Help me choose a bike :)

[cjcor]

Apologies first. I know there is an almost identical post started by a poster only a few days ago, but I have exactly the opposite problem - my employer insists that we buy from Halfords, as they fully administer our scheme.

My budget is around £1k. I do have some play in the budget.

I want the “best” road bike at this price.

Is this what I should be buying [?]: http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/b...

Thanks in advance.

[anonymous-user]

Depends what you mean by "best" really, best can mean carbon frame and lower groupset/wheels or alu frame and better groupset/wheels? Are you looking for comfort or all out speed? does it have to have a flashy name on the side or are you content with something different?

The Pinarello FP Uno with Tiagra looks nice but personally I'd go for the 13 Intuition.
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/1...

[cjcor]

pablo said:

Depends what you mean by "best" really, best can mean carbon frame and lower groupset/wheels or alu frame and better groupset/wheels? Are you looking for comfort or all out speed? does it have to have a flashy name on the side or are you content with something different?

The Pinarello FP Uno with Tiagra looks nice but personally I'd go for the 13 Intuition.
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/1...

I have never had a road bike, and i have only been an occassional rider. We have currently have a hybrid and an old cheap MTB. I want to ride on a more regular basis to keep fit as now i am on the wrong side of 40.

I am certainly not looking for a flashy name. I would like to think i am rational, so best in a technical sense... if that makes sense. Something that will and something that will reward me for the effort that i put in.

[WestieMan]

I had a Boardman Cx team for few weeks and replaced the bottom bracket bearing 2 times under warranty at that sort time due to developing grinding noises after about 15 mile each time. So the 3rd time same thing happened, so I returned it and got my money back!! Shame really as I liked the bike.

But it worked out for the best, I got my self a very nice 2015 Giant Defy 1 and I'm very happy with it. Beautiful bike to ride. The shop ( Tri UK Yeovil ) did a fit free of charge like they do with every new bike sell and I can say even after a 30-40 mile ride I don't have any pains.

Good luck and make sure you get the bike that fit's you. Makes the world of difference.

[TheLemming]

I'd go for the Boardman Team Carbon Limited edition - SRAM Apex I'd prefer to Tiagra and the white looks good. Other than that it's basically a groupset and colour swap over the normal team carbon (white instead of black, Apex instead of Tiagra)

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/b...

Remember you can use discounts on Cyclescheme bikes with Halfords (I believe anyway) so the 10% British Cycling and a possible 10% off bikes weekend in November and December carve a nice chunk off the price.

I'd also consider the next one up - The Pro Carbon is a nice step up and with those discounts comes to just over a grand.

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/b...

Not a lot of feedback or reviews on the 13 range at the moment, while the team carbons review very well.
Poor wheels but nice frame, which is what you want at that price, wheels are easily upgraded later if you feel you want to otherwise the Mavic CXP22 wheels are pretty bulletproof albeit heavy.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

WestieMan said:

I had a Boardman Cx team for few weeks and replaced the bottom bracket bearing 2 times under warranty at that sort time due to developing grinding noises after about 15 mile each time. So the 3rd time same thing happened, so I returned it and got my money back!! Shame really as I liked the bike.

But it worked out for the best, I got my self a very nice 2015 Giant Defy 1 and I'm very happy with it. Beautiful bike to ride. The shop ( Tri UK Yeovil ) did a fit free of charge like they do with every new bike sell and I can say even after a 30-40 mile ride I don't have any pains.

Good luck and make sure you get the bike that fit's you. Makes the world of difference.

Sounds odd. Most BBs nowadays use standard sealed bearings. Maybe the frame needed facing (aligning)?

[Get2Jaime]

I do find it interesting, that with a £1k budget we are sending the OP to Halfords!

Yes, they do discount heavily and do cycle to work schemes, but so do many independents/specialists who actually understand the cycling industry and care about what they do!

[neenaw]

Rocksteadyeddie said:

Sounds odd. Most BBs nowadays use standard sealed bearings. Maybe the frame needed facing (aligning)?

There was some kind of an issue on the Boardmans with the BB's. From what I could understand the BB's were a bad batch and they were not greased at all during assembly so were failing within ridiculously short periods of time, within one ride with some people!

[mouseymousey]

Get2Jaime said:

I do find it interesting, that with a £1k budget we are sending the OP to Halfords!

Yes, they do discount heavily and do cycle to work schemes, but so do many independents/specialists who actually understand the cycling industry and care about what they do!

Agreed!

When I wanted a new bike at the same price point I didn't think you could go far wrong with something from Planet-x or Ribble with the only downside being they are online only.

[TheLemming]

mouseymousey said:

Get2Jaime said:

I do find it interesting, that with a £1k budget we are sending the OP to Halfords!

Yes, they do discount heavily and do cycle to work schemes, but so do many independents/specialists who actually understand the cycling industry and care about what they do!

Agreed!

When I wanted a new bike at the same price point I didn't think you could go far wrong with something from Planet-x or Ribble with the only downside being they are online only.

The OP did say "I've got to spend it at Halfords" and any list of "which sub 1k bike" would be remiss in not mentioning the Boardman Team Carbon.

[craigthecoupe]

Get2Jaime said:

I do find it interesting, that with a £1k budget we are sending the OP to Halfords!

Yes, they do discount heavily and do cycle to work schemes, but so do many independents/specialists who actually understand the cycling industry and care about what they do!

i do find it interesting that most people who comment, rarely read the Op!

[Get2Jaime]

craigthecoupe said:

i do find it interesting that most people who comment, rarely read the Op!

Yep my bad, in the past Evans and I think Chain Reaction have accepted Halfrauds vouchers to work around this issue. OP - Might be worthwhile checking as this will open your horizon further than default Boardman and Carrera mass sellers.

[cjcor]

Just to reconfirm, I have to buy either from Halfords or get Halfords vouchers. Planet X does NOT accept Halfords vouchers. A limited number of independants accept vouchers, but the process (at least on the surface) seems rather cumbersome and those that do accept (and are located where I live) appear to have a rather limited range of bikes on offer.

My employer has set an upper limit of £1k, I cannot go above it.

[Get2Jaime]

Given your parameters and restrictions, the Boardman or 13 Intuition are your maximum budget carbon options on their site. I'd go with the 13 Intuition given a choice.

Both of the above are like buying a top of the range Ford, but then this view will be subjective!!

[BenWRXSEi]

craigthecoupe said:

i do find it interesting that most people who comment, rarely read the Op!

Buy an MX5!

Oh, wait...

[mikees]

I wouldn't use c2w. Not a good deal. I bought an ultegra equipped Planet X on eBay for 550. Half that is groupo. 2nd hand is way better value

Mike

[Get2Jaime]

mikees said:

I wouldn't use c2w. Not a good deal. I bought an ultegra equipped Planet X on eBay for 550. Half that is groupo. 2nd hand is way better value

Mike

I agree with you on that point, second hand deals are pretty impressive particularly this time of year.

On a separate note, Halfrauds have 10% off until Monday:
http://www.halfords.com/cycling?cm_mmc=E-Mail-_-WK...

[GreatGranny]

I was the originator of the thread the OP mentioned, update coming if anyone interested.

The scheme means a £1000 bike will cost you £600 over 12 months if you are a 20% tax payer.
Some people prefer a brand new bike with warranty to a 2nd hand Ebay one.