New road bike suggestions please.

wannabecraig

Hi,

My specialized allez sport was stolen on Friday (locked to a work fence, they took the fence and the bike!) so I'm in the market for a new one. I have the bike to work scheme and was to use to full 1k available. I heave gear, lid etc so just all money on the bike. Need clip in peddle as do duathlons and some small Tris. I really liked what I had and may just go for a newer model but am open to suggestions. I lie and work in Dublin centre (where they took my bike from!) so shops around that area are best but I'm not locked into them. I cycle to work & use the bike for that too.

TIA.

ED E

You need two bikes, a pile of junk to avoid another robbery at work and a decent one for tris etc.

wannabecraig

Bike wasnt robbed at work, confusing wording by me, was taken outside a pub, but agreed on two bikes

rtmie

How is your btw done. Voucher, LBS only, allow buy online? Are you capping at BTW level or putting extra to it?

wannabecraig

Not 100% sure, had no real intention of getting a bike yet! Will check it out tomorrow and let you know.

wannabecraig

Any idea on how long it takes to process the BTW order? Being without a bike is going to be though for getting to work etc

wannabecraig

So the company are using the biketowork.ie scheme and I'm in Dublin; https://www.biketowork.ie/shops?name=&county%5B%5D=1591

I only race about twice a year and mostly I'm using this to commute but also be able to race if I need, Ill get cleat peddles etc.

Is my best bet just going up to cycle superstore and pick up something like this? http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=100174

Ranjo

BTW can take a few weeks. Not sure about the specific scheme you are using though, but mine took 2-3 weeks from memory.

Do you have a budget? Based on your selection above I'm assuming around 1K. If Cycle Super store is your preference, then I'd suggest popping in & looking at their Lapierres and Canondales and picking your fave.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for second hand bike/fence combinations on adverts/donedeal.... :-)

rtmie

Halfords is not covered on that?
Pity - they have the Boardman Carbon reduced to 960
http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/boardman-road-team-carbon-bike-2016

rtmie

Halfords is not covered on that?
Pity - they have the Boardman Carbon reduced to 960
http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/boardman-road-team-carbon-bike-2016

wannabecraig

I went to Base2Race and Cycle superstore today.

B2R had two bikes in my price range ; http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=100174

& this Orro: https://www.orrobikes.com/bikes/road/terra-tiagra

Cycle superstore had: https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=100174

I likes the last one best, even though worse groupset. Any opinions?

CantGetNoSleep

wannabecraig wrote: »

I went to Base2Race and Cycle superstore today.

B2R had two bikes in my price range ; http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=100174

& this Orro: https://www.orrobikes.com/bikes/road/terra-tiagra

Cycle superstore had: https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=100174

I likes the last one best, even though worse groupset. Any opinions?

To be honest I'd be looking for a bit more than Sora for your budget. I live abroad but can easily find a decent frame with 105 for less than that. I bought a similar older model Cannondale but with Claris from the UK for 400 or so delivered to Ireland earlier in the year.

rtmie

Of those I'd be going for Orro Tiagra. But obvs has to be right for you.

rtmie

You could try fitzcycles in stillorgan.
They have cube bikes that will fit your budget.
Also this which is nice.
http://www.fitzcycles.ie/p/2507/stevens-san-remo#description-tab-tab

wannabecraig

rtmie wrote: »

Of those I'd be going for Orro Tiagra. But obvs has to be right for you.

can I ask you why? Is it because of the groupset and do you really think that makes the difference? I'd rather a better frame so I can upgrade the S at a later date.

Thanks for your feedback.

wannabecraig

rtmie wrote: »

You could try fitzcycles in stillorgan.
They have cube bikes that will fit your budget.
Also this which is nice.
http://www.fitzcycles.ie/p/2507/stevens-san-remo#description-tab-tab

Cheers, this looks pretty goof for 1k; http://www.fitzcycles.ie/p/3088/cube-attain#description-tab-tab

Thoughts? has Tiagra.

rtmie

Cube is very popular, lots of people here have / recommend them. I'd go take a look at all they have at your price range (Stevens have a good rep also). Probably won't be a huge diff but pick the one that makes you smile!

Budawanny

wannabecraig wrote: »

can I ask you why? Is it because of the groupset and do you really think that makes the difference? I'd rather a better frame so I can upgrade the S at a later date.

Thanks for your feedback.

Did The lads in Base2Race mention a free before and after bike fitting ?

wannabecraig

Budawanny wrote: »

Did The lads in Base2Race mention a free before and after bike fitting ?

They mentioned the free before, so did cyclesuperstore.

The Noble Nudge

Your first link for Base2race is a duplicate CCS cannondale....

Oh and haggle as best you can....

wannabecraig

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Your first link for Base2race is a duplicate CCS cannondale....

