UKC

The standard experience the other day of whilst replacing one worn out components on my road bike, realising something else has had it too. I had already been thinking it needs new wheels, and so it goes on. Anyway, it's a ten year old bike that has done me proud but perhaps rather than just sink more money into fixing it and the hassle of finding old fashioned parts - it's time to look for a new one.

So I have been bike shop surfing - various sales around, but one that caught my eye is on Chain Reaction where they have over a third off on their BeOne bikes. The Mistral Comp http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=59249 at this price is probably affordable for me. It has a 105 groupset throughout, and I just can't find anything else anywhere near that price with 105. Chain Reaction is also selling their Vitus carbon fibre framed bikes at a similar discount but the one I could afford is now only in sizes that might be just a wee bit small for me.

There just doesn't seem to be many English language reviews of BeOne bikes - Cycle Radar was very complimentary about one of the slightly cheaper models: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/storm-09-34093 which is encouraging, but couldn't find much out beyond that.

I would imagine a thousand pound alloy framed bike with 105 is going to be a very decent bike anyway; definitely as much as I'll ever need - so then at a third less in price it looks like a bargain. But any thoughts? Not a brand snob at all - it generally seems you get more for your money away, but Planet X starts at a grand, and the Ribble one that looks about equivalent would have a Tiagra groupset.

In reply to TobyA: Seems they are a bit of mystery brand then.

If anyone wants to indulge in some wild speculation based only on looking at the picture and a self-confident knowledge of all things cycling, please feel free! This is UKC after all...

In reply to TobyA:

Try singletrackworld and Cycling Plus and the CTC/Cycle Touring Club websites?

Tim

In reply to TobyA:

looks ok, well kitted out for the price. It's got a triple chainset though and remember every time you use the granny ring god kills a kitten.

In reply to Mooncat:

I know it's considered a bit naff by you hard lads but I'm really rubbish at going up hill so actually thought that was a good thing for me! Never liked kittens much anyway.

Are triples aimed more a recreational riders (perhaps coming from an MTB background)? My current bike is a double crankset (not sure what) with 13-26 at the back. When I've been dying on the last hills on a couple of sportives I've done whilst my friend seemed to be still spinning nicely, I wondered if my bike has some old fashioned high gearing (then I would just go back to crying). I need to replace that cassette so was looking at getting a 13-28, although don't know if the 2 extra teeth changes the feel much.

In reply to TobyA:

If you're doing hilly sportives a triple would be a good idea, your current may be 53-39 chainrings so even a compact (50-34)would make life much easier so long as you're not racing.

In reply to TobyA:

I've been tempted to rig one of my bikes as a kitten killer after a hard day out on the hills of the North Cotswolds but got saved by SRAM Apex. I have a casette that goes down to 32 onto a 50/34 chainset. I can spin up hills where I used to be pushing dead hard on a 27. Kittens really like me

In theory you need a SRAM Apex mech for it to work but in practice the cassette works fine with my 105 mech and shifters on my other bike.

In reply to Jamming Dodger:


I take your point - but on sale its just a tad under 700 quid, rather than the original 1100 - so that's a big difference and really what sparked my interest. I haven't seen anything else with 105 for 700, even stuff on sale at other shops.

I had considered trying to up-grade stuff on my old bike, but when you are looking at having to spend 1 to 2 hundred just to sort out my drive train issues, then if I wanted to get new wheels (they are the originals, so 10 years old and probably weren't super flash even when knew - I think I paid the equivalent of about 500 quid in 2001 for the bike) a least another 100 probably, it just seemed maybe getting a complete modern bike seemed a good idea.

In reply to Jamming Dodger:

I'm not sure there are many £1000 bikes with full 105 these days. A £700 Allez won't have it unless heavily discounted.

In reply to Horse:


Are you happy with 105 on your other bike Horse? I think it was Enty the other day saying he thought it was very good value for money as a groupset - that's one of the things that made think about this BeOne bike when I saw it.

My current bike has some of the cheaper - but not cheapest - Campag mechs and shifters (although as I fix things I notice actually lots of the othere components are Miche) and its one of the best things about the bike - its just kept on working smoothly over thousands of kilometres with very little need for servicing. In an ideal world I go for a campag equipped bike again just because of that experience - but money is of course the central consideration. Should add I'm perfectly happy with Shimano Deore stuff on my MTB and commuting hybrid.

In reply to TobyA:

Yes, 105 on the Bianchi is fine and to be honest more than adequate for my needs. Surprisingly slick for a "cheap" groupset. You might hear about problems with the shifters, there was an issue a couple of years ago but is now completely sorted.

In reply to Mooncat:


so thats another thing going for it.
Whats needed to start bumping off puppies as well?

My new Be One Chase is a cracking bike for the money. No brand presence in the UK, so they're going cheap. I haven't a new bike in ages and can't be trusted to have an objective opinion, but my new Be One Chase is a cracking bike for the money.

In reply to Horse: I don't think you'd have problems with the shifters if it's a triple anyway - it was using the "all purpose" 105 shifter on a double that caused the problem.

FWIW my first 105 was ace (apart from the shifting problem!). Couldn't believe how slick the shifting was, and how good the brakes were compared to Veloce.

Interested in the Apex thing though - thinking about a Boardman CX with discs for a winter bike, and that has Apex on - mind you I'm riding a grown-up's chainset in Tuscany this week and coping, so maybe 53-39 is the way to go...

In reply to TobyA:

http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/Road+Parts/Transmission/Groupsets+-...

Get your wheels rebuilt and stick this on it.

Tick the shiny new kit and recycle boxes.

Regards

D

In reply to steveri: Thanks Steve. Any thoughts on the sizing? They don't have fitting guide but looking around between at other makes fit guide and sizing suggestions more generally, I think I would be pefectly half way between 53 cms and 56! Don't know whether going up or down would be better...

In reply to andy:

I've just switched to a 52-36 with an 11-25 cassette and it seems to tick lots of boxes.

In reply to TobyA:
Sounds like your're the same size as me - I could have done with a 54 or 55. The TT is a bit shorter than the ST, ie they're not 'square' like some makes.

I went 56cm and have got rid of the 3x headset spacers. My last road bike had a 55.5cm top tube and felt a touch big, this is 54.5 (I think, it's late and I'm a bit tiddly) so it's heading the right direction at least