Looking A Road bike under 500 quid please.

[AndyB1989]

sirrus is a nice speed commuter / road focussed hybrid one quick word on waiting for january sales you might not find too much on sale as the end and start of the cycling season in terms of new bikes coming out and old stock going on sale is usually september time

[D O G]

[G]

From using my hybrid a fair bit, I've decided I probably would have been better off with a drop bar road bike - I tend to ride a fair bit with my hands on the bar ends, in a similar position to that which you might have your hands on the first curve of drop bars.
That or the aero bars - rarely use the 'normal' bars (which is of course where all the 'controls' are.)

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

@Jon B, why not buy a used Carbon frame? Ive had my second hand Carbon Frame (Giant TCR incidentally) for 2 years and never had a problem... Also, with regards to FOCUS, they are and have been considered a top brand for some time now. Beleive they still sponsor the Katusha pro team though may be wrong.

@AndyB regarding frame flex, I'm fairly sure most frames would flex to some degree based on the weight/leg bench figures you put down (I dont mean that offensively, just bikes arent designed to transfer that sort of power). Flex at the BB is very unlikely to cause phantom shifts at the rear derailieur though is possible. Id suggest it was more likely just a poor set up.

As to Boardman frames I think for the OP's purposes theyre pobably acceptable, though I'd agree that sticking to a Specialized or Treak aluminium frame is probably better, Felt do some good ones too. Boardman Carbon frames are as good as anybody else and the Air series are particularly impressive.

@the OP. Specialized Sirrus is a very good accomplished bike. Consider where you want to take your cycling as changing that to a drop bar bike would not be advisable due to frame geometry. If you want a drop bar road bike then start off with that to begin with. Otherwise the Sirrus is a very good starting point.

IMO there is also not really a 'bad' bike per-se anymore. Just perhaps you may get a duff batch of a frame etc. Most componentry is very good, even my old Tiagra (pretty much Shimano road starting range) has kept good for 7 years and still works fine.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[Irezumi aka Reuben]

@Jon B, why not buy a used Carbon frame? Ive had my second hand Carbon Frame (Giant TCR incidentally) for 2 years and never had a problem... Also, with regards to FOCUS, they are and have been considered a top brand for some time now. Beleive they still sponsor the Katusha pro team though may be wrong.

@AndyB regarding frame flex, I'm fairly sure most frames would flex to some degree based on the weight/leg bench figures you put down (I dont mean that offensively, just bikes arent designed to transfer that sort of power). Flex at the BB is very unlikely to cause phantom shifts at the rear derailieur though is possible. Id suggest it was more likely just a poor set up.

As to Boardman frames I think for the OP's purposes theyre pobably acceptable, though I'd agree that sticking to a Specialized or Treak aluminium frame is probably better, Felt do some good ones too. Boardman Carbon frames are as good as anybody else and the Air series are particularly impressive.

@the OP. Specialized Sirrus is a very good accomplished bike. Consider where you want to take your cycling as changing that to a drop bar bike would not be advisable due to frame geometry. If you want a drop bar road bike then start off with that to begin with. Otherwise the Sirrus is a very good starting point.

IMO there is also not really a 'bad' bike per-se anymore. Just perhaps you may get a duff batch of a frame etc. Most componentry is very good, even my old Tiagra (pretty much Shimano road starting range) has kept good for 7 years and still works fine.
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Pictorgraphicalfantastical

[TheBikerStig]

DONT BUY FROM HALFORDS!

This advice alone will save you from more misfortune that you might imagine. The products at halfords arent actually bicycles or car parts, its recycled excrement.
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I am usually naked when posting to this forum.

[Drew]