£1136 retail max, fast(ish) what would you buy?

[Croutons]

Strict limit through cycle to work, 12% discount then C2W kicks in for the grand.
Must be against retail they say (which seems mean as there are a fair few 2018 deals about and they price match). Want something fairly quick, so road/ race type category. What would you buy?

The scheme is through cycle solutions, who say they can get anything, but we'll see, the best spec seems to be this Orro Pyro, carbon fork and frame, 105 set, which at this price is rare, even if it's not the best.

https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/35683/products/or...

This GT has 105 but alloy frame

https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/36076/products/gt...

Kinda struggling to fight my way through those 2018 price downs (like this,https://www.evanscycles.com/cinelli-experience-centaur-2018-road-bike-EV328411 which has campagnolo and a strangely short wheelbase according to reviews, but the retail would count they say), what would you buy?

[millen]

Ribble currently have a few carbons, including Ultegra-specced, in their 30% off sale. Looks like it may end soon
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bikes/clearance-bik...

[Tom1312]

Definitely one of those Ribbles. Probably the best value bikes you'll find on C2W since Planet X stopped accepting it.

[Croutons]

Cool, I'll hassle Cycle Solutions and see if they'll let me use it with them.

They seem to be quite particular with what they will and won't allow, with some very small shops taking a voucher (but no discount, understandably), and others just not at all!

[bakerstreet]

Croutons said:

Strict limit through cycle to work, 12% discount then C2W kicks in for the grand.
Must be against retail they say (which seems mean as there are a fair few 2018 deals about and they price match). Want something fairly quick, so road/ race type category. What would you buy?

The scheme is through cycle solutions, who say they can get anything, but we'll see, the best spec seems to be this Orro Pyro, carbon fork and frame, 105 set, which at this price is rare, even if it's not the best.

https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/35683/products/or...

This GT has 105 but alloy frame

https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/36076/products/gt...

Kinda struggling to fight my way through those 2018 price downs (like this,https://www.evanscycles.com/cinelli-experience-centaur-2018-road-bike-EV328411 which has campagnolo and a strangely short wheelbase according to reviews, but the retail would count they say), what would you buy?

You can add your own cash (In my own experience), so up your budget to get something you want rather than trying to squeeze it in to the CTW £1000.

Also, what do you mean 'fast'. I've been whipped by someone on a Carrera TDF and I'm on a £2k Carbon blah blah blah.

Ribble does seem to be a good starting place. Try and find some extra budget for some useful extras such as computer (Garmin or Wahoo) and some decent tyres. Kit tyres are fairly rubbish and usually a tenner each. I have used various Continentals over the years and I recommend the GP4000S. Great tyre but they are £30 a pop.

[Croutons]

Provider won't let me add cash, but does have the 12% off retail (if bought through them, their online shop) only. They've not yet replied about Ribble being acceptable.

By fast I suppose I mean light, tall gears, skinny tyres, "sportive" geometry ideal (ie not face down all the time), but I might be pushing it at this budget!

Edited by Croutons on Wednesday 31st October 08:05

[louiebaby]

Croutons said:

Provider won't let me add cash, but does have the 12% off retail (if bought through them, their online shop) only. They've not yet replied about Ribble being acceptable, I have always.

By fast I suppose I mean light, tall gears, skinny tyres, "sportive" geometry ideal (ie not face down all the time), but I might be pushing it at this budget!

My old employer used that scheme, although I never partook, I kept an eye on it. Every so often they make a mistake / price match that really works. You might be able to get on something Carbon with discs and Tiagra, (10 speed) which would move nicely. The trick seemed to be related to seeing what they had listed as being able to get in stock in a few days, and then find somewhere else to price match against.

My mate got a Giant Defy along that route. Another got a chunk off a Cannondale CAADX.

[Croutons]

Yeah it's annoying, there are 2018 bikes with 10-30% off down to ~1100, and they'll match those prices, but that's it, no further discount, so they won't apply the C2W scheme, or let me make up the difference.

Kinda understandable, just got to find something the right size, at a K discounted, AND for them to match it... I'm asking a lot!

