Racer Advice Please

[larryduff]

Hi there. Just getting into road cycling and looking for a racer to move on from my hybrid. I Intend to cycle good bit over coming months as really enjoy it so willing to spend around €1,000. I went to a few shops today and have narrowed it down to two bikes. Between the Claud Butler Vincenza http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/cb/vicenza.html(899 euro) and Trek 1.5 http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/1_series/15/ (925 euro).
Like the look of both bikes but pretty unsure as to which too go for. If anyone has any experience with either bike or advice please share. Thanks.

 

[Oldman]

Hi there. Just getting into road cycling and looking for a racer to move on from my hybrid. I Intend to cycle good bit over coming months as really enjoy it so willing to spend around €1,000. I went to a few shops today and have narrowed it down to two bikes. Between the Claud Butler Vincenza http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/cb/vicenza.html(899 euro) and Trek 1.5 http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/1_series/15/ (925 euro).
Like the look of both bikes but pretty unsure as to which too go for. If anyone has any experience with either bike or advice please share. Thanks.

Get a bike that can survive a crash without breaking the deraileur hangers. That and check into the forum about shaving your legs.

 

[kiwirider]

Hi there. Just getting into road cycling and looking for a racer to move on from my hybrid. I Intend to cycle good bit over coming months as really enjoy it so willing to spend around €1,000. I went to a few shops today and have narrowed it down to two bikes. Between the Claud Butler Vincenza http://www.falconcycles.co.uk/CORP/cb/vicenza.html(899 euro) and Trek 1.5 http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/1_series/15/ (925 euro).
Like the look of both bikes but pretty unsure as to which too go for. If anyone has any experience with either bike or advice please share. Thanks.

Of the two, I'd say go for the Claud Butler.

Biggest reason I say that is that you are getting a much better groupset in the Tiagra than you are with the Sora. My cyclo-cross bike had Tiagra on it (I like Campag so have recently changed over to that) and it handled a hard season of racing, commuting all winter through the snow and then the first half of summer road training really well. A friend now has the gear on his frame and it is functioning fine. By contrast, another friend had a Sora equipped bike and the gears were always giving her problems - things that got to the point after about 6 months where the LBS mechanic, who also wrenched for national teams, said that she was better off ditching the gear. Sora is fine if you're only commuting a couple of km each way a few times a week, but that's all that it's any good for ...

You're also getting a lot more for your money with the Claud Butler ... besides the gear set, the Butler has better wheels (Mavic CXP rims are pretty damn bomb-proof - and any brand cheap machine made wheels like the Trek has are just that ... cheap and nasty!) and the Ritchey finishing kit leaves Bontrager for dead.

And besides, I'm guessing you're from the UK, so why not support a UK brand rather than a bunch of "damn yanks"??

 

[usedtobefast]

even from here i would say go local. we all need those guys, wherever they are.

 

[larryduff]

Of the two, I'd say go for the Claud Butler.

Biggest reason I say that is that you are getting a much better groupset in the Tiagra than you are with the Sora. My cyclo-cross bike had Tiagra on it (I like Campag so have recently changed over to that) and it handled a hard season of racing, commuting all winter through the snow and then the first half of summer road training really well. A friend now has the gear on his frame and it is functioning fine. By contrast, another friend had a Sora equipped bike and the gears were always giving her problems - things that got to the point after about 6 months where the LBS mechanic, who also wrenched for national teams, said that she was better off ditching the gear. Sora is fine if you're only commuting a couple of km each way a few times a week, but that's all that it's any good for ...

You're also getting a lot more for your money with the Claud Butler ... besides the gear set, the Butler has better wheels (Mavic CXP rims are pretty damn bomb-proof - and any brand cheap machine made wheels like the Trek has are just that ... cheap and nasty!) and the Ritchey finishing kit leaves Bontrager for dead.

And besides, I'm guessing you're from the UK, so why not support a UK brand rather than a bunch of "damn yanks"??

No I'm Irish. Thanks for the very detailed and informative answer though kiwirider. I think you have made my mind up for me. Really appreciate it.