Getting Nervous bout new bike

[Andy]

Hi,

I've been planning to buy a new bike for the last month or so (bit
longer than planned due to lack of cash flow). I'm after a "fast city"
bike, basically a road bike with flat handlebars.

Basically i'm almost sure on the Saracen Razor which can be brought
for £600 at AW cycles (reading) i was originally going to go for a
Giant FCR 2, but i believe for the price the spec is better. On the
saracen i get:

* Carbon Fork
* Seemingly decent set of wheels
* Good bar, Saddle (ITM, Sella Italia)
* 9 speed Tiagra back gears, double Vela 2 at front (never really
heard of this)
* Sora brakes

But .... basically i getting nervous, i tend to do loads of research
on stuff i buy on the net, and i can find nothing really on the Razor
(i'm guessing as its a 2003 bike) and when i search for Saracen i seem
to find lots of "Saracen are rubbish" messages ....

Now i think (and hope) that saracens name has improved over the last
couple of years, but as i putting out what to me is alot of cash can
anyone calm my nerves and tell me if this is true?

I also found out the Razor is slightly heavier than the FCR 2 by about
1 kg (10.8 kg), is that going to make alot of difference.

Anyway AW cycles have both the Giant and the Saracen so i guess i will
try them both ... but can anyone tell me there opinion on saracen
bikes now (i.e. not 2002+ models)

Thanks all help appreciated and hopefully at the end of this month
when i get paid i will be prous owner of a new bike!

Cheers

Andy

[Alan]

Have you considered the Specialized Sirrus range - similar spec and price?

Alan (just bought one)
"Andy" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi,
>
> I've been planning to buy a new bike for the last month or so (bit
> longer than planned due to lack of cash flow). I'm after a "fast city"
> bike, basically a road bike with flat handlebars.
>
> Basically i'm almost sure on the Saracen Razor which can be brought
> for £600 at AW cycles (reading) i was originally going to go for a
> Giant FCR 2, but i believe for the price the spec is better. On the
> saracen i get:
>
> * Carbon Fork
> * Seemingly decent set of wheels
> * Good bar, Saddle (ITM, Sella Italia)
> * 9 speed Tiagra back gears, double Vela 2 at front (never really
> heard of this)
> * Sora brakes
>
> But .... basically i getting nervous, i tend to do loads of research
> on stuff i buy on the net, and i can find nothing really on the Razor
> (i'm guessing as its a 2003 bike) and when i search for Saracen i seem
> to find lots of "Saracen are rubbish" messages ....
>
> Now i think (and hope) that saracens name has improved over the last
> couple of years, but as i putting out what to me is alot of cash can
> anyone calm my nerves and tell me if this is true?
>
> I also found out the Razor is slightly heavier than the FCR 2 by about
> 1 kg (10.8 kg), is that going to make alot of difference.
>
> Anyway AW cycles have both the Giant and the Saracen so i guess i will
> try them both ... but can anyone tell me there opinion on saracen
> bikes now (i.e. not 2002+ models)
>
> Thanks all help appreciated and hopefully at the end of this month
> when i get paid i will be prous owner of a new bike!
>
> Cheers
>
> Andy

[Mark South]

"Andy" > wrote
> I've been planning to buy a new bike for the last month or so (bit
> longer than planned due to lack of cash flow). I'm after a "fast city"
> bike, basically a road bike with flat handlebars.

You could save time and one upgrade by getting a bike with drop bars
(because you will wish you had gotten that after a few months) to start
with, but let's run with your idea for now.

> Basically i'm almost sure on the Saracen Razor which can be brought
> for £600 at AW cycles (reading) i was originally going to go for a
> Giant FCR 2, but i believe for the price the spec is better. On the
> saracen i get:

(Loadsastuff)

> But .... basically i getting nervous, i tend to do loads of research
> on stuff i buy on the net, and i can find nothing really on the Razor
> (i'm guessing as its a 2003 bike) and when i search for Saracen i seem
> to find lots of "Saracen are rubbish" messages ....

You can find lots of "Brand X is rubbish" messages, brand ownership is a
competitive sport in many recreations. Look at how the recumbent buch
here love to drop names of things they own, things they rode last
weekend, things their mate in Tuvalu rode last weekend....

> Now i think (and hope) that saracens name has improved over the last
> couple of years, but as i putting out what to me is alot of cash can
> anyone calm my nerves and tell me if this is true?

Let's not worry about Saracen's reputation, unless you plan to sell the
bike on right away.

First, Saracen are in the value-for-money business like Raleigh used to
be and Dawes is becoming. IOW, They are about building bikes that offer
you better spec for the same money as the bigger names.

The frames and components are made in the same Taiwanese factories as
every other competing manufacturer's are, so you only have to worry
about the guarantee and how well assembled they are. The guarantee
(going by their catalogue) seems as good as anyone else's, and the ones
I've seen in shops have been put together as accurately as most other
bikes.

> I also found out the Razor is slightly heavier than the FCR 2 by about
> 1 kg (10.8 kg), is that going to make alot of difference.

Hence explaining some of the price advantage. No, it makes very little
difference unless you are racing or climbing a lot.

> Anyway AW cycles have both the Giant and the Saracen so i guess i will
> try them both ... but can anyone tell me there opinion on saracen
> bikes now (i.e. not 2002+ models)

See comments above. However, one comment to add is that Saracen uses
the world's weakest rim tape (another cost saving point). Buy some good
rim tape (about a fiver for 2 wheels worth) with the bike, and fit it
before you attempt to pump the tyres to their full rated pressure. I
speak from seeing 2 different new Saracens (1 road, 1 MTB) suffer rapid
deflations due to rim tape failure.

> Thanks all help appreciated and hopefully at the end of this month
> when i get paid i will be prous owner of a new bike!

Whichever you get, I hope it brings you lots of pleasure and that you
ride it a lot.

--
Mark South: Citizen of the World, Denizen of the Net
"I wonder why so many Finnish traditions are related with booze?"
- Juha Sakkinen