Road Bike Dilemma

[Mopkop]

Hey everyone

 

I'm looking at getting me a road bike but once again the choices are so flippen much

I am more into mountain biking, this will be to do the odd road event down in Cape Town. Heres the short list and pricing

 

Scott:

Speedster S20 R13999 (105)

***CR1 20 R20999(105) carbon***

No price on the CR1 30(Sora )

 

Merida:

Scultura CF904 R18899(105 ) carbon

Scultura 904 R13999(105 )

 

Giant:

TCR C3 R15499(Tiagra) carbon

TCR C2 R16899(Ultegra/105) carbon

 

Cannondale

CAAD8 6 R13499(Tiagra)

CAAD8 5 R14999(105)

Didn't get price on CAAD10

 

Specialized:

Roubaix SL4 Sora R18999 - Carbon frame

Allez Elite Tiagra R13999

***Roubaix SL4 sport 105 R23999***

***Tarmac SL4 sport 105 R23999***

***These two are "WOULD LIKES", OVER BUDGET!

 

What would you guys recommend? As you can see there is lots to choose and I am super confused!!!!!

 

Do I go for the Roubaix with a crappy Sora groupset but carbon "BEES-KNEES" frame? Really liking this but the grouset is very off putting

 

Or do I go Aluminium frame with 105 groupset with some change to do a wheel upgrade? Looking at the CAAD8 5 in this regard

 

The Giant TCR C2 looks like flippen good value, Carbon frame with good groupset.

 

Any other suggestions are welcome!

 

Thanks

[PaulTeague]

Go back and re-look your requirements...why exactly do you need a stiffer carbon frame for 'the odd race'?

Giant is really good value for money and good resale-but I am a little biased. I do think specialized are overpriced at the moment, but not poor quality at all. Same story with merida and 'dale. Scott also a good value for money brand at the moment.

For your needs I would choose an aluminium frame with the best groupset+wheelset....a carbon frame can always come later(and they're not too pricey), but some of the ali frames are lighter than the carbon ones....also an aluminium frame is more resilient during transport...lastly...its a lekker ego boost to cruise passed the okes on their carbon frames during races...hahahaa

[G...]

I bought a silverback strela concept. Full carbon? 105 components. I think I paid 12k new. Shop around I believe you can get better value for your money.

['Dale]

Choose your top 3.

See whether you can test ride them.

 

A good quality frame is everything.

Upgrades can always happen from there.

 

My 2c

[Sportsworld.co.za]

If you're only getting into road biking then do yourself a favour and buy a quality decent 2nd hand bike. With the budget you've indicated you're going to get a full carbon frame and probably at least a full 105 or Ultegra groupset.

 

And if you can wait a month or so there's probably going to be a few sold after the Argus.

Edited February 1, 2014 by Sportsworld.co.za

[Witkop]

planet X. But the rand is a bit crappy at the moment. Import from them is reasonably painless

http://www.planetx.c...-race-road-bike

http://www.planetx.c...iagra-road-bike

[Cippo]

Roubaix, Scott CR1 or Caad 10 in that order. Components are not an issue. When it breaks, eventually, replace with 105 or Ultegra. First upgrade if needed, wheels, wheels, wheels. And NO, you cannot put your meeyountain bike pedals on your road bike. It's a ROADBIKE. Get a dedicated road helmet or ditch the peak on your mtb helmet please. No camelbaks allowed, assemblief tog.

Edited February 1, 2014 by Cippo

[Cippo]

Another option,

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/125808-chinese-carbon-thread/

[Ryanpmb]

planet X. But the rand is a bit crappy at the moment. Import from them is reasonably painless

http://www.planetx.c...-race-road-bike

http://www.planetx.c...iagra-road-bike

And nearly half the bike price added to that for import duties on the full bike. This kind of advice should come with the statement above...

[Witkop]

why around import duties, buy the frame and components separately. Sometimes suppliers invoice and ship complete bikes in this way. Shop around online as well as the LBS, sometimes you do get a bargain

[T-Bob]

Get a great, virtually new second hand bike. If your budget is about the R12 - R16K mark then you can get a whole heap of ride that would be barely a 6 months - 1 year old.

 

Remember roadies don't try to break their bikes every time they go out and most don't even ride in the rain.

 

To look at:

 

New Felt:

http://www.thehubsa....rbon-brand-new/

 

Great Giant

http://www.thehubsa....rbon-brand-new/

 

Others

http://www.thehubsa....-rival-fulcrum/

http://www.thehubsa....rbon-road-bike/

http://www.thehubsa....ondale-caad-10/

 

Sold but an example that your 'do a few races' bike can be better than my weekly racer / trainer / sub 3:30 bike ...

http://www.thehubsa....dvanced-1-sold/

 

Nice dilemma to have for sure!

Edited February 1, 2014 by hellocolour

[Cellar]

Get a great, virtually new second hand bike. If your budget is about the R12 - R16K mark then you can get a whole heap of ride that would be barely a 6 months - 1 year old.

 

Remember roadies don't try to break their bikes every time they go out and most don't even ride in the rain.

 

To look at:

 

New Felt:

http://www.thehubsa....rbon-brand-new/

 

Great Giant

http://www.thehubsa....rbon-brand-new/

 

Others

http://www.thehubsa....-rival-fulcrum/

http://www.thehubsa....rbon-road-bike/

http://www.thehubsa....ondale-caad-10/

 

Sold but an example that your 'do a few races' bike can be better than my weekly racer / trainer / sub 3:30 bike ...

http://www.thehubsa....dvanced-1-sold/

 

Nice dilemma to have for sure!

 

This guy wins.

 

@ OP: If you absolutely must have that new bike smell in your garage, then go with the Giant with Ultegra. Most bang for buck out of all your choices. Remember to forget the brand hype, all the carbon frames you mention come out of the same couple of factories in Taiwan...

[Ryanpmb]

why around import duties, buy the frame and components separately. Sometimes suppliers invoice and ship complete bikes in this way. Shop around online as well as the LBS, sometimes you do get a bargain

On One/ Planet X won't ship like that. Your links were for full bikes but yes, frame alone and then build up is an option.

 

What On Ones and Planet X bikes do you own?

[Mopkop]

Thanks for all the replies!!!

 

I'll have look at the 2nd hand market, those links @hellocolour posted opened my eyes. I'll give myself another 2weeks to find something that tickles my fancy as I'd like to have it at least 2 weeks before argus.

 

I've noticed that If I wait till after the argus theres always leka deals out, but I'd like to have the bike before then. I did the Burger on my 29er with knobbies on and I must say: I really did not enjoy the race! I use my 29er to train on the road yes but It'll be more comfortable for me on a road bike(All the diff hand positions).

 

I'll shop around to see if anyone still has some 2013 stock laying around

 

Once again Thanks guys

[Mopkop]

Quick question..

 

BGfit recommends that I use a 56cm road frame, How big a difference is using a 54cm frame going to be?

 

I sat on a 52cm and that was waaaaaayyyyyy too small!

[camelman]

Just a quick point to note. With all the different frames out there it is really difficult to say a 52/54cm or even a small or medium will do. What i always tried to do is buy a bike with a comparible toptube length, whether it be virtual for a compact frame or the real one for a traditional frame. You can always adjust the seatpost lenght, but its not always great to ride a roadbike with a 40mm stem if the bike is too big or a130mm stem if it is too small.