What bike in the £1,500(ish) bracket..?

[Chicane-UK]

I'm looking to buy a new road bike, having sold my Trek 1.5. I wanted to try and move up to something a bit more prestigious and get out of the bottom bracket in terms of spec (have only ever owned alu frame, tiagra or "unbranded" component type bikes) and I'm sort of stuck. At the price I'm looking to pay I can either go for a good aluminium frame and a near top level groupset - OR go for carbon and get a good / midrange (e.g. 105) groupset.

I'm certainly not a competitive cyclist. I currently only enjoy doing rides by myself or with some friends and would ideally like something that leans more to the side of comfort than all out race. But would eventually like to work towards partaking in some sorts of sportives or charity rides or something so would like a bike I can enjoy for years to come which is a jack of all trades.

I'd looked at something like a Specialized Roubaix which seemed to fit all the categories fairly well. Is there anything else folks might recommend?

Cheers.

[ammw]

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/six...

Looks like they only have 56cm left.

[Rob_T]

I have the same desires on riding as you have mentioned. I have also just purchased a giant defy advanced 3 2010 model. Bought for £1295 from pedalon. Full carbon frame with 105 groupset. It is absoltely excellent. Went for a quick 27 miler after work tonight and it was a joy. Can't recommend it enough. See page 101 of the show off your bike thread for pics.

[Rouleur]

Rob_T said:

I have the same desires on riding as you have mentioned. I have also just purchased a giant defy advanced 3 2010 model. Bought for £1295 from pedalon. Full carbon frame with 105 groupset. It is absoltely excellent. Went for a quick 27 miler after work tonight and it was a joy. Can't recommend it enough. See page 101 of the show off your bike thread for pics.

That bike looks great, looks like it could have cost £1k more than you paid for it!

This BMC floats my boat http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/road-racer...

however...

crazy bargain Colnago lovelyness http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

[Chicane-UK]

The Giant would be an interesting proposition. I currently ride a Giant Bowery fixie and absolutely love it. Picked it up on eBay earlier this year for £200, and it just seems like a really nice solid piece of kit. Will look into the Defy and the other suggestions so far - thanks

[anonymous-user]

i dont try to be different on purpose, but there is a wealth of choice out there and to just get a generic speciltrekiant seems like a waste when you have that much money to spend and there are some stunning bikes from the lesser known brands out there. As many have said on other threads, your priorities should be frame/fork, wheels, groupset. Alu or Carbon frames at this price will be nice and responsive, forks will be carbon so thats not an issue. Wheels should be Fulcrum 7, RS20 or campag equivilent at a minimum and grouppo should be 105, the 2011 105 for those who havent seen it is very smart looking and 105 has always been uber-reliable.

here are four off-the-wall (ish)suggestions:

Dolan Mythos http://www.velodromeshop.org.uk/index.php?p=produc...
beautiful frame, sram rival gruoppo and most importantly, a pretty good factory wheelset.

Ridley Icarus
http://www.airevalleycycles.com/products.php?plid=...
Quality throughout and only £1250
this would be my choice

Kuota Kharma
http://www.airevalleycycles.com/products.php?plid=...
A guy in a local tri club has just bought one of these, well specced, very nice looking bike, very fast and a good introduction to aero frames.

Boardman Pro Carbon
http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_pro_carbon....
Not fitted with what would be my first choice of wheels in this price range but they obviously have a good deal with ritchey for finishing kit. The magazines all seem to rave about this bike, looks nice, well specced, watch for them in the sales soon, yes they come from halford but i'm not going over that one again only to say buy it boxed, build it yourself (its 90% complete already) and have fun getting to know the bike in an afternoon.

[itsnotarace]

Chicane-UK said:

I'm certainly not a competitive cyclist. I currently only enjoy doing rides by myself or with some friends and would ideally like something that leans more to the side of comfort than all out race. But would eventually like to work towards partaking in some sorts of sportives or charity rides or something so would like a bike I can enjoy for years to come which is a jack of all trades.

Ok then, look at titanium frames

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/groupset.asp?action=... (remembering the discount codes on front page)

Then wheels and other components of your choice. Or if you didn't fancy building it yourself try

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=VNeurosti...

or even

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=Sabbath-T...

Edited by itsnotarace on Friday 10th September 10:18

[anonymous-user]

re the Van Nicholas from fat birds, thats a stonking deal! seriously good quality frames, their attention to detail and craftsmanship is second to none. spec wise its ok but as its ti and you need never buy another frame, its the perfect base for upgrades, upgrades, upgrades.....
i cant see how anyone would choose something else over that unless you are are scared that people dont know the name van nicholas and everyone has heard of trek....

[Chicane-UK]

Interesting on the Van Nicholas frame. My parents house is about 2 minutes walk from Fat Birds in Hunstanton as well.. good excuse to go pay them a visit

[quote]
i cant see how anyone would choose something else over that unless you are are scared that people dont know the name van nicholas and everyone has heard of trek...