[Harv-surrey]

If it was me I would go and get a Merlin Cordite.

I have a 2016 model myself which sits alongside my trek Madone

Cracking bikes , ultegra spec , carbon and it's. Ridley Helium frame .

At hits your price

https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-cordite-sl-ult...

Fairly sure Merlin accept C2W

[njwc]

Have a look at the Pinnacle Dolomite from Evans - here

I bought one of these last year and have been very pleased with it - it's well specced, has a decent frame with sportive geometry but can take mudguards and a pannier rack if you need to take luggage with you. I use it as my fast commute biked

[GOATever]

If you can stretch the budget by a little.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-900-cf-carbon-ro...

A superb bike with lifetime warranty on forks and frame, and a 2 year warranty on other components.

If not, and you don’t mind alloy frames.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-920-af-road-bike...

Ultegra G.S. nicer wheels, same deal on the warranty.

[louiebaby]

Harv-surrey said:

If it was me I would go and get a Merlin Cordite.

I have a 2016 model myself which sits alongside my trek Madone

Cracking bikes , ultegra spec , carbon and it's. Ridley Helium frame .

At hits your price

https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-cordite-sl-ult...

Fairly sure Merlin accept C2W

I'd be keen to know which of the Merlin frames compare to which Ridley bikes, if that's how they're built. (I suppose I could go nuts on the geo charts.)

The Ignite looks like a good compromise:

https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-ignite-105-dis...

(Holy thread diversion Batman.)

[Usget]

louiebaby said:

I'd be keen to know which of the Merlin frames compare to which Ridley bikes, if that's how they're built. (I suppose I could go nuts on the geo charts.)

The Ignite looks like a good compromise:

https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-ignite-105-dis...

(Holy thread diversion Batman.)

Good guessing game this! I would have said that looks like a Ridley X-Trail, but the stack and reach aren't identical. Maybe the 2017 model?

[henrycrun]

recent review
https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/217215-14-bes...

[mooseracer]

GOATever said:

If you can stretch the budget by a little.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-900-cf-carbon-ro...

A superb bike with lifetime warranty on forks and frame, and a 2 year warranty on other components.

If not, and you don’t mind alloy frames.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-920-af-road-bike...

Ultegra G.S. nicer wheels, same deal on the warranty.

That 920af has real quality components for the price and would be my choice.

[GOATever]

mooseracer said:

That 920af has real quality components for the price and would be my choice.

I have the predecessor ( the 720 AF ) pretty much identical, but with a 6800 GS rather than the newer 8000, and it has proven to be absolutely fantastic in the couple of years I’ve had it.

[Ilovejapcrap]

I've just got my C2W certificate.

Not going full road racer as the bars do my back in.

Im getting a cube SL road, trek fx or a specialized sirrus. Dont know which one yet or which spec.

[Croutons]

GOATever said:

If you can stretch the budget by a little.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-900-cf-carbon-ro...

A superb bike with lifetime warranty on forks and frame, and a 2 year warranty on other components.

If not, and you don’t mind alloy frames.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-920-af-road-bike...

Ultegra G.S. nicer wheels, same deal on the warranty.

I would love to stretch the budget, but £1137 and I can’t use C2W as the hapless provider just won’t let me add to it. Not that my equally hapless employer has actually signed up to the scheme yet mind...

So I end up in a different space altogether.

There are still some 2018 jobbies looking good, but stocks are low, so I will need to make a call on waiting/ risking C2W applying or not. And these do look good.

One thing I am noticing is 2018 105 is now cheap, but the jump in price for the 7000 series is steep, haven’t seen anything which would be in my obscure budget (ie 2018 bikes with 5800 series 105 retail prices were frequently sub -1200, same bike but the upgrade kit = 1250/1350+++)

[Croutons]

henrycrun said:

recent review
https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/217215-14-bes...

Excellent, thanks, hard to look past B’TWIN’s 540 at that price! Later brake upgrade maybe and well, that could be me done!

[The Mad Monk]

Will Evans going into administration mean that there will be cheap deals around?