What Road Bike - £1k, 50cm, Carbon w/Ultegra?
Discussion
C2W paperwork due imminently. £1k budget plus a bit for the right bike, Ultegra kit minimum, carbon plus Ultegra would be a bonus.
I've always been fervently against road bikes but my time away from MTBing has me grown fat. I'm looking for something that I can pound the miles (and lbs) out alone in a fun and fast way to get my lardy arse back into shape.
I've test ridden a few bikes from Aluminium Ultegra to Carbon 105 and I think the kit makes more of a difference than the frame material, hence the initial question. Is there a Carbon framed, Ultegra kitted bike for close to or less than a grand?
FYI - I'm 5'8" with a 29" inside leg. Powerful (fat) with decent technique and high cadence.
TiA
I've always been fervently against road bikes but my time away from MTBing has me grown fat. I'm looking for something that I can pound the miles (and lbs) out alone in a fun and fast way to get my lardy arse back into shape.
I've test ridden a few bikes from Aluminium Ultegra to Carbon 105 and I think the kit makes more of a difference than the frame material, hence the initial question. Is there a Carbon framed, Ultegra kitted bike for close to or less than a grand?
FYI - I'm 5'8" with a 29" inside leg. Powerful (fat) with decent technique and high cadence.
TiA
Magic919 said:
50cm sounds quite small for your height.
Yeah I keep getting told different things, mostly though 50-54cm is the range of sizes i'm told I will fit and i've always preferred frames on the small side, hence i'd prefer a 50. I will however go and get fitted before placing any order though.What about this chaps?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/moser-bikes-111-ultegra/
WildCards said:
There appears to be nowt wrong wi' that. Especially with that price reduction.BUT...
Bear in mind that it's very much "last year's bike" with Ultegra 6700 10 speed it slung onto it. Ultegra has moved on to 6800 (11 speed) for this year, so consider spares availability and 'future proofing' of the bike. 105 is still 10 speed, but the trickle-down of tech from Ulegra will see that go to 11 speed, possibly as soon as next year. The other point to note is the wheels. Fulcrum Racing 7 ain't exactly 'gucci' wheels in the grand scheme of things, and will be ripe for an upgrade within minutes of you taking delivery.
I'm looking for an Aluminium/Ultegra replacement bike, but that combination seems hard to find. Most manufacturers seem to reserve the Ultegra groupset for carbon fibre framsets, with Alu topping out with 105.
YJ how about getting one of these http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2014/bikes/road/elit... and then buying the group set separately!
ALawson said:
YJ how about getting one of these http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2014/bikes/road/elit... and then buying the group set separately!
You can't do that on C2W unfortunately. For a grand you're not doing to get a carbon bike with good wheels, so probably best to get one that really really skimps on them and then replace them in a years time when they fall apart
Ribble will be best for letting you do this...Also why have you settled on ultegra? In terms of shifting/general performance of the groupset it's no difference to 105. It's a bit lighter, but that's it really.
Like I said really, I'm a complete road bike novice, i'm purely going on advice given from elsewhere and the extremely limited experience i've had recently. C2W came up and I thought it's about time I got back on the bike and i'm too girly to start smashing it down a mountain again.
That TdF special looks lovely.
That TdF special looks lovely.
yellowjack said:
BUT...
Bear in mind that it's very much "last year's bike" with Ultegra 6700 10 speed it slung onto it.
Yes I would not consider it at all. The frame so old and and decrepit making it pretty much unrideable and I wouldn't be seen dead riding a mere 10spd Ultegra gruppo.Bear in mind that it's very much "last year's bike" with Ultegra 6700 10 speed it slung onto it.
In my opinion, even with some great deals out there... Carbon + Ultegra + sub £1K price-tag just doesn't add up.
There will be sacrifices made somewhere probably in the wheelset or frame quality that would make me opt for either carbon + 105 or a decent alu + 105 and hopefully a half decent wheelset.
This would probably be my (biased) choice...
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5220/CANNONDAL...
Careful though, it is last years model
There will be sacrifices made somewhere probably in the wheelset or frame quality that would make me opt for either carbon + 105 or a decent alu + 105 and hopefully a half decent wheelset.
This would probably be my (biased) choice...
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5220/CANNONDAL...
Careful though, it is last years model
WildCards said:
Like I said really, I'm a complete road bike novice, i'm purely going on advice given from elsewhere and the extremely limited experience i've had recently. C2W came up and I thought it's about time I got back on the bike and i'm too girly to start smashing it down a mountain again.
That TdF special looks lovely.
One thing you might want to be careful of, is evaluating how well a groupset performs when out on a short test ride of something. 99% of groupset performance (between Dura-Ace, Ultegra, 105 and Tiagra, not the proper budget ones) comes down to how well it's been set up.That TdF special looks lovely.
