Which Bike??

AdpRo

Hi all

Looking for a bike recommendation, don't know very much about different specs etc.

I am thinking of doing some adventure races this year, Killarney and Sea2Summitt probably and looking to get a bike through the bike 2 work scheme.

I have been looking at some of the store websites (cyclesuperstore / Hollingsworth / wheelworx / etc) but I am absolutely clueless at what I should be looking for!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kander

There are plenty if guides out there on how to get started and the various types of bikes and spec's out there.

bikeradar.com/gear/article/beginners-guide-to-buying-a-bike-30635/

road.cc/content/buyers-guide/63013-roadcc-buying-basics-buying-your-first-road-bike

Just a quick google brought up those articles. First in general decide on what you need the bike to do and not just for those events you mentioned and then research from there.

tunney

AdpRo wrote: »

Hi all

Looking for a bike recommendation, don't know very much about different specs etc.

I am thinking of doing some adventure races this year, Killarney and Sea2Summitt probably and looking to get a bike through the bike 2 work scheme.

I have been looking at some of the store websites (cyclesuperstore / Hollingsworth / wheelworx / etc) but I am absolutely clueless at what I should be looking for!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

What is your budget?

desertcircus

A few questions to ask yourself:

1. What's your budget? If you can afford to spend no more than 600 quid, then your choice will be very different to what your options would be with two thousand.

2. What do you anticipate using the bike for most? If you're hoping to do adventure races regularly, the type of bike that's best for you is different to the type that'd be best if you only ever intend to do one or two and then commute on it.

AdpRo

Thanks for replies.

Getting it on bike 2 work scheme so budget would be €1k. Won't be using bike to commute on, I ahve a hybrid for that, hoping to do a few adventure races a year and may even progress to a tri at some stage if I ever improve my swimming!

I was in cycle super store on saturday and they recommended this: https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=80841

Bambaata

If you have to go bricks and mortar shop then you should also pay a visit to Base2Race in Ballymount.

This seems decent value as its got 105 on it - http://base2race.ie/collections/road-bike/products/focus-culebro-sl-2-0

Heres a guide to the different Shimano groupsets - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimano#Road_groupsets

Dura Ace is their top end down to Claris. 105 is very decent! Id try to get at least Tiagra if you can at least.

sconhome

AdpRo wrote: »

Thanks for replies.

Getting it on bike 2 work scheme so budget would be €1k. Won't be using bike to commute on, I ahve a hybrid for that, hoping to do a few adventure races a year and may even progress to a tri at some stage if I ever improve my swimming!

I was in cycle super store on saturday and they recommended this: https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=80841

Have to say my first bike was also from CSS and a LaPierre too. Still have it (think its the old version of that) and it is bomb proof.

You can fit a pair of tri bars to it and it will serve you well in your first races.

pgibbo

Is a cyclo-cross bike required for those races or is a roadie fine?

sconhome

Depends on the race P. Most of the Gaelforce, Sea to Summit, Killarney etc are all on road.

tunney

AKW wrote: »

Depends on the race P. Most of the Gaelforce, Sea to Summit, Killarney etc are all on road.

Surely you are not suggesting that they aren't really adventure races?

peter kern

Bambaata wrote: »

If you have to go bricks and mortar shop then you should also pay a visit to Base2Race in Ballymount.

This seems decent value as its got 105 on it - http://base2race.ie/collections/road-bike/products/focus-culebro-sl-2-0

Heres a guide to the different Shimano groupsets - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimano#Road_groupsets

Dura Ace is their top end down to Claris. 105 is very decent! Id try to get at least Tiagra if you can at least.

spot on
and i would agree best value for money groupset is the 105 .

Peterx

For the races you mention an ordinary road bike is fine, most of the bike course is on tarmac and you can run the technical sections as fast as most people cycle them.

Strong wheels, 25mm gatorskin tyres and the best groupset you can afford.

For more technical races a hardtail lightweight MTB is probably a good choice.

Road bikes are surprisingly hardy.

Cyclocross bikes are rarely optimum - depending on the race they are either slower than roadbikes with and not as manoeuvrable as MTBs, and unless you get discs the braking is terrible

pot p

Bambaata wrote: »

If you have to go bricks and mortar shop then you should also pay a visit to Base2Race in Ballymount.

I know a lot of people give this place a glowing report but I had a horrible experience here

ted1

This is one if the best value bikes out there. http://www.fitzcycles.ie/p/1558/cube-peloton

The full 105 groupset. Good wheels , carbon forks. I have the 2014 model and can't fault it. I know others with the 2015 model and find the same

peter kern

the cube bike is a good deal .
http://www.thinkbike.ie/bike_shop/2015_Giant_Defy_1.aspx
thats also a solid bike from an honest shop i once bought a mtb for travelling from them and I have to say they were amazing to deal with.
a friendly no BS vibe.
( they once refused to sell a client of mine gels and told him he dosnt need them... and rightly so ;-)

AdpRo

ted1 wrote: »

This is one if the best value bikes out there. http://www.fitzcycles.ie/p/1558/cube-peloton

The full 105 groupset. Good wheels , carbon forks. I have the 2014 model and can't fault it. I know others with the 2015 model and find the same

Went back out to CSS today to get a quote to bring to work and ended up getting it for the Cube bike in the end, was just looking at it in fitzcycles and a couple of other sites and it's the same price everywhere €999, lad in CSS reckoned it was the best value bike you could get on bike 2 work scheme.

Ceepo

Not everyone favourite bike but Planet X had a Pro Carbon with 105 group set on there web site last week for e1050. A friend of my got the same frame with Ultegra for 1200 two weeks ago. Might be worth a look.

boysinblack

Quick question do people use tri bikes for training or just for races ?

tunney

boysinblack wrote: »

Quick question do people use tri bikes for training or just for races ?

Tri bike training spring and summer, road bike autumn and winter. Usually.

mossym

tri bike on the turbo year round. tri bike outdoors for any interval sessions(short or long) spring and summer. road bike for autumn/winter outside, and anything summer which is just easy spins

pgibbo

Road bike outdoors from Nov - Mar. TT bike on the turbo and all outdoor spins from March onwards.