Which first road bike? Update

[daisyj]

I've been riding a Carrera Subway for the last 18 months or so and loving it. I want to ride further and have decided to buy a road bike. I have set my budget at £550 and am looking at the two bikes below. I know the Tribans get great reviews and it has Sora gearing whereas the Dolce has Claris. I prefer the look of the Specialized. I'm short and petite so need a women's bike.

https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/5352/2017-dolce/

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-womens-road-bike-sora-id_8349943.html

I'd welcome any thoughts on which may be the better bike. I'll be buying in March, ready for the spring weather! Thanks.

 

[vickster]

Can you try them both out? You need to decide which you like most and fits you best

Decathlon appear to only have an XS which may be very small. Also, it may come with smaller 650 wheels, which are fine but you'll have less choice of tyres (although it does say 700c)

You are paying a premium for the Specialized, in reality Sora and Claris aren't of great difference. As a petite woman however, check which hood shape works best for you for braking. Consider top lever brakes as an add on for more comfortable braking (these can take away handlebar space though if you need a narrow bar, e.g. on a 38cm bra there's not much room left for lights, bell etc)

Evans have last years for £563 in the 48cm, which comes with Sora, a decent discount, might be worth getting your local branch (if you have one) to get it in

https://www.evanscycles.com/special...esvaid=50080&gclid=CJ2al9KKgdICFUu-7Qod3X8A5A

One of the smaller female members on here recently got a Wiggo junior bike from Halfords, found it suited her best, so that might be another avenue to consider
@Reynard

 

[jefmcg]

Of those two, I'd probably go for the Triban, despite the pink.

Sora is better than Claris, and most manufacturers cheapest bike uses Sora.

Edit: OK, Claris may be ok after all. Listen to @vickster

Edit 2: Claris is the new Tiagra. 5 years ago you wouldn't see Claris on name brand bikes, but it's obviously improved a lot. I was going to suggest Giant Avail 2, but it's similarly configured as the Spech, and for the same (list) price.

 

[Big T]

Ive got a Triban 520 and it's a decent bike. I think they've upgraded the wheels this year, which were a bit of a weak point on mine (spokes coming loose). Having said that, my wife has a Spesh Dolce and she absolutely loves it. Hers is the Elite with Tiagra groupset, but it's the same frame and wheels I think. Nothing wrong with Claris from what I've seen of it, but I've no personal experience.

I would see if you can get to a shop and try at least sitting on one. They let my wife ride the Spesh around the car park at the Birmingham Concept store and my local Decathlon had turbo trainers set up so you test ride a road bike.

 

[daisyj]

Can you try them both out? You need to decide which you like most and fits you best

Decathlon appear to only have an XS which may be very small. Also, it may come with smaller 650 wheels, which are fine but you'll have less choice of tyres (although it does say 700c)

You are paying a premium for the Specialized, in reality Sora and Claris aren't of great difference. As a petite woman however, check which hood shape works best for you for braking. Consider top lever brakes as an add on for more comfortable braking (these can take away handlebar space though if you need a narrow bar, e.g. on a 38cm bra there's not much room left for lights, bell etc)

Evans have last years for £563 in the 48cm, which comes with Sora, a decent discount, might be worth getting your local branch (if you have one) to get it in

https://www.evanscycles.com/special...esvaid=50080&gclid=CJ2al9KKgdICFUu-7Qod3X8A5A

One of the smaller female members on here recently got a Wiggo junior bike from Halfords, found it suited her best, so that might be another avenue to consider
@Reynard

Thanks vickster. I've seen the Dolce (didn't ride it) and the hoods felt like a good fit for my hands. The nearest Decathlon is a bit of a trek from here but I think I'll go and have a look before I commit to anything. Will check out the Wiggo bike, too.

 

[daisyj]

Of those two, I'd probably go for the Triban, despite the pink.

Sora is better than Claris, and most manufacturers cheapest bike uses Sora.

Edit: OK, Claris may be ok after all. Listen to @vickster

Edit 2: Claris is the new Tiagra. 5 years ago you wouldn't see Claris on name brand bikes, but it's obviously improved a lot. I was going to suggest Giant Avail 2, but it's similarly configured as the Spech, and for the same (list) price.

