Should I be put off by branding?

theflash800

Hi Guys,

I've made a few threads about a new bike that i'm looking at buying. I am considering a new road bike around 600-700euro.

I own an apollo road bike from halfords. It cost about 400euro back a few years ago. The frame size is a bit too big, But it has got me through some nice long cycles. However I want a new bike for doing some sunday cycles and when the nicer weather is around. I still plan to use to old road bike for some of the more winter weather.

I've seen a few bikes I like. Giant Defy 4, Giant Defy 3.5, Specialized Allez and Carrera Vanquish.
If you haven't already guessed, I am considering the Carrera Bike. It has got decent reviews and seems to have the best spec relative to it's price. BUT, should I be put off by the branding?...

Halfords tend to get a bad rep on Boards.ie and I'm wondering should i I let this affect my descion? I would love a nice Specialized bike, or Giant bike. However I keep coming back to the important part of the bike... The spec. Which is better on the carrera. Should I let the rep and branding affect my descion? Or is the Carrera a good bike?

Is there any other bikes around this price that people recommend?

Thanks for any replies

RobFowl

The Carrera brand is far superior to the Apollo. My wife has one and it's very well put together and the frame looks well built and with a quality finish.
The rep about Halfords is more to do with their (ahem) "mechanics".
Personally though I'd go for the Giant.

theflash800

can i ask why you'd choose the giant? because the carrera spec is better than the giant bikes?...
Is it because you've had good experience with Giant? or is it something non-brand related?

RobFowl

Giant frames are very well built and are incredibly durable.
I'd not get too hung up on the spec as over time with wear and tear you could upgrade gradually.
With the Giant (or specialized) you are buying a frame which would justify adding some quality components. I don't think the same applies to the Carrera.
PS am a terrible bike snob as well..........

ednwireland

RobFowl wrote: »

With the Giant (or specialized) you are buying a frame which would justify adding some quality components. I don't think the same applies to the Carrera.

i think thats complete BS tbh

(although you did say you are a bike snob)

if it does what you need it to do go for it

i was looking at the btwin range in decathlon in france this summer (first time i looked at them close up) and i have to say for the money you couldnt go wrong and looking at the halfords carrera i would say they fall into the same category
unfortunately you will get the robfowls looking down on you

i have a completely unbranded mtb, a diamant frame (cheap belgian from20+ years ago after i broke my raleigh ) that i ride to work, a focus cayo and a cbt italia which is columbus sl and the worst frame of them all (light but sooo flexy) and having done a fundraising ride for a local community centre last sunday, you would have to put your name on a giant (its all most of the shops sell i think)

tunney

Get a Planet-X they're greeaaaat!

el Bastardo

Read this and all it might give a better picture of what branding really is. Alot of products are made in the same factories and then rebadged/branded and priced accordingly for the idiot consumer. When it comes to bikes, I reckon that it's really the geometry and components that matter rather than the brand.

RobFowl

ednwireland wrote: »

i think thats complete BS tbh

(although you did say you are a bike snob)

if it does what you need it to do go for it

i was looking at the btwin range in decathlon in france this summer (first time i looked at them close up) and i have to say for the money you couldnt go wrong and looking at the halfords carrera i would say they fall into the same category
unfortunately you will get the robfowls looking down on you

i have a completely unbranded mtb, a diamant frame (cheap belgian from20+ years ago after i broke my raleigh ) that i ride to work, a focus cayo and a cbt italia which is columbus sl and the worst frame of them all (light but sooo flexy) and having done a fundraising ride for a local community centre last sunday, you would have to put your name on a giant (its all most of the shops sell i think)

I have a Btwin MTB and am very happy with it.

I know the longevity of Giant and specialised from personal and friends experience.

A mate is racing on a specialised Allez which is almost 10 years old.
I also have a mate who's Giant Cadex is still on the go 20 years after he got it.

I simply don't know anyone who'd had a Carrera that long.

That said My wife's is 2 years old and it hasn't given any problems and the white paint job is still immaculate.

If you're feeling brave try one of the unbranded carbon fibre frames on E bay. one of the best looking bikes I've seen in the past few years was the one BCMF built up from scratch.

