Calver

After cycling for a few months on my Scott Sub 20 hybrid, I felt it was time to move to bigger and better places, by purchasing a road bike.

I'm open to suggestions for things I could try - obviously I would need to have a test ride first - but I'd really just like some suggestions. My price limit is sub £1000.
After a bit of searching I liked the look of the Trek Madone 2.1 and Giant Defy 0, any specific opinions on these bikes for a first road bike, are they suitable? As I'm quite into cycling and have been for a while, I'd like to start of with something that I won't feel inclined to upgrade in the near future, hence am looking for something that can sustain.

Thanks in advance.

TheManShow

As you are not talking dollars, and cent you must be out of the USA. I would suggest visiting a few bicycle shops, talking with the sales people, test ride, and make note to see what brands offer the most band for buck that you like the ride of.

Willbird

In the same general line up would be the defy 1 (I shopped that price range, your up two notches), the Felt z85, the Fuji Sportif, cannondale synapse.

The defy 0 may have better wheels than the defy 1, not sure there but for just starting out Ultegra may not offer you loads of improvement over 105. The Fuji gran fondo in some level may be in your price range too. Pounds to dollars not working mentally for me. I would not smoke your whole budget on the bike, leave some for clothing and stuff like spare tubes or a nice cycle computer :-).

K.Katso

Both of those are perfectly good bikes. If you want some more options, maybe check these out too:

https://www.canyon.com/en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3577

Planet X Pro Carbon SRAM Rival 22 Road Bike | Planet X

Both are sub-£1000

Calver

Thanks for your suggestions, another question: I was wondering if it was worth the money for a bike fit from my local bike shop, or would I be able to do it myself and adjust as I got used to the bike?

a1penguin

In the US, most bike shops include some kind of a bike fit if you purchase a bike in that price range. Is that not common in the UK? Perhaps you could negotiate and get a discount on a fit. A basic fit is about $50-75 in the US.

ColaJacket

If you have a known medical condition (e.g. Leg length difference, Hip issues, back issues, etc.) then a professional fit would be a good idea.

Otherwise, a basic fit, should work. Also, since it is your first proper road bike, your fit may change after riding for a few months. A basic fit should definitely include setting the seat height and seat fore/aft position. It may inlcude working with the stem.

One thing you might want to decide, is if you want to go clipless immediately, or if you want to wait for a while to get the clipless pedals/shoes. You'll probably need an adjustment to your basic fit if you go to clipless later.

GH

Calver

I've purchased some clipless pedals and shoes preemptively so I can practice using them on my hybrid before I purchase my road bike, so there isn't a delay period and I can get straight into clipless on my road bike.

ColaJacket

Take them with you when you buy/pick-up the bike. Most shops will do a basic fit for free when you buy the bike there, when you take ownership of the bike.

GH

McBTC

You can't go too far wrong using the Madone as a benchmark. Shimano's 105 components and Trek's CF technology are good places to start and the price certainly seems reasonable. Wait a minute... how much is 1,000 pounds anyway? I just spent $1,300 on a Felt Z85 and thought it was a good deal; and, it also has 105 components but is aluminum not CF.

Update: ha, ha – the 2.1 is an aluminum frame with a CF fork too (like the Felt). The Madone's price is over $1,500 so, I'd say Trek is trading on its name a bit but not outrageously so. There's a lot of good, well-equipped, aluminum bikes that are similarly speced and you can't go wrong with the value they offer at this price point (like a lot of products, with bikes you get more, the more you pay, up to a point where you get increasingly less for the added price but are still getting a better product; and, that "point" I think goes up to somewhere around $3-4K: today's $1-2K bikes are a hell'uva value).

Shuffleman

Great advice. Once you buy the bike they should give you a basic fit at the shop as part of the service. That is standard in the States and I assume that it is the same elsewhere.

If they do not include it in the price than $50 to $75 is pretty much the going rate here. In my market it is more in the $50 range but every market is different.



Canyon is an excellent choice. You have to make sure that you are in a market that they do business though. If you do buy from them than you will need to take it to a lbs for a fitting as Canyon is mail order only. Great bikes though.
The Trek and Giant that you are looking at are nice as well. The Felt Z recommendation was another good one. I think that Giant, Felt and Canyon give you a little more bang for the dollar but either way it is hard to go wrong with any of them. Most bikes in the same price range are very similar. Go with the one that you like the looks of the most if you are struggling with the decision. It is all a matter of personal preference anyway. I happen to like Felt and Canyon more than I like Trek and Giant. Somebody else may feel the exact opposite. The reality is that they are all really nice bikes.

Calver

After looking into all the bikes posted here and a few extras, think I'm pretty set on the Giant Defy 0. A quick query, does anybody have any recommendations for clipless pedals and shoes for a beginner, not too expensive please

Shuffleman

The Defy is an excellent choice. I hope that you enjoy the bike.
There are going to be a ton of choices for pedals. I personally use Shimano. The link below is a great pedal. You can pay more and get the same pedal in Ultegra or Dura Ace but they cost more money. If you are not worried about the weight than this is a great choice.
I would not buy shoes on line right now. The fit of shoes is really personal and sizes vary by brand. Go to a LBS and find one that you like.
Shimano PD-R540 SPD-SL Road Pedals

rbk_3

The 2.1 isn't CF, it is aluminum. If you want a CF frame the cheapest model is the Emonda S4.


Edit- haha didn't see your edit. I should read the whole post before I respond.

rbk_3

I was looking at Treks EU website, and it looks like the Emonda S4 is a little cheaper now. It says "Special offer, reduced from £1200 to £1000" so that would be a very good option vs the 2.1 Madone at the same price.

Here the Emonda is like $400 more than the 2.1 Madone


edit- I paid $1849 for that bike a month ago. £1000 with the exchange rate is $1375 so that is one hell of a price for the Emonda.