Claude-Bulter bike or Specialised?

[The Oracle]

Hello biking gurus,
I am a newbie to road racing and want to get something reasonable to start
with. If I like it I can get something up market later in a year or so. A
couple of my mates have said the Claude Butler Milano is a good bike for a
newcomer. Someone in a bikeshop said it was a good model too and it seems
to get some good reviews. They said it is a budget bike but more than
suitable for the likes of me. I can get it for about £390 brand new out
the box. I also liked the specialised Allez Sport for about £800 which some
one else suggested. However, my mates said I won't appreciate the Allez
yet and would be better with the Butler just to see how I get on. What do
you guys reckon? Without being arrogant, I could afford the Specialised now
if I want. However, there's no point in spending money unecessaily.

Therefore the question really is: Is this a reasonable bike for a newbie or
forget it and go with the Specialised?

Claude Butler
http://www.claudbutler.co.uk/product.php?c.id=3&s.id=1&p.id=240

or the Specialised
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?san=03AllezSport18&bl=road&JServSe
ssionIdroot=6z0azrwxwo.j27003

Very much appretiate any views or opinions guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve

[Simonb]

> or the Specialised
>
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?san=03AllezSport18&bl=road&JServSe
> ssionIdroot=6z0azrwxwo.j27003

If you can afford it, buy it. You get what you pay for with bikes. Shop
around though, as there are better put together bikes than Specialized.

[Digweed .. ;\)]

The Oracle tried to scribble ...

> Hello biking gurus,
> I am a newbie to road racing and want to get something reasonable to
> start with. If I like it I can get something up market later in a
> year or so. A couple of my mates have said the Claude Butler Milano
> is a good bike for a newcomer. Someone in a bikeshop said it was a
> good model too and it seems to get some good reviews. They said it
> is a budget bike but more than suitable for the likes of me. I can
> get it for about £390 brand new out the box. I also liked the
> specialised Allez Sport for about £800 which some one else suggested.
> However, my mates said I won't appreciate the Allez yet and would be
> better with the Butler just to see how I get on. What do you guys
> reckon? Without being arrogant, I could afford the Specialised now
> if I want. However, there's no point in spending money unecessaily.
>
> Therefore the question really is: Is this a reasonable bike for a
> newbie or forget it and go with the Specialised?
>
> Claude Butler
> http://www.claudbutler.co.uk/product.php?c.id=3&s.id=1&p.id=240
>
> or the Specialised
>
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?san=03AllezSport18&bl=road&JServSe
> ssionIdroot=6z0azrwxwo.j27003
>
> Very much appretiate any views or opinions guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> Steve

I'd say that both are reasonable bikes for anyone to ride. Whether the
Specialised is worth the extra for a total newcomer could be debated to hell
and back.

Personally I'd say if you can afford it then get the better quality, but
whether that 'better quality' is a Specialised could also probably be
debated .. I must admit to a liking for Bianchi bikes, and at that cost
there are a few models that fit the bill admirably ... ;)

http://tinyurl.com/hpnl
http://tinyurl.com/hpnz

--
Digweed