Right. I’m thinking of spending some cash on a new bike.
Budget is (slightly randomly…) set at £1,300.
I don’t race – most of my riding is the slow-but-steady variety. I’m lucky if my moving speed averages much over 15mph on a longer ride. Since I came off my bike I’ve struggled to regain fitness, but when I was fit I was aiming at 80/90 mile day rides. So I’m looking for something that’s more suited to sportives than track racing.
At the moment I’ve got a Specialized Secteur Sport. Sora shifters, and the rest of the drivetrain is Tiagra, I think.
I love it – it’s comfortable, can get up to a decent speed, pretty stable. But I bet I’d love a better-equipped bike even more. And I’ve got a hankering for carbon.
There’s a few options. Wiggle’s Verenti Rhigos 02 looks pretty decent.
I’ve been recommended the Planet X bike, and for £1300 that comes with SRAM Red. But I’ve been a bit put off by reviews that say it’s got a more aggressive riding position, and that there’s a bit of a shimmy at high speeds.
The one I’m leaning towards at the moment, though, is the Ribble Sportive Bianco. For £1,300, I can get full 105 and upgrade the wheels to Fulcrum 5 (seems to get decent reviews) and a better saddle. Or for the same price I could stick with the stock wheels and saddle, but upgrade to Ultegra.
I’ve got a feeling that better wheels will make more of a difference to me than going from 105 to Ultegra.
Any thoughts? Any other bikes I should be thinking of? I’d much rather be able to buy from a real shop instead of online, but the value seems to be in going to an online-only shop.
Also, I’m used to a triple. What are the thoughts on a double/compact? I’m guessing that the gear changes will be better with a compact instead of a triple (less angle on the chainline?) and I’m not going to lose too much on the range of gears.
So go on, chaps. Spend my money for me.
Budget is (slightly randomly…) set at £1,300.
I don’t race – most of my riding is the slow-but-steady variety. I’m lucky if my moving speed averages much over 15mph on a longer ride. Since I came off my bike I’ve struggled to regain fitness, but when I was fit I was aiming at 80/90 mile day rides. So I’m looking for something that’s more suited to sportives than track racing.
At the moment I’ve got a Specialized Secteur Sport. Sora shifters, and the rest of the drivetrain is Tiagra, I think.
I love it – it’s comfortable, can get up to a decent speed, pretty stable. But I bet I’d love a better-equipped bike even more. And I’ve got a hankering for carbon.
There’s a few options. Wiggle’s Verenti Rhigos 02 looks pretty decent.
I’ve been recommended the Planet X bike, and for £1300 that comes with SRAM Red. But I’ve been a bit put off by reviews that say it’s got a more aggressive riding position, and that there’s a bit of a shimmy at high speeds.
The one I’m leaning towards at the moment, though, is the Ribble Sportive Bianco. For £1,300, I can get full 105 and upgrade the wheels to Fulcrum 5 (seems to get decent reviews) and a better saddle. Or for the same price I could stick with the stock wheels and saddle, but upgrade to Ultegra.
I’ve got a feeling that better wheels will make more of a difference to me than going from 105 to Ultegra.
Any thoughts? Any other bikes I should be thinking of? I’d much rather be able to buy from a real shop instead of online, but the value seems to be in going to an online-only shop.
Also, I’m used to a triple. What are the thoughts on a double/compact? I’m guessing that the gear changes will be better with a compact instead of a triple (less angle on the chainline?) and I’m not going to lose too much on the range of gears.
So go on, chaps. Spend my money for me.
