Good content. My only question is, why do you advertise dollars over other currencies? Many if us don't have deep pockets and I personally speak for the majority of the people thank you for getting back on track with you content looking out for the lower earns who want to join the cycling community but sadly do not have the funds, especially due to the cost of living and loss of employment. Thanks GCN.
New Bike. 2nd hand carbon frames will never give peace of mind. Have they been stored correctly, have they been maintained? Did they have a crash and they're about to delaminate?
The used pinarello is a better deal but component availability for that groupset is very limited. Finding a new 5 arm 10 speed ultegra chainring is like searching for gold but it is a wear part so you will eventually need one and if you damaged one of your shifters, derailleurs or brake calipers you would be very likely forced to buy used stuff from ebay.
@@NoahStephensI don't think so. They can make this kind of contents without big sponsor if they want to. They just make a little bit less money but I think they can make it up with more viewership
Much prefer this kind of "down to earth" content and it's nice to see GCN posting it. I find this far more interesting than the more industry-led content promoting the latest £15k aero bike that most of us would only get marginal benefit from riding.
We love all the high end tech but sometimes it's great to get our hands on bikes like this 🙌 Thanks for the great feedback, we'll keep producing the best videos we can! 🎬
I just found an incredible road bike at a garage sale for $200. Its an S-works, fully carbon fiber and all Dura Ace components. 10 years old now but still brand new. Man was a pro cyclists (not elite) and won a race that was sponsored by specialized when trying to make the Olympic team before he retired. He didn't make the team but got this bike and never rode it. I remember looking at these bikes in the bike shop windows thinking id never own one. I know its outdated but it was a 10k dollar bike when it was new.
Thanks Ollie for showing how enjoyable biking can be for the entry level rider by comparing bikes. I think sometimes we scare people away by the high end cost of bikes forgetting we once rode those lower tier bikes. Great video
Please do this at least with tires! It’s the first upgrade and it makes so much difference. I would think the new bike would gain significantly in comfort and speed.
@@niceracleous999928t is the maximum cog that is compatible with the short cage 105 derailleur (of that generation) on that Pinarello. He cannot install a larger cassette unless he also replaces the ss derailleur with a gs (med/long) cage 10-speed derailleur.
Yep second hand cannondale topstone tiagra £500 best bike ever owned just cautious in regards to theft but used for daily commute and holding up to a quite abusive commuting route.
Sorry guys but this is so 2000...on the mainland, called Europe! Then thing you have to mention are the costs for the parts. If you ride a little so 5000km a year blade and two pairs of breaks, and new tyres
Theoretically you should always be getting a better deal for the same amount of money if you buy second hand over brand new. Worth mentioning though is that with second hand bike you can be looking around for ages to find what you want, have to spend quite some money on replacing worn out bits and/or just upgrading to the specs you want, and the second hand bike will usually always show signs of wear, or even damage, and often come without any warranty whatsoever. And lastly, depending on your geographical location, you can end up spending a lot of time and money going around to see these used bikes for real, or of course just hope that it is as shown in photos if you buy online. I personally think that the second hand market probably lends itself more to those who are very experienced with the mechanical aspects of a bike, whereas it could potentially end in tears for the novice first time buyer.
it's always gonna be a better deal to go used, it just comes with the extra caveat that you have to be really diligent with your research, and you have to check for issues.
@@norebab3818Or have a good friend with the skills that will help out with unbiased advice buying a second hand bike. Problem is that most advice givers will advocate more for what they like, not what the buyer needs, but that can be said fir many bike store salesmen as well.
No way you can find an Ultegra carbon pinarelo for 500 pounds, unless it was stolen. Have combed the internet for weeks and never seen anything remotely similar.
I recently bought a 2016 Wilier Cento 1 SR with Campy 11speed and Zonda wheels with Conti 5000's for £600 (I went to his house and he had the original reciept) It may have rim brakes but to me it is a brilliant bike. Nothing new came close.
Are bikes in the UK really so much cheaper? What you are describing would easily sell above 1200€ in Germany. Also the bike from the video would be worth more like 800€.
GCN Bingo 😂. Love it Tire size is the unfortunate break point. If you’re happy with 28mm or smaller, there are so many GREAT older bikes at reasonable prices. But if you see 28mm as the minimum there are few options. I’ve got several older road bikes that I love. Some have modernized components for modern gear ratios too. But to run 32mm tires, I had to add a newer one to the stable. No other option. But I still ride the older ones. They’re still winners and would be a great value to buy today. Another vote that most rim brakes (this century) on aluminum rims are more than adequate. Good disk brakes are better but unnecessary for anyone but Clydesdales in the mountains. But for entry riders, the “bang for the buck” new bike is a fine choice. Lower risk. Fewer decisions. Just learn to ride and enjoy. Play on the next one.
Used - if you know what you are looking for and the value - is always better. BUT if you're new into the game and doesn't have anyone to lean on, far safer to go for a new one. the cost of just basic maintance is going to make the old one very expensive fast if it isn't been properly taken care of. Unless you do it yourself. But one of my bikes, a storck I bought for $700. It was intended to be on the trainer 24h, but I've not had the wish to do that yet, because it's been such a wonderful bike to ride. So quick, nippy and fast. And I got a $6000 bike. I mean, bikes lose their value far faster than they lose their usefulness.
Great to hear your advice and points you've shared. I'm two years into the cycling community. I purchased a second hand specialized allez 2017 that had done less than 5 miles. It cost me £200! After cycling 10 miles I knew this was the sport for me. I went down to my local bike shop knew I wanted to purchase a new bike and after months of research I personally found Orbea was the best value for money as I paid £5,500 for a customer build bike along with Etap Sram. This would have cost me over £8,000 but due to the fall of sales for new high spec bikes during the pandemic they (Orbea) had deals on with massive savings. I can say I won't be purchasing a high spec bike anytime soon and happy with my purchase. My partner now wants a ring for putting up with my purchase along with washing my cycling clothing 😅
I completely second the OP. Nowadays, 10 year old bikes are already quite complex and the tools and materials, nevermind the knowledge and skills, can get crazy expensive- more than a new bike. I would advice to get a good NEW basic bike, and if you like the sport and especially the mechanics of the machines, go for an older high end model as a second bike.
@@tonyBobb5209 Allez is a great beginner bike, but once you've tried sram etap or shimano di2, you are a bit hooked. And while bike trends might change, you wouldn't want to change that orbea out on many many years. sram etap is awesome, and Orbea is well regarded as well. Check if your spouse doesn't want a chainring instead - It's nice with company. :)
I recently purchased a used bike. I looked around at the private sale market, but ended up purchasing through my favorite local bike shop. I know I paid a bit of a premium for the used bike (about $200 above a similar bike on FB Marketplace), but the peace of mind knowing it was mechanically solid and had no surprises was well worth it. My LBS backs up their used bikes with the same return/exchange/repair policies as their new bikes.
@@fredsirvalo1904 On a bike you have the chain, the cassette, the cogs, the crank bearing, the headset bearing and the wheel bearings that all wear out eventually. So if just one of those were worn out, that would be the difference of that $200 given the part cost and work involved. Great to support your local LBS and a safe bet. I mean, even I who knows bikes managed to buy a used one where I noticed the braking surface on the wheels was concave the first time I took it for a real ride. Didn't even consider checking that when I bought it or I'd haggled the price down further.
My favourite GCN content is the non sponsored one! With the quality of presenters, and the entire crew, it's always top tier content. Would definitely love to see more of it. I end up skipping all sponsored content anyways.
Some bike packing tech content would be great! Especially the impact of different equipment choices like bikepacking bags, racks etc on flat roads, climbing performance and downhill. Do aero bags actually work? Do bags swaying lose significant wattage? Also would be nice to see the impact road and gravel vibrations have on performance and how much of energy is lost because of that, and how much compliance of different equipment choices or different tech helps with that. And a deep dive and pros and cons of different bottom bracket tech!
Love the budget conscious stuff! Would love to see a small series about best bang for buck upgrades on the boardman. Faster tires and TPU tubes,, drivetrain upgrades, weight savings, budget carbon bars, etc.
