Buying my second "road" bike ~ £1250

Buying my second "road" bike ~ £1250

Author
Discussion

Maxeh

Original Poster:

359 posts

219 months

Sunday 30th August 2015
quotequote all
Hi chaps,

I'm slowly accepting that I will need to go ahead and get myself my first "proper" bike at some point.

I've had my Boardman Road Comp nearly a year now, got it second hand as an introduction into road cycling. I've done around 1000 miles in it now and although I've had a bike fit done at my LBS, the frame is just too small.

Now onto the fun bit....

I'm looking to spend up to £1,250 ideally and my riding is mainly a weekend blast around Goodwood for a couple of hours and as many sportives as I can fit in.

Also an option to bring it on holiday but I may keep my Boardman for that.

Due to the local roads and lovely British weather would maybe a Cyclocross style bike be suitable or stick to something more road focused with provision for some beefier tyres?

Contenders currently are the Planet X London Road and Canyon Inflite AL range.

Any pointers?

PorscheGT4

21,146 posts

264 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
Buy a nice 2nd hand frame and buy a new 6800 group set on it from merlin and some mavics

Job done. You will then get a bike which feels like a 2.5k bike.

Barchettaman

6,281 posts

131 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
The London Road is a good option if some bike commuting is in your future.

Disc brakes, clearance for wider tyres with mudguards and rack eyelets make a lot of sense if you're going to be putting in miles in the dark through a British winter.

If you're just looking for a nice bike for sunny days, well, anything will do. Argos do a full-carbon bike for £399. It's 'only' 9-speed Sora but you could clean and swap the 10-speed groupset from the Boardman over.....

You've basically got a gazillion options, and £1250 is a very nice budget to have, particularly at this time of year when retailers are looking to get rid of 2015 stock.

Maxeh

Original Poster:

359 posts

219 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
I probably won't be doing any commuting, I have a Mango single speed for pottering around in.

My Boardman is a nice bike (carbon forks/105) so I want something similar/better spec for my new one.

The Canyon is really catching my eye at the moment!

HardtopManual

2,404 posts

165 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
If it's going to be a "best" bike used on sunny days on the roads, I wouldn't choose a cyclocross bike or a utility/commuting bike, personally. You will notice the extra weight and these sort of bikes just won't feel as racy as a proper road bike.

How about a Cannondale SuperSix Evo 105? Currently bang on your budget in the various online sales, you can try it in a branch of Evans before you buy and you'll have an excellent frame, a great groupset that's cheap to maintain, and some fairly so-so wheels which you'll be able to upgrade when funds allow and have that "faster bike" feeling all over again.

The_Jackal

4,854 posts

196 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
I think Ribble are doing their pro carbon with ultegra groupset for 999. Sounds like a massive bargain to me.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
1.Sell the Boardman, they hold their value so you should get a minimum of £300 for it.
2.Go to a bike shop and sit on a few cannondales, find the CAAD10/Super6 that fits you best.
3.Buy this
4.Buy a pair of Fulcrum Racing 3 wheels with the money from the Boardman
5.Ride, you have a superb framset, wheels and an 11 speed groupset ready for upgrades too.

scherzkeks

4,460 posts

133 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
PorscheGT4 said:
Buy a nice 2nd hand frame and put a new Chorus group set on it and some mavics

Job done. You will then get a bike which feels like a 2.5k bike.
Fixed. biggrin

AmiableChimp

3,674 posts

236 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
I got a Scott CR1 20 earlier this year from my LBS - got a deal, £1100 down from £1400 and I love it.

It is full carbon, 105 11-speed compact and it's a flier - so much faster/better than my Triban 5 I replaced.

Thoroughly recommended.

Maxeh

Original Poster:

359 posts

219 months

Monday 31st August 2015
quotequote all
pablo said:
1.Sell the Boardman, they hold their value so you should get a minimum of £300 for it.
2.Go to a bike shop and sit on a few cannondales, find the CAAD10/Super6 that fits you best.
3.Buy this
4.Buy a pair of Fulcrum Racing 3 wheels with the money from the Boardman
5.Ride, you have a superb framset, wheels and an 11 speed groupset ready for upgrades too.
Very good shout...

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road/endurace/2016/en...

Or go Carbon/105...

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road/endurace/2016/en...

That seems like very good value to me?


Edited by Maxeh on Monday 31st August 14:51

HardtopManual

2,404 posts

165 months

Tuesday 1st September 2015
quotequote all
Maxeh, the Canyons are indeed great value, but you've already bought the wrong size frame once before and buying online without trying in a shop just makes it all the more likely that it will happen again, despite Canyon's online frame fit tool.

SuperSix Evo 105 all the way, and I second the above poster's suggestion to ditch your Boardman and buy a wheel upgrade for the Cannondale - although I'd go with Campagnolo Zondas (yes, even on a Shimano drivetrain!) as they are the same wheel as the Fulcrum Racing 3, but cheaper.

Edited by HardtopManual on Tuesday 1st September 17:07