- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Cross country mountain bikes
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
forum
First road bike
Hi, I'm about to get my first road bike and looking for some thoughts on the following bikes. I have 3 LBS, I can get the Forme Longcliffe 2 from one of them, a Trek 1.5 or Specialized Allez Elite from another and finally a Claud Butler Vicenza from the third. All the above are priced at around £900. The third shop will also build the following for me, Dolan prefissio frame with Campagnolo Veloce group set, Khamsin cx wheels with either Deda or Cinelli finishing kit for £950. The bike will be mainly for my commute to work. Which represents the best buy/spec? Thanks in advance for the replies.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
Latest Forum Topics
Latest Comments
- Paul J 3 min 53 sec ago
Their bodies still either produced AND responded to testosterone; OR their bodies did not. They end up either with the male or female phenotypes ...
- wtjs 5 min 47 sec ago
As you say, optimised for ease of manufacture, assembly and disassembly- just imagine what fun you could have with hookless rims on this hub.
- Sredlums 7 min ago
All extreme aero bikes are ugly, so you can't really hold that against this one specifically. Also, those ridiculously high stacked aero extensions...
- brooksby 9 min 4 sec ago
Potato/potato…
- Hirsute 35 min 31 sec ago
I think the driver would have accelerated more with the same result.
- JeremyD 45 min 16 sec ago
Unrelated, what are those leg warmers? Are these white panels reflective? I've been looking for a way to boost my visibility for my morning commute...
- David9694 53 min 6 sec ago
Drink-driver who called police to fallen tree gets roads ban...
- levestane 1 hour 13 min ago
I wonder what the same view will look like in 2035?
- David9694 1 hour 14 min ago
Person trapped after car crashes into wall...
- Clem Fandango 1 hour 42 min ago
Pedestrians clearly can't be trusted & the "roads" are "too dangerous" for them. So the answer, to these angry locals, should be painfully...
Add new comment
10 comments
Would you get fitted on a jig before the Dolan is put together? It would make sense for the builder to leave some stack height on the steerer for you so that you can settle in to the slightly more hunched over position. CX wheels are a good idea for the rough roads, handbuilt maybe a worthwhile consideration too on the basis that they are easier to repair. With a custom build you'll get to choose some decent tyres, I like Conti 4Seasons for commuting but I expect you'll have your own favourites. Whatever you get, I hope you're inspired to take that new steed out into some of that fantastic countryside just put of town. Enjoy the new bike.
Thanks for all the replies, I think that I will go for the Dolan and get the bike made to my specifactions and finish. It will be a few weeks before I get it , but I will let you knw how I get on.
With dodgy road surfaces and a need to be mindful of your back, why not check out another of your LBS' Trek models, the Domane? If you can stretch to £1,000, the Tiagra-equipped Domane 2.0 is in your budget. I haven't yet ridden one but everything I've heard about them reports unparalleled comfort.
If you're worried about back, there are road bikes with a more relaxed geometry. They're the frames intended for longer rides, sportives, etc. The manufacturer will generally state it's a relaxed geometry.
Have you looked for a used titanium bike?
Cannondale Synapse. I commute on one and it's perfect. Fast, comfortable and takes full mudguards. From my experience you'll struggle to get proper mudguards on a CAAD model, as good a bike as they are.
My commute is about 8 miles into Glasgow. Roads are in poor condition, so looking for a robust bike that I can use all year round. At the moment I'm using my 3 year old Boardman hybrid, have not had a road bike since the 80's,due to bad back, have been advised by the dealers that each of these bikes have a fairly relaxed riding position. As for the test rides, the Dolan would be a custom build so would not be able to have a test ride.
The Dolan looks good to me, the Forme's OK too, the others are decent so you can't go too far wrong. How far is the commute and whereabouts is it? Do you think you'll need mudguards? Will you want to fit a rack and panniers? I commute for a couple of hours a day and wouldn't be without the guards and rack.
My choices were Canondale CAAD (always get a good write-up) Trek 1.5 as you said and a wild card was the MEKK poggio 2.0 which I ended up getting, great bike for the price!
Every one will be different, as crash said. You'll have to decide what geometry works best for you.
Crash is also right in saying that you'll just want to upgrade and upgrade on it. If I were you, get the best frame possible and you can slowly put better parts on that frame.
I got a Cannondale Synapse Alloy (I want a metal bike) with terrible Sora components with the intention of immediately adding a SRAM Rival groupset. Next is the wheels...
The Dolan looks to be good value. Bottom line is which one you feel comfortable on and what ever you buy in six months you'll want to trade up. Second law of road bikes