I like the Planet X frames but they aren't as good value as they were largely due to the euro/sterling exchange rate.

funkyjebus

my OH has a carrera virtuso and it is the biggest piece of **** ever. it had the same components as my old bike, but felt terrible and so freckin heavy. stay away, the last thing you'll upgrade is the frame, so make sure you have a good one.

ill be making her upgrade hers to a boardman comp, could you streach to the 850 make. you know you can get 15% off in halfords by saying your with axa.

theflash800

funkyjebus wrote: »

my OH has a carrera virtuso and it is the biggest piece of **** ever. it had the same components as my old bike, but felt terrible and so freckin heavy. stay away, the last thing you'll upgrade is the frame, so make sure you have a good one.

ill be making her upgrade hers to a boardman comp, could you streach to the 850 make. you know you can get 15% off in halfords by saying your with axa.

well the carrera vanquish is a lot lighter than the virtuoso... I'm just thinking, is my money better spent on a carrera. Because, in all honesty, we can't deny that it's better spec for the money... But I still feel like it's going to be a bad bike because of the rep halfords has online etc... I haven't had any major problems with halfords I must say.

funkyjebus

theflash800 wrote: »

well the carrera vanquish is a lot lighter than the virtuoso... I'm just thinking, is my money better spent on a carrera. Because, in all honesty, we can't deny that it's better spec for the money... But I still feel like it's going to be a bad bike because of the rep halfords has online etc... I haven't had any major problems with halfords I must say.

well of course it is, as one would expect as they go up the range, that the bikes would get lighter. forget halfords, they are a shop and you may be alright, the brand you need to concern yourself with is carrera, plain and simple. have you googled them, nice website isn't it!! ill deny its better spec, sure it might have the same components (what are you looking at here, drivetrain?), but the spec is all ncompassing, you must include the wheels, frame, brakes, cranks, etc.

you seem to have your mind made up, and juat sharing my personal experience with you, i personally would spend the extra 100 or so. have you considered for a minute why they are so much chaeper?

plus, noone is ever gonna take you seriously on a carrers!!! again its not halfords as id recommend the brand boardman as they have got good review, alot more tham i can say for carrera.

i got my OH the virtusso for 200 with an uograded tiagra rd and fd, upgraged cranks and wheels, brand new tape, tyres and pedals, and i feel she was ripped off!

ednwireland

funkyjebus wrote: »

plus, noone is ever gonna take you seriously on a carrers!!! again its not halfords as id recommend the brand boardman as they have got good review, alot more tham i can say for carrera.

this attitude really annoys me, OP this is the least of your concern if anyone on a club looks down on any bike, shame on them i've had my ass whipped out on the road (and at races) by people on complete clunkers much to my shame

go round bike shops get advice take your time , buy what suits you not what some a$$hole might think of you.

funkyjebus

ednwireland wrote: »

this attitude really annoys me, OP this is the least of your concern if anyone on a club looks down on any bike, shame on them i've had my ass whipped out on the road (and at races) by people on complete clunkers much to my shame

go round bike shops get advice take your time , buy what suits you not what some a$$hole might think of you.

annoys me too, more power i say. but just so we are clear i was only joking. on the mobile so cant convey that with little faces!

ednwireland

funkyjebus wrote: »

annoys me too, more power i say. but just so we are clear i was only joking. on the mobile so cant convey that with little faces!

jesus the youth of today "colon : bracket ) " gives you

semicolon ; bracket ) gives you
colon : caps letter D gives you

you cant even demo it cos boards converts it

nobody remeber :-) etc or in my case :-))

completly OT btw sorry OP

theflash800

funkyjebus wrote: »

have you considered for a minute why they are so much chaeper?

I'd assume they are much cheaper because of the buying power of halfords. It being such a big company they can benefit from economies of scale when buying the components?

And carrera is only sold by halfords so I'd assume the cheap price is because they make the bikes themselves and can cut out the "middle man" that they buy from. (Eg. buying Giant bike from Giant...)

mike12

Hi,
Haveing done load of research i'd say go for the Boardman i'm sure u know someonw that has AXA and if not i dont really think they check it is the lighest and seems to have the best spec in that price range that i can find if someone knows of something better please let me know, now off to start a thread for myself on why i should buy the carbon version.
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_comp.html
Mike

theflash800

yes i realise the boardman is a better bike. But i'm a student and my budget is fairly stretched as it is... So i think i'll settle for the carrera... I want to have a look around still for other options. if anyone has any other opinions, i'm very open to hearing them.

The reasoning behind this thread was to see if I should be put off because carrera is essentially halfords "own brand" bicycle. I've mostly heard that halfords bikes aren't that bad (especially carrera and boardman...) and its the mechanics that people tend to complain about.

I can understand that view, but to be honest the halfords guys have been helpful as far as my problems have gone. They replaced my rear cassette for free, and have done a few little jobs on derailleurs and tyres and stuff and have been fairly successful. I do agree that it sometimes is a lottery, whether you have a good mechanic on the day. But i wanted to see if people thought the branding mattered? Because i've read many times that "there all made in the same place" story... that the brand really isn't worth the extra cash....