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First serious bike - Help needed!

Ron99Ron99 Posts: 237
Hi all,



I'm just getting into the sport and have started to look for my first proper road bike. I want to buy the best I can afford (which is up to about £650), and thought I had it narrowed down to a Giant Defy 2.5, or a Trek 1.5. Today, I had a look on Evans website for deals and they had a Pinnacle Lagerra 1 on there at a really good price. To my untrained eye, it looks like a much higher spec, but does anyone know anything about these bikes, or have any advice they could give me??



Cheers!

Comments

  • husslerhussler Posts: 237
    Between the Trek and Giant, I would choose the Giant. Both are similar build quality etc but the Giant is slightly better spec... All Tiagra opposed to a Sora/Tiagra mix on the Trek. Also Shimano have stopped making Sora equipment so their base spec is now Tiagra.



    The Pinnacle is better specced with 105 kit, but I dont know anything about this brand(build quality etc)



    I would Prob go for the Giant overall, you can always upgrade to a certain spec at a later date if you so wanted, giant are well known - reputable company so aftersales should be good.



    We have a stock of these Giant defys for novice members of our club to borrow throughout the season and they have all been given top reviews by the newbies.



    Hope this is of some help!!:)
  • MGMG Posts: 470
    Pinnacle are Kind of Evans Cycles "own brand". They are made in England. Never ridden one but out of the bikes you mention the Pinnacle has got them trumped completey on the groupset (gears, brakes etc...).



    However, that dosnt mean the frame is any good!! Trek make outstanding bikes, (my brother rode a 1.5 for a few years and loved his) and although the groupset (tiagra) might be the bottom rung the frame will be excellent and will respond admirably to upgrades in the future, same goes for Giant. I know a few people who ride Giants (the bikes, not freakishly tall people!!) and they all rave about them.



    Personally I'd look at all of them and try to test each one, dont discount the Pinnacle, but Trek and Giant both have proven pedigree, if at all possible TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!!



  • graham33graham33 Posts: 265
    Hi Ron,



    Well, I think you'll find for this budget (which was mine!) the wheels will be basic, something like the Alex 220 or similar...

    You're likely to find same sort of spec on the groupset, likely to be sora/tiagra.

    I think the main thing will be the frame, but how do you choose! The advise I always got was buy a bike with the best frame you can afford then (if you want) upgrade the other things.



    I think the most important thing is get properly fitted, you'll get much more out of it if you are comfortable! the specialized allez is also worth considering.



    There was a thread a little while ago on what £500 bike - have a search.



    Good luck, let everyone know what you go with.
  • husslerhussler Posts: 237
    Good spot there Graham33!!!



    I had forgot Specialized! How I dont know as Im a walking advertisment board for them! haha



    The Allez is an excellent bike, I would say better than any that you have listed!



    I raced on one last year, the day before Lanzarote Duathlon my full carbon TT bike became ill with Headset-itus and I couldnt get it fixed before the race so I 'borrowed' an Allez of a mate who had pulled out through Injury, also borrowed his shoes which were 2 sizes too big (instead of swapping cleats or pedals over) and still Finished 2nd!



    I would seriously consider checking out the Allez!



    Above all though FIT is the most important thing, you could have a £5000 bike which doesnt fit and a £200 bike that does fit and you will probably go quicker on the cheaper one!



    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/allez-27-2009-road-bike-ec016020?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle
  • JulesJules Posts: 987
    I had an Allez nicked and am after a replacement. I saw a Trek 1.5 in my LBS and I liked it. It has the same Sora/Tiagra gears as the Allez had but was quite a bit lighter - down to the wheels according to the shop guy. The Trek is about £100 more than the Allez though. I'm quite tempted. I did like the Allez but I like the Trek more. I can't run to the next Allez, the Sport version, that's another £100 again.

  • Ron99Ron99 Posts: 237
    This is absolute gold guys! Thanks for all the input.



