entry level sure, I am sure popsider will have better advice than me, I would wait for him to add to this but my only concern would be the aluminium forks. I am sure the £500 bikes he has recommended have carbon forks and this would seriously improve the comfort on an IM ride. Comfort is the most important thing on long rides for a newbie as the speed gained through stiffness of an aluminium frame and forks is outweighed by being able to get off and run afterwards.
I would be tempted to pay a little extra to get a carbon fork but as I said wait for a few of the pure bikeys to respond.
If you've seen the state of my bike you wouldn't take bike advice off me - cracked cable outers, frayed inners, worn headset but....
I know they supply bikes to Liberty Seguros so they aren't a completely unknown company - though they pretty much are to me. Like Rosey I'd be looking for a carbon fork just for the comfort factor, and because for £500 you can get one elsewhere. I'd also have a few other questions - mach cfx rims? aluminio hubs ? aluminio brakes ? etc. It's not even got a full sora groupset on it - which would worry me because I've never heard of a aluminio bike components. They may be great - but they may be rubbish. I'd be more concerned about the wheels than the other bits.
I suppose it's a question of how much you value a fitting at your local shop (personally I think any shop should ensure a new bike fits you but I know in practice they don't always do a good job). I notice xpedia have a deal on Tifosi bikes which looks OK for £600, and places like Ribble or Sheffield Cycles in Burton would have better deals too - but you need to know your size.
plum. i'm no bike ponce but it loks a bit basic. i think that the trek 1000 costs about £500 and comes with carbon forks and seat post. compared to what you're being offered, its well worth the extra bit of cash. an ironman ride is long and uncomfortable at the best of times, and if you're being jarred and shaken to bits by an unforgiving bike it will be much worse.
Haile - yes my guess was it meant aluminium but sounds like they are unbranded rather than shimano bits - can only be done to save money so the possibility is there that they are going to be inferior.
A quick google shows Sidcup cycles are doing the same make of bike with better spec for less money.
no, that's got neither. i'm sure that ava or somebody got there's last year with carbon bits. well worth the extra - or maybe there was a special offer on? it might be worth waiting until the winter to buy?
Plum, I will join in here if it's ok, I Road Race, TT, MTB, Cyclo cross, etc (closet bike ponce) So in my opinion, go for the Trek 1000 WSD, 2005 model, it has a carbon seat post and carbon forks, two of the most important upgrades to reduce vibration, these both greatly improve comfort. Dont even bother with the BH.
Now you realise you've just sent Plum to a page containing the headling "Bottom", and a rather fetching photo? We may not hear from him for some time....
Comments
I would be tempted to pay a little extra to get a carbon fork but as I said wait for a few of the pure bikeys to respond.
I know they supply bikes to Liberty Seguros so they aren't a completely unknown company - though they pretty much are to me. Like Rosey I'd be looking for a carbon fork just for the comfort factor, and because for £500 you can get one elsewhere. I'd also have a few other questions - mach cfx rims? aluminio hubs ? aluminio brakes ? etc. It's not even got a full sora groupset on it - which would worry me because I've never heard of a aluminio bike components. They may be great - but they may be rubbish. I'd be more concerned about the wheels than the other bits.
I suppose it's a question of how much you value a fitting at your local shop (personally I think any shop should ensure a new bike fits you but I know in practice they don't always do a good job). I notice xpedia have a deal on Tifosi bikes which looks OK for £600, and places like Ribble or Sheffield Cycles in Burton would have better deals too - but you need to know your size.
i know they have treks in the shop will go for a browse
I am not committing to anything at the moment just using your lot's expertise to make sure i dont make an @rse of it and end up with a sore one
you mean this one?
A quick google shows Sidcup cycles are doing the same make of bike with better spec for less money.
https://secure.sidcupcycles.co.uk
Was it the trek or the BH you were talking about poppie?
Carbon forks
twin set rather than triple?
Cut and paste please//////
You were right Candy, the new Trek 1000 does have a carbon fork - the old ones didn't so that may be an old model or non-UK spec with the alu.
Or check out the sub £400 bikes and they've got what appears to be the same spec as yours.
But you can get the Trek for £500 easily if you wanted that - Evans or someone would do it. There's a lot of choice for £500 these days.
this one?
isn't that a girls bike???
So if you want a Trek 1000 you probably don't want a WSD one.
Or maybe you do????? ;-)
I will leave the decision to you M