What Jekyll & Hyde road bike for up to 3k?

[keith2.2]

I do love my trusty Bianchi - a Veloce equipped via nirone with carbon front and rear end. I've had it for a couple of years and don't plan to get rid any time soon.

However, I've got a hankering for something a bit more...special. And faster. Definitely faster.

I plan to buy a new bike in April next year. The intention is to top up a £1k cycle to work voucher with up to 2k of hard earned. My thought being I could possibly get a lot of 2014 bike that time, for that sort of money (although it does preclude rose or canyon as options)

I want a bike that I can ride up to about 150 miles on, though more normally 40-70 - so comfort is important but I don't think the distances are high enough for it to be a top priority. i love hills - someing that will ill fully transfer power on the up but then be safe and well mannered on a 50mph+ decent (strava will prove that..!)

What I do want is for it to go like stink when I stomp on the pedals - I'd ideally like to be able to whack some tri bars on and have something that would do itself proud on a 10 or 20 mile time trial.

I want carbon, because I'm a tart.
Di shifters if possible
Discs? Well I don't know. I get it, but I don't intend on riding it in bad weather, and I think I'd prioritise top end shifting over disc brakes at the moment. Also I think I'm buying at the wrong time for disc brakes - it strikes me as something to look at in 2017/18.

Aesthetically I would like it to either come with some rims with a decent dish, or leave me budget for some. I'd also likes aero frame - again I suspect tartiness is winning out here because I dont doubt that this is at the expense of weight and comfort...but I don't care, I want it to be something I can't take my eyes off so I'm blinkered to arguments against, I'm afraid!

I've been looking at the synapse, felt ar and the Da Rosa Merak.

I've got a bit of a love affair with italian cycling stuff so an Italian bike with campag would be lovely but American bikes with Japanese gear do seem to be easier to find!

Looks wise -I'm undecided, I do like the stealth look but i also like garish (I'd love a merak in the bright green, my Bianchi is Celeste)

Any offthe wall suggestions or definite go-to's?!

Edited by keith2.2 on Saturday 29th November 20:56

[anonymous-user]

Canyon Aeroad, they do one with ultegra and mavic cosmics for under 3k, I'd be surprised if there is anything out there with deep rims and electronic shifting for that price.

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 29th November 21:54

[Fastpedeller]

What about one of these....


A closer view.

[jamiebae]

Standard Genesis recommendation from me....

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/race/zero...

Actually though, the frameset is £1200, leaving enough for Ultegra Di2 gruppo, some nice wheels and some finishing kit to build your own for less cash but with better rims

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/frames/ze...

[pembo]

jamiebae said:

Standard Genesis recommendation from me....

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/race/zero...

Actually though, the frameset is £1200, leaving enough for Ultegra Di2 gruppo, some nice wheels and some finishing kit to build your own for less cash but with better rims

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/frames/ze...

This would be the winner for me, went to my lbs the other week just to look at the zero's when they came in, lovely bikes. I also had a go with the Di2 gears yesterday... Wow! Luckily I was on a turbo because I couldn't help watching them in action and they were so smooth (although I use tiagra so its a bit of a jump)

[nammynake]

No new bike will be faster than what you've already got. Dropping 3 grand on a bike with the expectation it will be faster will just end in disappointment, or at best a placebo improvement as you ride harder to extract that extra 0.1 mph.

If you want a fast looking bike I'd second the Canyon Aeroroad SLX.

[Barchettaman]

Blind testing has shown that it isn't possible to discern the differences in comfort between an aero road and a standard road frame. That's a red herring.

I'd get a Cervelo S5 with Ultegra Di2 and a Flo 90 rear / 60 front wheelset.

I'd also not delude myself that this combo would make me significantly faster.