I am very impressed just how close these 2 bikes were in terms of speed. Was expecting the used bike to be a lot better at that price, just goes to show how much bike tech has advanced lately!
@@chrislesner2822not true. Dependent on the length of the route and the fitness of the rider. Note: Ollie’s power output was actually higher on the 2nd run.
Nobody can buy a second hand Pinarello for 500 £ here in Germany. I would estimate you must at least spend around 2000 €. Astonishing the differences between markets.
these not sponsored videos turn out to be really good. I'd love to see more videos of bikes like hybrid bikes (Canyon Roadlite 6 2023) and so on, something different
I have zero experience with road bikes, but I think the lessons learned in MTB apply: when buying a used bike, you really need to know what you're getting. When buying something on a budget, it can even come down to worn chain/drivetrain, replace that and suddenly you could have spent a minimum of hundred euros on another bike. I also think that, as he said on the video, the new cheap brakes and groupsets work just fine, in this case the old one was in fact OLD, but I've fallen to the nostalgy trap in thinking some old - albeit at the time premium - junk would be superior to new stuff you can buy much cheaper.
I have an older Boardman road bike of similar spec to this one. I gave up riding it because our roads are so bad until I managed to get some 30mml wide tyres on it, wow what an improvement.
This nicely highlights the difference in bikes from today versus ten years ago. It's definitely NOT all about rim brakes versus discs or electronic shifting versus mechanical. I finally sold my 2011 Cervelo R3 because I couldn't fit tires wider than 25mm and the gear range was too narrow. I loved its ride quality and simplicity. However being able to run wider tires and gearing on my current bike is irreplaceable. 32mm tires have been so much more comfortable and grippy and the wider gearing range has completely opened up how and where I ride. I think disc brakes are a wash compared to rim brakes. The feel is slightly different but I think rim brakes on alloy rims work just as well as discs if they're maintained properly. However being able to use carbon rims because of disc brakes is a huge improvement. They're much more comfortable and durable.
IF you want to spend the money on carbon wheels of course, & disc brakes are more likely to have issues - especially noise -and are more fidgety to fix… although it can be still be done at home - but it’s a lot more of a faff compared to rims on aluminium
Great content! I have a Pinarello Uno that I bought 2.5 years ago off a family friend to get into cycling and triathlon. I still ride it as my main training bike and love it! I keep it serviced and maintained by the local bike shop and it runs like a dream. Hopefully many more seasons on that bike :)
Nice little down to earth comparison Ollie. Nice to see an Old Savillian providing some interesting you tube content. More of this kind of stuff please .
I was looking for a winter bike and picked up that same model Pinarello just hours after your first video about it in late 22. I upgraded the group set to Ultegra 6800, fitted some Campagnolo wheels, and put some narrower bars on it and love it. Great bike for the money and great video. 👍🏼
From experience, and this isn't just with bicycles, but many other used items from cars to furniture, i can hand in heart say that some of the best purchases ive ever made in my life are from used items, and some of my worst is from used as well 😂 New is lovely, but when it comes to bicycles, i like to upgrade them here and there. So for me its why by new when I'm going to swap loads of stuff over? When i buy used, the previous owner has usually taken care of their bike very well and sometimes they've even carried out the mods i would have done too! I love it when this happens! Its just a case of a quick service, brake pad and hydraulic oil change and away i go. Although i can appreciate why people would like to buy new, i havent seen any major mechanical enhancements on bikes in around 15 years. A 10 year old bike is surprisingly up to date, and it leaves you room to put the upgrades you want on and make the bike your own. Plus thieves dont think twice about stealing the thing as there's so many newer and much more expensive bikes parked arpund your sleeper bike 😉 Just buy what you know will make you happy. We need people to buy new bikes so that to put more bikes on the tarmac/trails, and we need used buyers to keep the old bikes alive for as long as possible.
Yes! Content we average normal people like to watch. Keep these content coming! Lets try to get a video about old school geometry vs modern cheap bike geometry and does it make a difference !
Enjoyed this vid, very relatable to people who can’t throw down big money. I’ve had a Ridgeback hybrid (fully kitted out with mudguards, carrier etc) for 18yrs and love it and will keep it forever. Recently bagged a 2015 GT Grade (alloy, Claris) for under £100 on eBay. Yep not a true road bike but works very well for the scabby/potholed country backroads I ride. Dodgy back, so didn’t know if I could even ride drops and didn’t want to sink serious $$$ into an experiment. Ended up with a bike that is comfortable and huge fun. Think I got lucky with the price, although it was a couple of hours drive to pick it up. First sportive booked…
I've bought 3 used bikes now Cannondale CAAD8 for $160, Specialized Crosstrail for $100, Cannondale CAAD10 for $150 I got 3 awesome bikes for the price of one entry level new bike. There are great deals out there!
This is my kind of bike, I really want to know, how much the difference with Super Bike, if we upgrade it to the max ( tire, inner tube, wheels , etc )
6:24 I had a little chuckle at the comment about taking rim brakes into the mountains. Reflecting on how until very recently that wouldn’t even have been a consideration. 🤣
i'm a new cyclist training for ironman, never seriously cycled before but have ridden road bikes and own an old steel frame commute workhorse, i decided to do exactly this, i managed to find a absolutely smashing deal on ebay for a fully carbon bike with an ultegra groupset (i didn't know what that was when i bought it) last xmas, got it for a whopping £320, it has a few dings and scratches but other than that is perfect! weighs just under 8kg too. for someone like me and my riding goals i think it's perfect, you wouldn't go buy your first car from a sports car showroom, so why do it with a bike. 4 months of intense training in and gotta say i nailed it, super happy with it.
@@gcntech Personally, I would really enjoy a video on the black art of mixing MTB and Road components when building up a gravel bike. For example, differences in bar diameters mean I can't fit my Shimano XT shifters on a road bar. Which makes running an inexpensive but reliable Deore 11-speed 1X drive train a bit of a faff. That's a shame, because the 11-51 cassette would be great for bikepacking. The flat-mount and post-mount fittings on frames also complicate matters. For example, I have a Cannondale SLATE that I wanted to convert to a flat-bar gravel bike. using post-mount Shimano Deore 4-pot MTB brakes I have in my bike cave. But that frame only takes flat mount. Since gravel very much straddles the road and MTB worlds, some insight and understanding on what you can do with a bit of fiddling, or should really steer clear of, would be massively useful. I'm sure some good tips and tricks and clever equipment choices would make a good video, or series of videos. Love you. Bye!
4:30 I've got those Vittoria tires, and they're not so bad- they have some grip and good durability. Not for racing, but for general ride and training they will do.
Im a beginner. I started cycling few months ago. I got a triban rc500. I like it so far. I don't feel i need a upgrade for now. Im still very happy with the bike❤
If you're improving your lap times by upgrading your bike instead of actually cycling harder, what's the point? So yeah, stick with what's reliable unless you want to compete.
Months? I am still riding 4 times a week on the bike I bought 22 years ago! Just keep adding parts as parts wear out, new wheels a few months back and new saddle today, apart from the actual frame everything has been changed more than once, bike of Theseus it is 😁
Fully agree on getting a used bike. Got a 1999 LeMond Tourmalet from a former co-worker for $500 CAD back in 2013 and upgraded the groupset in 2020 to a Shimano 105 11-speed which runs great. Even with the groupset upgrade, it was a lot cheaper than getting a brand new road bike with a 105 and the older chromoly steel frame still turns heads to this day.
For me, the used market just didn’t pan out for £450. Loads for sale, but almost none of them were an appropriate frame size for me. Purchasing the new bike allowed me to get one that fit correctly. Thanks for the tips on the tires.
Bravo on making a video about real bikes that probably most of your viewers ride. When I started out I there was very little information about where to start and what upgrades can change the bike entirely. Always better to go second hand with those at the top end upgrading on a fairly regular basis means that you're bound to pick up a great older bike and lots of spare parts.
