Thinking of a new road bike

[mike80]

I've had my B'Twin Triban 500SE for nearly 3 years now. Initially bought when I decided to give road biking a go, but wanted to keep costs down in case I rode it twice...

Anyway, I definitely love cycling so would like to upgrade to something new and shiny in the next few months. Budget is £1500 max, but lower is good! I'm not really into racing, but prefer country lanes, the odd (short!) hill, and fast flowing tarmac. Also like the odd sportive when I get the chance. So any suggestions that suit that would be good.

I did have a look at another B'Twin bike, the Ultra 920 AF https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-920-af-road-bike... which seemed nice, but only rode it round the shop.

I also hired one of these on holiday in Mallorca for a couple of days. Seemed a bit more nimble than my current bike, but the hills there are a lot bigger than what I'm used to!

https://www.merida-bikes.com/en_int/bikes/road-fit...

[Roger Irrelevant]

I find that there is such a bewildering array of road bikes available at any given price point that you could go mad agonising over which is the absolute best for you. The last bike I bought I just went for one that I liked the colours of and which offered a good spec for the money, and I've been very happy with it. As it happens that was a Vitus, and I'd recommend that you take a look at their range, but I'm sure the ones you mentioned will do you just as well.

[The Mad Monk]

Are Evans Cycles selling anything off cheap, before Sports Direct get going?

[mike80]

Roger Irrelevant said:

I find that there is such a bewildering array of road bikes available at any given price point that you could go mad agonising over which is the absolute best for you. The last bike I bought I just went for one that I liked the colours of and which offered a good spec for the money, and I've been very happy with it. As it happens that was a Vitus, and I'd recommend that you take a look at their range, but I'm sure the ones you mentioned will do you just as well.

That's certainly true! I'm trying to get a few ideas, then will probably buy the best looking one. The issue is test riding them, which seems the difficult bit, hard to compare against what I've currently got unless you ride it on a proper route.

[BoRED S2upid]

Keep an eye out for 2018 stock at small independent shops that they are heavily discounting as they want to get the 2019 bikes in. This time last year I bought a £1500 for £999 and watched it for 6 weeks gradually getting lower and lower. It’s definitely the time to find a deal.

[MOBB]

Rutland cycles tend to have some great deals most of the time so might be worth a look at their website

[oddball1313]

You wouldn’t go too far wrong with Giant Defy - the 1000’s of them they sell a year supports how good they are

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/defy-advanced-1

Or if you want something a little more racy

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/bikes-tcr-advanc...

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/bikes-tcr-advanc...

[Croutons]

Chain Reaction and Wiggle have additional (ish) price drops over their 2018 reductions, which are better than Evans has been offering.

I say “ish” as it’s the odd sizes that seem to be amazing deals, like the allegedly 2019 Wilier Team being a grand at both, but the sizing is on the small side, and it seems to be the new 105 groupset too.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/wilier-...

CRC’s headline grabbing Black Friday deals change on Thursdays, so they may be different tomorrow, but many in week 1 were just their usual price downs with nothing extra off.

It’s worth seeing if you have access to a Cycle To Work scheme too, as you might be able to save a heap more if it’s a good one (ie you might be able to pay more than the 1k scheme limit by topping up yourself, which could open your budget considerably- many of the now 2k 2018 bikes could be costing your 1500 budget, and many will have been priced at 2.5-3k originally...

[neil-1323bolts]

Have a look at trek , been well pleased with mine I have the emonda , they come in all specs aluminium and carbon , different groupsets to suit budget, also I rented an eddy Merckx on holiday in Cyprus last month very impressed with this bike carbon frame 105 groupset , should fall within your budget, I agree with what's been said already if you like the look of it and it fits your size , get a load of money off in a sale , go for it you won't regret it !

[mike80]

Which Emonda do you have? I had a look at a 2018 SL 5 in a shop a few months ago, and it looked good. Might go and give it a test ride!

[shirt]

I went from a triban to a bmc slr02. Highly recommend this bike - read the reviews they are every bit as good as they say.

I got mine from bike24 last january sale for under half rrp. This is the new version with full ultegra and would be the bike i would be buying in your position.

https://www.bike24.com/p2231888.html?q=Bmc

[neil-1323bolts]

Hello again , I was lucky enough to afford the emonda SLR8 which is amazing , super light bike with dura ace , I've ridden the aluminium emonda and its just as good just a bit heavier , bike fits like a glove , I am 5ft 10 and have it in 54" size and its perfect . I would not worry about groupset so much as I have 105 on my winter bike and its excellent , so 105 or ultergra would be an excellent groupset

[Roger Irrelevant]

mike80 said:

Roger Irrelevant said:

I find that there is such a bewildering array of road bikes available at any given price point that you could go mad agonising over which is the absolute best for you. The last bike I bought I just went for one that I liked the colours of and which offered a good spec for the money, and I've been very happy with it. As it happens that was a Vitus, and I'd recommend that you take a look at their range, but I'm sure the ones you mentioned will do you just as well.

That's certainly true! I'm trying to get a few ideas, then will probably buy the best looking one. The issue is test riding them, which seems the difficult bit, hard to compare against what I've currently got unless you ride it on a proper route.

My somewhat lackadaisical approach extends to test rides too - the Vitus I mentioned was mail order so I didn't see it, let alone ride it before it turned up! When I first rode it it did feel different to my other road bike but I couldn't have pinpointed exactly how. In any event by the second time I rode it it felt just right and I've done many thousands of miles since. I think that for all the talk of road bikes having 'relaxed' or 'racy' geometry they're not so different that (so long as you get the right size) a bit of adjustment here and there can't sort any problems.

I guess what I'm saying is that if you see a bike you really like the look of which seems a bargain then I wouldn't get too hung up on being able to test ride it.

[anonymous-user]

I'd be buying used for that money

What size do you need?

Perhaps there will be something interesting on ebay

[bakerstreet]

I have been looking at Rutland Cycles. They have a Giant Defy with discs and 105 for £1350, which is pretty good.

Planet X is always worth a look, but their disc offering in carbon (RT-90 I think) doesn't get great reviews.

Ribble should be able to offer something decent too.

[griffter]

Roger Irrelevant said:

I guess what I'm saying is that if you see a bike you really like the look of which seems a bargain then I wouldn't get too hung up on being able to test ride it.

I’ve bought all my bikes without test riding. I can see the benefit of sitting on the bike to confirm it’s the right size (never bothered to do that either) but beyond that what’s it going to tell you? Surely so much comes down to adjustment and how the bike’s set up that a test ride is of limited value? Or am I being naive / have I been lucky so far?

I re-entered cycling with a triban 300 a few years ago and when I decided to go for it I bought what was then Decathlon’s “entry level” carbon frame with 105. It’s a size down from the triban which is the most significant thing, but I would advocate buying a spec you like at a price which suits, obviously read some reviews, but then set the bike up properly, be prepared to adjust it, and enjoy it.

[mike80]

Curse you Black Friday! Checked this morning and the Ultra 920 AF is now under £1000 - couldn't resist! Bring on the good weather...

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

[Barchettaman]

Lovely thing.

With that semi-compact crankset, I’d be putting some of the savings towards a Miche Primato 12-30 cassette.

I’d be surprised if the 52/11 combo will see much use.

Enjoy the bike!