Looking to buy a bike

extra-ordinary_

I'm looking to buy a new road bike and with all the choices I'm a bit lost. My last bike was a Dawes Discovery 701 that I bought in about 2003. I liked that bike - it had tiagra gears and hubs but it was stolen about 2 years ago. I'm now thinking about getting back into cycling so was looking maybe at getting something with a full 105 groupset but see that prices go from anything around €1k up to over €2k? I then also saw an ultegra bike at around 2 grand but then I see a tiagra bike for close to the same money?. Is there huge differences in frame quality or am I missing something?

Could I be better off buying a frame, groupset, and wheels separately?

Darkglasses

Yes there can be big differences between frames - you can buy cheap aluminium framed bikes with ultegra for less than a high end carbon frame with Tiagra or Sora. Just depends on what you want to prioritize.

Generally speaking you won't really save money at all by buying the components separately and building it up yourself, at least if you're just looking for a fairly standard road bike.

If you're OK with buying online, here is a very good quality aluminium frame bike with 105 groupset and decent entry level wheels for €1k - https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/road/endurace/2016/endurace-al-6-0.html

Highway_To_Hell

The Planet X being iscussed on the Bargins alert page is a good deal for Carbon frame with Ultegra mix (around €1K )

extra-ordinary_

Thanks for the replies and the links. There's too many nice bikes around!!
I've been looking at

https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=89176

https://www.bike24.com/p2140426.html

https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/fitness/roadlite/2016/roadlite-al-7-0.html

https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/road/endurace/2016/endurace-al-7-0.html

https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/road/endurace/2016/endurace-cf-9-0.html

http://www.adverts.ie/road-bikes/storck-absolutist-55cm-medium-race-bike/10599711

http://www.adverts.ie/road-bikes/merida-lampre-carbon-road-bike/10427980

http://www.adverts.ie/road-bikes/beone-raw-carbon-dura-ace/10235812

Any opinions?

Felix Jones is God

http://m.jimcaballhimself.com/site/mobile?dm_path=%2F&fw_sig_partner=webs&fw_sig_site=71133694&fw_sig_is_admin=0&fw_sig_access_token=04e4c7e0d094218dda2a5ea4885bcd44951e9e1b&fw_sig=933c5af0fedc2b8fb1f8a0cc2a8a1634&fw_sig_permission_level=0&fw_sig_tier=0&fw_sig_premium=1&fw_sig_time=1465135957522&fw_sig_api_key=522b0eedffc137c934fc7268582d53a1&fw_sig_locale=en-US&fw_sig_permissions=none&fw_sig_session_key=355637c0f6ff24e11311bd215a28ee043345516f52dc220909a78230645f3c6a-71133694&fw_sig_url=http://www.jimcaballhimself.com/&fw_sig_social=0&fb_sig_network=fw#1123
Any bricks and mortar shop in your locality should be able to help.... personally I like the Merida bikes

Darkglasses

I would say the first thing to decide is whether you want a flat bar hybrid or a normal road bike with drop handlebars. If you're looking for performance on the road, I don't think there are any benefits to a flat bar hybrid.

extra-ordinary_

Darkglasses wrote: »

I would say the first thing to decide is whether you want a flat bar hybrid or a normal road bike with drop handlebars. If you're looking for performance on the road, I don't think there are any benefits to a flat bar hybrid.

Yeh - I really like the look of straight bar bikes and they're great for around the city but get out on the road or with a bit of wind and you're soon trying to grab the inside of the bars. Canyons seem really good value for the money, the only problem is trying before you buy - I presume they can be returned no questions asked if you don't like it? I really like the look of the carbon Lapierre Shaper 600 in Cycle SuperStore although they're expensive for what you're getting and I can't find anything online about them. The only difference I see between the Endurace CF 7.0 SL and the CF 9.0 are the wheels - and what's with all the terrible dull drab colours??

Brian?

2k for a hybrid??? Has the world gone crazy.

If you've 2k to spend, go with the highest spec canyon you can afford.

extra-ordinary_

Brian? wrote: »

...Has the world gone crazy..

It really has...what's the deal with nearly every bike I look at in a sh1t matt black or some grey or whatever - have you to buy some Italian exotica for a bit of colour??

zindicato

got a bike for sale if youre interested to have a look at it good spec and all if you can send me your email ill send you some pics