newbie.

**masmas** · 28th July 2012

hi all,new guy looking for advice, heres the story! just applied for a £1000 on the r2r scheme and i would like a road bike, i have been using a boardman comp mtb for 18 months and bought a spare set of wheels for it which i put slicks on, i find myself doing a lot more road riding (3 to 400 miles a month) than off road. as in most things you buy different manufacturers suit different sizes, i`m 6`3 and 16.5 stone (105kg)what suits the bigger guy? i have looked at a carrera virago carbon 105 that looks great for 900 quid also the cannondale caad8 105 ,could use some direction on this recommendations. thanks in advance any advice welcome.

**Stephen Casey** · 28th July 2012

If you're looking in Halfords, spend your money on the Boardman rather than the Carerra. Boardman has really made an effort to bring good quality's price down.

Cannondale, Trek, Specialised et al - you can't go wrong. You'll probably get slightly less for your money. I'd just advise two things (which I always advise)...

1/ Buy a bike with decent shifters - that's AT LEAST this year's Sora or last year's Tiagra (they're the same set, they just renamed them and slightly updated them).

2/ Buy the bike you love the most - it's a total heart over head thing at this price level - if you like the bike more, you'll use the bike more and that's all that really matters.

**masmas** · 5th October 2012

Finally got the voucher! The cannondale synapse 6 tiagra fits well and on order , 2012 model. The alloy 5 105 was my 1st choice but not in my size unfortunately. cheers

**Aita** · 16th October 2012

Hi masmas, I've recently got a 2011 synapse Tiagra and I'm very pleased with it. However, this is my first road bike so I have no comparisons.

**e.flack** · 18th October 2012

Originally Posted by Stephen Casey

1/ Buy a bike with decent shifters - that's AT LEAST this year's Sora or last year's Tiagra (they're the same set, they just renamed them and slightly updated them).

when you say this years, do you mean the 2012 models or the new 2013 range bikes? I know that sounds like a stupid question but I just want to make sure?!! Lol.

**masmas** · 19th October 2012

Just got it Thursday , a quick spin last night but a full road test tomorrow,i got the spd m324 pedals reverserable peddles to start with, it`s 2012 model. cheers