Thanks Ollie for mentioning the gearing on Pinarello being 34-28 and it being hard on ascents. Being 194cm and living in Japan, my bicycle selection was severely limited and I ended up buying a 7 speed 28/14 freewheel bike with 52/42 chainrings, and I really struggle with climbs over 10% even on 42-28. So hearing you struggle with 34-28 really made me think that I should change the chainrings or grow a pair of bodybuilder-worthy quads 😂
I bought 2 years ago a third hand Bianchi Intenso, with mechanical Ultegra 2x11s, rim brakes and a full carbon frame + fork for only 1100€ ! Few weeks ago, I bought a new pair of Fulcrum Racing 3, chainrings and new cassette, now this is a complete bike which weights only 7.5kg
@gcntech Love your music choices on this video (especially at 10:10) - really a step up to previous ones! Feels just that bit more produced, which makes it more likely to watch the whole thing (at least for me).
Last year I decided to built another bike. I started with a fairly pristine 2012 Cervelo R5 frameset. Added a brand new Ultegra 11speed mechanical groupset. Combined with a few "choice" pieces for the cockpit and my current ICAN wheelset, I ended up with a complete bike that weighs in at 6.5kg, and that's including pedals, computer mount and bottle cages. Total cost is right about the equivalent of a name brand carbon bike with disc brake and 105 groupset. Not bad, in my books, for a top end rim brake bike, especially when compared to what a current top end bike would cost!!!
Hah thats cool, the Pinerello has the wheels I just upgraded from (got RS30's now after eating a pot hole at new year) and the 105 version of the Ultegra groupset I've got *and* the Pinny has no power meter. Finally a Vs video where my bike would be a genuine contender. ❤ Really liking this new season of videos, getting out from under discovery seems to be allowing a bit more creative freedom and bringing back more of an entusiasts' element. Great work, keep it up!
I recently watched Dr Bridgewood go up El Tiede in a previous life on standard gearing. It's interesting how everyone is very happy now with a compact on the front and big cassette on the back. I've still got a Pinarello FP2 as my usual workhorse bike with a compact on the front and 11-28 10spd 105 on the back and it's fine for most things but I did Tiede on a hire bike with a compact and 11-34 12spd 105 Di2 a couple of weeks back and I don't think I'd have made it up with my usual gearing. Good to see over 10 year old Pinas still going stong and on rim brakes!
Fun video. I went with used. I was able to get an almost unused 2014 Cannondale Synapse disc 5 105 for $450.00 USD and I am really happy with it! It is such a comfortable ride! At this moment or I will probably go the same route when it comes time to get a gravel bike or something to turn into a gravel bike.
I have really enjoyed some of the Cannondale line. Cannondale synapse, Cannondale CAAD 8, and Cannondale CAAD 10. They are very comfortable and fast riding bikes, but they have the same problems with older tech. Mainly being wheel and tire size.
Yep, my road racing rigs all had rim brakes on alloy wheels up until last year for me. They work just fine if everything is clean. I upgraded to a new to me SL6 with thru-axle and disc brakes, have not raced it yet.
@@gcntech Only if/when I "need" a new bike. It's too expensive to try to keep up with the Jones' so I'm riding what I have, which is perfectly acceptable.
This is a great informative video. Thank you! Love to see this kind of video because it helps me understand the limits and reach of what kinds of bikes and components I my range. Please do more old, new comparison not only with bikes, but components too. It really help to makes sensible decisions on the best way to upgrade ot just make the bike comfortable. For example, I did buy a used Salsa Journeyman gravel bike and for me fits perfect and is very comfortable. I am in the process of up graded components from claris to tiagra. This save me in the long run about 500 dollars and will last years to come. Moreover the claris is going on a 20 dollar bike frame I found on the market place for a fun ride retro bike. With that said, I still love to see the super bike and component comparison for the geek factor and dreams.
I hopped over to the 2nd hand buying tips video. What a throwback. I saw Katherine in there. I love all the new presenters, but I do miss the old crew.
I guess it depends on your application. I went through this a few years ago, looking for a bike to keep at my sister’s house for my yearly East Coast vacation. I ended up with a nice Cannondale full carbon fiber bike from circa 2012. It was actually not rideable when I bought it, but it only needed minor work and the price was a steal. I put an afternoon into it, some new cables, new wheel bearings, and a tuneup, and it was good to go. Like ollie mentioned the gearing on it was terrible. I Replaced the crank last year with what I had laying around here with better gearing. This year‘s visit I’ll put new brakes anda different cassette on . I Actually enjoy upgrading one thing at a time each year when I go to visit. Then I ride the hell out of it.
That GCN tests all levels of bikes is important. One can see the diminishing increase of performance as the cost goes up. This information helps to determine the best bike to buy for your budget.
I bought a mid 90s semi-carbon frame road bike for $125 because its Shimano RSX shifters were gummed up. Spent $260 in bike repairs (new shifters, bottom bracket, and bike mechanic labor fees). I'm at less than $500 into it, and it cost $1k in 1996, so about $2000 in today's money. It rides great with a half decent saddle. So, I essentially paid about a quarter of what it cost new (accounting for inflation), and way less than a budget road bike costs. Win.
It's also worth noting that the price has come down dramatically on nearly new bikes. I put this down to the COVID effect where loads of people bought the latest kit but ultimately gave up on them after a dozen rides. I bought a 1 and a half year old Scott Gravel which would have been over 1.6k for less than 400. It had been used half a dozen times and had a bit of rust on the chain, it still had the rubber nubs on the tyres. A local bike shop service later and it was as literally as good as the day it was purchased.
As someone who has owned nearly 500 bikes--mostly high end carbon road bikes--and currently owns about 40 of them--again, mostly high-end road bikes--I'd take a good, used, high end road bike over a new, entry level bike ANY day of the week... and twice on Sundays. I see 8 to 10 yr old Specialized S-Works Tarmacs, Rubys and Roubaixs for sale right now for $1000-ish... and those bikes were $8000+ new. CRAZY light... full DURA ACE... with carbon wheels. Ride up and down a canyon on one of those... then on a new $500 bike... and there is simply no comparison.
Great film. Definitely what we want, as it's what most of us can afford or use more regularly. (although the expensive stuff is interesting)......Ollie did a great job as usual.
When I got my road bike in 2021, I did not have has much knowledge as I have now, and there also was the fact that I couldn't find a bike in my size, so I went with a then new Giant Contend AR 4. It's got the same groupset as the bike shown in the video, but this bike gave me a good starting point for getting back into cycling properly. Also, there's the fact that the bike is/was warrantied, so that gave me piece of mind as I put mileage on it. Nowadays, I am looking at whether if I upgrade the groupset or the entire bike. So my advice for beginners, especially if they want peace of mind, is to consider a new/newish entry level bike to get a feel and to not get overwhelmed by mechanical issues that might crop up.
Good advice. You first need some experience to understand what you really need and what you want. U tube nowadays helps, back in the day it was magazines and talking to other riders. You can't walk into a bike shop and have one of the dummies there figure out what you need. You're guaranteed to walk out with the wrong thing :)
I think for the sake of let's say a minute in time I'd sooner buy a new bike simply because of the warranty but also because upgrading parts is much less of a hassle! But! There are some great deals out there on second hand bikes especially if you're prepared to put a little work in. I bought a Giant defy Alxx frame with carbon forks including seat clamp, hanger and a few bits and bobs for £55 incl. Postage! Great film Oli! 👍
I bought a brand new gravel bike for $650 in 2022 and then spent another $300 on a tubeless tire setup. I love the bike and it has taken me through mountains, rocky terrain, and 1000s of miles. I did a 100 mile gravel race with bike 3x what I paid for with mine and it handled it just fine! You don't need to spend $1000s if you don't want or can't. If you can and want to that is great too! :)
@PRH123 Poseidon X with the through axle conversion kit all on a sale the company had. They are a small company in California and it is an aluminum bike with a carbon fork.Then I got carbon Shimano rims with 38mm Gravel King tubeless tires I got also on a sale.
@@gigglingchicken8444 googled it, nice stuff they’ve got…. great to see someone making good stuff for that niche…. over 30 years of riding I’ve come back to some of the good old stuff that works…. Square taper bb, QR axles, mechanical disks…. it’s more reliable and works fine…
If I was advising someone wanting to get into the sport I think I would point them to a new bike like the boardman. Worry free, modern design (clearance and gears etc) and ripe for upgrades and making it your own to suit you. Been down the 2nd hand bike route before and got an absolute bargin as my 2nd ever road bike. Cant deny the bang for buck with that way but maybe not for a complete newbie.
