Buying a new road bike

[Aidan16]

Good afternoon everyone

 

I have recently sold my Raleigh RC2000 and I am looking am now in the market for another road bike. I have 2 options at the moment but can't decide hich is the best option as I am new to the sport. My budget is R5000.

 

1) Merida Race Lite 901. It is a S/M and I have been told it is apparently 51cm (my Raleigh was 50cm, but i have been told they make bigger bikes). It has Shimano Sora components with 9 rear gears and 2 gears at the front. The bike is R3900 and looks good.

 

2) Focus Variado 50cm Road Bike. It has Shimano Tiagra components with 9 rear gears and 3 gears at the front. It is going for R3500.

 

I understand that Tiagra is better than Sora, however is it worth sacrificing the extra weight that the outdated 3 front gears will bring to the Focus? 

 

Basically, I can't decide between the Focus with Tiagra 9/3 gears and the Merida with Sora 9/2 gears and would appreciate some guidance.

 

I have attached photos of the 2 bikes.

 

Thanks in advance.

[PeterF]

You need to be carefull of the sizing.  Raleigh sizing was very strange and  I am not quite sure where the 50cm fit in.  The Merida is a S/M so probably about a 52cm in "normal" sizing and that Focus looks like a small.  I would personally stay away from a 3x setup on a road bike as imho it is just unneccessary and complicates the shifting.

[Duane_Bosch]

Out of the 2 I'd get the Merida. The geometry looks more up to date (IMO) and it has a carbon fork. Also some black bar tape (cheap) to freshen up the look.