Cycling - NLC

[Dark]

The Focus has got an older Tiagra 9-speed triple chainset. Lots of gears but heavier and the front mech is less reliable / harder to setup correctly than a double.

The Fuji has a newer Tiagra 10-speed double chainset. It's actually more like the old 105 5600 series groupset, much lighter and easier to maintain. However it's only got a 11-25 cassette so will be harder work on the hills. You'd probably want to swap for a 11-27 or 12-28 to have a similar range of low gears as the Focus.

Both bikes have got own brand wheels, brakes & finishing kits. The geometries look similar, probably not a huge amount between them.

The Fuji is listed as 9.3kg, I would guess the Focus will be nearer 10kg with the triple chainset.

The Focus is very good value at £600; the Fuji has a better groupset but probably isn't work the extra £250.

Mark

[douglasgdmw]

Thanks for that Mark will have a more detailed look when I view the bike next week but EBC does seem to do some good deals.

Think Sandra's Specialise Secteur Elite is a better bike but will give her a slight advantage when we go out.

Also never realised you were in my neck of the woods

George

[Dark]

Also never realised you were in my neck of the woods

Sadly no Loti yet.....

I ride most Saturday mornings with a group from South Queensferry, we leave Dalmeny Station at 8:01 in the summer, 9:01 in the winter; all welcome!

[scott_e]

Got a demo bike from Nicholson Dundee for a few days prior to putting in an order for the Focus Pro 3.0.

2010 Cerverlo S2
SRAM rival
54" frame
They suggested they would sell it for £1800 if I wanted it.

Going from a 15KG mountain bike to this is amazing, its a flying machine. First road bike i have been on since my teens , felt perfectly natural , very easy commute this morning. I'm very vary of poorly lit roads with pot holes all of a sudden but 80% of my ride is good surfaces.

Ok so i am 100% sure i want a road bike now. Im less sure of using it in the dark due to the potential for damage but thats fine, can keep it for the spring summer commutes. Question is , should i purchase this 2 year old demo or put in the order for the Focus 3.0 2013 ?

[Dark]

Had a superb afternoon yesterday at the Chris Hoy Velodrome celebrating a friends's 40th birthday.

Sixteen of us completed the level 1 assessment for riding the boards! Initially very intimidating but after a few laps and some superb instruction we were all some riding the bends with confidence.

Excellent value too, only £10 each for the hour including bike hire. Can't wait to complete level 2!

IMG_9259 vv small.jpg

[Sanjøy]

Had a superb afternoon yesterday at the Chris Hoy Velodrome celebrating a friends's 40th birthday.

Sixteen of us completed the level 1 assessment for riding the boards! Initially very intimidating but after a few laps and some superb instruction we were all some riding the bends with confidence.

Excellent value too, only £10 each for the hour including bike hire. Can't wait to complete level 2!

IMG_9259 vv small.jpg

Well done! I am booked on end of the month I think...

[lou_m]

The Cervelo does look nice! I think the Ultegra groupset on that is the older version. The newer groupset with the gear cables that are hidden under the bar tape have been on sale for quite a few years now.

I'd go with the Focus, mainly as I like the Sram kit and have Rival and Red on my 2 bikes.

I've also registered to start the accreditation for the velodrome. My brother in law did 1 and 2 on the same night. Think he did 3 last week so need to see how he got on. I was down at Manchester velodrome last week watching the GB team train. Very impressive!



Not quite sure why the photo file is so big, thought it normally resized?

[cjm]

Had a superb afternoon yesterday at the Chris Hoy Velodrome celebrating a friends's 40th birthday.

Sixteen of us completed the level 1 assessment for riding the boards! Initially very intimidating but after a few laps and some superb instruction we were all some riding the bends with confidence.

Excellent value too, only £10 each for the hour including bike hire. Can't wait to complete level 2!

IMG_9259 vv small.jpg

Well done! I am booked on end of the month I think...

I did this the other month and it was great. I was a bit worried about riding fixed, clipped in and on drop bars as I haven't ridden with any of those before or been on a bike in about 10 years but it was great fun and didn't even think about it after a few laps. My only issue was being stupidly unfit and thinking I was about to throw up or pass out on the track after pushing it a bit too hard for an hour!

[max1966]

Scott

I like the Cervelo, a two year old frame has plenty life left in it and the groupset as long as it is well maintained should last long enough. I had the same model 105 shifter fail on the front mech side I think due to the pressure required to shift. They were replaced with a set of the newer concealed cable set, which though it looks better do not perform with the same smooth action.

The wheels on the Cervelo look like Racing 1's which are a big step up from the Focus, do not underestimate the value of good wheels to the riding experience, swap them out and the ride would feel much different.

Also if the Cervelo is given a good service including the wheels it should run like new.

My 2p.

Malx

[Dark]

The Cervelo might be a good 2nd hand buy. The frame alone is worth £1000+ if in good condition.
However you'd want to check the frame warranty carefully and make sure it's transferable. Cervelo have had frame issues in the past although usually covered under warranty.
What wheels are on the Cevelo? I thought they were Racing 7's? If they are Racing 1's then it looks like a good deal!

[Sanjøy]

2p

You get numb nuts testing bikes and trying to see how much "give" there is in a carbon frame. Check the frame warranty. Most are lifetime as long as they have not been run over by a tractor, unlike the paint warranty on my Trek

[scott_e]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Cervelo is in great condition to my untrained eye but it has been a demo bike so that would always be at the back of my mind. The frame looks great and the ride is unbelievable but then im comparing apples and oranges , a heavy mountain bike is not a good point of reference. Just don't want to be disappointed with the Focus Izalco Pro 2013 both in ride quality and looks after riding the Cervelo ... but i think i will go for the new setup. Looking forward to the ride home this evening anyway whatever the weather

[s29ttc]

What is the feedback on turbo trainers. As holly and I will both have bikes we have been talking about getting one for the sh*t weather in an effort to keep a reasonable level of fitness. Are they worth the cash? Whats the differences between spending £100 quid on one and £1300 on one i.e. is it dont touch the low end and go for mid range or does it matter? Are they noisy? Are they beneficial? Is it likely to be used? Etc. any feedback on your experience would be appreciated.

[scott_e]

Hi sorry. Curve ball. HELP !

Popped into my local shop to pick up my mountain bike after repairs and found a 2012 Madone 3.5 which I thought were sold out.



Dont know what to pick now:

----------------------------------------------
2013 Focus Izalco Pro 3.0
Pedals
Continental Gator Hardshell 23mm
SRAM Force
52" (yip im that short )
£2100
Same frame as team bike (" For the price you're getting exactly the same frame as the £5,799 team bike, so this Izalco can be upgraded to your heart’s content ) "
6 year frame warrenty
----------------------------------------------

OR

----------------------------------------------
2012 Trek Madone 3.5
Pedals
Continental Gator Hardshell 23mm
Shimano Ultegra
52"
£1500
(test ride tomorrow)
OVLC 300 frame
Lifetime frame warranty im told ?
----------------------------------------------

Both cycles appears on BikeRadars bike of the year 2012 list.
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/arti ... ear-33391/

Quality of frame is important ... but worth paying extra £600.
Used for "competitive" commuting mostly.

Help ! thoughts please ???

Scott

[PhilA]

2012 Trek Madone 3.5 - this being the H2 version, it will feel more upright than the other bikes I think?
Ive been told it is a super comfy bike!