Options for a road bike - up to 2K
Discussion
okgo said:
TKF said:
Precisely.
There are no bad bikes for £2k and very few people will be noticeably quicker than they'd be on a £1k bike. Stressing about grammes and protracted omphaloskepsis is painful to watch. Pick the one you like the colour of and ride it.
This should be stickiedThere are no bad bikes for £2k and very few people will be noticeably quicker than they'd be on a £1k bike. Stressing about grammes and protracted omphaloskepsis is painful to watch. Pick the one you like the colour of and ride it.
Still shopping for the "perfect" upgrade to mine.
To be honest though once you're at 105 / Apex and weight hits 8kg with half decent wheels, there's really nothing in it on a performance basis.
Still not stopping me from hunting for the right spec on a 49cm secondhand S-Works Venge because nice toys are nice.
andyjayh said:
I've been considering the same price point, seems very popular. Most of the bikes I've been looking at have already been mentioned apart from the Trek Emonda SL5/6. Reviews have been very good so far and I need to go out for a test ride soon. Been holding off test rides as I will want it there and then and the weathers crap for a nice new carbon bike, lol.
Whats the point in test riding can I ask? Unless you are an awkward shape, just get a bike fit when you buy and 'make the bike' work for you. I don't think I could honestly test a bike and find out if it was comfortable or not unless I was in the saddle all day. Even after my last bike fit when I measured it against my existing bike it was almost identical.The slight adjustments can be done at fit stage or even afterwards. Just get spending!
Daveyraveygravey said:
Bloody hope not, most power meters are 70% of my new bike budget!
Very much worth it for training. Suppose it depends if you're trying to make yourself a better cyclist (and enjoy cycling more in the long run), or purchase something that makes you enjoy what you're doing now a bit more.JEA1K said:
Whats the point in test riding can I ask? Unless you are an awkward shape, just get a bike fit when you buy and 'make the bike' work for you. I don't think I could honestly test a bike and find out if it was comfortable or not unless I was in the saddle all day. Even after my last bike fit when I measured it against my existing bike it was almost identical.
The slight adjustments can be done at fit stage or even afterwards. Just get spending!
Good point and I have considered this but been trying to be sensible. My local stocks Trek and Specialized so I wanted to compare Emonda vs Domane vs Tarmac vs Roubaix. Current thinking is the Tarmac is too racy and harsh and the Emonda is a comfortable race bike that can be ridden over distance but still sprint up hills.The slight adjustments can be done at fit stage or even afterwards. Just get spending!
anthonysjb said:
Very much worth it for training. Suppose it depends if you're trying to make yourself a better cyclist (and enjoy cycling more in the long run), or purchase something that makes you enjoy what you're doing now a bit more.
I want both of those things, but would rather spend that kind of money on a winter bike.JEA1K said:
Whats the point in test riding can I ask? Unless you are an awkward shape, just get a bike fit when you buy and 'make the bike' work for you. I don't think I could honestly test a bike and find out if it was comfortable or not unless I was in the saddle all day. Even after my last bike fit when I measured it against my existing bike it was almost identical.
The slight adjustments can be done at fit stage or even afterwards. Just get spending!
What's the point in test riding!? I want to know what it feels like, what happens when I'm flat out downhill, how it reacts if I want to change line mid-corner, if it feels good out of the saddle when the gradient is me think about walking. That kind of thing... The slight adjustments can be done at fit stage or even afterwards. Just get spending!
Daveyraveygravey said:
What's the point in test riding!? I want to know what it feels like, what happens when I'm flat out downhill, how it reacts if I want to change line mid-corner, if it feels good out of the saddle when the gradient is me think about walking. That kind of thing...
And from a few hours test ride you could the difference between a Trek/Specialized/Giant/Cube/Canyon/BMC/Cannondale/Scott with a similar frame/geo and similar components? (honest question). 
ALawson said:
Is that a new R2?
Yes, 2015 version. I seem to have a habit of buying things in the same colour - My last 5 cars have been battleship grey, and my last 2 bikes have been white. Why change a habit!Interesting comments on test riding, I agree that a short test ride will only tell a little about the bike, but I still want to feel how it rides before I drop a load of cash. In my mind I've already bought it, but just need to be sure.
