Buying a new bike - Thanks for advice

[Bazzer]

I am looking for a bike to use mostly in Triathlons - although there will be the odd road race I plan to do. Lets say 80% Tri's. I have been looking everywhere (bikebay), (mybike) Junkmail, Gumtree, bidorbuy etc for something in the price range R10 000. I have found these two bikes and really want some perspective. I know they are totally different - what perspective can someone offer me. Also, I am 1.83m tall. Is a 56cm too small if I plan to timetrial and road race on the same bike? The bike downside to the Allez is that it has an 8 spd cluster - otherwise the specs are all good. Anybody have something else to offer me? Thanks very much

Bazzer2008-01-19 12:36:01

[niterider]

I wouldn't touch anything that's only 8-speed. That means its really old and likely will have a terrible resale value.

 

With regards the Raleigh it looks like a great option for tri, but you certainly wouldn't be able to ride that in a road race.

 

If you really want to ride road races as well as tri's, then you want a road bike with clip on tri-bars. And a saddle/seatpost combo that'll allow you to move the seat forward when you have the tri-bars on. If you're going to do that I'm sure you'll find a lot of options around R10k.

 

[Christie]

IMO a Cervelo Soloist Team will be a good option (thats the aluminium one), they come with a 2 position seatpost, the rear position for normal road racing, and the fwd position for TT. Get some nice clip on aerobars, and you're good to go.

The recomended retail price on Cervelo's website for a new Ultegra bike is $2000, about R14k. I dont know if the SA importers price them around that price, or if they work the SA consumers over like they do with the P2C.

[niterider]

A bit more expensive here - R22900 (http://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=SLT2008)

 

 

 

[bob_the_builder]

Why does that Allez only have an 8? That frames too new to have come like that? Where's the original groupset? By the look of the wheels on it, they will take a 9 or 10, so is that all you need? It looks like a much better bike than the Raliegh, and is in your price range, as opposed to these guys telling you to go and spend double what you indicated you want to.

[goofs]

That Specilaized cluster has been changed, what are the rest of the components.

[Bazzer]

Thanks for the detailed response. Much appreciated. It did seem to me very surprising to see this bike with an 8 spd cluster - here it is and when I had a look at the bike I could believe I was counting only 8 spd! Anyway, it is not going to be worthwhile to buy this bike - even though it has a good spec generally (Ultegra and FSA 175mm cranks) I think in the long run it is going to be better to look at something else?

[Bazzer]

Bob - thanks for the vote of confidence in the Specialised. Why would you say the Allez looks like a better buy than the Raleigh? The groupset on the Allez is Ultegra and has FSA carbon cranks - compared with the Raleigh with 105 all-round. Apart from that I can only see that the geometry is pretty similar. Just not sure whether it is worth spending more on changing the groupset to accomodate a 9 - 10 spd config? Let me know why you think the Specialized is better. Thanks

[niterider]

It will cost you a fortune to upgrade from 8-spd to 10-spd, if the rest of the bits on the Specialized are 8-spd too. You're better off getting a bike with 105 at around the R10k mark. If you shop around I'm sure u can find a new bike at that price - the regular Raleigh RC6000 is one that comes to mind, but there'll be several other brands at that price-point too.

[gummibear]

Here this one is on Bike bay for R8500 size 56 which should work for you.

http://www.sitemanager.co.za/system/website_includes/photogallery/photogallery_popup.asp?recno=1954&stylesheet=30000&courl=bikebay

[gummibear]

here is the Bikebay link

 

http://www.sitemanager.co.za/system/website_professional/page.asp?temp_type=0&pageid=2254&page_type=ep&courl=bikebay

[scotty]

Thanks for the detailed response. Much appreciated. It did seem to me very surprising to see this bike with an 8 spd cluster - here it is and when I had a look at the bike I could believe I was counting only 8 spd! Anyway' date=' it is not going to be worthwhile to buy this bike - even though it has a good spec generally (Ultegra and FSA 175mm cranks) I think in the long run it is going to be better to look at something else?

[/quote']

 

The original specs on that bike came with 10spd Dura Ace derailer, shifters and Uletegra brakes with Mavic equippe wheels. I got mine new for R12000 so this guy is just taking a chance asking for so much.