Decent is a hard to define thing.

There is decent for rich people, decent for middle range, decent for barely surviving class. In this case, it is good to set a limit for yourself first. How much are you willing to part with at maximum and start from there.

Do you have any friends who is cycling, have you tried to loan their bikes out for a spin? What sort of riding you are expecting to do? Purely flat fast rides, climbs, mixture veering towards climbing more?

It's all about expectations and compromises if you have a $ limit.

Oi... where's ma Doremon Giant brand?

Additional info:

If brand is not a major concern, currently Velocipede Works at Sunway offer FULL 105 groupset on aluminum bike for RM3.8++

oh yeah... if brand is not major concern, at the same shop, Velocipede Works at Sunway offer Ultegra groupset on Carbon bike for about RM7k++.

i am assuming that it is a first bike... getting it all right on the first bike is pretty impossible unless you have friends bike to be a reference point...

what feels right on showroom floors will feel a bit odd when you actually ride it... and then the equation of you improving down the road is another thing you have to add....

so, it's the question of, is it safer to get a larger or smaller frame size??? smaller in my thinking as you can extend things upwards and downwards on things too small... but you cannot shrink oversized stuff...

just like cooking... lesser salt is better as you can salt it after finish cooking...too much salt, and you cannot take it out later...

geometry... is another question... basically... it is whether you want aggressive competitive frames or comfortable long head tube touring geometry? but then... you most probably would not understand the difference until sometime down the road...

first bike is always gonna be a guinea pig (a bit)...

if you should be buying a 49 and the shop force a 56 on you because that is what they have... that is what you should not buy... if a 51 or maybe even a 47... depends on how you feel on the bike... if you are that desperate to get a bike... your desperation will make the decision for you...

---

Added on October 30, 2012, 8:14 pm

there is... like guru bikes or parlee.. .they send you to their fit studios before they sell you a frame...

parless is a bit more flexible as they can even tune the seat and head tubes angles a slight bit... sort of half custom frame... too tedious, no one wants to do it for cheap...

Parless Z5 retails for over 3k not sure Euro or USD frame alone mind you...doesn't come cheap...

slightly on the pricey side... novelty just due to a carbon seatstay...trying to rid old stock as air is not in colnago line up anymore in 2013 range...

don't rush... rush is where you get into rash decisions you might regret later...

actually... you already know the brand... browse their site and see what you like...

Neipryde - Velocipede Works
http://www.neilprydebikes.com/index.php

Merida - PedalSpot
http://www.merida-bikes.com/en_int/cms/216...road-fitness_13

Scott - Bike Pro or KH Cycle
http://www.scott-sports.com/global/en/cate...BikesRoad_2013/

Fuji - GH Speedbikes, maybe?
http://www.fujibikes.com/#

Phone Directory
http://www.baikbike.com/bicycle-shops/

Call them up and see if they have it, retail price (they won't discount you on phone). If you can narrow it down on phone, then drive there and take a look at it for yourself. Saves time and petrol.

Remember to ask if 2012 or 2013 model since you are at a time where they are taking in new stocks of newly launched bikes.

especially neilpryde... one eye already see all on their site... dun actually need to go there unless you are very interested...

they do have another brand of bike if i am not wrong...

solvable by a phone call... if price is already not right on the phone... it won't be right at the shop... unless there is a 50% discount on their retail tag...

GOOD!!! I SUPPORT YOU!!!

First, you have to convince this buggers to ride to their starting destination without driving there for their sunday rides

RIDE YOU, BUGGERS!!! RIDE!!! DON"T DRIVE!!! NO PLACE IS TOO FAR!!! (except when it is really too far away lar, like cameron highlands if you live in KL)

ride to buy chicken lice... (no need parking)
ride home to brush your teeth before you go socializing (no need worry waste petrol going home for small little things)
ride to the flower stall to buy your gf 12 roses... (hope flower petals dun fall on the way back)
ride to pickup your GF, get her a damn bike so she can ride with you to your dating spot as well (so you don't need to pull 50kg of dead weight  )
ride to burger kaw kaw stall to eat your romantic dinner
ride to 7-eleven to buy condoms if you've got some action planned that nite  (accidents means your dream bike down the drain, don't regret)
ride!!! dammit, ride!!!

yes... aster... aloy bike with full 105 for RM3.8k.
when you meet the boss, Andrew, tell him, runner Chin Ann recommend mari....

see can get any extra % off or any goodies or not.... 

You drive and jam all the way to Gym place and work out stationary inside the room... seems legit...

Better cycling around your place...

Refer to this post, Speedster S40, should be ~RM2500 new. IMO suitable for general use 



Specs

salesman level asian...

---

Added on November 1, 2012, 7:58 pm

nothing can help but study and understanding it yourself...

http://www.calfeedesign.com/tech-papers/gr...f-carbon-fiber/

the grade of the carbon cloth is not all... knowing how to lay layers of this cloth in the right place and the right direction is the key to making a stiff and light frame... doing it even better will make a frame that is stiff, light and yielding to the correct forces in the right place...

of course there are other factors like the epoxy / resin, how the tubes are bonded and baked, inflation bladders to keep the inside of tubes smooth and creating internal ribs along the tubes to increase strength... cycling is still learning CF and could learn a lot more from the autosports industry like F1 which is way advanced and almost rivaling the aerospace industry..

this is detailed in the piece by cervelo, i believe written by damon rinnard

http://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering/ask-...of-modulus.html

you better ask first... the bike might not be even around anymore... and sizing problems since it's an old bike with limited stock in hand?

the last year 105 SR01 already is over RM5k... you make a guess..