I'm looking for help with purchasing a new bike, my old one is busted up now and it's time for a new bike. I'm looking at Road Bikes for my daily commute to/from work and to/from gym. My daily mileage is around 15 miles (minimum). I've narrowed my choice of bike down to two bikes which I think would be really good, I just can't decide between the two! My budget is up to £900.
Roux is a good brand and I've heard alot about it from a friend of mine who owns one, I've taken this bike for a test ride and it really does feel comfortable for me.
I've also heard good things about cannondale, but I haven't tried riding this bike in particular, it fits my price range though and looks pretty awesome. May go down for a test ride soon-ish
I am new to road cycling and I have a cannondale synapse, different bike than what you posted,but same geometry. [sharedmedia=core:attachments:742] I've put around 800 miles in and so far so good!I'd say just ride a few bikes and see which one you feel the most comfortable on. Also, don't be afraid to buy used from a reliable shop. I paid $800 U.S. down from $1200+ for a great bike.
Ride the Cannondale first. The CAAD 8 is a fairly aggressive geometry bike, although not as aggressive as the CAAD 10. But the Roux also looks like it has a fairly aggressive set-up.
The Synapse is not quite the same geometry as the CAAD 8. It has a more relaxed "endurance" fit. The CAAD 8 is somewhere in between that, and the CAAD 10.
BTW, an 11-25 cassette is far from a "wide range" cassette. So that part of the Roux ad is kind of questionable.
Well I have a Motobecane which rides good, and is great for the price. I will say it's a step down from the cannonade but I just couldn't pass up the deal. I ride about 15 miles a day 3 days a week and this bike holds up well, it surprised me for the cost.
You need to ride both to see which is more comfortable for you, but at the same price points that both of those bikes have the Cannondale has the better 105 components instead of the 2 levels down using the Sora like the Vercors.
I've never heard of Vercors and that could be simply because they're a European only company but it also could mean they're just a cheap no name bike. I would stay away from that bike just because of that alone, but the cost of the bike with lower end components for me makes a no deal.
I see what you mean about my gym, I would have avoided taking a good bike to my last gym but my new one is on privately owned land and has proper bike racks + I'm familiar with everyone in the gym so I'm all covered on that front! I'm surprised most of you haven't heard of Roux, they're pretty big in the UK. I'm presuming most of you are situated in the US?
Agree with Mr. B. 22-speed 105 over 20-speed Tiagra, although I do like the fact that the Roux is a complete shimaNO group. The Cannondale is trimmed in Tektro and FSA...not that there is anything wrong with those brakes or crankset.
But, do test ride both to see if either geometry and ride characteristics work for you.
With their 50-34 cranksets, both will offer decent climbing gears with their 25 and 28 tooth cassettes. Even if you don't care for the factory gearing, a swap to another cassette is relatively inexpensive in the shimaNO line.
US here also but I order a heck of a lot from UK! :lol: Ribble cycles UK and Pro bike kit have some killer deals online. B)
Not sure why we can get some things out of the UK for less than here. I went to Derby to the Mercian factory and shop and bought a Vincitore back in 07 and they got me the 06 Athena groupset for about 1/2 of what it would have cost me in the states. I've also noticed on Ribble and Wiggle that they sell Conti tires less than here among other items not to mention big sales on Shimano and Campy with prices never seen here. I guess we're rich Americans and we can afford to pay more.
Not sure why we can get some things out of the UK for less than here. I went to Derby to the Mercian factory and shop and bought a Vincitore back in 07 and they got me the 06 Athena groupset for about 1/2 of what it would have cost me in the states. I've also noticed on Ribble and Wiggle that they sell Conti tires less than here among other items not to mention big sales on Shimano and Campy with prices never seen here. I guess we're rich Americans and we can afford to pay more.
It sucks but hey, after spending lots of money on bike, I've learned to go for the deals. I have a buddy with a shop that will give me the good guy price and still far more expensive than the UK.
He offered a front Ultegra 10 hub for $100. I got the front and back Ultegra 10 speed for $123 delivered from Ribble. I built my wheels dirt cheap compared to what a shop wants around here. :angry:
It sucks but hey, after spending lots of money on bike, I've learned to go for the deals. I have a buddy with a shop that will give me the good guy price and still far more expensive than the UK.
He offered a front Ultegra 10 hub for $100. I got the front and back Ultegra 10 speed for $123 delivered from Ribble. I built my wheels dirt cheap compared to what a shop wants around here. :angry:
I've always try to go for the deals, I too learned this 40 some odd years ago. My old road bike that I bought new in 84 and used it for racing I had equipped with Suntour instead of the main line Campy and Shimano because it was cheaper, and later I found out it was better. There's all kinds of stuff I buy on the cheap, and always try to wait for end of the year close outs, for example I constantly find $60 to $75 dollar tires and never pay more than $30, of course I stay away from Conti because they price fix their stuff here in America but they don't last long for me anyways so it's no loss for me; in fact I don't understand why anyone buys tires from a bike shop, they're always at least 50% more than even regular prices online!. I also shop my LBS's in town because on a rare occasion they have a great sale, I got a Fizik Arione saddle for just $23 and another Fizik Aliante VS for just $24 they were turnouts that came on new bikes but the customer wanted a different saddle. So I look on the internet and the bikes stores but about 90% of my stuff is purchased online because I know I can save at least 50% from store prices.
The one thing I won't do is go into an LBS and pick the salesperson brain for an hour or so then go online to get the item cheaper, that's just ripping off the salesperson's time that he could have made a commission selling to someone else. I usually know what I want anyways so I rarely need advice from a salesperson.
