Help wanted for road bike

[Rob C]

Seeing as you've been pretty helpful for the MTB I thought I'd ask you all to help me as well! I've got a short list of the four below and they all come in at a similar price except the Focus. Does anyone have any experience of any of these? Particularly, how does the Cayo compare with the more expensive bikes? BTW, I spoke to Planet X the other day and they said they will be releasing there Carbon Pro bike with Durace groupset in the next fortnight for £1300. Narrowed it down to these:

[url=http://shop.devercycles.co.uk/index.html?pageTitle=Specialized_2007_Tarmac_Pro&pageDesc=Specialized_2007_Tarmac_Pro_Features_Specialized_FACT_8r_carbon_frame_Az1_construction_compact_race_&action=detail&maincatID=0&catID=&prodID=2656&brandID=]Specialized Tarmac Pro[/url]

[url=http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_07TREKMADONE55]Trk 5.5 Madone[/url]

[url=http://wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360026046&N=Focus%20Cayo%20Expert%20Road%20Bike%202007]Focus Cayo Expert[/url]

[url=http://www.bonthronebikes.co.uk/515-52556?sid=917c5c351744adde]Pinarello F3:13[/url]

[Dombo]

Frame quality and fit are all important, the components can always be upgraded. I have no experience of Planet X so my next point may be coming straight of my ar*e; they may be great frames but full Dura Ace at a 105/Ultegra mix price point suggests savings are being made somewhere.
Have you tried them for size and comfort? A friend of mine was set on getting a Pinarello and turned out to be completely the wrong dimensions - the shop guy took one look at him and said no, fitted him with an Orbea instead. I narrowed my own choice down to Bianchi and Lemond, both the same size, 55cm but Lemond was way more comfortable to ride and just felt right. The Bianchi felt wrong, for me.
Try them all out if you can and get the one that you feel you can happily ride for 8 hours or more.
Also check http://www.roadbikereview.com and maybe Google each bike to see what comments or reviews there are elsewhere on the internet.

[Marek]

Dombo is right, my advice would be to go to Dauphines on the top of box hill and ask their advice. They would do a fitting for you for £50 or so, think you get this back if you buy a bike. They will tell you which bikes are most suited to your frame, style of riding, usage, flexibility etc.

They stock some very good makes:

Pinarello
Colnago
Orbea
Gios
Cervelo

I really cannot emphasise more the value that I got from going to Dauphines and being fitted up correctly for my bike. I just need to save up some more dosh so that I can go back and see those nice people and ask them what I should buy off them next.

Cheers

Marek....

[Dombo]

[quote="Marek"]
I really cannot emphasise more the value that I got from going to Dauphines and being fitted up correctly for my bike. I just need to save up some more dosh so that I can go back and see those nice people and ask them what I should buy off them next.

Cheers

Marek....

[Paul on the Pearson]

I'd go for the Pinarrelo as its the classiest looking bike on your list and Dauphines sell them and would give you good advice on fit etc, also if like me your knowledge of bike mechanics just about stretches to repairing a puncture I dont think you can stress enough the importance of getting a bike from a good local shop. When my trusty steed needs a bit of tweeking Guy at Pearsons just pops it on the stand and does it there and then, brilliant service and something you wont get from the internet or one of the big bike chains.

[Snoop Doug]

I'm with Paul on the Person's thang. Nothing seems too much trouble for Will & Guy - I think they epitomise what personal service is all about. Great shop, great bikes, great service.

You know you want to!!

Snoop

[Ian A4size]

Andrew and myself could have a field day on this fred. So could sylv.

[Andrew G]

If you're interested in a Planet X road bike have a word with Apples as he's got a new one. Well he did until it got left in France . They're supposed to be very good value.

I'd echo the comments on making sure the fit is right. never bought from Cycles D, just been in there and drooled a lot, but I'd recommend a shufty in Pearson's as well as they are superb for service. May be out of your price range but Guy P (and it seems all Pearson's riders) ride Ridley bikes. Guy says that once he tried one there was nothing came close to it. They are pricey though.

I think we get a discount in Pearson's as well so worth checking them and GBs as you may get more for your cash. Don't think we get a discount in Dauphin.

[Richard (Apples)]

[quote]If you're interested in a Planet X road bike have a word with Apples as he's got a new one. Well he did until it got left in France

[Rob C]

Thanks for the info, I ride a trek 1200 at the moment and I've always found it very comfortable thought I'm not sure how the geometry compares with the madone. I really like the look if the pinarello apart from the stickers. I'd go into GBs but I don't really like too much in there. I've never really been impressed with the service and always got the impression that unless you want to spend a fat wedge they couldn't give a ****. Never been to Dauphines so may well come back via Box Hill on Saturday and see what they say.

[Andrew G]

Re your comments on Butler's I've found they can come across like that at first, but quite a few of them have a very dry sense of humour and are partial to a bit of a wind up.

If you only go on Saturday's they tend to be a bit more flustered as well, if you can get in midweek they are much more relaxed.

I bought my race bike from them and on two separate occaisions they spent over 2 hours with me building up the bike and costing it out. This was reasonable money rather than top end. They also now obviously remember me and have on a couple of other occaisions have given me a free upgrade on bits & pieces.

If you don't like what they sell though then it's all completely Roger . They do have some very nice Cervelo's at the moment though.

[SimonJOsborne]

I bought a S-Works Roubaix as a build to order and find it to be a very comfy ride over a distance. It is no slouch when you put the power down either.

I was tempted by the gorgeous Orca but in the end was swayed by the relaxed geometry of the S-Works.

The Madone 5.5 could be interesting to checkout as Trek have completely overhauled the Madone line up for 2008 and they are looking v tasty. Somewhat an unknown quantity at the mo, but then again the Discovery team rode 5.2 framed bikes in the TdF as the 6 series wasn't available.

[Rob C]

Went to Butlers and Pearson's today. Butlers only had a medium f3:13 Pinarello and it was a bit small. Pearson's had a large Ridley Orion and I had a little sit on it. Have whittled it done now to either one of those two and will make mind up once I've sat on a large Pinarello. I noticed that I seemed to be leaning further forward on both of them compared to my trek. The finish on the Pinarello's frame is better and it looks massive around the BB.