Does This Bike Exist?
Discussion
ALawson said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
OP: have you done much road riding on a road bike? Sounds like you haven't. If not I would try and borrow a bike to put some miles on, then you can get a really proven idea of what you want
Probably the most sensible advice so far! Assuming the OP hasn't yet.
The thinking behind writing a spec. for myself was at least it would be a start in terms of getting some suggestions. I admit I am bemused at the the different sub-variants of road bikes now available especially when on paper many seem identical or at least cover several genres.
So to answer the questions:
Experience:
No I'm not an advanced or competition rider. I've not ridden a road bike for nearly 30 years.
Weight:
I have a budget, and I know that a c. 8kg bike is available for that price, so my thought is why compromise on weight if it's available? I don't want to always be wondering if I should have gone for a lighter bike. I guess for me it's as much psychological as anything.
Frame Material:
My assumption was that carbon would give the best weight of frame, even if heavier/cheaper components were fitted. Having said that, any frame material that is light would be OK, but then we get into another discussion about relative comfort...
Brakes:
I've never really liked rim brakes (as I mentioned) and I think that discs are the way forward even on road bikes. If I eventually buy a bike, I won't be changing it for years, so I don't want to wish I'd waited and got a disc specific frame.
Groupset:
I've always had LX/XT components on my mountian bikes, and decent forks and finishing kit. If I buy what I'd consider a compromise, I'd end up swapping it sooner or later (usually sooner) at more cost.
New/Used/Borrow:
I have indeed considered second hand, but ideally I'd buy form someone I know (a lot of my colleagues ride road bikes and some have several). I've asked, but at the moment nobody has anything for sale. I'd be happy to spend, say £600 on a used road bike to try, and sell it on should something else become available. The problem is finding the right used bike...I'm not sure I know of any bikes I could borrow.
That's about it really. There's no way I'm spending £1000+ without very careful consideration, it's taken a lot of saving. I'm serious about getting a road bike, but if I can't figure out what to get I'll simply not bother and keep riding one of my mountain bikes on the road until something that looks right comes along.
Bottom line is I know that some of the above may seem illogical, but I know that I'm more likely to ride a bike because it has certain features rather than because I actually need certain features. That's the honest truth!
So to answer the questions:
Experience:
No I'm not an advanced or competition rider. I've not ridden a road bike for nearly 30 years.
Weight:
I have a budget, and I know that a c. 8kg bike is available for that price, so my thought is why compromise on weight if it's available? I don't want to always be wondering if I should have gone for a lighter bike. I guess for me it's as much psychological as anything.
Frame Material:
My assumption was that carbon would give the best weight of frame, even if heavier/cheaper components were fitted. Having said that, any frame material that is light would be OK, but then we get into another discussion about relative comfort...
Brakes:
I've never really liked rim brakes (as I mentioned) and I think that discs are the way forward even on road bikes. If I eventually buy a bike, I won't be changing it for years, so I don't want to wish I'd waited and got a disc specific frame.
Groupset:
I've always had LX/XT components on my mountian bikes, and decent forks and finishing kit. If I buy what I'd consider a compromise, I'd end up swapping it sooner or later (usually sooner) at more cost.
New/Used/Borrow:
I have indeed considered second hand, but ideally I'd buy form someone I know (a lot of my colleagues ride road bikes and some have several). I've asked, but at the moment nobody has anything for sale. I'd be happy to spend, say £600 on a used road bike to try, and sell it on should something else become available. The problem is finding the right used bike...I'm not sure I know of any bikes I could borrow.
That's about it really. There's no way I'm spending £1000+ without very careful consideration, it's taken a lot of saving. I'm serious about getting a road bike, but if I can't figure out what to get I'll simply not bother and keep riding one of my mountain bikes on the road until something that looks right comes along.
Bottom line is I know that some of the above may seem illogical, but I know that I'm more likely to ride a bike because it has certain features rather than because I actually need certain features. That's the honest truth!
Personally I would spend less time thinking, more time riding
Choose a shortlist
Try em
See which you like
See which is available
Buy it, job jobbed
With your criteria, unless you are willing to wait or search high or low there wont be something that fulfils everything on your list.
If it was me I would forget the disk brakes and buy one of the usual suspects @ a grand (boardman/rible/planet x)
Choose a shortlist
Try em
See which you like
See which is available
Buy it, job jobbed
With your criteria, unless you are willing to wait or search high or low there wont be something that fulfils everything on your list.
