 Right need some advice...I would like (and at the moment i can afford) a second bike for when the weather is pants, like it has been recently, and also another bike for the winter. My budget is around £500 BUT if there is a real real good buy for around £600 i would stretch that much. I have looked at a couple of specialized's and Trek etc but having never owned any of these makes i would like to no what other people think. Thanks in advanced Stu
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 It depends what it's for? A lot of cyclists in my region use Ribble's own bikes for trainers/winter bikes - although that's not a personal recommendation, but I've not heard many complaints on value...judge service for yourself!!! Do you want mudguards; are components/make/type important etc. Terrain? Of course you could always get yourself a fixed !!!
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Well i am looking for a racer just like i have already but i don't want to ruin my nice shiny carbon bike for the winter...so i have no need for mudguards panniers etc i just need a racer non carbon just a good valur for money one.
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In that case - I would look for the best secondhand one you can get in your budget, within your area!!!
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Go to your local dealer and see what entry level bikes they carry. None of the big brands do a bad bike at around £500. Support your local shop and he will be able to support you in the future
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 The Kinesis Racelight T, as tested in the Winter Bikes Grouptest earlier this year, is worth a look. The frame is £299, but i'm not sure how close to your budget you could get with building it up, probably not far off. Have you any old/spare parts lying around you could use?
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_trim.jpg) Support your local shop and he will be able to support you in the future
Well said
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Right i have managed to sort one out  It's a GT series three (Which i have never heard of before) It's got FSA finishing kit, alloy frame, reynolds carbon forks, 105 groupset with ultegra rear mech (9 speed) Alex rims, fizik seat and time pedals all for...... ......£500! I think that is a great deal let me know what you all think...
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Put together an old steel bike with bits from Ebay that will take a good set of full mudguards and light brackets. The guards will keep all the crap off your clothes from riding in the cold and wet and make riding in a group much more comfortable for others too. You could do it for a few hundred quid, and spend the other couple of hundred on really good lights. The above bike is nice and would be fine, but why have two race-style bikes - keep your good bike good, and have a good old hack-bike for the winter. Drift the kit on the race bike down to it over time as it wears out. Thats what I'd do...
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 Sounds ok Stu - can you take it out for a test ride? The 2009 bikes are just around the corner and so it may be worth a visit to you LBS to see if they are clearing any 2008 (or 2007) stock. My mate got a Spesh Allez Elite (with 105) for £500. A bit boring - but a good bike.
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