Cycling UK Forum

Hi everyone

I’m looking to buy my first road bike since a Peugeot back in the early 80s!

A local bike shop suggested a Tifosi Scalare Caliper Tiagra for approx £1250

Looking into the specs and enjoying disc brakes on current Hybrid bike I’m now confused as to the best way forward

Think I’m ok with Caliper but it seems 105 is much better than Tiagra

So, for a budget of £1400-£1600 what are your suggestions for a good quality road bike that over time I might be able to upgrade various parts? E.g. wheels - maybe 25 to 28

Many thanks
C Jones

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rr-900-cf-c ... 00479.html

This would be my choice, at that budget.

I'm a big fan of Spa Cycles bikes, and depending on the kind of riding you fancy, this one is a bargain: https://spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s223p2868/S ... -Triple%29

or, they do a nice alternative with disc brakes: https://spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s223p3552/S ... -triple%29

both those are titanium, which I have never owned myself. They also do a steel version of each, considerably cheaper

CJ64 wrote:Hi everyone

I’m looking to buy my first road bike since a Peugeot back in the early 80s!

A local bike shop suggested a Tifosi Scalare Caliper Tiagra for approx £1250

Looking into the specs and enjoying disc brakes on current Hybrid bike I’m now confused as to the best way forward

Think I’m ok with Caliper but it seems 105 is much better than Tiagra

So, for a budget of £1400-£1600 what are your suggestions for a good quality road bike that over time I might be able to upgrade various parts? E.g. wheels - maybe 25 to 28

Many thanks
C Jones

Tiagra is more than adequate. 105 is nicer, of course, but it's really pretty marginal.

For that price any bike will be really very good indeed, so it's really about personal preference. I'd do caliper and get better components and or frame rather than spend the money on disc brakes. I'd also use the local bike shop for future service/ advice rather than buy from somewhere remote, they'll almost certainly give you a discount if you ask.

Just a thought. Once you get into it you may well decide that like lots of us you are continually wondering how things could be "better". If you buy Tiagra at 10 speed will you be wishing you had bought 105 at 11? Lots of arguments both ways.
One thing discs bring is the facility for wider tyres than calipers. The current trend and generally nice to ride. 28 -30 mm seems to be the sweet spot . Year round riding will need mudguards, which reduce tyre capacity, and, annoyingly the wider tyres in the winter.

Marcus Aurelius wrote:https://www.decathlon.co.uk/rr-900-cf-carbon-road-bike-black-105-id_8500479.html

This would be my choice, at that budget.

I would agree completely with that if you don’t fancy carbon fibre get the aluminium frame for less money.

You pays your money... However I would say that the 4700 iteration of Tiagra is excellent, at least the gears are (and I'm comparing them with Ultegra and Sram Force 22 (which are also excellent) amongst others that I use regularly). I can't speak for the rest of the groupset from personal experience. I would say that if you intend to ride all year round in all weathers there is something to be said fro disc brakes. If your idea of cycling is going out when the sun is shining then I would go for rim brakes for simplicity of maintenance and lighter weight.

Ian

Considering the current situation, does the LBS have the recommended bike in stock in your size, or can get one fairly easily? If so go for that one... it's a decent bike, you will get service with your LBS who should always be supported (even though I often recommend Decathlon for those on a low end budget), you can upgrade parts as you go... which is what most of us do anyway.
Many bikes are rapidly going out of stock, and replacement stock can take up to December to be supplied... hence I say get the one you can if you want it now.

If you can hang on for a few months I bet there will be some bargain second hand bikes around come winter when all those who cycled during lockdown find out what its like to cycle in traffic and in the bad weather.
Personally, I love disc brakes for winter riding. On mucky rides you can hear the rims wear out with rim brakes. If yours is to be an all weather bike, I'd go for hydraulic discs if you can afford it.

Thank you everyone for your advice

After further investigation I opted on Saturday for the Trek Emonda SL6 Disc 2020 model as there’s a sale now the new 2021 models are out (which are considerably more expensive)

It’s a few hundred pounds more than I was expecting to pay but I hope it’s a frame that will last me for years

Also I’ve jumped passed the 105 and gone to Ultegra

The pedals I will be saving on so gone for Shimano RS500

Shoes might be the Specialised Torch 1.0 as they seem reasonable at £90

The shop have mentioned that with a road bike I will need shorts (even though I’m hesitant as I need to lose so much weight lol) and suggested a style that has shoulder straps but I’m 5”6 not the 6”4 the sizing suggests so they won’t be an option lol Might have to be just shorts if I can get a pair that fits

Will need fingerless gloves too

Cheers all

[quote ]Trek Emonda SL6 Disc 2020 model [/quote]

Nice bike. I like Ultegra and discs have quite a few advantages especially when its wet.
Personally I think its worth paying a bit more for the better groupset.
Happy cycling

Hi

The pedals I will be saving on so gone for Shimano RS500

I would go for SPDs (M520 or M540) rather than SPD-SL for a few reasons:
SLs are single-sided whereas SPDs are double-sided and so easier to use
The SPD cleats are protected by the shoe sole and don't need replacing as often, plus they're easier to walk in and are less likely to damage floors
SPD cleats are metal and will last longer than plastic SPD-SLs in general use
SPD cleats (and pedals) are cheaper if you wanted winter boots for the same bike
SPDs are not a mountain bike-only fitment, and you won't see them once your foot covers them so ignore sales talk on this
Ask for a multi-release cleat
Regards
tim-b

Hi everyone

I’m looking to buy my first road bike since a Peugeot back in the early 80s!

Sorry but my first (faulty) reading of this was why if you are in your early eighties are you that bothered?

Why on earth does a road bike require "shorts"? If a sales person said such a thing I would not believe anything the fool uttered and leave. Indeed if said wheels should be round I would go home and beat all mine square. Drivel.

Cheers

I will see how I get on - been over 35 years since I had a road bike :O

One of my next steps is probably to convert to tubeless

Then, when I've lost enough weight look at changing the wheels to Carbon (and if I've saved enough money lol)

gxaustin wrote:[quote ]Trek Emonda SL6 Disc 2020 model

Nice bike. I like Ultegra and discs have quite a few advantages especially when its wet.
Personally I think its worth paying a bit more for the better groupset.
Happy cycling[/quote]