Thanks for throwing the Liv Avail 2 into the mix, I hadn't spotted that option and like the look of it so another one to consider.

 

[jefmcg]

Thanks for throwing the Liv Avail 2 into the mix, I hadn't spotted that option and like the look of it so another one to consider.

You'll find every manufacture (nearly) has a similarly spec'd bike, and most of them will be around the same price point. That being said, I've put 30,000km on 2012 Avail, so I can recommend it. Of course, gone through a lot of parts including 2 bottom brackets since new.

 

[vickster]

Thanks vickster. I've seen the Dolce (didn't ride it) and the hoods felt like a good fit for my hands. The nearest Decathlon is a bit of a trek from here but I think I'll go and have a look before I commit to anything. Will check out the Wiggo bike, too.

Try to ride, make sure you can brake...I thought 105 fitted for me...until I tried to stop rapidly on a test ride. A 5'6 friend has Sora on her Cannondale, she had cross lever brakes fitted very quickly after purchase

Evans good for test rides, £60 refundable deposit and they'll source any bike in stock in their shops/warehouse, just need a bank card and photo ID for the test ride, IME on a dry day you can go out for as long as you want

SRAM groupsets for me always but less commonly found

 

[Reynard]

@daisyj - how tall are you?

I'm 4' 11" tall and am the lady who rides a Wiggins Rouen. I bought the 650, but they do one a size up from that as well. Well worth considering either the 650 or the 700 as an option if you're looking at the smaller Tribans.

FWIW, I found an XS Triban too big for me.

Loving the Rouen though, it's a nice bike to ride. Have had it for three months now and quite a few hundred miles under the belt on it.

 

[biggs682]

on a 38cm bra there's not much room left for lights, bell etc)

Does that mean you can fit lights and a bell on a bra !!!!

just where @Fnaar when you need him

sorry @vickster

 

[vickster]

Does that mean you can fit lights and a bell on a bra !!!!

just where @Fnaar when you need him

sorry @vickster

lol Ooops

 

[daisyj]

@daisyj - how tall are you?

I'm 4' 11" tall and am the lady who rides a Wiggins Rouen. I bought the 650, but they do one a size up from that as well. Well worth considering either the 650 or the 700 as an option if you're looking at the smaller Tribans.

FWIW, I found an XS Triban too big for me.

Loving the Rouen though, it's a nice bike to ride. Have had it for three months now and quite a few hundred miles under the belt on it.

I'm 5'2" (just) and it's been a struggle to find options. I'm glad you're loving the Rouen, I'll check it out.

 

[Reynard]

I'm 5'2" (just) and it's been a struggle to find options. I'm glad you're loving the Rouen, I'll check it out.

I know exactly where you're coming from - even the smallest ladies' frames are too big for me. My budget was a bit less than yours, so it left me with pretty well much a straight choice between the Wiggo and the Triban.

As you've got a wee bit more in the kitty, you might want to look at the Islabikes Luath or Frog Road as well.

The only thing I did do was swap out the stock saddle on the Wiggins for a Charge Ladle, as the original was an instrument of torture...

 

[jefmcg]

I know exactly where you're coming from - even the smallest ladies' frames are too big for me. My budget was a bit less than yours, so it left me with pretty well much a straight choice between the Wiggo and the Triban.

As you've got a wee bit more in the kitty, you might want to look at the Islabikes Luath or Frog Road as well.

I think the 3 inches difference in height is important. At under 5", you are probably best suited in the junior section and @Reynard has listed some quality "kids" brands.

But at 5'2", you are solidly into the XS size, and you will have options in both adult and junior ranges.

Though the smaller wheels on the junior bikes means you will have less risk of clipping your front wheel with your toe, but as @vickster says, a more limited range of tyres.

 

[vickster]

I can chuck another sub £500 47cm ladies bike into the mix (albeit online if you don't have a local Cube stockist with stock)

https://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m16b19.../RS_GB/58472?gclid=CIHTmqGbgdICFWG37QodaBANtw