I'd agree from my own experience, just on the gearing alone. 34T on the rear cassette makes the climbs so much easier when you are starting out, I know replacing a cassette isn't a "big" job but it's more hassle and expense when you're new to cycling.
About tires on older bikes. In 2006 I bought a Bianchi 928 Carbon frameset. In there was enough space to use cyclocross tires of 33 mm. I had to open the brake calipers, Ultegra 6600, and let a lot of air escape to mount the wheels. Then I just had to pump up the tires again. I do still have that frame, but now with a more modern front fork. That newer front fork is not wide enough for 28 mm tires, so I have to use 25 mm tires.
Just built a domane al2 rim brake with 105 components for under 500 including the frame. Fits 30s and weighs under 20lbs. Fits 30mm tires and could probably go 32. If you shop deals for 2nd hand parts and sales for consumables you can build a highly capable bike on a meager budget
Love this content. Used also has the environmental element too.. I think it'd be really interesting to see this with a 3 year old second hand one. Thanks Ollie. PS.. love the high drone shot with the pigeons bursting out of the tree.👍
Done thaty. Got a 2018 Roubaix Elite in late 2018 (had been bought at end of 2017 by original owner - hydraulic disc brakes, suspension in headset, Ultegra - recent quick price estimate was £300, I paid £1,200 for what would have been £3,500+ when new. An offer I couldn't resist. Should have gone with plan A - new aluminium 105 with capacity for wider tyres. Spoiler - had massive heart attack in early 2020 and must have been building up for it in 2019 so didn't get maximum use of the Roubaix in 2018. Bah! The Roubaix has a high position despite removing all spacers and a sill handlebar that I intended to change quickly but recent use doesn't justify the expense... yet.
"what ever bike you are on the view is the same" This is the take away advice for people I would take a nice sunny day and a nice route on my cheap winter bike then an average route on my posh summer bike.
Recently bought a Cannondale synapse from 2015 for 800 euros. I like these older quality bikes more than these new mediocre bikes. So happy with my synapse!
The used Pinerrelo is comparable to a 2009 Fuiji SST that I ride and I love it. The stiffness is really noticeable over an aluminum bike and a lot of fun. I had to replace some things and parts are a bit tough to find, but hard to beat the speed on a budget. I could see if reliability and low maintenance is more important to someone how they would go for the new one. Also thanks for the tip on the bigger range cassette, I might do that.
@@gcntech Strava tells me I've done it 101 times over the last ten or so years. You need to check out Kingsettle Hill which is very close to this climb and Gare Hill too. If you want to involve a 'local' let me know!
I was oooo... This is a cool test - results kinda as expected, though did expect the new bike to be slightly closer. One thing with a more expensive second hand bike is cost of maintenance if trying to keep the spec comparative to original. Cost of chainrings between Claris and Ultegra - or even just compatibility and having to upgrade whole systems due to parts availability.
Awesome video but I'd prefer the Triban over the Pinarrello because of tire clearance,Ollie is really fit being able to speak so well at hard effort.Safe riding everyone.💯💪🏻🚴
Used every day, I paid £250 for a Cube Peloton SL with a carbon fork, sub 9kg weight and 105 everything except Ultegra dérailleurs, it even had the original tyres still. Road bike values drop like the stone the second they leave the showroom, it's very hard to justify buying new.
I have something close to that Boardman for 2 years and after few months bought a 2016 model with ultegra and Carbon frame for less than 1k EUR. I've never looked back at that Claris. At the moment I'm building new one @ 105 7k. The rim brake frames and used bikes are dirt cheap now. If you don't fancy disc brakes the 2nd hand market is your place.
I got a new entry level bike with "normal" specs. the advantage i got in getting the brand new entry level bike is that I have developed good will with the bike shop I got it from and now i am able to regularly visit the bike for maintenance and the occasional upgrade with "free installation" from the bike. :) As a newbie I also learned a lot coming out of this relationship with the bike shop. I guess this is one benefit of getting a brand new bike. :)
I bought a new rim braked Specialized Allez with 9 speed Sora in July reduced for £699; and upgraded the seatpost, saddle & stem for those I already had, plus I already had a set of Cero AR30 wheels and Vittoria Corsa tyres. There are new bike bargains out there if you don't mind the lesser specs. It also takes 30mm tyres......
Great video. I think impressive to see how quickly the tech has caught up on the new bike. A number of people will buy through cycle to work too, which means that although slower, the new bike might be a better deal.
Which bike would you choose? Let us now in the comments 👇🚴
Used Pinarella for me please.
ollie is a cretin.
Good content. My only question is, why do you advertise dollars over other currencies?
Many if us don't have deep pockets and I personally speak for the majority of the people thank you for getting back on track with you content looking out for the lower earns who want to join the cycling community but sadly do not have the funds, especially due to the cost of living and loss of employment. Thanks GCN.
New Bike. 2nd hand carbon frames will never give peace of mind. Have they been stored correctly, have they been maintained? Did they have a crash and they're about to delaminate?
The used pinarello is a better deal but component availability for that groupset is very limited.
Finding a new 5 arm 10 speed ultegra chainring is like searching for gold but it is a wear part so you will eventually need one and if you damaged one of your shifters, derailleurs or brake calipers you would be very likely forced to buy used stuff from ebay.
This is the content we want! Not 15k bike tests tbh 🎉
Yeah, but also we want GCN's race UI back! On Discovery+, the usability and search function are pants. Ironically, races are not very 'discoverable'
Well said!
The 15k-bike sponsors are what make this kind of content possible
@@NoahStephensI don't think so. They can make this kind of contents without big sponsor if they want to. They just make a little bit less money but I think they can make it up with more viewership
The two are not mutually exclusive, you can have both!!
Much prefer this kind of "down to earth" content and it's nice to see GCN posting it. I find this far more interesting than the more industry-led content promoting the latest £15k aero bike that most of us would only get marginal benefit from riding.
and also not treating a £5000 bike as "affordable"
You mean you aren't a multi-millionaire in your 30's? Lol me neither.
@@davidadamus177 ive got an allez elite... it literally cost more than my car. i could barely justify it
- I know, right ?
We love all the high end tech but sometimes it's great to get our hands on bikes like this 🙌 Thanks for the great feedback, we'll keep producing the best videos we can! 🎬
Unbiased and unsupported. The video format of the people!
is GCN admitting all their other content is advertorial?
@@davidzofAlways has been.
The 105 of bike test? 👀
@@gcntechThe Raleigh Tomahawk of bike testing.
You helped ruin cycling and now it's coming back for you. 🍆
Just so happens the second hand bike comes with brand new Pirelli tyres with chicken strips
I just found an incredible road bike at a garage sale for $200. Its an S-works, fully carbon fiber and all Dura Ace components. 10 years old now but still brand new. Man was a pro cyclists (not elite) and won a race that was sponsored by specialized when trying to make the Olympic team before he retired. He didn't make the team but got this bike and never rode it. I remember looking at these bikes in the bike shop windows thinking id never own one. I know its outdated but it was a 10k dollar bike when it was new.
A non sponsored GCN is a much better GCN😅
Just so happens the second hand bike comes with brand new Pirelli tyres with chicken strips
Yes please to more of this content!!!
We'll see what we can do 👀
Thanks Ollie for showing how enjoyable biking can be for the entry level rider by comparing bikes. I think sometimes we scare people away by the high end cost of bikes forgetting we once rode those lower tier bikes.
Great video
Hi! thanks for the comment and we're so glad you like the video! 🫶
Cheap and home build bikes are the best, i have tried a few really expensive ones but Chinese Carbon frames just wins in value and fun for the money.
Ollie please carry out upgrades to the boardman and repeat the test, one upgrade at a time to see the difference each individual upgrade will make
Agree, but also do tyres and a bigger cassette on the pinarello
Yes , and do the same with Hank's Pug too! 👍👍👍👍👍 eta, put the bits you take off the Boardman on it and compare to this first run. 😅
Please do this at least with tires! It’s the first upgrade and it makes so much difference. I would think the new bike would gain significantly in comfort and speed.
