MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Hi,
Im new to the forum so excuse me if this is covered elsewhere.. maybe theres a link to other info?!
Anyway, im looking to buy a road bike for a potential lands end to john agroats, I usually mountain bike so im new to the road biking scene.
Lots of different advice has been given, mainly that if I get into it I will wish id bought Carbon as its a comfier ride and lighter! I was looking at the Specialized Roubaix, either the Sport or the one down, more interested in the sport though as it has some 105 components on it but also the one down as its cheaper!
My other option is the Wilier triestina - looks a great bike and has full 105, ali frame and carbon forks, I can get one for £1000.
Any reccomendations you have would be greatly appreciated, im getting a bit fed up and need to purchase! Ideally I didnt want to spend more than £1000.
Thanks for looking, Matt
A Wilier with Shimano is just wrong...but ho hum.
I'd persoannly look at something that will go beyond the duration of just doing the JOGLE so maybe a sportive type build that you could put a more comfortable position for consecutive 100+mile days...though it depends on how long you're taking, are you aiming at 5days or are you taking a relaxed ride all quite important factors rather than just carbon vs aluminum vs steel
I'd not worry too much about the material, it's possible to build really stiff steel frames, and really soft carbon one.
I've done plenty of 100 mile rides on my aluminium cannondale and it's the general fatigue from pedaling that long that gets me well before any complaints about the frame set it. Given a week of sunshine I'd have no hesertation in riding LEJOG on it.
But seeing as it's the UK and rain is a long way from being not guarenteed, I'd buy a bike with mudguards. Riding on wet roads without mudgards is only beaten in soul destroying-ness by my next point.
Unless you intend to stay in B&B's, and wash your kit in the sink each night (i.e. the only stuff youd carry is a spare tube, multi tool, pump and a credit card) panniers, big rucksacks are miserable things to car on a road bike.
The main things though would be getting the bikes fit right to start with, then training on it and getting everything set up perfect. No point having a saddle or bar or bar tape that's only just bareable for a long day, when you've got to get back on it the next morning and there's 8 days to go.