    As far as the Allez is concerned, I did check out one of those the other day, which felt comfortable on a short test ride, but for the money, I thought I could get a better spec in one of the other two.



    The praise for the Giant seems to be pretty much in line with what I've already heard, and I can get an extra good deal on one of those, through a mate who works in a shop selling Giants (namely £610 for the 2.5) - this is a few quid cheaper than the best price I've found on the Trek and the Pinnacle, but I wanted to hear opinions on the bikes themselves.



    Good to know to look out for the best frame I can get - I wasn't sure how much difference there would be between frames, and how much this would impact the overall performance of the bike. I think from here, I'm going to try each one in turn and make a decision based on that - will be sure to report back here on what I've found.



    Once again - thanks for your help - very much appreciated!
  • wyno70wyno70 Posts: 189
    I've currently got a second hand Giant TCR C3 for sale on ebay. Done triathlons on it for last two seasons and will be well suited to what you want. It's medium, I'm 5ft 9 and it suits me:



    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=120390442879
  • Ron99Ron99 Posts: 237
    Cheers Wyno 70, I'll have a look.
  • Ron99Ron99 Posts: 237
    Had a look at the bike - looks nice. One thing though...you sure about the sizing? I'm 5.8 and was told by a bloke that rides Giants all the time, that I should probably go for a 46.5. That's a full 2 sizes smaller. He reckons that he's 5.10 and the 50cm bike he rides is just slightly big for him. Apparently its better to go with a smaller bike than bigger when in doubt, in terms of getting the most out of the power you're putting in.



    Confused again!
  • GGBGGB Posts: 482
    Ron, am not sure about Giants, but I ride a 54cm framed bike and I am 5'7" and its not perfect for me it is in fact a little bit too short, but I think a different seat stem would sort that out.



    Get yourself down to your LBS and trya few different makes out then you will have a better idea about sizing. When I was looking I cam across a small bike in LBS at a great price and would have preferred that to mine but it was way too small.

  • Ron99Ron99 Posts: 237
    All advice very much appreciated - its been really helpful to hear what you're all saying about frames, as I wasn't sure how much difference the frame makes to overall performance. Sounds a bit daft saying that, but I sorta thought that it was more a weight thing than anything, and I would get better value with good spec moving parts. I have been out on a few this week, and going down to look at a couple more tomorrow - namely last year's Giant SCRs. Looking at last year's model brings me into great spec groupset, rims etc. for my budget, and I'm not bothered about 'what's just in' so it's all good.



    Will definitely have a look to see if I can get a carbon bike, but think the grand or so for a Boardman is going to be a step too far unfortunately. There's always Christmas and the lottery...
  • rmbrmb Posts: 22
    Ron what did you get in the end . i am looking at the same bikes as you now just need a push in the rite direction . was also looking at the trek 1.2 seems a real good buy and would leave me some money towards my first wetsuit. any advise for anyone would be great.



  • willtriwilltri Posts: 436
    Ron what did you get in the end . i am looking at the same bikes as you now just need a push in the rite direction . was also looking at the trek 1.2 seems a real good buy and would leave me some money towards my first wetsuit. any advise for anyone would be great.


    I rode both of them (giant & trek) the Trek 1.5 just felt a lot nicer to ride. Had it for 4 months now and love it.



    Happy hunting.
  • What about the boardman comp?
  • JulesJules Posts: 987
    willtri wrote:
    Ron what did you get in the end . i am looking at the same bikes as you now just need a push in the rite direction . was also looking at the trek 1.2 seems a real good buy and would leave me some money towards my first wetsuit. any advise for anyone would be great.


    I rode both of them (giant & trek) the Trek 1.5 just felt a lot nicer to ride. Had it for 4 months now and love it.



    Happy hunting.