JEA1K said:
And from a few hours test ride you could the difference between a Trek/Specialized/Giant/Cube/Canyon/BMC/Cannondale/Scott with a similar frame/geo and similar components? (honest question).
I would hope so. I'm coming from an Alu framed 90's bike, so they will all likely feel very different to what I am used to. To a bike shop, and a lot of people, I am not spending THAT much, but to me it is a massive amount of money and I want to be sure it's right now, and in 5 years time. I might be lucky to get an hour ride on each of my potential bikes and it could make all the difference. I've pored over specs and read as many reviews as I can, and in most price brackets all the manufacturers are pretty close. It is coming down to looks, colour, and how it rides. The logical scientific part of me hates that looks and colour could decide it, but it is still an emotional decision.
Daveyraveygravey said:
I would hope so. I'm coming from an Alu framed 90's bike, so they will all likely feel very different to what I am used to. To a bike shop, and a lot of people, I am not spending THAT much, but to me it is a massive amount of money and I want to be sure it's right now, and in 5 years time. I might be lucky to get an hour ride on each of my potential bikes and it could make all the difference. I've pored over specs and read as many reviews as I can, and in most price brackets all the manufacturers are pretty close. It is coming down to looks, colour, and how it rides. The logical scientific part of me hates that looks and colour could decide it, but it is still an emotional decision.
It will be a huge leap forward in terms of how they ride from a 90's bike. But I'm still not convinced that test riding will make any difference ... an hour is nothing on a bike. To test properly, you'd need to ride 3/4 bikes back to back from different manufacturers ... same day, same conditions etc etc ... I just dont think it would throw up a conclusion for you. As you say, they're all pretty close. IMO I would choose the one I liked (for whatever reason) and then spend the time having it fitted properly ... all bikes can be made to fit unless you're body is a seriously odd shape. Just let the expert reviewers do their job for you and get purchasing and riding!
Thought I'd update this. I bought the Cervelo R2 in the end, the Rose was very tempting but I wasn't confident enough with understanding road bikes to drop that amount of money on something I'd never ridden. Had a decent fit in the shop and the bars and stem were swapped out to give a better fit. So far its pretty comfortable, but jury's out on the saddle.
Spec is relatively basic but good enough for me for now...
Maybe the next bike will be a Rose
Spec is relatively basic but good enough for me for now...
Maybe the next bike will be a Rose
vxsmithers said:
Thought I'd update this. I bought the Cervelo R2 in the end, the Rose was very tempting but I wasn't confident enough with understanding road bikes to drop that amount of money on something I'd never ridden. Had a decent fit in the shop and the bars and stem were swapped out to give a better fit. So far its pretty comfortable, but jury's out on the saddle.
Were I in your shoes I think I would have made the same choice, for the same reasons. Beautiful looking bike too!
Daveyraveygravey said:
yellowjack said:
I've been looking for a road bike around this price point (and a little more, for the right bike) for a while now.
In fact I reckon I'm overthinking the process a bit. I took a big step back from the search for a couple of weeks because it was doing my head in, but I'm actively looking again now.
Here are a few bikes that I've been looking at...
Boardman Elite Series SLS 9.0 @ £1800
Focus Cayo 6.0 @ £1600
Mekk Primo 6.2 @ £2000
Radon Ignite 9.0 SL @ £1320
Front runners in the search are...
Cervelo R2 @ £2000
Storck Scenero @ £2000
Cannondale Synapse 105 5 @ £1650
I need to drive to Guildford later, as a shop there has texted me to say that they've got a Cervelo R2 in from their Petersfield store for me to have a look at. Then I'm going to check to see if a shop that had a (much) more expensive (but significantly reduced) Bianchi still has the bike. Buying any one of those 'front runners' would leave me with enough for a really good lightweight wheelset too. I'm thinking Strada Alpine Attacks @ <£600 and c1440 grams, which would bring the Cervelo down to about 7.5kg.
Come back a month after you have it and tell us what you think!In fact I reckon I'm overthinking the process a bit. I took a big step back from the search for a couple of weeks because it was doing my head in, but I'm actively looking again now.
Here are a few bikes that I've been looking at...