@@niceracleous9999regreting your Boardman purchase?
@@niceracleous999928t is the maximum cog that is compatible with the short cage 105 derailleur (of that generation) on that Pinarello. He cannot install a larger cassette unless he also replaces the ss derailleur with a gs (med/long) cage 10-speed derailleur.
Used Pinarello for me
There are some great second hand bargains out there! Have you ever got yourself a used bike?
@@gcntech Got a used fixie, Kilo tt. Still going strong 3,000 + miles later! #steelisreal
Yep second hand cannondale topstone tiagra £500 best bike ever owned just cautious in regards to theft but used for daily commute and holding up to a quite abusive commuting route.
It use to be mortgage time in order to acquire a pinarello, £500 for a use pina, who would have thought u could just get it for £500.
Sorry guys but this is so 2000...on the mainland, called Europe!
Then thing you have to mention are the costs for the parts. If you ride a little so 5000km a year blade and two pairs of breaks, and new tyres
Theoretically you should always be getting a better deal for the same amount of money if you buy second hand over brand new. Worth mentioning though is that with second hand bike you can be looking around for ages to find what you want, have to spend quite some money on replacing worn out bits and/or just upgrading to the specs you want, and the second hand bike will usually always show signs of wear, or even damage, and often come without any warranty whatsoever. And lastly, depending on your geographical location, you can end up spending a lot of time and money going around to see these used bikes for real, or of course just hope that it is as shown in photos if you buy online. I personally think that the second hand market probably lends itself more to those who are very experienced with the mechanical aspects of a bike, whereas it could potentially end in tears for the novice first time buyer.
💯 on the mark, if new to cycling, buy in store, get a good fit. Once more experienced with maintenance - then go browsing the second hand market.
it's always gonna be a better deal to go used, it just comes with the extra caveat that you have to be really diligent with your research, and you have to check for issues.
@@norebab3818Or have a good friend with the skills that will help out with unbiased advice buying a second hand bike. Problem is that most advice givers will advocate more for what they like, not what the buyer needs, but that can be said fir many bike store salesmen as well.
No way you can find an Ultegra carbon pinarelo for 500 pounds, unless it was stolen. Have combed the internet for weeks and never seen anything remotely similar.
@@PRH123 Who says you can?
I recently bought a 2016 Wilier Cento 1 SR with Campy 11speed and Zonda wheels with Conti 5000's for £600 (I went to his house and he had the original reciept) It may have rim brakes but to me it is a brilliant bike. Nothing new came close.
What's wrong with rim brake. Consider yourself lucky you don't have to deal with the rubbing noise
Rim brakes are fine the majority of the time.
@@DaveCM if you don't ride in the rain, and don't go downhill 70 kph, rim brake is all you need. Please don't fall for marketing.
Are bikes in the UK really so much cheaper? What you are describing would easily sell above 1200€ in Germany. Also the bike from the video would be worth more like 800€.
@@frodo5882 I do believe I got a good deal but I have seen similiar bargains before. I think the time of year makes a big difference too.
GCN Bingo 😂. Love it
Tire size is the unfortunate break point. If you’re happy with 28mm or smaller, there are so many GREAT older bikes at reasonable prices. But if you see 28mm as the minimum there are few options. I’ve got several older road bikes that I love. Some have modernized components for modern gear ratios too. But to run 32mm tires, I had to add a newer one to the stable. No other option. But I still ride the older ones. They’re still winners and would be a great value to buy today.
Another vote that most rim brakes (this century) on aluminum rims are more than adequate. Good disk brakes are better but unnecessary for anyone but Clydesdales in the mountains.
But for entry riders, the “bang for the buck” new bike is a fine choice. Lower risk. Fewer decisions. Just learn to ride and enjoy. Play on the next one.
Used - if you know what you are looking for and the value - is always better. BUT if you're new into the game and doesn't have anyone to lean on, far safer to go for a new one. the cost of just basic maintance is going to make the old one very expensive fast if it isn't been properly taken care of. Unless you do it yourself.
But one of my bikes, a storck I bought for $700. It was intended to be on the trainer 24h, but I've not had the wish to do that yet, because it's been such a wonderful bike to ride. So quick, nippy and fast. And I got a $6000 bike. I mean, bikes lose their value far faster than they lose their usefulness.
Great to hear your advice and points you've shared. I'm two years into the cycling community. I purchased a second hand specialized allez 2017 that had done less than 5 miles. It cost me £200! After cycling 10 miles I knew this was the sport for me.
I went down to my local bike shop knew I wanted to purchase a new bike and after months of research I personally found Orbea was the best value for money as I paid £5,500 for a customer build bike along with Etap Sram. This would have cost me over £8,000 but due to the fall of sales for new high spec bikes during the pandemic they (Orbea) had deals on with massive savings.
I can say I won't be purchasing a high spec bike anytime soon and happy with my purchase. My partner now wants a ring for putting up with my purchase along with washing my cycling clothing 😅
I completely second the OP. Nowadays, 10 year old bikes are already quite complex and the tools and materials, nevermind the knowledge and skills, can get crazy expensive- more than a new bike. I would advice to get a good NEW basic bike, and if you like the sport and especially the mechanics of the machines, go for an older high end model as a second bike.
@@tonyBobb5209 Allez is a great beginner bike, but once you've tried sram etap or shimano di2, you are a bit hooked. And while bike trends might change, you wouldn't want to change that orbea out on many many years. sram etap is awesome, and Orbea is well regarded as well.
Check if your spouse doesn't want a chainring instead - It's nice with company. :)
I recently purchased a used bike. I looked around at the private sale market, but ended up purchasing through my favorite local bike shop. I know I paid a bit of a premium for the used bike (about $200 above a similar bike on FB Marketplace), but the peace of mind knowing it was mechanically solid and had no surprises was well worth it. My LBS backs up their used bikes with the same return/exchange/repair policies as their new bikes.
@@fredsirvalo1904 On a bike you have the chain, the cassette, the cogs, the crank bearing, the headset bearing and the wheel bearings that all wear out eventually. So if just one of those were worn out, that would be the difference of that $200 given the part cost and work involved. Great to support your local LBS and a safe bet.
I mean, even I who knows bikes managed to buy a used one where I noticed the braking surface on the wheels was concave the first time I took it for a real ride. Didn't even consider checking that when I bought it or I'd haggled the price down further.
My favourite GCN content is the non sponsored one! With the quality of presenters, and the entire crew, it's always top tier content.
Would definitely love to see more of it. I end up skipping all sponsored content anyways.
Hi! thanks for the comment. What type of videos would you like to see us make more of? thanks!
Some bike packing tech content would be great! Especially the impact of different equipment choices like bikepacking bags, racks etc on flat roads, climbing performance and downhill. Do aero bags actually work? Do bags swaying lose significant wattage?
Also would be nice to see the impact road and gravel vibrations have on performance and how much of energy is lost because of that, and how much compliance of different equipment choices or different tech helps with that.
And a deep dive and pros and cons of different bottom bracket tech!
@@gcntech : Non-sponsored ones I think the bloke said, mate.
Just so happens the second hand bike comes with brand new Pirelli tyres with chicken strips
Love the budget conscious stuff! Would love to see a small series about best bang for buck upgrades on the boardman. Faster tires and TPU tubes,, drivetrain upgrades, weight savings, budget carbon bars, etc.
I am very impressed just how close these 2 bikes were in terms of speed. Was expecting the used bike to be a lot better at that price, just goes to show how much bike tech has advanced lately!
If you run two races one after another chances are the second one you will run slower. Ditto testing bicycles.
@@chrislesner2822not true. Dependent on the length of the route and the fitness of the rider. Note: Ollie’s power output was actually higher on the 2nd run.