If it was me I would forget the disk brakes and buy one of the usual suspects @ a grand (boardman/rible/planet x)
I walked into my LBS in Aug 2012 having not ridden for 10-11 years (all MTB), however as stated above I had put on almost 20kg extra and with poor (but repaired) knees. I had pandered with getting a road bike and basically without reading any mags walked in and bought Specialised Roubaix.
It was about £1250 reduced from £1500, since then a set of S/H Fulcrum 3's have replaced the Axis 2.0s and it has had about 2 set of tyres more through failure of side walls then wearing out.
Ok, I have spent a bit on Assos, PH and LBS branded kit, Garmin 1000, bottles, 2 helmets (1 crash damaged).
Could I have bought a better bike, better value? Probably either Planet-X, Ribble etc, or S/H. However, I don't regret it.
What I should have done was spend £400 on a entry level bike and then decide what I wanted, however more than likely it would have broken and that would have been that. Instead the bike at 9.5kg is heavy but as far as I am concerned when I get back to 75kg I will be able to justify something at the 7-7.5kg end of the market.
There will always be compromises, I think the disk brakes are the biggest factor in your frame/bike choice. I think with 11sp coming down to 105 level and disks almost being there in terms of road bikes, unless you want to be a primary adopter you may need to wait another year to get everything that you want.
It was about £1250 reduced from £1500, since then a set of S/H Fulcrum 3's have replaced the Axis 2.0s and it has had about 2 set of tyres more through failure of side walls then wearing out.
Ok, I have spent a bit on Assos, PH and LBS branded kit, Garmin 1000, bottles, 2 helmets (1 crash damaged).
Could I have bought a better bike, better value? Probably either Planet-X, Ribble etc, or S/H. However, I don't regret it.
What I should have done was spend £400 on a entry level bike and then decide what I wanted, however more than likely it would have broken and that would have been that. Instead the bike at 9.5kg is heavy but as far as I am concerned when I get back to 75kg I will be able to justify something at the 7-7.5kg end of the market.
There will always be compromises, I think the disk brakes are the biggest factor in your frame/bike choice. I think with 11sp coming down to 105 level and disks almost being there in terms of road bikes, unless you want to be a primary adopter you may need to wait another year to get everything that you want.
FWIW I am now down to 95kg, was considerably more- 105 rim brakes on my 2001 Allez comp more than sufficient in stopping from 50mph plus on the road.
(I still have V brakes on my MTB, "old-skool" and in that enviroment I agree discs might be better but they do seem a faff)
IME tyre grip gives up before brake performance on a roadie but have since moved to better tyres :-)
(I still have V brakes on my MTB, "old-skool" and in that enviroment I agree discs might be better but they do seem a faff)
IME tyre grip gives up before brake performance on a roadie but have since moved to better tyres :-)
I'd go for the Pickenflick at that price in a heartbeat personally, a similar bike would cost £2k+ from anyone else.
If weight is a priority, buy a Dirty Disco at the discounted price (c. 8.6kg). If you want it lighter still, ebay the wheels & tyres, then replace with Kinesis Crosslights with decent 25c folding road tyres = 8kg bike for £1,200.
It may forego a fancy paintjob and stickers but it's certainly not too cheap and nasty for plenty of 'cross racers!
Other than the above, you're simply not going to get a hydro disc braked road/cx bike for a comparable weight and cost to a rim braked bike as hydro brakes cost and weigh significantly more.
Compromise the spec, increase the budget or wait 12-18 months for some sub £2k carbon hydro disc road/cx bikes to be launched and subsequently discounted.
If weight is a priority, buy a Dirty Disco at the discounted price (c. 8.6kg). If you want it lighter still, ebay the wheels & tyres, then replace with Kinesis Crosslights with decent 25c folding road tyres = 8kg bike for £1,200.
It may forego a fancy paintjob and stickers but it's certainly not too cheap and nasty for plenty of 'cross racers!
Other than the above, you're simply not going to get a hydro disc braked road/cx bike for a comparable weight and cost to a rim braked bike as hydro brakes cost and weigh significantly more.
Compromise the spec, increase the budget or wait 12-18 months for some sub £2k carbon hydro disc road/cx bikes to be launched and subsequently discounted.
dr_gn said:
GaryGlitter said:
Code can be used online or instore, and it's publicly available so don't worry about using it.
Not sure what the issue of getting hammered by riding on 23mm tyres is, unless you have a medical condition. I ride in the Peak District almost every week in 23mm.
Sorry, I missed that the first time. Cheers.Not sure what the issue of getting hammered by riding on 23mm tyres is, unless you have a medical condition. I ride in the Peak District almost every week in 23mm.
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBPXSLP105/planet-x-p...
Seems cheaper than some ebay deals for same bike !
