The Cycling Thread

Originally Posted by krhall

Anyone wanna buy a Shimano 105 front mech - never used?

I think it is a Clip-on 28.6/31.8 clip on one. The cheapest I found on line is £23, but as mine doesn't have the packaging £17.50 posted will be the price.

So the time has come for a new bike I think.

Currently using the moda interval sprint for most trips but it's a bit too aggressive as I've said before.

I've pretty much narrowed my options down to a few of the following and wondered whether anyone had any experience of them;


Cannondale synapse tiagra £950 - test rode one and feels comfy - saddle felt good but was only a short trip so who knows. Spec isn't great for the price but bars were in the right place (or so they felt).

cube Peloton - £999 105/ultegra mix, Easton wheels and a very pretty looking bike. Havn't ridden one yet and may be a bit too harsh on the riding position again but I can't get away from the sex factor.

Specialized Allez - I have a specialized langster which is extremely comfortable (albeit hardwork). I'd be looking at something tiagra or above for decent shifters.

willier Montegrappa Xenon - £900 equipped with Campagnolo Xenon - I like the campag stuff but have no idea about anything else on this bike.

I know the cube is about 8.8kg and my moda is about 8.34kgs so I'd be looking for something sub 9kgs preferably although it's not a huge issue.

Comfort and speed are the two main areas I'm looking for. I find on longer rides (30 miles plus) I get very uncomfortable on the Moda, and the 81 mile cycle I did for the Sandown sportive was painful at the end. It's not the cycling but more my neck/back/**** that suffer and so that's what I'm looking to avoid. How the bike looks is fairly important to me as I would like to like my bike (Although this is pretty much why I purchased the moda in the first place)

If anybody has any other suggestions similiar to the above, I'm open to them.

thanks

[Luckypants]

Have you looked at Ribble or Planet-X? Great bikes that will bring a carbon frame into budget with Tiagra 10-speed. I have a Ribble Gran Fondo so a little bit biased, but definitely worth a look.

Lucky - the problem with ribble is there's nowhere local to get a test ride.

I was also advised to stear clear due to finish on the frames being poor in the past?

[Luckypants]

Yeah that is fair enough, I was lucky to have mates who have Ribble bikes so was able to blag a ride on theirs.

The quality of the frames is pretty good, made by Dedicai in Italy and also supplied through Wiggle. The paint is a little thick which leads to a bit of cracking around the rear drop out on some bikes - mine has this, but it does not affect the frame, just the look.

Most Planet-X bikes are naked carbon

[pookie]

have you looked at a bmc street racer type? I just like the unusual frame design.

[maviczap]

I can vouch for the quality of finish on Mike's Ribble and the geometry on the Gran Fondo is going to suit your needs, with a longer headtube for a more relaxed riding position on longer rides. As for having a bad reputation?

All of your choices seem to be expensive for the groupset spec that you're buying, except for the Cube, but with a name like peleton, seems more race orientated?

Cycling weekly had a review of 12 sub £1k bikes and only one had Xenon, most had either Tiagra or even better still 105 components, but some savings had been made here and there.

However the Boardman Team still got the best of test, its got mostly 105, except brakes and chainset and only £999. There are plenty of Halfords about, although they don't do test bikes do they. Just don't have any faith in the staff knowing what they're talking about. If you buy it via Quidco you'll get cashback on your purchase.

They tested a Ribble Evo Pro Carbon, also with mostly 105, and for long distance rides, full carbon frames are hard to beat.

At your price range, I wouldn't consider Xenon, I'd want Veloce. Tiagra 10 speed is fine.

Plant X aren't far from you Dave, so worth considering.

Wiggle also have test bikes

[maviczap]

Originally Posted by pookie

have you looked at a bmc street racer type? I just like the unusual frame design.

That was in Cycling weekly's test group. It got 8 out of 10

Kuota Korsa Lite came in at 9 out of 10, and with Kuota the bike is built to order, so you get the right bar width, stem length, crank lenth, which will help you getting the correct position, reducing things like neck ache. Its got a less aggressive riding position as well.

Afternoon All

My cycling has taken a bit of a back seat as I have decided that the frame is too small, giving be a hunched back and lower back and neck problems, as usual I could throw money at something to sort it but i think more realistically I want to sell it.

So how much do you think a 2010 Kona Dew Deluxe is worth second hand?

They retailed at £700 new and its done circa 700 miles, no more than 800 thats for sure.

Any thoughts?

[JamesMio]

Originally Posted by maviczap

I can vouch for the quality of finish on Mike's Ribble...

I always did have my doubts about you lycra-clad roadies....