Nobody can buy a second hand Pinarello for 500 £ here in Germany. I would estimate you must at least spend around 2000 €. Astonishing the differences between markets.
these not sponsored videos turn out to be really good. I'd love to see more videos of bikes like hybrid bikes (Canyon Roadlite 6 2023) and so on, something different
Just so happens the second hand bike comes with brand new Pirelli tyres with chicken strips
I have zero experience with road bikes, but I think the lessons learned in MTB apply: when buying a used bike, you really need to know what you're getting. When buying something on a budget, it can even come down to worn chain/drivetrain, replace that and suddenly you could have spent a minimum of hundred euros on another bike. I also think that, as he said on the video, the new cheap brakes and groupsets work just fine, in this case the old one was in fact OLD, but I've fallen to the nostalgy trap in thinking some old - albeit at the time premium - junk would be superior to new stuff you can buy much cheaper.
Great content!
Owned that same Boardman model for 5 years now and done everything I’ve needed it to, from long rides to racing triathlons on it.
Great to hear!
I was kind of guessing this to be the outcome. But having someone ride both bikes and compare the times and likely factors is great. Thanks
I have an older Boardman road bike of similar spec to this one. I gave up riding it because our roads are so bad until I managed to get some 30mml wide tyres on it, wow what an improvement.
The decision here comes down to if you’re confident/have the knowledge of what to look for (or avoid) in a used bike
This nicely highlights the difference in bikes from today versus ten years ago. It's definitely NOT all about rim brakes versus discs or electronic shifting versus mechanical.
I finally sold my 2011 Cervelo R3 because I couldn't fit tires wider than 25mm and the gear range was too narrow. I loved its ride quality and simplicity. However being able to run wider tires and gearing on my current bike is irreplaceable. 32mm tires have been so much more comfortable and grippy and the wider gearing range has completely opened up how and where I ride.
I think disc brakes are a wash compared to rim brakes. The feel is slightly different but I think rim brakes on alloy rims work just as well as discs if they're maintained properly. However being able to use carbon rims because of disc brakes is a huge improvement. They're much more comfortable and durable.
IF you want to spend the money on carbon wheels of course, & disc brakes are more likely to have issues - especially noise -and are more fidgety to fix… although it can be still be done at home - but it’s a lot more of a faff compared to rims on aluminium
Great video! Not sure Ill ever get used to hearing " Kings pounds though" So used to Queen.
Great content!
I have a Pinarello Uno that I bought 2.5 years ago off a family friend to get into cycling and triathlon. I still ride it as my main training bike and love it! I keep it serviced and maintained by the local bike shop and it runs like a dream. Hopefully many more seasons on that bike :)
I have been asking for this video in the past 2 years. Finally. Thanks GCN
Format of the people! Realistic costs on real bikes that real people buy and ride! Top work, guys!
Nice little down to earth comparison Ollie. Nice to see an Old Savillian providing some interesting you tube content. More of this kind of stuff please .
I was looking for a winter bike and picked up that same model Pinarello just hours after your first video about it in late 22. I upgraded the group set to Ultegra 6800, fitted some Campagnolo wheels, and put some narrower bars on it and love it. Great bike for the money and great video. 👍🏼
From experience, and this isn't just with bicycles, but many other used items from cars to furniture, i can hand in heart say that some of the best purchases ive ever made in my life are from used items, and some of my worst is from used as well 😂
New is lovely, but when it comes to bicycles, i like to upgrade them here and there. So for me its why by new when I'm going to swap loads of stuff over? When i buy used, the previous owner has usually taken care of their bike very well and sometimes they've even carried out the mods i would have done too! I love it when this happens! Its just a case of a quick service, brake pad and hydraulic oil change and away i go.
Although i can appreciate why people would like to buy new, i havent seen any major mechanical enhancements on bikes in around 15 years. A 10 year old bike is surprisingly up to date, and it leaves you room to put the upgrades you want on and make the bike your own. Plus thieves dont think twice about stealing the thing as there's so many newer and much more expensive bikes parked arpund your sleeper bike 😉
Just buy what you know will make you happy. We need people to buy new bikes so that to put more bikes on the tarmac/trails, and we need used buyers to keep the old bikes alive for as long as possible.
Yes! Content we average normal people like to watch. Keep these content coming! Lets try to get a video about old school geometry vs modern cheap bike geometry and does it make a difference !
We'll keep it coming if you guys keep commenting 🙌 Sounds like a great video idea!
Enjoyed this vid, very relatable to people who can’t throw down big money. I’ve had a Ridgeback hybrid (fully kitted out with mudguards, carrier etc) for 18yrs and love it and will keep it forever. Recently bagged a 2015 GT Grade (alloy, Claris) for under £100 on eBay. Yep not a true road bike but works very well for the scabby/potholed country backroads I ride. Dodgy back, so didn’t know if I could even ride drops and didn’t want to sink serious $$$ into an experiment. Ended up with a bike that is comfortable and huge fun. Think I got lucky with the price, although it was a couple of hours drive to pick it up. First sportive booked…
This is what we love to hear! Enjoy that first sportive 👍
I've bought 3 used bikes now
Cannondale CAAD8 for $160,
Specialized Crosstrail for $100,
Cannondale CAAD10 for $150
I got 3 awesome bikes for the price of one entry level new bike.
There are great deals out there!
What a steal! I wish more people in my country would have top notch bikes that devalued
This is my kind of bike, I really want to know, how much the difference with Super Bike, if we upgrade it to the max ( tire, inner tube, wheels , etc )
+1
Should we put up against one of our dream bikes? 💨
@@gcntech if you upgrade it properly!!! (meaning... all but the frame and fork... ) ;)
would be very interesting to know the price of all the upgrades also 😉😁
6:24 I had a little chuckle at the comment about taking rim brakes into the mountains. Reflecting on how until very recently that wouldn’t even have been a consideration. 🤣
i'm a new cyclist training for ironman, never seriously cycled before but have ridden road bikes and own an old steel frame commute workhorse, i decided to do exactly this, i managed to find a absolutely smashing deal on ebay for a fully carbon bike with an ultegra groupset (i didn't know what that was when i bought it) last xmas, got it for a whopping £320, it has a few dings and scratches but other than that is perfect! weighs just under 8kg too. for someone like me and my riding goals i think it's perfect, you wouldn't go buy your first car from a sports car showroom, so why do it with a bike. 4 months of intense training in and gotta say i nailed it, super happy with it.
Excellent.
More please!
Cheers
Will do! What should we film next?
@@gcntech Personally, I would really enjoy a video on the black art of mixing MTB and Road components when building up a gravel bike.
For example, differences in bar diameters mean I can't fit my Shimano XT shifters on a road bar. Which makes running an inexpensive but reliable Deore 11-speed 1X drive train a bit of a faff. That's a shame, because the 11-51 cassette would be great for bikepacking.
The flat-mount and post-mount fittings on frames also complicate matters. For example, I have a Cannondale SLATE that I wanted to convert to a flat-bar gravel bike. using post-mount Shimano Deore 4-pot MTB brakes I have in my bike cave. But that frame only takes flat mount.
Since gravel very much straddles the road and MTB worlds, some insight and understanding on what you can do with a bit of fiddling, or should really steer clear of, would be massively useful. I'm sure some good tips and tricks and clever equipment choices would make a good video, or series of videos.
Love you. Bye!
4:30 I've got those Vittoria tires, and they're not so bad- they have some grip and good durability. Not for racing, but for general ride and training they will do.
Im a beginner. I started cycling few months ago. I got a triban rc500. I like it so far. I don't feel i need a upgrade for now. Im still very happy with the bike❤
If you're improving your lap times by upgrading your bike instead of actually cycling harder, what's the point? So yeah, stick with what's reliable unless you want to compete.
Months? I am still riding 4 times a week on the bike I bought 22 years ago! Just keep adding parts as parts wear out, new wheels a few months back and new saddle today, apart from the actual frame everything has been changed more than once, bike of Theseus it is 😁
Fully agree on getting a used bike. Got a 1999 LeMond Tourmalet from a former co-worker for $500 CAD back in 2013 and upgraded the groupset in 2020 to a Shimano 105 11-speed which runs great. Even with the groupset upgrade, it was a lot cheaper than getting a brand new road bike with a 105 and the older chromoly steel frame still turns heads to this day.