Mike
mikees said:
dr_gn said:
GaryGlitter said:
Code can be used online or instore, and it's publicly available so don't worry about using it.
Not sure what the issue of getting hammered by riding on 23mm tyres is, unless you have a medical condition. I ride in the Peak District almost every week in 23mm.
Sorry, I missed that the first time. Cheers.Not sure what the issue of getting hammered by riding on 23mm tyres is, unless you have a medical condition. I ride in the Peak District almost every week in 23mm.
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBPXSLP105/planet-x-p...
Seems cheaper than some ebay deals for same bike !
Mike
At £640 that's the best value full carbon /105 10-speed package I've seen. An absolute belter of a deal.
I personally would go for an 11-28 cassette rather than the specced 11-25, but then again, hills aren't my forte.
10-speed cassettes and chains should be around for the next 40 years or so, availability won't be a problem, and with the release of 11-speed the prices will continue to fall.
OP, remember that stock dual-pivot brakes are just a pad upgrade away from being extremely capable (often the stock pads are crap, sometimes OK)
I personally would go for an 11-28 cassette rather than the specced 11-25, but then again, hills aren't my forte.
10-speed cassettes and chains should be around for the next 40 years or so, availability won't be a problem, and with the release of 11-speed the prices will continue to fall.
OP, remember that stock dual-pivot brakes are just a pad upgrade away from being extremely capable (often the stock pads are crap, sometimes OK)
I'd rather have a decent Aluminium frame than a cheap carbon frame at that price. Cheap carbon frames are not really any lighter and IMO just feel "dead" when you ride them. Totally subjective I know but having test ridden a bunch of bikes recently I ended up with an alu Cannondale CAAD 8 as I wanted quite racy geometry. The Cannondale Synapse 105 disc looks like it would suit your need for a more relaxed position though.
Edited by lufbramatt on Friday 28th November 09:39
GaryGlitter said:
PX are doing 30% off bikes today, according to sales person who served me at lunchtime.
Interesting, however there always seems to be some spectacular offer with them. A bit like dfs. It is a proven winning formula to always have some offer on. In reality, once offers or discounts are applied it more than likely represents the average retail price of the item.
Good value nonetheless.
Apologies if the OP has looked at this one already, but with the discount code this PX XLS is coming in at 1040 quid:
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLSRIV/planet-x-xl...
22 speed
Carbon frame
Hydraulic road discs
Weight I would imagine is around 9kg?
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLSRIV/planet-x-xl...
22 speed
Carbon frame
Hydraulic road discs
Weight I would imagine is around 9kg?
Barchettaman said:
Apologies if the OP has looked at this one already, but with the discount code this PX XLS is coming in at 1040 quid:
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLSRIV/planet-x-xl...
22 speed
Carbon frame
Hydraulic road discs
Weight I would imagine is around 9kg?
Which code is that? I'm sure the one I've seen has expired 1st December?http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBPXXLSRIV/planet-x-xl...
22 speed
Carbon frame
Hydraulic road discs
Weight I would imagine is around 9kg?
DAMN that's a good deal. the frame might not win any awards but it's lightish and decently regarded.
The finishing kit is junk, but the gruppo is pretty much unavailable (I've not seen it for sale complete anywhere, shifters and brakes come in at about 500 for hydros alone)
Cant see a weight for it but a quick calculation based on the weight of the SRAM force 10 speed model suggests about 8.6 kg all in for the Rival model. Should be easy to drop almost a KG on finishing kit, saddle and wheels....
Edited by TheLemming on Tuesday 2nd December 13:31
TheLemming said:
Which code is that? I'm sure the one I've seen has expired 1st December?
DAMN that's a good deal. the frame might not win any awards but it's lightish and decently regarded.
The finishing kit is junk, but the gruppo is pretty much unavailable (I've not seen it for sale complete anywhere, shifters and brakes come in at about 500 for hydros alone)
Cant see a weight for it but a quick calculation based on the weight of the SRAM force 10 speed model suggests about 8.6 kg all in for the Rival model. Should be easy to drop almost a KG on finishing kit, saddle and wheels....
ukstaffcdr20 - runs out today.DAMN that's a good deal. the frame might not win any awards but it's lightish and decently regarded.
The finishing kit is junk, but the gruppo is pretty much unavailable (I've not seen it for sale complete anywhere, shifters and brakes come in at about 500 for hydros alone)
Cant see a weight for it but a quick calculation based on the weight of the SRAM force 10 speed model suggests about 8.6 kg all in for the Rival model. Should be easy to drop almost a KG on finishing kit, saddle and wheels....
Edited by TheLemming on Tuesday 2nd December 13:31
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