Oh and haggle as best you can....

You are correct, here is the origional ; https://www.giant-bicycles.com/ie/contend-sl-2

Not great at haggling!

The Noble Nudge

Worth a look at Canyon doing a July sale for Tour De France and they do BTW scheme...
https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/specials/breakaway/sale/road.html

Endurance AL 6 is €999 plus shipping and has full 105 spec...
The AL 7 has Ultegra worth the extra €199 alone...
The Carbon Fibre version is only another €100 on top of that!

I must stop looking at the Canyon site NOW!!:D

Budawanny

I bought my first road bike in Base2Race. highly recommended from my perspective.
Fitted before so the bike comes from the manufacturers with right stem lengths and cranks etc.
And fitted again after to make sure everything is hunky Dunky which it is.

rtmie

The Noble Nudge wrote: »

Worth a look at Canyon doing a July sale for Tour De France and they do BTW scheme...
https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/specials/breakaway/sale/road.html

Endurance AL 6 is €999 plus shipping and has full 105 spec...
The AL 7 has Ultegra worth the extra €199 alone...
The Carbon Fibre version is only another €100 on top of that!

I must stop looking at the Canyon site NOW!!:D

OP is on biketowork.ie scheme so no online goodness for them unfortunately!

The Noble Nudge

rtmie wrote: »

OP is on biketowork.ie scheme so no online goodness for them unfortunately!

Ah sugar......

wannabecraig

rtmie wrote: »

Cube is very popular, lots of people here have / recommend them. I'd go take a look at all they have at your price range (Stevens have a good rep also). Probably won't be a huge diff but pick the one that makes you smile!

I can't find any info on Stevens and the few people I asked told me not to touch them. I see there is a lot of focus on the groupset and I'm wondering if I should really be that worried about it. I'm only racing once or twice a year and if I decide to do more I can just upgrade. Should I not be more focused on the frame?

Giving myself a little more time to decide but I'm down to these two.

http://www.fitzcycles.ie/p/3088/cube-attain#description-tab-tab
https://www.cube.eu/uk/2017/road-triathlon/attain/cube-attain-race-blacknred-2017/

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=100174

Prefer the Cube look and GS, but I believe the Cannodale frame is great.

Lumen

I know a couple of people with Stevens and they're happy.

The Synapse is not a racing frame.

wannabecraig

Lumen wrote: »

I know a couple of people with Stevens and they're happy.

The Synapse is not a racing frame.

OK, cool, thanks.

Re' the bolded, is the cube better, if I added the Stevens into the mix would you take that over the Cube?

rtmie

wannabecraig wrote: »

rtmie wrote: »

Of those I'd be going for Orro Tiagra. But obvs has to be right for you.

can I ask you why?  Is it because of the groupset and do you really think that makes the difference?  I'd rather a better frame so I can upgrade the S at a later date.

Thanks for your feedback.

I think that Tiagra is a big a big step up esp if you want to use the bike for other activities than commuting. also as Lumen has mentioned the Synapse is a quite upright geometry not really aligned with your mention of occassional Tri use.
In general in the BTW price range there will be a convergence in quality of Alu frames from major manufacturers AFAIK (I am open to correction here from more expert members). Whilst e.g Canondale have a rep for excellence in Alu frames you may need to spend extra (CAAD10/CAAD12) to really see it. Orro is a relatively new brand so you would need to seek some feedback from owners but generally Base2Race guys seem to recommend.
So I guess it depends on what is pointing you towards the Synapse Sora - comfort, you like how it looks/feels whatever  - they are all more important than feature list as you have to like your bike. At the end of the day you won't go wrong regardless. But from my PoV both your desire to do some races/tri stuff and value from money would point me away from the Synapse.
Ultimately listen to your bike shop (if they offer a range like e.g. Fitz - they will make the sale anyway so should be able to guide you to best pick for you). Sit on them all - get a feel for them.
As I said though ultimately the most important thing iis which one makes you happy.

Lumen

rtmie wrote: »

also as Lumen has mentioned the Synapse is a quite upright geometry not really aligned with your mention of occassional Tri use.

Oh sorry, I didn't read the whole thread and assumed "race" mean "road race".

If you're going to stick tri bars on it then arguably the shorter top tube of an endurance road bike (as opposed to road racing bike) makes sense.

Lots of people do tri- and duathlons on all sorts of things. It's only supposed to be a bit of fun.

Lumen

wannabecraig wrote: »

OK, cool, thanks.

Re' the bolded, is the cube better, if I added the Stevens into the mix would you take that over the Cube?

Can't see a specific Stevens listed in the thread.

The Cube has 10sp Tiagra and better wheels and tyres than the Cannondale. 9sp in this day and age is a bit parsimonious.