Carrera Virtuoso medium (175)
Posted On: Thursday 28th May
Phone:
Location: Bournemouth
Carrera Virtuoso medium
The bike is in excellent condition. Bought from Halfords in August 2008, I have only ridden a handful of times. Check the picture of the spedo it's only done 89 miles in total. It is in excellent condition!
Lightweight 7005 aluminium semi-compact frame
Rigid fork, hi-tensile steel blades
16 speed Shimano ST2200 rear mech and STI shifters
Tektro brakes DBR-1 alloy rims
I have no packaging for the bike so it will need to be collected. I live in the BH postcode area.
Please dont hesitate to email me if you have any questions.
I found this on-line which was in response to a couple of questions people had asked other sellers of similar bikes:
The sizing of the bike is as follows: Seat tube length (centre to top): 48.5cm or 19. Please bear in mind that the bike has a compact frame and therefore the above measurements are not comparable with conventional frame sizes. According to the Q&A on the Halfords website a medium sized Virtuoso is equivalent to a conventional frame size of 56cm. The effective top tube length (an imaginary line drawn parallel to the ground along the length of the top tube) is 53cm. The stand over height (ground to the highest point of the top tube) is 79cm.
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The June 2009 issue of Cycling Plus had a group test of bikes costing less than 400 including the Carrera Virtuoso 2009. As far as I am aware, the only difference between this and my bike are the colours.
The scores were as follows:
Carrera Virtuoso 9/10
Raleigh Airlite 200 7/10
Muddy Fox Milano Road 7/10
Dawes Giro 300 6/10
Claud Butler Elite 7/10
This is what they said about the Carrera Virtuoso:
Halfords gets a bit of a rough tide from experienced cyclists - justifiably so for its cheap Apollo bikes, but the Carrera range is different. As long as its been assembled by a competent mechanic, with a Carrera you can expect a bike thats as good quality as any name-brand rival - and almost certainly better value. Our Carreras 7005 aluminium frame is partnered with a high-tensile steel fork. The down-tube has that familiar aero-looking teardrop profile, while the top-tube is similar but less stretched. Although vertical stiffness is increased, as is the weld area at the head-tube and bottom bracket, this is mostly a matter of aesthetics.
At the back end the dropouts are cowled, which looks neat and may help prevent them getting bent. At the front, the conventional headset saves weight and arguably offers better reliability than integrated or semi-integrated alternatives. There are fittings and room for mudguards, and the rear stays have carrier rack mounts as well. Theres only one set of eyelets at the dropouts, though, so both rack and mudguard would have to share these; if this is the case, put the rack legs next to the frame.
The front hub to BB distance is sufficient to prevent toe overlap, but the effective top-tube length is shorter than most of the others on test - in part because the Carrera has a slacker (71 degree) head angle. Gearing sees - at last - a compact double. The 36-tooth inner chainring gives a smaller bottom gear for climbing 37 inches versus the 45 of the Raleigh - and it means you have a spread of lower gears rather than just one or two. That the front shifts are handled by a cheaper derailleur (A050) is of little consequence, and if the gears go out of adjustment, there are handy inline adjusters to sort them out as you ride.
The Carreras wheels are built from unbranded hubs and DBR-1 double wall aluminium rims. Nothing special, yet theyre stronger than most of the others simply because of the spoke count: 36 per wheel. A good wheelbuilder can build great wheels with fewer spokes than this, but for a given standard of factory built wheels, more spokes equals more strength and greater reliability. Thats good news for heavier riders or anyone fitting a carrier rack.
On the road, the shorter reach of the Carrera makes it feel less like a wannabe race bike and more like a sportive bike. Comfort is better, whether on the tops or on the drops, and the slacker head angle means more trail and an accordingly steadier tide.
THE VERDICT THERES NOT MUCH to choose between the Raleigh Airlite 200, Claud Butler Elite, Muddyfox Milano Road and Dawes Giro 300. As such, your decision on which - if any - to buy may well hinge on which one you can get a good deal on. All four will take mudguards and all have similar spec lists - notably, a 16-speed Shimano 2200 drivetrain with an insufficient range of low gears.
If youre primarily after a bargain race bike then, the best of these four is the Muddyfox, which has better quality Sora derailleurs. The Claud Butler is a close second choice. However, if you want a bike for longer or recreational jaunts, then the more relaxed reach of the Raleigh would make it a better option.
The Carrera Virtuoso, though, is head and shoulders above these bikes, not least because its about 25 per cent cheaper. With its compact double chainset and more relaxed reach, its more like a budget sportive bike than a wannabe race bike. Its handling is steadier than the others, and the shorter effective top-tube translates into a more compact reach that your back will thank you for after several hours of riding. Not only that, but the Carrera has been thoughtfully kitted out the frame has clearance and fittings not just for mudguards but also a rear carrier rack, and that lower bottom gear really does make a difference when it comes to the hills.
Its exactly the sort of recreational/practical road bike that most beginners need, and its eminently suitable as an experienced riders hack bike too.