New road bike advice

[gmccarthy]

After discovering today that my Cannondale R600 has a crack in the frame (by the saddle post) i'm now looking for a new bike.

 

Its probably not worth just replacing the frame (Can it be fixed?) as the bike it pretty old and the components are all looking a bit worse for wear, so I think I should retire it and get another bike.

 

The question is what. Before I walk into the shop and the guy tries to sell me a bike for R20 000 I would like to know what I should be looking at.

 

The price range for be around R6000-R7000, max R10k is its really special and worth spending the extra.

 

I've been looking and the Raleigh bikes and they don't look too bad. The RC3000 is going for about R8000. Are there any good brands I should be looking at which are good value. Any I should stay away from.

 

I would like to get another Cannondale but I think it's gonna be way too expensive.

 

Any recommendations?

 

[Minion]

Look for deals on second hand bikes.

 

Else you could look at getting a new Cannondale frame and then go for second hand wheels and groupset. I managed to save quite a bit of cash by going a route like this on my new bike and still ended up with a beautiful bike (if I may say so myself).

 

I'm not familiar with current prices, but my old Merida 904 was R8000 when I bought it new just under two years ago.

 

Other new brands to consider might be Silverback and Felt.

 

[Conti]

That is good advice Edman

look at the 2nd hand bikes for sale at the moment on the hub

there is some very good deals going and you can save a lot.

https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=31628&KW=raleigh

[gmccarthy]

Thanks for the info. Just found my July copy of Bicycling - they review 8 bikes for around 6000-7000

 

Fuji, trek, schwinn, felt, raleigh, merida, silverback and giant.

 

I'll take a good look through these which should help me making a decision.

 

I'll look into second hand bikes but have never been a fan - if you don't know what to look out for you normally end up getting someone else's junk.

 

[dylankeyter]

New bike prices are horrendous when you compare to what you can get second hand. I was very fortunate to land myself a new Cannondale Caad4 frame with 9 speed Dura Ace for R4500. That was a bargain, but there are bargains out there if you look hard enough. Try www.gumtree.co.za too.

[JPW#]

getting a second hand cannondale is good advice. They seem to make the best quality bikes. I know of only 2 handmade brands....the other is rocky mountain.

[Serendipity]

You could get a good deal on a Tribal frame from Tokenfreak if you want to go that route - check out his thread here https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=31708

[Eugene]

I'm not sure where you are situated, but Action Cycles in PE are selling the Raleigh RC6000 carbon for R9 999.00. That is an absolute bargain.

[PPWTF]

 

You could get a good deal on a Tribal frame from Tokenfreak if you want to go that route - check out his thread here https://www.bikehub.co.za/forum_posts.asp?TID=31708

 

it's fair to say you will not find a better deal than those offered on the hub by Tokenfreak.

 

If you a not brand sensitive, and can see a quality bit of kit for what it is, not simple a collection of branding graphics or stickers with a 60% inflated price tag then you will see that Tokenfreak is the man with a plan, and that you'll be riding an awesome bit of kit at an amazing price.

 

why spend more when you can get the same quality of equipment for so so much less?

 

[Dirtbreath]

If you are the first owner of that frame is it not covered by some sort of Cannondale warranty?

[intern]

Try getting that Cannondale swapped for a shiny new one - as per Dirtbreath's recommendation. Cannon is legendary for its generous returns policy. At the least they are likely to help you out with a discounted new frame...

[Rich]

If you consider second hand you can really get value - eg you could land up with ultegra or even dura-ace and a great wheelset in your price range.

 

 

 

If you confine yourself to new as in the bicycling article price range you will get tiagra and entry level wheels at best.

[intern]

Except for my Specialized SL2 and my last Cannondale CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD 7, I have always bought 2nd hand bikes. Far better value as Rich has so sagely observed...!