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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2014 22:13:26 GMT
Ok so work announced the launch of their C2W scheme today as expected, happy days! Anyway it turned out they have changed provider and the scheme is for bikes at Halfords or selected independent bike shops including Evans. Annoyed is not the word! I'd set my heart on a Triban 7 but the scheme doesn't support Decathlon.
I've looked at Boardmans in Halfords but it's £700 for a bike with a similar spec to a T5 let alone a T7.
Where else can I get a Tiagra equipped bike for £550? What else would you guys suggest? I'd budgeted for between £500-£700.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2014 22:24:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2014 23:37:30 GMT
Actually, just checked and Planet X are covered. Bit of a trek though, may combine it with a visit to family round there.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 2:12:01 GMT
Actually, just checked and Planet X are covered. Bit of a trek though, may combine it with a visit to family round there. Not sure where you're based but Planet x also sell bikes through a few (?) other outlets. I know for definite that there's a triathlon shop in St Albans called "St Albans Triathlon" I think, who stock Planet x bikes. Even if that shop's not covered by the scheme at least you could go and see the bikes in the flesh. Try googling or give planet x a call to see if there's other outlets nearer.
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Post by demonkarlos on Feb 4, 2014 10:01:40 GMT
I was looking at the Specialised Allez from my local bike shop. Ended up with the T5a as it seemed better specced.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 10:25:05 GMT
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Post by captslog on Feb 4, 2014 11:08:55 GMT
The other places I'd looked (apart from online) were a LBS that no longer sold racing bikes* and Halfords. Everywhere was much more than I originally wanted to pay for a bike.
Another factor of going into a bikeshop was that it's a bit overwhelming. I recall when I was looking for a bike for No2 Son, the patter went something along the lines of "well the cheapest frame we do starts at £250 and then it depends upon what you want on it". A long way out of my budget when i was looking at bikes of around £250 all in at the time.
When I turned up at Decca, Mrs Slog gave me the option of the T3 or the T5, which was quite a shock. If I'd known that £500 was a possible budget i might have looked around a bit more. But £300 was what I'd planned on, and liked the redness of the T3.
*The LBS used to be a Raliegh 'main dealer' and I think that still have affiliations with them. I found it staggeringly stupid that at the time when everyone was selling racing bikes like hot cakes due to the Wiggins effect, they had decided stop doing so.
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Post by ianmoss on Feb 4, 2014 14:16:35 GMT
Actually, just checked and Planet X are covered. Bit of a trek though, may combine it with a visit to family round there. If you are travelling to Planet X, make sure to visit BOTH Stores, they are only 15 mins away from each other. M1 Jct 24 and 36
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Post by ianmoss on Feb 4, 2014 16:14:50 GMT
For me it would have been that horrible yellow and black Carrera from Halfords - £300 budget... - I think I made the right choice.
If I had £1000 I'de be looking at something with no less than Ultegra, probably everything else custom dependent on pro bike fit (essential).
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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2014 23:50:27 GMT
Thanks for the input guys, I think I've narrowed it down to two. A Merlin Malt-R
Or a Ridley R6
Both are the same spec, and both are the same price - comparable to the T5. Sat on the Merlin this afternoon. I do like the colour scheme of the Merlin as it's very close to my current GT, but I think the Ridley looks a little smarter as it looks less cluttered. How about you guys?
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Post by jdebs on Feb 5, 2014 0:46:25 GMT
I like the look of the Merlin. I've ordered from them before. They are ace
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Post by jdebs on Feb 5, 2014 0:48:08 GMT
I had a look at the Canyon before getting my pro carbon from planet x. A lovely bike.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 1:31:53 GMT
Thanks for the input guys, I think I've narrowed it down to two. A Merlin Malt-R
Or a Ridley R6
Both are the same spec, and both are the same price - comparable to the T5. Sat on the Merlin this afternoon. I do like the colour scheme of the Merlin as it's very close to my current GT, but I think the Ridley looks a little smarter as it looks less cluttered. How about you guys? [/ quote] If you can get and sit on one and like it, I think you may have found the best way of choosing. It's by far the most important aspect of buying a bike, ie that it fits and it's comfortable. No amount of reviews or component/geometry sheets can replace physically sitting and riding a bike. if it's comfortable you will ride it more, no matter if another has a higher spec frame/group set/paint job. Used Merlin for lots of components, never a full bike and found them 1st class with excellent customer service. They are also very good to chat to about what's most suitable and often the most reasonably priced. (No I don't work for them). I don't know about that Ridley specifically, but my brother-in-law has the Orion which is a fantastic bike. Also they're Belgium, like my family, so I am biased there. Used to do the paint jobs for Colnago years ago and all that testing on those cobbles must surely come in handy on our terrible roads in the UK.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2014 7:46:29 GMT
The Ridley has the full tiagra groupset too.
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panda
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Post by panda on Feb 5, 2014 16:36:27 GMT
Actually, just checked and Planet X are covered. Bit of a trek though, may combine it with a visit to family round there. If you are travelling to Planet X, make sure to visit BOTH Stores, they are only 15 mins away from each other. M1 Jct 24 and 36 Why would you go to both stores? Are they very different?
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