Halfords road bikes

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by craggs
Has anyone any comments or feedback on Halfords road bikes,ie the Carrera Vengeance 2003 or Carrera Vanquish 2003🙄

I got a Carrera Vanquish about a month ago for £549 plus a pair of Shimano SPD shoes thrown in. It was originally priced at £699.

The spec is amazing for the price 6061 Aluminium (Merida) frame. Shimano 105 groupset and hubs (Tiagra brakes).

Everything else is by Ritchey - Aero OCR rims, Comp handlebars, stem and seatpost. The pedals are the only thing I'd update in the meantime.

Weighs about 20lb.

I had a good look at Cannondale (R500) and Specialised in this price bracket and they don't come close spec wise.

Can't recommend this bike highly enough - only thing I'm not that keen on is the colour scheme (black/yellow).

1. Don't expect to get the perfect bike for you from a shop that doesn't specialise in selling bikes - it's like buying a computer from Toys 'r' us.
2. What size frame do you need? If you don't know then don't spend that kind of money until you do - the chances are that you'll get the wrong size! The Halfords website only lists 58cm for the dearer model and 54cm and 58 cm for the cheaper model.

Having said the above, they do seem fairly well specd for the price, but you'll get a correctly sized frame and a much better deal (not to mention colour scheme!) by going to a specialist cycle shop run by a cyclist.
You'll also get much better advice on how to set up the saddle as well getting as the correct(ish) length handlebar stem. These factors are critical when it comes to the difference between thoroughly enjoying your cycling and leaving the bike at the back of the garage!

Most of these shops are run by enthusiastic cyclists who, although they like your money, like nothing better than seeing you enjoy your bike.

1) I only bought this bike after careful consideration of the other options over a period of 5 weeks, and a test run.

2) As I'm 6'3" I find the frame ideally sized - if I hadn't I wouldn't have bought it.

3) I agree that a specialist bike shop may have offered more advice on set up etc - but let's face it, this isn't rocket science and I'd rather save £300 and set up the bike myself! (Having said that...it was tuned up before I got it and will get it's first free service in a week's time).

4) I think you're doing Carrera a dis-service by saying the bike is fairly well specced for the price - there is simply nothing out there with this level of equipment in the same price range. I'll only be slightly miffed if can you prove me wrong!

Phew what a rant!

It's true to say that I wouldn't touch half the bikes in Halfords with a barge pole - but there are some cracking deals there if you know what you're looking for.

...and I am enjoying riding it!

Sorry if I seemed a bit patronising there!

The main thing is that you are enjoying it.

Have fun 🙂

No worries. Cheers!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by craggs
Has anyone any comments or feedback on Halfords road bikes,ie the Carrera Vengeance 2003 or Carrera Vanquish 2003🙄

I have just recently purchased a carrera vengeance road bike and although not a techno on road bikes compared to my other road bikes i have owned this is by far the best and price wise at £ 800 fantastic. I have always thought that i could go faster down hill or on flat but never had the chainset to do that, this bike provides that with the nine cogs at the back. What does impress me its the ability to climb the hill with its high number of teeth on the back top cog and the low number of teeth on the back bottom cog. My appologies for not being up on the cycling terms as am a novice when it comes to that, just to say that the bike is lightweight great for a top speed and just as good to get up those steep hills even for an old foggie like me, by the way i'm 40. To me a great all round bike best I have ever had and even though ive never raced I have bought a number of bikes throughout the years from new and this is the best by far.