What racing bike to buy! Please give your opinion :)

[tsddave]

I am looking to buy a racing bike for fitness training use and perhaps to join a cycling club later on.

I am on abit of a budget and have been looking around.


At 1st I was only looking for a cannondale caad 8. Brand new here in Norway they work out at around £1150 (things are more expensive in Norway but I dont know how this compares to uk prices).
There is one for sale locally that is just 4 months old with a 105 setup that is being offered for £900. The owner is sticking to that price, I tried an offer of £800 but he said no ^
He will include the warranty and has done little millage on the bike. Its as new really he says.

I just saw 2 trek bikes for sale locally.

The 1st is a trek 1500 which is in the classic discovery channel edition in blue and silver. This is a 2007 bike again with low milage. It is all Ultegra and is selling at £860.
Also there is a trek 1200 again is 4 years old finished in silver with a 105 setup. This looks in very new condition from the photos and is up for £680.Also this bike has almost new wheels on it that the owner said cost him £460.


Opinions please! Any help is much appreciated

 

[Cyclist33]

No idea as don't live in Norway or know what condition the bikes are in but I reckon you could keep going at £800 for the CAAD and he'll give in. He's trying to get 900 for it second hand?? He won't.

Which do you like the best? I'd be tempted to get the cheapest one and then you've got cash to spare.

Stu

 

[tsddave]

Thanks for your reply cyclist33

Well i just went to look at the trek 1500 and its in almost new condition and has that very fast,crisp and sexy Ultegra equipment.
I guess the only thing that deters me abit is the extra weight the trek has compared to the cannondale. What that will translate to im really unsure, maybe the difference is small.


In terms of the cannondale price , yeah I think its to much as an Englishman but here in Norway bikes seem to hold money better and of course cost more in the start.
I could import a bike from the UK but then I get shafted with 25% tax!


Decisions ,decisions!

 

[smokeysmoo]

Pity about the 25% tax as you can currently get a 2011 Cannondale CAAD10 105 for £999

Mind you even with your 25% tax it's still a saving over the list price, but then you've got to ship it as well

Pity as the CAAD10 is a phenomenal bike. Keep chipping away at the seller for the CAAD8, but if prices are as strong as you say then you may just have to bite the bullet.

I'd have a CAAD bike everytime over a Trek

 

[Dayvo]

This shop is in your neck of the woods: http://www.sykkelsenteret.no/sykler/racer/cannondale-caad-9-105-compact/

There are some good prices and you might get a bigger saving in the autumn sale.

 

[Dayvo]

Or buy a bike in the UK this autumn/winter, ride around on it a bit, or splash it to make it look dirty, then in the sring, bring it over and say that you're borrowing it from a mate in England to ride the Styrkeprøven.

 

[tsddave]

Smookeysmoo

Thanks for the reply. Yeah right now im kind of leaning towards the caad 8....maybe a brand new one or maybe I will give the guy with the 4 month old one a call over the weekend and see if I can get him to accept a middle ground price.
I guess the gearset differences between a 2007 Ultegra and a 2011 105 arent so big...maybe someone can advise me on this!


Dayvo


Thanks for the reply. Yes I have been to that store In fact ive been to every bike store in my locale haha!
The thing is do you pay 9990 Nok for brand new or do you pay 8000 Nok for 4 month old ? I dunno I realise the new price is a sale price also.

 

[tsddave]

Or buy a bike in the UK this autumn/winter, ride around on it a bit, or splash it to make it look dirty, then in the sring, bring it over and say that you're borrowing it from a mate in England to ride the Styrkeprøven.

Haha yeah but you know how strict they are in Norway mate im sure

 

[Dayvo]

Have you go an XXL near you, tsddave? http://www.xxl.no/sykkel/sykler/landeveissykler

Or Bikebuster (online shopping) - http://www.bikebuster.no/sykler-race.html

 

[Dayvo]

Haha yeah but you know how strict they are in Norway mate im sure

I managed!

 

[smokeysmoo]

You won't tell a difference between 2007 Ultegra and 2011 105. In fact teh 105 will be more technologicaly advanced than than the Ultegra, but you still won't notice a difference IMHO.

I've pretty much ridden every Shimano groupset from 105 up over the last few years, and my CAAD10 is full DA, but they're all much of a muchness. AFAIK the main factor between them is weight, but each time they bring out a new version, (eg: 2011 105), it's been moved on, (naturally), so that's why I say the new 105 will probably be better. Hope that makes sense

 

[tsddave]

Dayvo

Thanks for the links
But really I think a second hand bike is best for me atm...Im bloody broke!
XXL I dont think we have in Bergen and most of the new bike stores are just for mountain bikes except the one you linked previously.
But really the prices are insane for everything. For example the 3L hydration backpack I bought on ebay for £50 cost 1500 NOK there

As for the airport crossing...I find people treat me with suspicion here, I dont think I could pull what you did off. Maybe my London accent doesnt help

Smokeysmoo

Thanks for the confirmation, I suspected that would be the case.

It seems to me that I should be going the cannondale route. Its lighter, has a better gear set and is also only 4 months old. The prices are almost the same, though I havent bid the trek guy down yet. I will give the guy a call tommorow and ask to view the bike and then see if I can bid him down more

Thanks alot guys

I will post some pics of whatever I get.

 

[Dayvo]

Dayvo

As for the airport crossing...I find people treat me with suspicion here, I dont think I could pull what you did off. Maybe my London accent doesnt help

I'll tell you about it if/when we meet up. My Essex accent isn't a problem, but I had a very cunning plan.

XXL in Bergen: http://www.xxl.no/ww...n,%20%C3%85sane

Laguneveien 21

Vis større kart
5239 Rådal

 

[Dayvo]

BTW, are you using finn.no?

http://www.finn.no/finn/torget/tils...ORY/SUBCATEGORY=3936&CATEGORY/MAINCATEGORY=69

 

[tsddave]

Dayvo

Haha sounds very interesting
My accent is coloured by Essex and London. Im also a gym rat and that seems to unsettle people here more than im used to in the UK but hmm a cunning plan could swing it of course.

I guess whatever I buy now I will be upgrading, perhaps I will try your plan next summer when I go back to England.


Ahh Ive never noticed XXL before. Still the bikes they are selling are either out of my price range or dont look so interesting.

Yes I am using finn.no to find my bikes. Its the essential website for Norway it seems.
I found my job through finn also.
Thanks for the help