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Looking for first bike

Hi Guys

I'm looking to buy my first road bike with a view to entering some triathalons and reducing my running (my knee is starting to suffer after taking part in a distance event and Aberdeenshire has some beautiful countryside).

I was looking to spend between £750k and £1,000, is there a real difference in the bikes at these price marks or would i be better saving my money or even spending it on upgrades (alot of people seem to talk about the benefits to be gained from new wheels).

Also does anyone know of any good local bike shops in the Aberdeen area? A quick look around seems to have me limited to Alpine bikes (who specialise in mountain bikes) and Halfords!!!

Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

  • jacjac Posts: 452
    Boardman Team Carbon from Halfords is £999. Fantastic reviews. Mate has one and loves it.
    Most important thing, though, is to try a few bikes in your price range - and then get a good fit for the one you choose.
    A great bike and bad fit = bad news.
  • jacjac Posts: 452
    PS - wish I had £750k to spend on a bike!
  • +1 for the Boardman Team Carbon, you'll never see a bad review about it. And it's upgradeable.
  • http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... STOCK.html

    Look at her....... what do you think ?
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    Hey Thand.

    I'm from Scotland also and I took the drastic step of going down south for my bike, as my LBS sold me a bike that didn't fit and really only realised once I'd been for a proper bike fitting.

    It maybe worthwhile taking some time to go Ediburgh, there is a triathlon dedicated shop there thats huge, I think its called the bicycle works. At the time the place was shut when I was looking for a new bike. I think they sponsor the Edinburgh Uni tri team. I would seriously recommend getting fitted for the bike, since you are splashing some decent cash you might get it free.

    In terms of a £1000, in reality spend the bulk of it on the frame. Forget the bling wheels and groupset, these can always be added to a good frame at a later date. I currently have shimano 105 on mine, whilst not the blingest groupset it is still value for money. However I can always upgrade when I've got the cash and add these to what I would say is a good frame.

    New wheels.... hmm yes you will get benefit but only once you get good carbon with a decent aero on them. In reality you need to pushing out round about 20-25mph to get the benefit from them as they can be heavy. Again I sacrificed the wheels and went for Fulcrum 5, not the most expensive in the world but practically bomb proof. I have now upgraded to Fast Forward F5R's tubs. (not got them yet tho)

    Again I echo what I said, go for the good frame and upgrade as and when you can. You can get a carbon frame with ultegra on it but the frame will be crap. In essence, a good alloy frame will be better than a half arsed carbon frame.

    Hope this helps.
  • thandthand Posts: 4
    If only I had £750k to spend on a bike - wouldn't have to ask questions on forums

    Thanks for the help guys, think I'll take a trip to Edinburgh/Glasgow in the new year and get fitted for a bike
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    any questions are welcome on this forum mate. £750 is still a lot of cash.

    make sure its the right bike. you'll know what I mean when you see it.... she's the one you'll instantly name and take it home, kick the girlfriend out the room and have the bike in there instead....



    Once you get the bike, post a pic on the bike porn thread..
  • shadowone1shadowone1 Posts: 1,408
    spot on CH... and this is the question I am now asking myself with the likely option being battlecat's big sister..the Argon E112.... can I wangle this from the WAT???? I'm not sure I can afford it hahaha
  • Conehead wrote:
    the reality is you won't upgrade components but will (in around 10 months time) be asking what time trial bike to get as the bike you're looking at now gets relegated to training bike.......
    10 months, I'll give it 6.
  • TT bike.... Er dribble.

    This tri lark doesn't half get addictive!!!
  • thandthand Posts: 4
    Cheers guys. Think I'd best cancel the foreign holidays and make up the spare room
  • No. You need to empty the spare room. That's where the bikes, kit, and the turbo set up go.

    There's do much to learn when it comes to tri.
  • ZacniciZacnici Posts: 1,385
    Can I throw in an alternative spin.

    Get yourself hooked in with a tri/bike club and see if you can get sorted with a cheap second hand bike, get your first season done with that then keep that bike for training etc and get something like a Focus Culebro tria: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus ... 360037593/ which will do you for at least a couple of seasons, is quite well specced and again you can swap out most of the components onto a carbon frame should you so wish.

    I paid £550 for a road bike for my first season and then got a tri bike for my second season, in retrospect I could have got a decent'ish bike for about £350, and saved £200 toward my tri bike.
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