Hi I have looking for carbon bike in the sub £2000 price area. I will be using it for training, everday commuting to work (countryside 15 miles), distance trips with a cycle club (when i'm fitter) and some sporty stuff hopefully. I currently ride a mountain bike on the road which is heavy and hard work!
I'm a big guy 6ft 2" and 15 stone...
I have narrowed it down to a couple of bikes that I have road tested and like the 'feel' of the ride.
1 is the Scott cr1 pro...which ticks all the boxes, fast, sporty, right price. not bad looks, and good spec and light to ride.
2 is a Viner frame (2007/ 2008) which is apparently hand made and will be built to my own spec. Either Ultegra SL or Campag Centaur (more on this later)
I will buy a couple of everyday work horse wheel tyres for everyday comute (fulcrum 7s)
I can't make up my mind on a couple of points...which is the one to go for...
The Scott CR1 is a proven bike...although massed produced, it's one fine light bike (880 gms?)...perhaps too light for me...'harsh' sporty 'f1 style' ride feels very racy and eager... but it doesnt have the WOW factor for me...it looks good but so do many other bikes? I'm also concerned that its perhaps too light for me? (breakages and pot holes? etc)
I reckon it feels very different to what I am used to, which is a good thing...as remember I do want to get 'sporty' with whatever I buy for a later time....
The other option is the Viner based on the 2007/ 2008 carbon frame (a handbuilt rework of a Dedacciai frame http://www.dedacciai.com/home_eng.html -different seat stays/ triangle and then handbuilt at the Italian Viner factory)
This is a leap of faith...a name not known to many (not sure how that will effect resale when I want to upgrade/ sell?) but they appear to heave good reputation indeed.
see here http://www.velocitybikes.co.uk/info/vinerroad.htm
The bike is different to ride... more comfortable and is heavier 1100 gm but would be a better mile eater I believe and easier for the commute. It has more of the WOW factor than the Scott and is 'something different' being rarer. but is this the safe option as regards the ride, will I live to regret buying the one wit the not so light and sporty feel, and am I taking the chance on an Italian unknown?
I also have a decision to make on groupset ...the Scott CR1 is ultegra and the Viner is campag Centaur...I rode both the Shimano felt smooth and was easy to use the Campag felt different and was harder to use with the hood thumb shift feeling slightly awkward and out the way of my thumbs....
So another choice do i go Scott or go Viner...If I go Viner do I go Ultegra SL or stick with the Capag Centaur (this look lovely and the best of the two with its Carbon brake levers etc) and just get used to the thumb hood levers over time (as I sure I will) Which is best for commuting longevity, an is it sacrilige (spelling?) to fit an Italian bike with non italian groupset?
Any help/ opinions/ thoughts on the above would be great...thanks.
I'm a big guy 6ft 2" and 15 stone...
I have narrowed it down to a couple of bikes that I have road tested and like the 'feel' of the ride.
1 is the Scott cr1 pro...which ticks all the boxes, fast, sporty, right price. not bad looks, and good spec and light to ride.
2 is a Viner frame (2007/ 2008) which is apparently hand made and will be built to my own spec. Either Ultegra SL or Campag Centaur (more on this later)
I will buy a couple of everyday work horse wheel tyres for everyday comute (fulcrum 7s)
I can't make up my mind on a couple of points...which is the one to go for...
The Scott CR1 is a proven bike...although massed produced, it's one fine light bike (880 gms?)...perhaps too light for me...'harsh' sporty 'f1 style' ride feels very racy and eager... but it doesnt have the WOW factor for me...it looks good but so do many other bikes? I'm also concerned that its perhaps too light for me? (breakages and pot holes? etc)
I reckon it feels very different to what I am used to, which is a good thing...as remember I do want to get 'sporty' with whatever I buy for a later time....
The other option is the Viner based on the 2007/ 2008 carbon frame (a handbuilt rework of a Dedacciai frame http://www.dedacciai.com/home_eng.html -different seat stays/ triangle and then handbuilt at the Italian Viner factory)
This is a leap of faith...a name not known to many (not sure how that will effect resale when I want to upgrade/ sell?) but they appear to heave good reputation indeed.
see here http://www.velocitybikes.co.uk/info/vinerroad.htm
The bike is different to ride... more comfortable and is heavier 1100 gm but would be a better mile eater I believe and easier for the commute. It has more of the WOW factor than the Scott and is 'something different' being rarer. but is this the safe option as regards the ride, will I live to regret buying the one wit the not so light and sporty feel, and am I taking the chance on an Italian unknown?
I also have a decision to make on groupset ...the Scott CR1 is ultegra and the Viner is campag Centaur...I rode both the Shimano felt smooth and was easy to use the Campag felt different and was harder to use with the hood thumb shift feeling slightly awkward and out the way of my thumbs....
So another choice do i go Scott or go Viner...If I go Viner do I go Ultegra SL or stick with the Capag Centaur (this look lovely and the best of the two with its Carbon brake levers etc) and just get used to the thumb hood levers over time (as I sure I will) Which is best for commuting longevity, an is it sacrilige (spelling?) to fit an Italian bike with non italian groupset?
Any help/ opinions/ thoughts on the above would be great...thanks.
.