but quite racey if thats the word.

Hubs has an iffy shoulder and a shorter stem sorted that right out. It came with a 110mm stem and it's now got a 90mm stem on it and life improved dramatically. If you can find a proper Cycle Revolution (the actuall Halfords - not instore - Bike Hut) they offer test rides.

 

[gbb]

I am thinking the same I started with a £500 budget now £1000 as I kept looking. Although I am finding the savings buying second hand are quite low.

I keep going back to check eBay but the Ribble website seem to be my go to brand, Im just a little concerned at buying a bike "blind" with comments on some bikes on flee bay like "52cm but more like 54cm" etc.

Their "Special additions" where you get a Ribble Gran condo with 105 group for £899 its very hard to find a bike that spec on other brands (other than Planet X but this poses the same problem) or at a reasonable saving second hand.

While its far from perfect buying a bike unseen / unsized, it can be done with a bit of homework.
Ribble have a geometry table for most if not all their frames. I used it, rmeasured and compared my previous bike with those measurements and ended up with what I consider my perfect bike. I was even right when comparing measurements I thought I needed a 60mm stem to retain saddle to bar distance. Its all worked perfectly.

 

[vickster]

Boardman Road Team Carbon Bike now with 20% off looks alright as well. £800

And save £80 with £35 British cycling membership

I find the Boardman bikes really dull aesthetically especially the new ones but I'm not in the market!

 

[Roadrider48]

How many Planet X bikes do you own again?



FTFY.

Thing is, a lot of the big brands like Cannondale and Giant do put a lot back into the sport by sponsoring and running teams, organising events and so on. How much that bumps up the price is debatable, R&D certainly does.

Why?

 

[Roadrider48]

And everyone assumes a Planet X is automatically better because some bits say 'Ultegra', but that ain't automatically the case. All the bling in the world won't make a mediocre frame better. I would have hoped folk approach the buying proposition with a bit more thought than that. No downer on Planet X, I just use it as a hypothetical example.

I take your point @Drago. But I can only speak from my own experiences.
I have bigger name branded bikes too and quite honestly I can't see any real difference.

 

[Roadrider48]

How many Planet X bikes do you own again?



FTFY.

Thing is, a lot of the big brands like Cannondale and Giant do put a lot back into the sport by sponsoring and running teams, organising events and so on. How much that bumps up the price is debatable, R&D certainly does.

I am talking from my own experiences mate. I have a few PX bikes and a few bigger branded ones.
I can only say what it feels like to me.
If you or anyone else doesn't like or trust the PX name that's cool too.