in message <[email hidden]>, Jon_H
(') said:I have been looking around the local bike shops today with an eye for
a new bike and with a budget of £500 this is what i came up with.
Frankly, there's not much difference. They've all got a similar mix of
low-mid range kit. They're all double butted aluminium frames.
Quoted message said:Felt F90
I know nothing about these.
Quoted message said:Giant OCR2 (black) 06 model
Reasonable, nothing special. Somewhat eclectic mix of parts.
Quoted message said:Trek 1000
Avoid this one. It has aluminium forks, which will be much harsher than
the carbon forks on the competing bikes.
Quoted message said:Specialized allez.
These are reasonable. Some of the Allez range have carbon seat stays
with gel inserts; the gel is probably a gimmick but the carbon stays
are worth having.
Quoted message said:Raleigh Airlite road 300
I would avoid this like the plague. It's been at least ten years since
Raleigh have sold a bike that wasn't complete rubbish. They may be
trying to recover their brand but I would not trust them to get it
right.
Quoted message said:if you had the option which would you choose and why. I have yet to
test ride any of the models, and yet to see the specialized Allez as
nobody had one.
For me it's between the Giant and the Specialized. Ride both, see which
feels better/more comfortable; if neither stands out, get the lighter.
FWIW the proprietor of my LBS - which stocks both Giant and Specialized
- rides an Allez himself, but it isn't the base model.
--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; making jokes about dyslexia isn't big, it isn't clever and
;; it isn't furry.