Road bike for around £1000
Discussion
Hi. Have a specialized allez that I am looking to upgrade through the cycle to work scheme. Looking at around 1000 to 1200 pounds. Very tempted by the ribble r872 with the 105 gear set. I know the giant defy 1 comes very highly rated.
Bike will be used for regular road riding and charity rides circa 100 miles
Any comments grately received please
Matt
Bike will be used for regular road riding and charity rides circa 100 miles
Any comments grately received please
Matt
Canyon Roadlite is amazing value for money, the best spec you will get for under £1000 but yes, its mail order etc https://www.canyon.com/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3073 However, the Pinnacle Dolomite is probably no worse in real terms and equally good value.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/dolom...
There are a few brands that are worth looking at which are slightly off the High Street, not Trek or Specialised, which might offer slightly better value for money and are just a bit different. I like being a bit different so...
This is the Genesis Volant which looks ace and is well spec'd
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/volant/vo...
Forme Longcliffe
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
Ghost Race 4900
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
Cinelli Experience
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cinelli/experi...
In all seriousness, although some are better than others, you have to try really hard to spend £1000 and end up with a bad bike...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/dolom...
There are a few brands that are worth looking at which are slightly off the High Street, not Trek or Specialised, which might offer slightly better value for money and are just a bit different. I like being a bit different so...
This is the Genesis Volant which looks ace and is well spec'd
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/volant/vo...
Forme Longcliffe
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
Ghost Race 4900
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
Cinelli Experience
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cinelli/experi...
In all seriousness, although some are better than others, you have to try really hard to spend £1000 and end up with a bad bike...
I'm in the same position, as in having an Allez and wanting an upgrade., but I'm not lucky enouth to be ale to doit on Ride to Work scheme.
And after my searching, I've marrowed my choice down to a slightly used Supersix, or a new R872. I've not read a bad word about either bike, so don't feel I can go wrong.
The Ribble will probably win the day, as asthetically, it's exactly what I like.
And after my searching, I've marrowed my choice down to a slightly used Supersix, or a new R872. I've not read a bad word about either bike, so don't feel I can go wrong.
The Ribble will probably win the day, as asthetically, it's exactly what I like.
If I was spending £1k it'd be this one, no question: http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPRIV13/p...
8kg, SRAM Rival, carbon frame and fork.
Having said that I love my CAAD8.
8kg, SRAM Rival, carbon frame and fork.
Having said that I love my CAAD8.
Gizmoish said:
If I was spending £1k it'd be this one, no question: http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPRIV13/p...
8kg, SRAM Rival, carbon frame and fork.
Me too, albeit their flat bar version. Definitely on the shopping list.8kg, SRAM Rival, carbon frame and fork.
I was in exactly the same position a month ago. I just got the call from Evans and my bike is being delivered on Friday. Yippee!
It's a Scott Speedster 20:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/speedste...
I got it through the Ride2Work scheme so even though it's £999 it's only going to cost me £600ish.
I've looked at so many bikes over the past month or so and gone round and round in circles. I've looked at or at least considered the following (all are pretty much £1,000 unless specified):
Ribble R872,
Genesis Volant 20,
Felt Z85 105,
Bianchi VIA Nirone 7 Xenon (ruled out very quickly for the stupid f
king name),
Norco Valence A1,
Specialized Allez Elite (and boggo Roubaix/Tarmac although these are £1,200),
Planet-X Pro Carbon,
Canyon Roadlight AL 7.0 (£1,109),
Cannondale CAAD8,
Trek Madone 2.1,
Fuji Roubaix 1.3,
Jamis Xenith Endura Sport (2012 Model so reduced from £1,500),
Boardman's didn't make the list because they only make them for dwarves (seriously, the frames stop at 56cm or something) and they're so fking boring!!! It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact they're sold in Halfords. I like Halfords.
There is so much choice for a grand it's nuts.
In the end I went for the Scott because I liked the look and feel of it in the shop (I have not seen the Internet only bikes listed above in the mettle) and it comes in a frame size that fits me (61cm) as I'm 6'7" with a 37" inside leg so need a circus freak penny farthing ideally. The Ribble and Planet X were out of the running quite early on as they only go up to 58cm frame size. I also liked the fact that even though it's an alloy frame it has the aerodynamic tube profiles of the top of the range Foil bikes. It's fairly light at around 9.2kg and has almost full Shimano 105 componentry. Many of the carbon bikes at this price have a Tiagra/Sora Group Set (sorry - San) or less.
If size wasn't an issue and it had to be carbon (and within the £1,000 budget) then the Planet X or Ribble are pretty hard to beat. There is some snobbery about these brands as they are cheap made in Taiwan frames but then most know that they're pretty hard to beat for that sort of thing. The Ribble has pretty much been proven to be the same frame as the De La Rosa, not that that is anything to shout about.