Boardman Elite Series SLS 9.0 @ £1800
Focus Cayo 6.0 @ £1600
Mekk Primo 6.2 @ £2000
Radon Ignite 9.0 SL @ £1320
Front runners in the search are...
Cervelo R2 @ £2000
Storck Scenero @ £2000
Cannondale Synapse 105 5 @ £1650
I need to drive to Guildford later, as a shop there has texted me to say that they've got a Cervelo R2 in from their Petersfield store for me to have a look at. Then I'm going to check to see if a shop that had a (much) more expensive (but significantly reduced) Bianchi still has the bike. Buying any one of those 'front runners' would leave me with enough for a really good lightweight wheelset too. I'm thinking Strada Alpine Attacks @ <£600 and c1440 grams, which would bring the Cervelo down to about 7.5kg.
Matt_N said:
He's been after a new bike for what seems like years now!
Well. The thread OP has bought the Cervelo R2. Which was one of my 'front runners' until I had a ride of one. It's a really pretty bike, and light too, but handling-wise, it just didn't 'click' for me, so it went onto the back burner.So I've decided to stretch the budget a little, and I'm currently waiting for a Trek Emonda SL 6 to come into the shop. I've bunged £50 down on it, they've ordered in a 52cm frame for me, and I'll update things after I've ridden the thing and made the "buy/don't buy" decision.
I'm still (enjoying) fannying about. Testing a Cannondale Supersix tomorrow and a Fuji Transonic on Saturday. I did test a Propel Advanced Pro 2 (I think that is the full name) £2.5k. Stunning bike, but at least £800 more than I want to spend. My first outing on proper aero wheels was...interesting in Saturday's weather. It looked a fast ride on Strava, but as I say it was windy and I was trying as I knew I wouldn't be out all day. Comfy enough over that time.
I saw a propel advanced 2 on Saturday, only 105 on a £2.5k bike which I thought was a little mean. I was looking at the same dealer for a focus Izalco Max but they didn't have one in yet.
The Cervelo S3 Ultegra looks pretty good as do a lot of other bikes at that price, could always do a Okgo and get a S-Works Tarmac, Ultegra GS and wheels to suit. However, if you are spending north of £2.5k it almost feels like you want to get something of the beaten track.
The Cervelo S3 Ultegra looks pretty good as do a lot of other bikes at that price, could always do a Okgo and get a S-Works Tarmac, Ultegra GS and wheels to suit. However, if you are spending north of £2.5k it almost feels like you want to get something of the beaten track.
ALawson said:
I saw a propel advanced 2 on Saturday, only 105 on a £2.5k bike which I thought was a little mean. I was looking at the same dealer for a focus Izalco Max but they didn't have one in yet.
The Cervelo S3 Ultegra looks pretty good as do a lot of other bikes at that price, could always do a Okgo and get a S-Works Tarmac, Ultegra GS and wheels to suit. However, if you are spending north of £2.5k it almost feels like you want to get something of the beaten track.
I agree about the spec of that Giant; I thought I had booked the Advanced 0 which has the same wheels as the one I am looking at but has Di2, and because of that I was underwhelmed by the shifting experience. It was only when I stopped to have a good look at the bike, saw it was 105 and the fancy wheels the penny dropped about where in the range I was. The shifters seemed to require a loooong push, is that right? Can it be reduced at all?The Cervelo S3 Ultegra looks pretty good as do a lot of other bikes at that price, could always do a Okgo and get a S-Works Tarmac, Ultegra GS and wheels to suit. However, if you are spending north of £2.5k it almost feels like you want to get something of the beaten track.
I would also like something a bit less mainstream - I rode a Kinesis Aithein because of that, but this is my once in a lifetime bike so being rare groove isn't top of the priority list for me.
Are there any deals to be had on Cervelos?
Depends if you can bear being seen on an old frame, Slane have an 2013 S2 for £1700 which is a good buy, awesome frame and fork, 10sp 105 etc etc 54cm frame
Here
They have some old frames in stock too which could easily be built up for £2k, I keep sending them cheeky offers on the 2012 S5 frameset but they are reusing to budge at the moment....
Here
They have some old frames in stock too which could easily be built up for £2k, I keep sending them cheeky offers on the 2012 S5 frameset but they are reusing to budge at the moment....
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