Best bike for £1k?

[Sir_Dave]

Considering buying a new bike at the mo, so thought id post in here.

Haven't cycled for years (lazy), but aim to do a couple of 100 mile Sportives next summer as a 'losing weight' goal. Got work to sign up to cyclescheme so will get circa 42% off whatever i buy. As such, budget is £1k buy price - ive just paid off student loan, so have a few quid spare each month.

Dont really want to have to 'modify it' at all, except tyres perhaps, & ive been informed that the Decathlon bikes are generally pretty good if you're not a brand snob (bit like Kia's i guess), so considering the following:

Btwin Triban 5a, Triban 7a & FC3 (carbon nom)

I have no idea though if im entirely honest, so all suggestions are welcome

[944fan]

The Triban's are only available from Decathlon and they are only part of Cyclescheme so check you are part of that as there are other schemes.

Otherwise you have the usual entry level stuff. Trek 1 series, Spesh Allez. Look on Wiggle and other online retailers as they will have less well known makes but good bikes in your budget.

[tongy89]

You should still be able to get something in the 2013 sales if you're quick, a quick glance brings up this:

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/cube-agree-gtc-2013/ro...

Carbon frame, tiagra groupset... I don't have any knowledge of Cube bikes but seems good value to me.

[Disco You]

Don't get the Triban 7. The group set makes it look attractive, but the frame is crap, as are the wheels IMHO.

[littleandy0410]

You can't normally buy sale bikes using a cycle to work voucher. (Has to be RRP). Halfords have a Boardman bike for £999 which might be worth looking at?

[Jobbo]

I bought a Triban 5A recently and I really like it. However, I can't use the cyclescheme; if you can, and Decathlon aren't available to you, I'd imagine it's pretty easy to get something with better groupset and wheels for less net cost to you (and monthly instalments).

FWIW I don't feel a pressing need to change anything on the Triban except the saddle, but wheels and then groupset would be the obvious upgrades later on. I like the triple chainring, though; it's not exactly mountainous round my way but I'm not doing 100+ miles a week, so I do actually use the ratios. Worth deciding what your priority is when it comes to gearing before you take the plunge.

[bakerstreet]

What ever the Boardman bike is that is £1k. Think you get carbon frame with Tiagra shifters.

Failing that, have a look at the Pro Carbon from Planet X. They are pretty much the default choice if you have £1k to spend and they do the CTW scheme. Ribble are also worth a look too. I've always liked the look of their Gran Fondo bike. You might be able to get 105 groupset for £1100.

[Sarkmeister]

I got a Cycle2Work bike through Evans a few weeks ago, and they let me get a sale bike (actually I'd already ordered the voucher before the bike was in the sale, and they let me spend the difference in store).

[TwistingMyMelon]

littleandy0410 said:

You can't normally buy sale bikes using a cycle to work voucher. (Has to be RRP). Halfords have a Boardman bike for £999 which might be worth looking at?

My local LBS knocked £150 of a rrp of £1000 on a bike that was in current range, even though I was buying on a cycle scheme (there are various)

When I phoned em back a week later and said I couldn't be arsed with the hassle and wantedto buy outright he knocked another £50 off and then when I said I would pay the balance there and then, he knocked another £25, so ended up getting a £1000 (rrp) for £775, cheaper than anywhere on-line and I didn't even have to do any bartering!

[JEA1K]

Managed to find a bike for my Mrs on the C2W scheme through Halfords. I think this was the best I could find within the £1000 budget ... 2014 Cube Peleton Race Compact.

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Cube-Peloton-Race-Compact-...

[rs4al]

Apparently the new Boardman performance (halfrauds) range is launched on 2nd October in London, so 'maybe' worth waiting till then to see what they have out, especially if you are limited, like me to that stores selection !

[Sir_Dave]

Thanks for the all the suggestions so far! Luckily for me, its quite a small company i work for, so the designated person to sort it out is well, me Currently signed up to "Cyclescheme" as they do Evans/Decathlon, but if i find a specific bike with another provider ill just sign up to them as well ...

[Steve vRS]

My turn to recommend my own bike

You can get a Giant Defy 1 for £999. It has about the best aluminium frame you can buy and a 105 group set.

The wheels aren't great according to the reviews but I'm changing mine after wearing them out.

Steve

[grenpayne]

Steve vRS said:

My turn to recommend my own bike

You can get a Giant Defy 1 for £999. It has about the best aluminium frame you can buy and a 105 group set.

The wheels aren't great according to the reviews but I'm changing mine after wearing them out.

Steve

I'm looking at £1k bikes at the moment and after a stack of research this one keeps coming out on top for me too.

[Carl-H]

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPULT2/pl...

That's what I ended up ordering. Not seen anything of similar spec even close to that price.

[Gizmoish]

I saw a 2013 model CAAD10 with 105 for 1089 somewhere the other day. Phone the shop, ask them if they'll do it for a voucher plus cash.

Failing that I think the current winners are the Boardman £1k models: choice of aluminium with 105 or carbon with Tiagra.

[Barchettaman]

Dave, is cycling to work in your future? If so it may change your priorities a bit.

[Gizmoish]

Carl-H said:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPULT2/pl...

That's what I ended up ordering. Not seen anything of similar spec even close to that price.

What do you think of it?

I'm interested in the comparison between some-Ultegra and all-Force: http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPWHT/pla...

[47p2]

I have both Force and Ultegra and my preference would be Ultegra every time.

The 'double tap' system of Force works well but I can imagine it being a pain to operate with full finger gloves on in the colder weather whereas the Ultegra is so much simpler to operate and also feels smoother

[bakerstreet]

47p2 said:

I have both Force and Ultegra and my preference would be Ultegra every time.

The 'double tap' system of Force works well but I can imagine it being a pain to operate with full finger gloves on in the colder weather whereas the Ultegra is so much simpler to operate and also feels smoother

SRAM is considered to be a slightly more crisper/mechanical shift where as the ultegra is smoother. SRAM is also designed to work best when you are riding on the hoods. I've had a go with both and I'm probably going to go SRAM with my next bike.

Also the SRAM on the ProCarbon are Rival shifters and Force FD and RD. brakes are also Planet-X's own units. Not known to be the best out there, but if memory serves, they are lighter than Ultegra brakes.