Check out what you can get from ribble and planet x, but to be honest ultegra + carbon < £1000 doesn't happen.
I went for a Ribble Sportive Bianco a few years ago with full 105 and crappy wheels and it still came to just over £1k.
I'm beginning to think that these threads should become stickys...
Planet X Pro Carbon is about as good as it gets at £1k. I personally wouldn't worry about 10 speed Vs 11 speed. Shimano will be supporting 10 speed for a while yet
Only downside is trying before you buy. You can only do that in the Planet X shops up north. There is retailer in St. Albans, which is just outside London, but even then he won't let you ride one. You have to rely on them getting the fit right. I bought my CX based on them doing the fit and they got it bang on
Planet X Pro Carbon is about as good as it gets at £1k. I personally wouldn't worry about 10 speed Vs 11 speed. Shimano will be supporting 10 speed for a while yet
Only downside is trying before you buy. You can only do that in the Planet X shops up north. There is retailer in St. Albans, which is just outside London, but even then he won't let you ride one. You have to rely on them getting the fit right. I bought my CX based on them doing the fit and they got it bang on
Unless you are planning on upgrading your frame after purchase you would be better off getting the best frame and functioning wheel set/group set as you can for the budget, then upgrade as things wear out.
There will always be compromises when you are "only" spending £1k.
I have Tiagra on my bike and it functions fine, would I like Ultegra? You bet. But would my legs do it justice, not a chance!
That's the last of any sensible talk from me.
There will always be compromises when you are "only" spending £1k.
I have Tiagra on my bike and it functions fine, would I like Ultegra? You bet. But would my legs do it justice, not a chance!
That's the last of any sensible talk from me.
I'm 5'10" and ride a 56cm Specialized so I'd be a little wary if people are saying you should be on a 50cm frame, w=sound too small to me, especially on a road bike. You can get away with a smaller frame on an MTB but on road I personally don't think it's a good idea.
Nowt wrong with 105 either. TBH, unless you're riding a LOT and/or racing then I doubt you'd notice the difference especially as it's mostly in the set up anyway. Spend the money on the best frameset/wheel combo you can find and upgrande components as they wear out. For road I love Ally but that Cannondale mentioned above looks a good deal!
Nowt wrong with 105 either. TBH, unless you're riding a LOT and/or racing then I doubt you'd notice the difference especially as it's mostly in the set up anyway. Spend the money on the best frameset/wheel combo you can find and upgrande components as they wear out. For road I love Ally but that Cannondale mentioned above looks a good deal!
yellowjack said:
Bear in mind that it's very much "last year's bike" with Ultegra 6700 10 speed it slung onto it. Ultegra has moved on to 6800 (11 speed) for this year, so consider spares availability and 'future proofing' of the bike. 105 is still 10 speed, but the trickle-down of tech from Ulegra will see that go to 11 speed, possibly as soon as next year.
105 is already on 11 speed, not sure how many bikes are out there with it fitted already, but you can certainly buy it.Zippee said:
I'm 5'10" and ride a 56cm Specialized so I'd be a little wary if people are saying you should be on a 50cm frame, w=sound too small to me, especially on a road bike. You can get away with a smaller frame on an MTB but on road I personally don't think it's a good idea.
Nowt wrong with 105 either. TBH, unless you're riding a LOT and/or racing then I doubt you'd notice the difference especially as it's mostly in the set up anyway. Spend the money on the best frameset/wheel combo you can find and upgrande components as they wear out. For road I love Ally but that Cannondale mentioned above looks a good deal!
This. I'm 5'10 and ride 56cm frames. Even my tiny stepmum rides a 51cm frame. You will need around a 54.Nowt wrong with 105 either. TBH, unless you're riding a LOT and/or racing then I doubt you'd notice the difference especially as it's mostly in the set up anyway. Spend the money on the best frameset/wheel combo you can find and upgrande components as they wear out. For road I love Ally but that Cannondale mentioned above looks a good deal!
Steve Evil said:
yellowjack said:
Bear in mind that it's very much "last year's bike" with Ultegra 6700 10 speed it slung onto it. Ultegra has moved on to 6800 (11 speed) for this year, so consider spares availability and 'future proofing' of the bike. 105 is still 10 speed, but the trickle-down of tech from Ulegra will see that go to 11 speed, possibly as soon as next year.
105 is already on 11 speed, not sure how many bikes are out there with it fitted already, but you can certainly buy it.TBH you are unlikely to feel the difference between 105 and Ultegra. The 11 spd issue is worthy of consideration though. Many aluminium frames will be as good as carbon ones. Where you will feel the difference is in the rotational mass of your wheels. That's where I'd focus my attention.
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