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New road bike. Decisions decisions...

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  1. Beano
    Member

    Ok, so I've been going a year now and first C2W bike payments have finished. Going for another one but looking for some thoughts from the floor...

    I'm happy with my first bike as being the one I commute on 'most' of the time. I don't get in much cycling at the weekend as I have two kids under 3 who need a lot of attention.

    So...what I'm after is a road bike for the fife to edinburgh commute in the nice summer dry days. I do try and get a decent speed going so want something racey-ish. Don't need/want disc brakes, pannier mounts, or mud guards really. Light-ish and comfortable enough for the commute plus the odd longer race/ride. Not sure how fussed I am for the 'componentry' at this stage. I am learning that it's all in the frame (I.e do I find a sub 1k carbon bike to get a nice frame and, when the hubs go, put on some nicer wheels? I know there are some good Alu frames at that price though).

    Happy to spend the full £1k but do I need to? I've read the usual cycling weekly / bike radar / etc 'bikes under £1k' guides but just thought I'd see what folk think.

    Thoughts at moment are:
    - Boardman team comp (£699)
    - Boardman team carbon (£999)
    - Spesh Allez Sport (£600)
    - Rose pro SL2000 (£900ish) IF it's possible to get a Rose on C2W
    - Cube Peloton Race (£899)
    - Giant Defy 0 (£999)
    - B'Twin Alur 700 (£749)

    Obviously the above are main manufacturers but willing to look at others too. I don't have a wide knowledge of other brands so thoughts/experiences welcome (bear in mind it has to be Cyclescheme voucher applicable)

    Cheers folks!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. gembo
    Member

    Thanks beano, just what the forum likes and does best

    Tricky to get a good carbon frame under £1000. Road cc had two grand Merida recently that looked a beauty.

    However a colleague has just managed this on bike to work scheme from Evans. We must use Evans in our scheme, no other option.

    My colleague was looking at a similar specification to you and she went for a Trek carbon frame and managed to persuade them that they could charge £999.99 for it. It helps if you buy pedals, etc out with the bike to work scheme.

    I tend to agree with you that you get a lot more bike for £1000 if aluminium and non disc.

    I went for a specialised allez comp as it had good wheels and a good chain set on top of the good frame. I slightly preferred a cannondale at the time, seemed a little longer in the frame which I favour but transmission was clunky, wheels were cheesy etc.

    My summary if you want carbon you will have to hustle to get a good frame under the grand. If you go aluminium you will have plenty options, the giant defy usually wins bet under a grand bike.

    Titanium and steel framed bikes not usually under the grand either.

    When I first went for a bike to work I spent £250 and could not imagine why anyone could justify a bike at £1000. This was I guess in 2001?. However I see that the advantage of bike to work over interest free sale bikes works if you go for the top end. Best result is a dearer sale bike That you manage to get in the scheme like my colleague has just managed and I managed with the spesh allez comp.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. Beano
    Member

    Thanks Gembo, good advice; will have a look at the Allez Comp. Think the C2W suits me as our scheme seems to allow a few bike shops (eg edin bike coop, Evans, etc) so I can get a good choice of bikes/manufacturers.

    I also don't have the cash to splash but £1000 tax free divided into 12 months is/was less than my annual train fare so I'm 'used' to that money being taken from my wages.

    Think I'd like to max at £1k though rather than adding too much components to a frame purchase. Happy to add pedals tho (kind of expect that anyway).

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. le_soigneur
    Member

    2 years old, but still a good review from http://www.naden.de/blog/bbvideo-bbpress-video-plugin -->

    [+] Embed the video | The Cycle Show
    " target="_blank">Video Download    		Get the Video Player
    UKbikesDepot.com also worth a look.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. Beano
    Member

    took a while from last payment to 'end of hire' payment so fingers crossed i'm ready to buy bike No.2!

    Going to EBC tonight to have a look at the Specialized Allez Comp. At £960 I can't see a better bike for the money? anyone?

    My only niggling doubt is whether to go for a £700 or lower bike (e.g. the Specialized* Allez Elite) and accept the lower spec Tiagra gearing and lower spec wheels/tyres.

    *other bikes are available :-)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. amir
    Member

    Summer sales are starting soon

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. Stickman
    Member

    "Summer sales starting soon"

    I recently found out that I can get a ridiculously good discount all year round at Wheelies via my work, so I'm not as tied by sale time.

    (Edited the part of my post seeking bike advice so I don't hijack Beano's request!)

    Posted 8 years ago #

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