[/quote]

It may be technically the best frame available but it's horses for courses I guess. I don't look at it and think "wow!" - it's very understated. Which is fine of course. Additionally I don't necessarily need the absolute pinnacle of frame design! Just something that I enjoy.

Edited by Chicane-UK on Friday 10th September 11:18

[itsnotarace]

Chicane-UK said:

It may be technically the best frame available but it's horses for courses I guess. I don't look at it and think "wow!" - it's very understated. Which is fine of course. Additionally I don't necessarily need the absolute pinnacle of frame design! Just something that I enjoy.

It meets all the criteria in your opening post very well indeed. Comfortable. A jack of all trades. Eminently upgradeable and the frame will last forever

Check out the gallery for some close up shots. The welds look very good.

http://vannicholas.com/Wbmhome.aspx

And a lifetime warranty

VAN NICHOLAS LIFETIME WARRANTY
Van Nicholas will replace (not repair) any Titanium frame that fails due to manufacturer defects in materials or workmanship. Most companies have chosen to repair products that fail; this process however does not instil confidence in the product or company. This warranty is extended to the original retail purchaser according to the following conditions and limitations.

TIME PERIOD:
Warranty coverage on the bicycle frame extends for life as long as it remains owned by the original retail purchaser. Warranty coverage on any bicycle components purchased through Van Nicholas, while owned by the original retail purchaser, will be covered by the warranty stated by their original manufacturers.

Edited by itsnotarace on Friday 10th September 11:33

[Raven Flyer]

Pablo's list is very good and the only thing I would also want to take a closer look at is the Planet X (full) Red.

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/PBPXPCSRRE/sl-...

[louiebaby]

Depending on your size, the 2010 models are coming to an end now. There are starting to be some bargains out there, and they will get better for the next few months.

Those Ti bikes look good value...

[mrandy]

Pablo makes sense as usual but please please please get one that fits properly,every week I am out I see people on bikes usually with the saddle pointing in a weird direction with a frame thats miles to big.A 50 quid bike that fits is better than a 5 grand bike that doesnt.

[Chicane-UK]

The Van Nicholas bike is really appealing to me the more and more I think about it.

The bonus being as I said Fat Birds are close to my folks house (few mins walk). The lifetime warranty on the frame is a big plus. And regarding the sizing / fitment, Fat Birds do a a comprehensive fitting on new bikes which I want.

My last two, at the same LBS here in Kenilworth have been "Sit on this bike.. yeah, that looks about right" - which I've not been happy with :|

[mrandy]

Chicane-UK said:

The Van Nicholas bike is really appealing to me the more and more I think about it.

The bonus being as I said Fat Birds are close to my folks house (few mins walk). The lifetime warranty on the frame is a big plus. And regarding the sizing / fitment, Fat Birds do a a comprehensive fitting on new bikes which I want.

My last two, at the same LBS here in Kenilworth have been "Sit on this bike.. yeah, that looks about right" - which I've not been happy with :

have you tried Mike Vaughan cycles ?,they are all riders/racers and know what they are talking about when it comes to sizing etc

[Chicane-UK]

Um yeah.. it was Mike Vaughans I was on about. I figured 'only' buying a 750 quid road bike didn't make them interested enough to do a full fitment or measurement. Not sure I want to go to them any more despite them being very local to me.

[mrandy]

Chicane-UK said:

Um yeah.. it was Mike Vaughans I was on about. I figured 'only' buying a 750 quid road bike didn't make them interested enough to do a full fitment or measurement. Not sure I want to go to them any more despite them being very local to me.

im suprised at that tbh,email me if you want something custom built and fitted properly by an ex pro [e-mail]

[Chicane-UK]

They certainly know their bikes in there but there just seems to be (amongst some of the staff) this lack of interest in the "bread and butter". Like you just know they'd rather be out riding or selling £5,000 bikes to pro-cyclists than shifting £450 city bikes to commuters on the Cycle To Work scheme. I totally sympathise with it... I really do. It's like working in a garage and dreaming of building up supercharged V8 project cars but being put on supermini servicing duty...

But the general "meh" attitude really comes over and you don't really feel like they care if they get your custom. I like to feel valued as a customer.. I doubt they'll miss my business TBH.

Unless I have them really wrong, which is possible.

But anyway...

Edited by Chicane-UK on Friday 10th September 22:39

[Vytalis]

JE James in Derbyshire / Yorkshire are selling Gary Fisher Cronus at discount at the moment, slightly more laidback angles, forgiving ride, bit of space for mudguards if it comes to it. Just got one myself and it is very tasty (even if I'm shocked at how unfit I am).

Highly recommended.

[toppstuff]

Chicane-UK said:

The Giant would be an interesting proposition. I currently ride a Giant Bowery fixie and absolutely love it. Picked it up on eBay earlier this year for £200, and it just seems like a really nice solid piece of kit. Will look into the Defy and the other suggestions so far - thanks

Another vote for the Giant Defy from me too ! I've got the 2009 model and absolutely love it.

It has the perfect balance between responsiveness and speed and a relatively comfy riding position. The Specialised Roubaix is similar, but the Giant is better value and better equipped I believe.