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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2014 8:49:54 GMT
After 3 or so months of thrashing my Marin hybrid around in the mud and starting running again (massive bonus after 4 years of achilles tendonitis but I digress!) I have decided it is time to replace my stolen T3 Red. The bike that would be a slight upgrade would obviously be the T500 (not the SE) but the 2 things putting me off are the colour scheme and the triple chainset. Mainly the chainset I suppose, it actually looks ok in the flesh. As the Alur 700 is out of my price range and a somewhat mythical beast I have been looking around on wiggle and seen some bikes around my 450-500 price bracket. These Felt and Mekk bikes seem like a lot of bike for the money but I'm also quite hesitant to order off the internet without sitting on the bike first. www.wiggle.co.uk/compare/shared?product=5360080984&product=5360081973&product=5360080516&product=5360081237Having never ordered a bike online, what happens? How does it arrive? What do I need to do in terms of set up? Also I have no idea where these are made... are the btwins still made in Italy? Are these made in China? Does it even matter anymore? I know the components are good but what of the frames? Maybe I should stick with what I know and get the T500 which I know will be a top top bike. I guess the triple isn't that big a deal but I do remember thinking my T3 would have been better with a compact. Anyway better do some work! Any thoughts are welcome...
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Post by joneve on Aug 8, 2014 9:38:29 GMT
The Felt's are good budget bikes IMHO. Sora groupset which is ok and is the "newer" one with the STI brake shifters, not the little thumb nubbins like the original T3 has.
The MEKK with Tiagra bits is decent value too if they have your size. I'm not keen on the royal blue colour scheme personally, but it comes with Mavic wheels on Shimano hubs (which will be their cheap ones, but should at least be sealed and much better than the stock T3 wheels) and aside from the calipers which are Mekk branded, and the Front Derailleur which is Sora, the rest is Tiagra.
The Felt F95 is a great looking bike, and £100 cheaper, but the wheels on the Mekk seem better to me and you get the Tiagra mechs which get rave reviews from those on here who have upgraded...Either would be a great budget bike though I reckon!
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Post by KiwiBeard on Aug 8, 2014 10:12:08 GMT
When I was pre-triban, I was looking at Mekk and Felt too.
The fact that you can go to Decathlon and sit on the bike and see how you like it in terms of fit etc, sealed the deal for me really.
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Post by jondxxx on Aug 8, 2014 11:54:55 GMT
It's a very competitive market and each bike has it's plus points. Worth checking out Wiggles' returns policy as they appear to offer a one month trial period with free collection. Later on in the same section, however, they say that all returned items should be unused?
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Post by ChrisD on Aug 8, 2014 12:33:55 GMT
It's a very competitive market and each bike has it's plus points. Worth checking out Wiggles' returns policy as they appear to offer a one month trial period with free collection. Later on in the same section, however, they say that all returned items should be unused? You can ride it around your front room perhaps...?
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Post by beatnik69 on Aug 8, 2014 13:10:35 GMT
It's a very competitive market and each bike has it's plus points. Worth checking out Wiggles' returns policy as they appear to offer a one month trial period with free collection. Later on in the same section, however, they say that all returned items should be unused? You can ride it around your front room perhaps...? Rollers?
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Post by phred1812 on Aug 8, 2014 14:03:02 GMT
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Post by joneve on Aug 8, 2014 14:13:50 GMT
That is lovely.
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Post by erictherat on Aug 8, 2014 15:00:57 GMT
My brother in law got a felt f95 - it is lovely. but - he hasn't done more than 30km since he bought it in March, as he cant get up the hill out of town. I dont think cycling is really for him and expect to see it on e-bay at the end of summer.
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Post by ChrisD on Aug 8, 2014 15:58:08 GMT
My brother in law got a felt f95 - it is lovely. but - he hasn't done more than 30km since he bought it in March, as he cant get up the hill out of town. I dont think cycling is really for him and expect to see it on e-bay at the end of summer. Can you teach him the ways of the SnakeHips?
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Post by Whitestar1 on Aug 8, 2014 16:07:07 GMT
After 3 or so months of thrashing my Marin hybrid around in the mud and starting running again (massive bonus after 4 years of achilles tendonitis but I digress!) I have decided it is time to replace my stolen T3 Red. The bike that would be a slight upgrade would obviously be the T500 (not the SE) but the 2 things putting me off are the colour scheme and the triple chainset. Mainly the chainset I suppose, it actually looks ok in the flesh. As the Alur 700 is out of my price range and a somewhat mythical beast I have been looking around on wiggle and seen some bikes around my 450-500 price bracket. These Felt and Mekk bikes seem like a lot of bike for the money but I'm also quite hesitant to order off the internet without sitting on the bike first. www.wiggle.co.uk/compare/shared?product=5360080984&product=5360081973&product=5360080516&product=5360081237Having never ordered a bike online, what happens? How does it arrive? What do I need to do in terms of set up? Also I have no idea where these are made... are the btwins still made in Italy? Are these made in China? Does it even matter anymore? I know the components are good but what of the frames? Maybe I should stick with what I know and get the T500 which I know will be a top top bike. I guess the triple isn't that big a deal but I do remember thinking my T3 would have been better with a compact. Anyway better do some work! Any thoughts are welcome... First bike you say? In that case its always better to go to your Local bike shop. Although Halfords is considered a scary place to go particularly when a bike mechanic is only there on certain days, I would advise going to a Decathlon store and just ask questions, get sizing details and even ride a few of the bikes around the store. They do allow that you know. I was a complete noob - novice about bikes when i started communting to work in 2011. Still am compared to some in this forum come to think about it just ask zoltan or rad. even so. first bike, not an expert forget online purchase and walk into a Decathlon store and do your research. The Triban 500SE is a nice bike. The Triban 3 in its current guise is still an attractive buy. The brand names of others will tempt you but face it, its your money and you do want value for money? right check out the store. nuff said. I love my Triban 7 - Whtney
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2014 11:17:19 GMT
No not my first bike, I had a t3 red which was stolen in April so kind if know what I'm looking for... Was just wondering more about the quality of the discounted bikes off wiggle and how they compare to the btwins as they look pretty decent...
Read some of the reviews on wiggle and people have said bikes have turned up with different wheels etc to those in the product description which puts me off significantly.
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Post by r0b1et on Aug 9, 2014 12:17:41 GMT
I'm after my new summer stead... was thinking Alur but they can't get my size (medium... 54cm T3 currently) "in the foreseeable future"... but the temptation of carbon is there as it's within budget (<£1000, but not getting involved in C2W ).
Been thinking Felt Z6: www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-z6-2014/ Was due a test ride, but Hargroves cycles Fareham, having told me they had one in and built up and they'd have it ready to test ride this morning, when I got there said it was in their Chichester branch and why not drive there... no, just never go in that shop again (quite peed off, had organised a baby sitter for a couple of hours).
Of course the Boardman is an option, unfortunately my money came through the day after they ended the Boardman sale and they refuse to price match themself!
Anyhow... Any other suggestions?
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Post by joneve on Aug 9, 2014 16:32:30 GMT
That Felt Z6 is ridiculous value for money
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Post by r0b1et on Aug 9, 2014 17:00:48 GMT
That's my feeling, but I just can't seem to get on one to see how it feels!
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