The Canyon bikes seem like crazy good value but I dug up a whole load of negative criticism about their customer service and I couldn't find out if I could get one through Ride2Work either so they were out. If there was a Canyon in a bike store near me my search would have been over. the Roadlight AL 7.0 has full Ultegra components inc. brakes, full carbon fork, Mavic Aksium WTS wheels and Ritchey finishing kit all for £1,150.
I loved the Genesis bikes, they're such high quality and British, Grrr. Again, frame sizes let me down.
Anyway, I will be test riding my bike on Friday and won't be buying it if I don't like it. I know it's a boring answer so I tried not to give it straight away but don't buy any bike without trying it out. If it's mail order then this could be tough but maybe find someone on a cycling forum (or here) that has the model you like and are near you.
It's a Scott Speedster 20:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/speedste...
I got it through the Ride2Work scheme so even though it's £999 it's only going to cost me £600ish.
I've looked at so many bikes over the past month or so and gone round and round in circles. I've looked at or at least considered the following (all are pretty much £1,000 unless specified):
Ribble R872,
Genesis Volant 20,
Felt Z85 105,
Bianchi VIA Nirone 7 Xenon (ruled out very quickly for the stupid f
king name),Norco Valence A1,
Specialized Allez Elite (and boggo Roubaix/Tarmac although these are £1,200),
Planet-X Pro Carbon,
Canyon Roadlight AL 7.0 (£1,109),
Cannondale CAAD8,
Trek Madone 2.1,
Fuji Roubaix 1.3,
Jamis Xenith Endura Sport (2012 Model so reduced from £1,500),
Boardman's didn't make the list because they only make them for dwarves (seriously, the frames stop at 56cm or something) and they're so f
king boring!!! It has absolutely nothing to do with the fact they're sold in Halfords. I like Halfords.There is so much choice for a grand it's nuts.
In the end I went for the Scott because I liked the look and feel of it in the shop (I have not seen the Internet only bikes listed above in the mettle) and it comes in a frame size that fits me (61cm) as I'm 6'7" with a 37" inside leg so need a circus freak penny farthing ideally. The Ribble and Planet X were out of the running quite early on as they only go up to 58cm frame size. I also liked the fact that even though it's an alloy frame it has the aerodynamic tube profiles of the top of the range Foil bikes. It's fairly light at around 9.2kg and has almost full Shimano 105 componentry. Many of the carbon bikes at this price have a Tiagra/Sora Group Set (sorry - San) or less.
If size wasn't an issue and it had to be carbon (and within the £1,000 budget) then the Planet X or Ribble are pretty hard to beat. There is some snobbery about these brands as they are cheap made in Taiwan frames but then most know that they're pretty hard to beat for that sort of thing. The Ribble has pretty much been proven to be the same frame as the De La Rosa, not that that is anything to shout about.
The Canyon bikes seem like crazy good value but I dug up a whole load of negative criticism about their customer service and I couldn't find out if I could get one through Ride2Work either so they were out. If there was a Canyon in a bike store near me my search would have been over. the Roadlight AL 7.0 has full Ultegra components inc. brakes, full carbon fork, Mavic Aksium WTS wheels and Ritchey finishing kit all for £1,150.
I loved the Genesis bikes, they're such high quality and British, Grrr. Again, frame sizes let me down.
Anyway, I will be test riding my bike on Friday and won't be buying it if I don't like it. I know it's a boring answer so I tried not to give it straight away but don't buy any bike without trying it out. If it's mail order then this could be tough but maybe find someone on a cycling forum (or here) that has the model you like and are near you.
Fluffsri said:
andyscole said:
I've just ordered a ribble carbon sportive with some upgrades. The ratings/reviews of it make it a no brainier!!!
Ive had one for over a year now and its bloody lovely!I've been pondering this price point for the last few months. My short list was:
Cube Peloton Pro/Race
Focus Culebro
Giant Defy 1
Planet X Pro SL
In the end I went for the Defy Composite 3. 105 would have been nice but the carbon was too shiny.
I was tempted by Ribble but they were too far from me to try out I didn't want to buy blind.
Cube Peloton Pro/Race
Focus Culebro
Giant Defy 1
Planet X Pro SL
In the end I went for the Defy Composite 3. 105 would have been nice but the carbon was too shiny.
I was tempted by Ribble but they were too far from me to try out I didn't want to buy blind.
Ponk said:
Matt230 said:
Getting very tempted by the Giant Composite 2, any comments on the SRAM gearset?
Best to try in person really. Some like it, some don't. From what I've heard it's all very good quality though. One thing you may find is that SRAM Apex and Rival often come with very wide gearing. While opinions on this vary, for a first road bike I think it's a good idea as it means you really can get up the most vicious hills even when you're starting out.
For £1k I would seriously consider an Alu frame with higher end kit. That's what i'll be doing when I get a new bike, and i'll be going for this beauty:
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-b...
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-b...
vvill said:
For £1k I would seriously consider an Alu frame with higher end kit. That's what i'll be doing when I get a new bike, and i'll be going for this beauty:
http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-b...
Looks good, that.http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-b...
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