Road bike - £2000 max

[nammynake]

I've been riding an aluminium Specialised Allez for the past 2 years. It's been updraded with a 105 Group set and Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels (and GP4000s tyres). I'm looking for a new carbon bike with an absolute maximum budget of £2000. The front runner so far is the following Canyon offering:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=32...



Any other bikes worth considering?

[anonymous-user]

http://m.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/bike-of-t...

[anonymous-user]

If you are somewhere between 5'10 and 6'1 nothing will beat this Cervelo R3 Ultegra but if you need a different size, you can go with the R3 105 build option and save the money for some summer wheels?

If you want something more race orientated, what about a Moda Stretto with Sram Force and £500 worth of AC wheelset for £1900...

Or you could be boring any get a Specialtrekiant...

[richardxjr]

^ Do you really think that's a good value package?

[Jimbo.]

richardxjr said:

^ Do you really think that's a good value package?

£1700 and you're still getting Tiagra and R500s? Jesus, no.

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58ULT680...

The frame probably comes the same factory as that "Well known and respected brand".

[richardxjr]

"proper bike" LOL here we go again indeed.

Shimano 105 Drivetrain
Tiagra 34-50 Compact Chainset 12-25 Cassette
Tiagra Brakes
Alu seatpost
Wheelset: Shimano R500

Jeez, I'll have two.

Edited by richardxjr on Saturday 16th November 20:40

[Jimbo.]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I suspect so. But when 105 bikes come in at £1000 or less, AND with your £1700 bike you're getting wheels that cost less than a good set of tyres...where's the money going?

[TheLemming]

That moda stretto does look like a good package.
Great groupset (although its last year's force) decent wheels and a great frameset.
The bikeradar review makes interesting reading so likely the wheels are suited for lighter riders!

[anonymous-user]

Jimbo. said:

I suspect so. But when 105 bikes come in at £1000 or less, AND with your £1700 bike you're getting wheels that cost less than a good set of tyres...where's the money going?

I'd guess the name on the down tube isn't helping the value for money argument....

[Jimbo.]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The Ribble New Sporting Racing (stupid name!) is the same frame, and with a near-idential spec (save for a COMPLETE 105 group set) comes in at £1200.

Expensive, that marketing, paint and head tube...

[richardxjr]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Years ago those badges may have been worth something.

OP a (much more serious and capable) mate of mine bought a CF SLX, it turned up a couple of days before we hit the alps. What a fantastic, lovely and light machine. Most of my mates have carbon Defys and they were all really impressed with it. It got a lot of attention in France too (all good).

[Jimbo.]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

It's all over the 'net: look at the geometry charts, the materials, hell, just the look of the damn things.

I'm guessing these "Well respected bike shops" don't like Ribble. Asking a shop what they think of an internet store is a bit like asking turkeys what they think of Christmas...

[anonymous-user]

The Stealth and the R838 share the same ego and measurements and can be traced back to a manufacturer called X-Pace in the Far East but the De Rosa fanboys claim that it's a different carbon layup to satisfy their decision which could very well be true but then again.....

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40...
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/de-rosa/de-rosa-8...
http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic....

It's a great frame though, magazines seem to love it regardless of whether it's tested as a Ribble or a De Rosa. Be happy whatever you ride

[nammynake]

Thanks for the suggestions so far guys. That Modo looks pretty decent, as does the Cervelo. I've bought 2 mountain bikes from Canyon in the past and wouldn't hesitate buying another. I'd be pretty confident buying based on the frame dimensions and comparing with my current bike - I think that 'bike fitting' has its place but certainly isn't a necessity for all.

I do look for a good wheel set, above the groupset actually. Having seen the massive difference when upgrading my current wheels I definitely want a very good set of wheels on my new bike.

[Jimbo.]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

GT86 vs. BRZ? 107 vs. Aygo vs. C1? As long as there's no copyright infringements/plagarism, all's well.

Neither De Rosa nor Ribble own the "rights" to that mould/design.

[PKZ4M]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I bought a Canyon Ultimate CF 9.0 last year. Cost under £2k and I love it. Covered about 5,000 miles so far, it's been faultless..... Highly recommended!

[47p2]

Bit of an odd one for you, Trigon RQC-27 with Sram Rival groupset for £1649.99
I bought my RQC-27 with Sram Force from Cycle Division a few months ago and it's by far the best bike I have ever owned, the quality of the carbon is amazing, far superior to lots of expensive Italian high end frames, the ride is smooth and it's a very responsive machine when you stamp on the pedals. Read the reviews Trigon get, not a bad word about them.


Click here for the UK dealers website

Edited by 47p2 on Monday 14th September 00:05

[daddy cool]

nammynake said:

Any other bikes worth considering?

I just got this for £1,414
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...
(Halfords 10% discount, next one in Dec I think, then 10% British Cycling discount, then 3% Quidco cashback)
Its lush. And it would leave you nearly £600 out of your budget to spend on sweets!

[anonymous-user]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Given we were discussing the Stealth and the R838, the other models are irrelevant.

It is not cost effective for De Rosa (nor do they have the capacity) to build all their own carbon frames, neither do Ribble so they outsource it to someone in Taiwan, in this case it would appear to be a company called XPace. I could buy a dozen XPace R838 framsets tomorrow, build them up as a "Pabvelo" and sell them without incurring any legal challenges from Ribble or De Rosa... Swift also used the ISP version of the frame a few years ago.

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2010/0...

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gallery/article/swif...



I wonder what name she will paint on the side!

Even if they are all one and the same, as I said, regardless of what name you want on the down tube, it doesnt matter, just enjoy it...

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 17th November 09:25

[Rouleur]

IMO you should look at aluminium frames too, a good one with decent wheels will be nicer to ride than your Allez. This Rose is £1950 with full Chorus group and Zonda wheels http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-rs-5000-...

Or a carbon frame with Ultegra and DT Swiss wheels http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-team-cgf...

Or best of all carbon, SRAM Force 22 and Ksyrium Elites http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-crs-4400...

Focus with Dura-Ace! (and cheap wheels and tyres...). Only XS and M though http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/brands/focus-bikes/focu...