The Cycling Thread

[pookie]

i guess you may have seen this review. http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/catego...-p-20-12-45674

I think I saw one in costco for just under £900 with 105 rear mech which seemed pretty good. Not ridden one but sounds like decent guys behind it

£900 is even more of a bargain! Picking a new roadbike is incredibly complex.

[maviczap]

Most carbon frames are made in Taiwan these days, except for the real high end stuff.

The same factory will be making frames for Giant, Specialized, Trek, Colnago, Ribble etc and its all good stuff, price will depend on groupset spec, but obviously they will have trimmed some bits off to make the price range.

Nothing wrong with Tiagra, especially if is the new 10 speed, as that's basically last years 105.

I'd upgrade those wheels, as they are pretty heavy and will take the zip out of the frame

I love my full carbon all day comfort, only titanium might be comfier.

Had you thought about getting a Ribble carbon frame, they're good and you can't spec it to your price, athough not sure if they do C2W?

Well i've been toying with carbon or titanium. i like the van nicholas mistral but have read a lot about the frames cracking. They get replaced straight away but still, it's a little scary. I can only do C2W through edinburgh cycles as my work won't use anyone else.

I'll check ribble out now

[maviczap]

Well you've got to be careful with carbon too, it'll only have a finite lifespan, but I don't know how long, depends how its looked after.

Plenty of Trek's have been know to crack & I've read about problems with my Wilier

At least with the Van Nicolas they are replacing the frame which is pretty good customer service

Well the frames come with a lifetime guarantee, takes 6 weeks to get one built when you order though. That ribble bike builder is scary, you can't put anything onto the bikes, quickly gets expensive!! I got the basic carbone one up to £1200, and then they offer it on tick over 3 years, tempting!

[maviczap]

If it comes with a lifetime guarantee then I'd go for that.

[fizzwheel]

I had a Van Nicholas, fantastic bike, until I got knocked off it by a car...

My mate has a Ti Euros he's had no probems with the frame on that.

Well i've gone a complete circle now then. I have to admit I like the idea of metal more than plastic, I doubt i'm going to race. I just want to ride for miles and miles and miles and the Allez is painful after 40 or so. I've altered the stem and i'm on my 4th different seat and its still not quite right!

[fizzwheel]

If it were me, I'd be finding out why the Allez is painful. Before I started splashing out on a new bike ( unless of course you want a new bike )

I've done big mileage on what is a race geometry frame, and was still comfortable at the end of the ride.

Its about getting the bike to fit you. You could try going somewhere with it and getting a bike fit. Take it and you to a local bike shop and get them to cast their eye on your position and see what they say.

Its also quite possible that you dont fit the Allez, no matter what you do to it, you wont get comfy on it. Its also possible you'll get a new bike and be completely uncomfortable on that as well.