Awesome.. this type of content is excellent and will get loads of new subs guys please continue these are brilliant guys 😊 well done🚴🏻👍 Pete
Thank you so much 😀
For me, the used market just didn’t pan out for £450. Loads for sale, but almost none of them were an appropriate frame size for me. Purchasing the new bike allowed me to get one that fit correctly. Thanks for the tips on the tires.
2 rim brake road bikes on a GCN vid in 2024....
Good work lads!
Bravo on making a video about real bikes that probably most of your viewers ride. When I started out I there was very little information about where to start and what upgrades can change the bike entirely. Always better to go second hand with those at the top end upgrading on a fairly regular basis means that you're bound to pick up a great older bike and lots of spare parts.
2 weeks too late but super happy with my C$500/US$400 20 yo ultegra giant ocr1. Future upgrade videos would be fab!
Thanks Ollie for mentioning the gearing on Pinarello being 34-28 and it being hard on ascents.
Being 194cm and living in Japan, my bicycle selection was severely limited and I ended up buying a 7 speed 28/14 freewheel bike with 52/42 chainrings, and I really struggle with climbs over 10% even on 42-28.
So hearing you struggle with 34-28 really made me think that I should change the chainrings or grow a pair of bodybuilder-worthy quads 😂
I bought 2 years ago a third hand Bianchi Intenso, with mechanical Ultegra 2x11s, rim brakes and a full carbon frame + fork for only 1100€ !
Few weeks ago, I bought a new pair of Fulcrum Racing 3, chainrings and new cassette, now this is a complete bike which weights only 7.5kg
@gcntech Love your music choices on this video (especially at 10:10) - really a step up to previous ones! Feels just that bit more produced, which makes it more likely to watch the whole thing (at least for me).
Yes ! ... more of this. I'm convinced that higher spec second-hand bikes offer great value, but there is almost too much choice.
always glad to like and support you guys! kudos!
Thanks! We appreciate the support 🙌
2:29 back in 2010 it would have retailed around 2000 Queen's English Pounds
Last year I decided to built another bike. I started with a fairly pristine 2012 Cervelo R5 frameset. Added a brand new Ultegra 11speed mechanical groupset. Combined with a few "choice" pieces for the cockpit and my current ICAN wheelset, I ended up with a complete bike that weighs in at 6.5kg, and that's including pedals, computer mount and bottle cages. Total cost is right about the equivalent of a name brand carbon bike with disc brake and 105 groupset. Not bad, in my books, for a top end rim brake bike, especially when compared to what a current top end bike would cost!!!
The boardman looks nice and more comfortable so i'm going with that if ever.
Hah thats cool, the Pinerello has the wheels I just upgraded from (got RS30's now after eating a pot hole at new year) and the 105 version of the Ultegra groupset I've got *and* the Pinny has no power meter. Finally a Vs video where my bike would be a genuine contender. ❤
Really liking this new season of videos, getting out from under discovery seems to be allowing a bit more creative freedom and bringing back more of an entusiasts' element.
Great work, keep it up!
Been following you guys for god knows how long and this kind of content just hits the spot.
I recently watched Dr Bridgewood go up El Tiede in a previous life on standard gearing. It's interesting how everyone is very happy now with a compact on the front and big cassette on the back. I've still got a Pinarello FP2 as my usual workhorse bike with a compact on the front and 11-28 10spd 105 on the back and it's fine for most things but I did Tiede on a hire bike with a compact and 11-34 12spd 105 Di2 a couple of weeks back and I don't think I'd have made it up with my usual gearing. Good to see over 10 year old Pinas still going stong and on rim brakes!
Fun video. I went with used. I was able to get an almost unused 2014 Cannondale Synapse disc 5 105 for $450.00 USD and I am really happy with it! It is such a comfortable ride! At this moment or I will probably go the same route when it comes time to get a gravel bike or something to turn into a gravel bike.
Awesome! When you know what you're looking for you can find some great bikes 👌 What tips would you offer to someone looking to get a second hand bike?
I have really enjoyed some of the Cannondale line. Cannondale synapse, Cannondale CAAD 8, and Cannondale CAAD 10. They are very comfortable and fast riding bikes, but they have the same problems with older tech. Mainly being wheel and tire size.
Yep, my road racing rigs all had rim brakes on alloy wheels up until last year for me. They work just fine if everything is clean. I upgraded to a new to me SL6 with thru-axle and disc brakes, have not raced it yet.
Love this content! I still ride a rim brake ti frame with Sram Force mech groupset and love it.
Rim brakes are not a dirty word - Do you think you'll ever jump over to disc brakes?
@@gcntech Only if/when I "need" a new bike. It's too expensive to try to keep up with the Jones' so I'm riding what I have, which is perfectly acceptable.
Please carry on with that type of content ❤️
We would love to do more content like this 🙌What other videos should be make?
@@gcntech what about 1000$ bike used from eBay Vs new 1000$ bike from the dealership
This is a great informative video. Thank you! Love to see this kind of video because it helps me understand the limits and reach of what kinds of bikes and components I my range. Please do more old, new comparison not only with bikes, but components too. It really help to makes sensible decisions on the best way to upgrade ot just make the bike comfortable. For example, I did buy a used Salsa Journeyman gravel bike and for me fits perfect and is very comfortable. I am in the process of up graded components from claris to tiagra. This save me in the long run about 500 dollars and will last years to come. Moreover the claris is going on a 20 dollar bike frame I found on the market place for a fun ride retro bike. With that said, I still love to see the super bike and component comparison for the geek factor and dreams.
Hi! thanks for the comment and the video ideas. We'll see what we can do!
I hopped over to the 2nd hand buying tips video. What a throwback. I saw Katherine in there. I love all the new presenters, but I do miss the old crew.
I guess it depends on your application. I went through this a few years ago, looking for a bike to keep at my sister’s house for my yearly East Coast vacation. I ended up with a nice Cannondale full carbon fiber bike from circa 2012. It was actually not rideable when I bought it, but it only needed minor work and the price was a steal. I put an afternoon into it, some new cables, new wheel bearings, and a tuneup, and it was good to go. Like ollie mentioned the gearing on it was terrible. I Replaced the crank last year with what I had laying around here with better gearing. This year‘s visit I’ll put new brakes anda different cassette on . I Actually enjoy upgrading one thing at a time each year when I go to visit. Then I ride the hell out of it.
That GCN tests all levels of bikes is important. One can see the diminishing increase of performance as the cost goes up. This information helps to determine the best bike to buy for your budget.
My used giant propel from 2015 has cost me a similar orice to build up and its all i need!
I bought a mid 90s semi-carbon frame road bike for $125 because its Shimano RSX shifters were gummed up. Spent $260 in bike repairs (new shifters, bottom bracket, and bike mechanic labor fees). I'm at less than $500 into it, and it cost $1k in 1996, so about $2000 in today's money. It rides great with a half decent saddle.
So, I essentially paid about a quarter of what it cost new (accounting for inflation), and way less than a budget road bike costs.
Win.
It's also worth noting that the price has come down dramatically on nearly new bikes. I put this down to the COVID effect where loads of people bought the latest kit but ultimately gave up on them after a dozen rides. I bought a 1 and a half year old Scott Gravel which would have been over 1.6k for less than 400. It had been used half a dozen times and had a bit of rust on the chain, it still had the rubber nubs on the tyres. A local bike shop service later and it was as literally as good as the day it was purchased.
More of this please! I love the comparison of new vs used!
As someone who has owned nearly 500 bikes--mostly high end carbon road bikes--and currently owns about 40 of them--again, mostly high-end road bikes--I'd take a good, used, high end road bike over a new, entry level bike ANY day of the week... and twice on Sundays.
I see 8 to 10 yr old Specialized S-Works Tarmacs, Rubys and Roubaixs for sale right now for $1000-ish... and those bikes were $8000+ new. CRAZY light... full DURA ACE... with carbon wheels. Ride up and down a canyon on one of those... then on a new $500 bike... and there is simply no comparison.
Great film. Definitely what we want, as it's what most of us can afford or use more regularly. (although the expensive stuff is interesting)......Ollie did a great job as usual.
More content like this. Somewhat approachable
We're always keen to hear new ideas, what would you like to see?
