Best Road purchase for £1k

[okgo]

Hi all,

Cyclescheme is here again and it would be rude not to do it I guess?

I was looking at a Planet-x or Ribble as the scheme we do I can get from either of those?

I've already got a fairly decent alu bike, but I wanted to know what you guys see as the best platform for a grand? Ideally I'd like to get something that will offer the best bike to build apon, i.e stick a set of decent wheels on it and I've got a fairly light competitive bike?

What do you reckon? Is it the planet x for £1000? Which Ribble is the one to look at?

[Roman]

If you're looking at a Ribble go for one of the special edition build options - better savings.

The Stealth and the New Sportive Racing are the newest frames and probably offer the best stiffness/weight ratio. The stealth is a little more race focussed and very, very similar to the De Rosa R838 which costs an awful lot more.

I have the Gran Fondo which is the beefiest & possibly best for a bigger stronger rider - I think it's great, stiff & lively ride for a sportive bike - excellent handling on badly surfaced wet roads too.

I'd ask if I could contribute to upgrade to Sram Rival personally.

If not you can get an original Sportive/Sportive Bianco with Rival or Gran Fondo with Apex for under £1k

Good test here & more on www.bikeradar.com:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/assets/images/NewSpo...

Edited by Roman on Tuesday 22 March 11:03

[okgo]

I need stiffness I think, I'm a big guy and put a lot of power down at times.

I've been looking at the ribbles, I like the look of them, I'd be changing some of the stuff straight away as those wheels look ste.

[Roman]

Yes I replaced my original Campag Khamsin wheels (strong but heavy) with a pair of Halo Mercurys which are light, around £200 & seem pretty strong (I used to ride track sprint & Kilo).

If I was going to spend more I'd be tempted by these:
http://www.fuertebici.com/shop/60mm-carbon-clinche...

[okgo]

I've dropped them an email to see if I can top the £1000 up, so we'll see.

Failing that I might just go the whole hog and buy a Canyon in a few months.

[Roman]

Check out the Moda Stretto too - great bike with excellent wheels

[DjSki]

okgo said:

I've dropped them an email to see if I can top the £1000 up, so we'll see.

Failing that I might just go the whole hog and buy a Canyon in a few months.

Yes you can spend what you want, you'll only get the tax break on the £1k though.

[anonymous-user]

DjSki said:

Yes you can spend what you want, you'll only get the tax break on the £1k though.

Really? Thats the opposite to what I have been told when enquiring!
My LBS said they could lose their CycleScheme 'affiliation' for doing this, which is worth £120K a year to them...

[DjSki]

We'll maybe the guys at Halfords were wrong. They have been before.......

Thinking it through maybe there would be an issue with the hire agreement you need to sign and the valuation (P11D) at the year end when it is transferred to you?

[Mr Will]

Jimboka said:

Really? Thats the opposite to what I have been told when enquiring!
My LBS said they could lose their CycleScheme 'affiliation' for doing this, which is worth £120K a year to them...

I think CycleScheme don't like it because it makes the issue of ownership blurred. In theory CycleScheme own the bike for the duration of the hire period, but if you "Top up" the payment at a LBS then it becomes part ownership situation which is against the rules of the cycle to work scheme.

Evans and Halfords will allow you to do it though because they operate the voucher scheme as well as sell you the bike, which means they can dodge the part ownership issue.

As a slight aside, there is no limit to the amount you can spend on the C2W scheme, the only reason most companies limit it to 1k is because this is the maximum they are allowed to lend without a consumer credit licence. If they have a consumer credit licence, there is nothing to stop them writing you out a voucher for you to go and pay for a nice new McLaren Venge in full...

[okgo]

Hi all,

Still in the decision stage.

Like the look of hte ribbles, but they don't have nay stock, I don't want a pony group, and I've seen Planet-x are better value... However Planet-x do charge a 10% of the bike price admin fee!!! aholes.

I'm wondering whether there is a good frame out there that can be upgraded, like the caad9 could for example with a low end group wheels etc, and I can sell all that stuff off...

Anything like that out there at the minute?

[Fume troll]

What are the carbon Boardman's like at this sort of price? My wife's CTW scheme is run through Halfords, and that seems to be the best they have. Seem to get good reviews.

Cheers,

FT.

[okgo]

Don't think I can get one of those on cyclescheme as halfords I don't think are a partner?

[The Walrus]

I feel you are going to be a bit late on the deals in the frame size you will need 56-58 I am guessing from some of your previous posts.

But if you can find a decent £500 job in the sales you know you can buy some decent wheels and upgrade some of the basic components within that budget very easily, but like I say speaking from experience if you are the same size as me pickings are slim.

[okgo]

I think the scheme dictates that I need to buy a full working bike?

[The Walrus]

I mean £500.00 on a fully built bike and with a basic groupset and wheels and spend £200.00 on some half decent rims and the rest on decent saddle, crankset etc or can the extra spend only be on kit such as helmets etc ?

[anonymous-user]

okgo said:

Hi all,

Still in the decision stage.

Like the look of hte ribbles, but they don't have nay stock, I don't want a pony group, and I've seen Planet-x are better value... However Planet-x do charge a 10% of the bike price admin fee!!! aholes.

I'm wondering whether there is a good frame out there that can be upgraded, like the caad9 could for example with a low end group wheels etc, and I can sell all that stuff off...

Anything like that out there at the minute?

Planet X would still seem to be the best though, even with the 10% 'admin' fee. You will still be getting their £999 bike for about £660 (including the 7% deposit after year 1). Then ride it for 3 more years & it is signed over to you.

[okgo]

3 years? Or one.

anyway, I'm still weighing it up, I've asked for the full voucher, both shops have said they don't mind me paying a little extra so I guess it comes down to whether I want to get a Ribble New Sportive with 105 for £1150, or whether I want to spend a bit more and get the £1300 SRAM Red equipped (partially) planet x!!

[Roman]

If you're looking at a Planet X I'd suggest asking them to quote to build up this frame if I were you (maybe downspec to Apex or Rival to compensate for the more costly frame):
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRPXNA/nanolig...

I think the SL is great personally but just reckon the Nanolight or Ribble would be more suited to a bigger stronger rider.

Edited by Roman on Thursday 24th March 16:23

[okgo]

I'ved asked the question.

Really want something that can be built upon as the funds I release from selling my BMC would hopefully be nearly enough to get some properly decent wheels.