are specialized bikes good value?

in message <[email protected]>, jas0n
('[email protected]') wrote:

> I've re-adjusted my budget for a new bike in a few months time ...
> upto and around £400'ish ...
>
> I quite like the look of the specialized sirrus 2005 but with added
> guards and a rack ... are they good value? its not a brand im familiar
> with.
>
> http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5383

I have friends who sell Specialized, and I've seen a lot of them go out
of the shop lately - many to other friends. I used to see them as
middle of the road mass produced bikes, but I think the good ones are
considerably better than that. They're a big manufacturer with a big
range, of course, but on the whole they're good. I had a good look at a
Sirrus recently; as flat barred road bikes go, it looks as if it should
be pleasant to ride and has reasonable kit for the price.

Mudguards are a pain. For winter commuting use you might look at SKS
Race Blades, primarily because they're easy to fit and easy to take off
for the summer.

--
[email protected] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; may contain traces of nuts, bolts or washers.

jas0n wrote:
> I've re-adjusted my budget for a new bike in a few months time ... upto
> and around £400'ish ...
>
> I quite like the look of the specialized sirrus 2005 but with added
> guards and a rack ... are they good value? its not a brand im familiar
> with.
>
> http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5383

I have a Specialised Sirrus Elite 2004 which I'm very happy with. There
have been one or two changes in the 2005 model range, principally a
change to a double chainring.

As to value, I compared it to others in brands such as Cannondale and
reckoned it was a better deal. As ever, of course, the deciding factor
was the feel of the bike itself.

--
Brian G

Brian G wrote:
> I have a Specialised Sirrus Elite 2004 which I'm very happy with.
There
> have been one or two changes in the 2005 model range, principally a
> change to a double chainring.
>
> As to value, I compared it to others in brands such as Cannondale and

> reckoned it was a better deal. As ever, of course, the deciding
factor
> was the feel of the bike itself.
>
> --
> Brian G

LOL, I have the same bike, Brian. I really enjoy it and have had some
good use out of it so far.

jas0n wrote:
> I've re-adjusted my budget for a new bike in a few months time ... upto
> and around £400'ish ...
>
> I quite like the look of the specialized sirrus 2005 but with added
> guards and a rack ... are they good value? its not a brand im familiar
> with.
>
> http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5383

I think Specialized represent good value - both my hybrid and MTB come
from them. They do a fair range of hybrid / flatbar bikes in your price
range, so it's worth trying them out.

As well as the Sirrus there's also the "Crossroads" hybrid range:

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5317

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5321

The Crossroads will take 28c tyres, but is also suitable for light-ish
offroad with 38c tyres fitted (I've done it, I'm not just quoting the
brochure).

You also might still be able to get the 2004 Sirrus model for less than
£399.

--
jc

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