When I got my road bike in 2021, I did not have has much knowledge as I have now, and there also was the fact that I couldn't find a bike in my size, so I went with a then new Giant Contend AR 4. It's got the same groupset as the bike shown in the video, but this bike gave me a good starting point for getting back into cycling properly. Also, there's the fact that the bike is/was warrantied, so that gave me piece of mind as I put mileage on it. Nowadays, I am looking at whether if I upgrade the groupset or the entire bike.
So my advice for beginners, especially if they want peace of mind, is to consider a new/newish entry level bike to get a feel and to not get overwhelmed by mechanical issues that might crop up.
Good advice. You first need some experience to understand what you really need and what you want.
U tube nowadays helps, back in the day it was magazines and talking to other riders.
You can't walk into a bike shop and have one of the dummies there figure out what you need. You're guaranteed to walk out with the wrong thing :)
I think for the sake of let's say a minute in time I'd sooner buy a new bike simply because of the warranty but also because upgrading parts is much less of a hassle! But! There are some great deals out there on second hand bikes especially if you're prepared to put a little work in. I bought a Giant defy Alxx frame with carbon forks including seat clamp, hanger and a few bits and bobs for £55 incl. Postage! Great film Oli! 👍
If you know what you're looking for second hand bargains are great 👌 but the safety of a new bike is always great for beginners!
@@gcntech Totally agree with that 👍
You need to do this for everyone on your team to get a good spread and an idea on reliability. Great content.
I bought a brand new gravel bike for $650 in 2022 and then spent another $300 on a tubeless tire setup. I love the bike and it has taken me through mountains, rocky terrain, and 1000s of miles. I did a 100 mile gravel race with bike 3x what I paid for with mine and it handled it just fine! You don't need to spend $1000s if you don't want or can't. If you can and want to that is great too! :)
What model / brand did you buy..?
@PRH123 Poseidon X with the through axle conversion kit all on a sale the company had. They are a small company in California and it is an aluminum bike with a carbon fork.Then I got carbon Shimano rims with 38mm Gravel King tubeless tires I got also on a sale.
@@gigglingchicken8444 googled it, nice stuff they’ve got…. great to see someone making good stuff for that niche….
over 30 years of riding I’ve come back to some of the good old stuff that works…. Square taper bb, QR axles, mechanical disks…. it’s more reliable and works fine…
If I was advising someone wanting to get into the sport I think I would point them to a new bike like the boardman. Worry free, modern design (clearance and gears etc) and ripe for upgrades and making it your own to suit you.
Been down the 2nd hand bike route before and got an absolute bargin as my 2nd ever road bike. Cant deny the bang for buck with that way but maybe not for a complete newbie.
I'd agree from my own experience, just on the gearing alone. 34T on the rear cassette makes the climbs so much easier when you are starting out, I know replacing a cassette isn't a "big" job but it's more hassle and expense when you're new to cycling.
About tires on older bikes. In 2006 I bought a Bianchi 928 Carbon frameset. In there was enough space to use cyclocross tires of 33 mm. I had to open the brake calipers, Ultegra 6600, and let a lot of air escape to mount the wheels. Then I just had to pump up the tires again.
I do still have that frame, but now with a more modern front fork. That newer front fork is not wide enough for 28 mm tires, so I have to use 25 mm tires.
I like his intro, he straight up says that they can't be free in their opinions with the bikes they usually review.
Just built a domane al2 rim brake with 105 components for under 500 including the frame. Fits 30s and weighs under 20lbs. Fits 30mm tires and could probably go 32. If you shop deals for 2nd hand parts and sales for consumables you can build a highly capable bike on a meager budget
Love this content. Used also has the environmental element too..
I think it'd be really interesting to see this with a 3 year old second hand one.
Thanks Ollie.
PS.. love the high drone shot with the pigeons bursting out of the tree.👍
Love these type of videos, full of content and seeing Ollie just happy on a bike 🥰🥰
More to come! Glad you like it!
@@gcntech loved it 🤩🤩
Done thaty. Got a 2018 Roubaix Elite in late 2018 (had been bought at end of 2017 by original owner - hydraulic disc brakes, suspension in headset, Ultegra - recent quick price estimate was £300, I paid £1,200 for what would have been £3,500+ when new. An offer I couldn't resist. Should have gone with plan A - new aluminium 105 with capacity for wider tyres. Spoiler - had massive heart attack in early 2020 and must have been building up for it in 2019 so didn't get maximum use of the Roubaix in 2018. Bah! The Roubaix has a high position despite removing all spacers and a sill handlebar that I intended to change quickly but recent use doesn't justify the expense... yet.
"what ever bike you are on the view is the same"
This is the take away advice for people
I would take a nice sunny day and a nice route on my cheap winter bike then an average route on my posh summer bike.
😂what's your posh bike
@@leonardhpls6 nothing that posh compared to most on here but posher then a mud covered boardman I usually knock around on :-)
Recently bought a Cannondale synapse from 2015 for 800 euros. I like these older quality bikes more than these new mediocre bikes. So happy with my synapse!
The used Pinerrelo is comparable to a 2009 Fuiji SST that I ride and I love it. The stiffness is really noticeable over an aluminum bike and a lot of fun. I had to replace some things and parts are a bit tough to find, but hard to beat the speed on a budget. I could see if reliability and low maintenance is more important to someone how they would go for the new one. Also thanks for the tip on the bigger range cassette, I might do that.
Can you upgrade the Broadman and redo this test? We can then see how much tires, tubes and brakes help out.
Frankly this is actually good consumer advice that i think most people would be better suited by seeing/ learning about..
Thanks for doing this test on Druley Hill, Ollie! Superb as ever, but even better for choosing one of our favourite local climbs.
No worries! It's a tough climb, how often are you doing it?
@@gcntech Strava tells me I've done it 101 times over the last ten or so years. You need to check out Kingsettle Hill which is very close to this climb and Gare Hill too. If you want to involve a 'local' let me know!
I was oooo... This is a cool test - results kinda as expected, though did expect the new bike to be slightly closer. One thing with a more expensive second hand bike is cost of maintenance if trying to keep the spec comparative to original. Cost of chainrings between Claris and Ultegra - or even just compatibility and having to upgrade whole systems due to parts availability.
Awesome video but I'd prefer the Triban over the Pinarrello because of tire clearance,Ollie is really fit being able to speak so well at hard effort.Safe riding everyone.💯💪🏻🚴
Recently bought a Giant TCR with 105 for significantly cheaper than a Triban 500. Love it.
Used every day, I paid £250 for a Cube Peloton SL with a carbon fork, sub 9kg weight and 105 everything except Ultegra dérailleurs, it even had the original tyres still. Road bike values drop like the stone the second they leave the showroom, it's very hard to justify buying new.
Awesome video, I expected the Pinarello to spank the new bike, but not that badly!
Hahahah would you choose the Pinarello? It's not all about pace, you've got to choose the bike that fits you 🙌
I have something close to that Boardman for 2 years and after few months bought a 2016 model with ultegra and Carbon frame for less than 1k EUR.
I've never looked back at that Claris.
At the moment I'm building new one @ 105 7k. The rim brake frames and used bikes are dirt cheap now.
If you don't fancy disc brakes the 2nd hand market is your place.
I got a new entry level bike with "normal" specs. the advantage i got in getting the brand new entry level bike is that I have developed good will with the bike shop I got it from and now i am able to regularly visit the bike for maintenance and the occasional upgrade with "free installation" from the bike. :) As a newbie I also learned a lot coming out of this relationship with the bike shop. I guess this is one benefit of getting a brand new bike. :)
A good honest bike shop who know they they're doing is a rare gem, treasure them...!
I bought a new rim braked Specialized Allez with 9 speed Sora in July reduced for £699; and upgraded the seatpost, saddle & stem for those I already had, plus I already had a set of Cero AR30 wheels and Vittoria Corsa tyres. There are new bike bargains out there if you don't mind the lesser specs. It also takes 30mm tyres......
Yes please. Totally agree with more content like this.
Great video. I think impressive to see how quickly the tech has caught up on the new bike. A number of people will buy through cycle to work too, which means that although slower, the new bike might be a better deal.
That's a great point! It's not all about pace, but the bike the fits your needs 🙌