New Bike --- Polygon Helios C8.0 or Cell Omeo 1.0

I need a new road bike. Money is tight and I’m currently trying to decide between a Polygon Helios C8.0 for $2,200 (see here Polygon Helios C8.0 - Carbon Road Bike Shimano Ultegra 22 Speed ) and a Cell Omeo 1.0 for $2,000 (see here BEST Mountain Bikes|Road Bikes|City Bikes|Fixie Bikes for Sale in Australia ). Both are full carbon with Ultegra 11 x 2. The Helios has Shimano RS81-C24 wheels with Schwalbe Ultremo ZX tyres, and a 7.5 kg weight. The Omeo has Mavic Aksium S wheels with Mavic Aksion tyres and a 7.8 kg weight.

The reviews for the Omeo that I’ve read are all glowing. However, I’m a bit concerned that the geometry of the Omeo may be too aggressive for me, as I’ve just turned 50, I won’t be getting more flexible. and I’m not interested in competitive racing. Conversely, I currently spend about 12 hours a week on my current road bike (mainly a fast commute) and I’m reasonably fit.

Can anyone give me some advice on the Helios -v- the Omeo — or can you suggest something else that might suit me better? Cheers.

I have a mate who’s been riding the Cell for a while now and says they’re pretty damn good. I’d like to also suggest the caad10
Ultegra which can be had in your price range.

geo might be a tad agressive…

$2k is a pretty good budget though, you open to second hand or new only?

I’d really like to buy something new and shiny that hasn’t been ridden by anyone else. I know that’s not really rational, as I’ve built up some quite nice bikes in the past for little money from second hand bits. But right now I’d really like something built to the latest standards, with the latest materials and with all new parts. I’ve just had the ‘big 5-0’ birthday, and this may be as close as I’ll get to having the ‘middle-age-buy-a-Porsche-crisis’. If so, the bike’s a lot cheaper and healthier.

Hipster — The CAAD 10 looks nice. But it seems to be about $400 - $500 more than the Omeo, and I’d also prefer a bike that’s full carbon.

shouldn’t this thread be in some other section?

Merida sculptura 5000 with ultegra for $1999 all carbon and a banger for the price

Dayne, The only info I can find on the Sculptura 5000 suggests that it is about the same price as the CAAD 10. It also appears that the parts spec is not as good as the Omeo 1.0 and that it weighs about 8.3 kg. I can’t find a review from someone who has ridden a Sculptura 5000. At the moment, I’m leaning towards the Omeo — but I’d really like to hear from someone who has riden it. Particularly, I’d like to know how ‘aggresive’ the geometry is and whether it would be a pain to live with.

I’m happy for this thread to be moved — but where to and how?

How about you go and ride them yourself and decide that way?

Yup.

Can’t say I know anything about either apart from looking at the spec sheet. But -

Frame: both are fairly mass-produced (chinese?) carbon, and both have tapered headtubes, so surely the only real comparator is the geometry. Helios suits you and your riding style better. Helios.
Groupset: Helios has 11-28 cassette and 50/34 compact chainset. Way more practical and better for hills than Cell’s 11-25 cassette and 52/36 chainset. Helios.
Wheels: C24 shits all over Aksium, and Ultremo ZX are great tyres. But good to see both come with 25mm tyres. Helios.
Other parts: seems like the Cell has better handlebars, saddle, stem and seatpost than the generic ones on the Helios. But these are also the parts you’d mostl likely change at some point (certainly the saddle, and probably the stem and handlebars depending on your preference). Although if you like compact bars (and it sounds like you would) and if the Fizik saddle suits you (which it does many) then the Cell’s other parts might be better right off the shelf. Cell.

Helios seems like the clear winner to me.

Slow day at work Diddy?

On the basis of that analysis, sounds like the helios is the winner. I’d also agree that the contact points are the bits most likely to get changed out, so go for the bike that has the better spec elsewhere. #justrepeatingwhatdiddysaid

Yes the boss is out of town this week! Default to bikes.

Great idea. The problem is the availability of those bikes in Perth. The Polygon website says that Polygon bikes are only available in Australia online from Bicycle | Bikes for sale at Bicycles Online . The Cell website says that Cell’s only bricks-and-mortar stores are in Sydney and Melbourne. However, I’m very impressed by Diddy’s analysis (thanks Diddy), my current preference is now the Helios, and further research gives an address and phone number for ‘Polygon Bikes Australia’ in North Perth. I don’t yet know whether the address is for a bike shop or a distributor’s office. I’ll investigate further this morning. Cheers.

ive seen a shop with ‘polygon bikes’ near the pot black up on fitzgerald near the angove cross st, never been in so cant say its a shop/office.