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forum
Choosing a new bike, how hard can it be?
Hello All
New poster but long term lurker, finally got round to registering!
I will be buying myself a new bike this year, I'm due a payout from the insurance for having my bike written off last year, my winter bike is currently doing sterling service but I'm starting to get the new bike itch.
Where do I start?
I want a bike that will be universally admired, one that will float up hills, hammer the descents and be almost self-propelled on the flat.
I want the classic lines of steel, the magic of titanium and the lightweight of carbon.
Not much to ask for is it?
Perhaps I should just buy a Specialized Tarmac instead of the Enigma Esprit I'm currently lusting over..
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.
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Latest Comments
- Miller 2 sec ago
Well, there's lifetime bans and there's lifetime bans. Banning an 88 year old don't impress me much.
- McVittees 34 min 55 sec ago
I think the key point here is BC do a risk assessment of an event and say "there you go" and walk off. They need to provide solutions to enable...
- Gkam84 3 hours 5 min ago
I think that is why blind eyes have been turned in the UK, internationally aswell, with things like the Redhook crits, there were many licensed...
- Surreyrider 3 hours 23 min ago
You're going to be writing that a lot in the coming months and years, unfortunately for you.
- mdavidford 4 hours 14 min ago
Ahem - other esporters(?) might be rather surprised to hear that the UCI has taken over their events - I think that would be the Cycling Esports...
- Bungle_52 4 hours 23 min ago
I wonder how he got to the game?
- OldRidgeback 4 hours 25 min ago
You'd need some good wet weather gear for that ride too.
- OnYerBike 6 hours 49 min ago
It seems to me that the most likely explanation is that whoever provided that quote fails to grasp the difference between a "public right of way"...
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41 comments
Surely.
SURELY.
I was the Eighty Thousand and first contributor?
IS THAT WORTH NOTHING?
_
I had exactly the same thing, I wanted something different.
The S1 is that.
It certainly stands out on the line from all the average Dogmas and Tarmacs (Yes, people have Dogmas and tarmacs in Youth and Junior Races).
In a way, I'll be sorry that I'll probably not race on it again, but my team bike is bloody good.
Oh yeah...
Have you looked at Vo2?
After eighteen months on an Allez Elite, I picked up 2012 Tarmac SL3 in the Christmas sales for £2k (thank you Evans :D). Stiff, light, very fast and compliant.....loving it!
Might not be niche, but the fact (no pun intended) that a manufacturer is willing to issue a Whitepaper on their material selection, design & engineering etc. speaks volumes. Before I saw the Spesh on sale I thought long and hard about the new Canyon Ultimate CF SLX (not exactly niche I know, but I like "bang for my buck"), but the UK sales rep (curt, generally unhelpful) wouldn't give any information on the frame at all; that, in conjunction with rumours of poor aftersales service, was enough to put me off.
Some brands get big and retain the principles that they had from the outset..I think Spesh is one of those brands.
I hear Cav is rather pleased to be back on one.
Mine is the SL3 too. Lovely bikes to ride.
In other news, you've managed to be the 80,000th contribution to the site. So you win a pair of socks
Happy days!
If me that is, if not I'll just continue to hit the 'like' button on Facebook
What was that Dave? 'as do all those that contributed to this thread up until your announcement?' Awesome!
oh well, you can't blame a guy for trying, right?
Fair enough.
I lusted after a Pinarello before I even owned a road bike, then through my first year or so on my Allez.
When I had the money and opportunity to get one though I compared it to a Tarmac Expert (both brands in same store) then I could see I was getting more pure race bike for my money. Beyond my capability I might add.
The fact that I could get a greater deal on the Spesh was the final straw. It was also amazingly comfy for the type of bike it is, including being more comfy than the Allez.
That said, if you have a niche bike itch then get scratching.
I love my 2010 Tarmac comp.
What's wrong with a Tarmac?
Nothing at all, it's all the bike I would most likely ever need and more but for me I want something a little 'different'.
The problem being of course that being different doesn't always equate to being better!
FWIW based purely on an aesthetic point of view none of the big brands currently really do it for me, be it Spesh, Giant or Trek, if I'm spending £2.5k upwards I really have to lust over it
Its this easy:
Cervelo S1.
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