    Note that the Trek 1.5 has a better frame than the 1.2. The 1.5 has the same frame apparently as the 1.7 and 1.9, but the 1.2 frame is made of a cheaper grade of aluminium. Not that this makes it "bad" though.
  • jamewahjamewah Posts: 113
    sam_thebatman wrote:


    What about the boardman comp?



    I got a 2008 boardman Team in February and I got a stonking deal after a bit of tyre kicking. This bike retailed last year for £899 & I ended up paying £616 and a boardman lid thrown in too. Not sure if there are any left in stock anywhere but might be worth a look around and you may get a simliar deal.

    The bike itself is awesome, super light & and a great spec I'd definately have another & would seriously - seriously consider the boardman Carbon when it's time to upgrade - It looks a proper piece of kit !

  • Ron99Ron99 Posts: 237
    willtri wrote:
    Ron what did you get in the end . i am looking at the same bikes as you now just need a push in the rite direction . was also looking at the trek 1.2 seems a real good buy and would leave me some money towards my first wetsuit. any advise for anyone would be great.


    I rode both of them (giant & trek) the Trek 1.5 just felt a lot nicer to ride. Had it for 4 months now and love it.



    Happy hunting.



    Funny, I was planning to update this post to let you all know what I went for in the end...



    After looking at all of the above and trying the Defy 2.5, and Trek 1.5, Specialised Allez and the Boardman (for tyre kicking purposes only), I ended up getting a really good deal on a 2009 Scott S40, which I hadn't really considered until the day before I bought it. Great stiff frame, with more of a racing geometry, although I've found that it can be a wee bit harsh over knobbly roads.



    Very pleased with it generally though - it really wants to go. Got in at DeVer Cycles in Streatham, Sth London - highly recommended if you live nearby.



    Now I just need some carbon look paint...

  • Ron99Ron99 Posts: 237
    ...on the subject of the ride - does anyone know anything about AlexRims Race 28 rims that are on the S40? Suggest an alternative??
  • rmbrmb Posts: 22
    Jules wrote:
    ORIGINAL: willtri



    [quote]Ron what did you get in the end . i am looking at the same bikes as you now just need a push in the rite direction . was also looking at the trek 1.2 seems a real good buy and would leave me some money towards my first wetsuit. any advise for anyone would be great.


    I rode both of them (giant & trek) the Trek 1.5 just felt a lot nicer to ride. Had it for 4 months now and love it.



    Happy hunting.



    Note that the Trek 1.5 has a better frame than the 1.2. The 1.5 has the same frame apparently as the 1.7 and 1.9, but the 1.2 frame is made of a cheaper grade of aluminium. Not that this makes it "bad" though.

    [/quote]



    so would you say the trek 1.5 has a better frame than the giant defy2.5. i am trying to get the best frame i can .
  • thebouythebouy Posts: 61
    Does anyone rate the Bianchi Nirone 7 Xenon? I'm also in the market for a new bike, and originally had a budget of £500-£600, but want to make sure that I'm not going to buy some thing that i'm immediately going to want to upgrade, hence i'd rather pay a bit more to get some quality components.

  • rmbrmb Posts: 22
    jamewah wrote:


    [quote]ORIGINAL: sam_thebatman



    What about the boardman comp?



    I got a 2008 boardman Team in February and I got a stonking deal after a bit of tyre kicking. This bike retailed last year for £899 & I ended up paying £616 and a boardman lid thrown in too. Not sure if there are any left in stock anywhere but might be worth a look around and you may get a simliar deal.

    The bike itself is awesome, super light & and a great spec I'd definately have another & would seriously - seriously consider the boardman Carbon when it's time to upgrade - It looks a proper piece of kit !



    just had a look at the boardman comp and it does look nice seems a good spek as well. dam its hard to chose
  • rmbrmb Posts: 22
    just got the ok from the wife .i have gone for the boardman comp managed to get a good deal bike fitted like a glove and the staff at cycle republic in york very helpfull. cant wait to pick it up.
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