Fancy a new road bike

[Parrot of Doom]

I think after 20 years service to me (and probably about 10 to its previous owner) its time to hang my Mercian Audax up on the wall and replace it with something else. I fancy spending about £600 or thereabouts on a half-decent road bike.

It would be used for 10-20 mile daily rides, nice and comfortable, nippy when required. Gears on my current road bike are 52/42, 21/12 (IIRC), I'd like something a little more relaxed than that as its pretty flat here and I don't use the big ring much. Obviously I want decent branded components, nothing that's going to break, and the bike has to be good-looking too

I need to get back into shape, I'm not using my MTB enough to do that right now (usually ride with a mate but he has a new job meaning he can't ride at nights like we used to), and my Mercian isn't that comfortable for me.

Ideally if I can lose a few stone and improve my performance back in the direction it was taking when I was in my early 20s, that would be lovely, and at some point I'd want to spend some serious money on a really nice bike. Therefore this will be a "good, nice, but not the end-of-discussion" bike, if you know what I mean. Any recommendations?

[OneDs]

I'd be tempted to try and find something like a trek pilot 2.1, in the 2010 sell off. they were £1000 so not sure £600 will get you one in your budget, I wouldn't drop below a 105 equip level on a relaxed Alu frame.

[Roman]

I think these are the best offers at the moment:

Secteur Elite with 105 for £679:
http://www.berkshirebikes.com/products.php?plid=m1...

Caad8 with Sora £569
http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/products/cannondale_caa...

Evans should price match the two above.

Felt with Tiagra £600:
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/Bikes/Road...

You can get a Ribble Evo Pro Carbon for £768 at the moment - over budget I know but what a bargain:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialedition.asp?a...

Good review:
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/r...

[Parrot of Doom]

The Felt F85 looks nice. I might have a drive up to Merlin to check that out, although I got my Commencal from Merlin and they took bloody ages to build it...

[anonymous-user]

Best deal i found on a quick google hunt was a Raleigh Airlite 300 form £700 to £469 good spec but if you wanted to make it really shift, spend the saving on a pair of RS20 wheels or Fulcrum 7s andits a race ready flyer! http://www.rutlandcycling.com/24613/Raleigh-Airlit... they are well respected bikes and can hold their own against their own fashionable brands.

The CAAD9 is a great frame and Sora more than efficeint at shifting gear. ignore the " dont get less than 105 etc etc" comments, i know people who habve toured Europe on Sora and had no mechanical failures....

also worhta look is the Boardman Comp for £700. Good frame, good spec... probably in a sale soon too....
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Roman]

Parrot of Doom said:

The Felt F85 looks nice. I might have a drive up to Merlin to check that out, although I got my Commencal from Merlin and they took bloody ages to build it...

Yeah looks classy. Forgot this one - lovely looking frame & Deda fork + Tiagra for £600:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...

[OneDs]

pablo said:

ignore the " dont get less than 105 etc etc" comments,

I suppose what I'm trying to say is if your gonna compromise on an Alu frame & wheels etc.. at least get something in the package that you won't upgrade at the first opportunity.

Yeah Sora will be fine but then you'll be buying fulcrums to make up the difference.

It really is a quandry, at your price & this time of year it will depend on what "great" deal you can find and how much of a compromise it is to meets your needs.

Edited by OneDs on Monday 11th October 13:31

[anonymous-user]

OneDs said:

pablo said:

ignore the " dont get less than 105 etc etc" comments,

I suppose what I'm trying to say is if your gonna compromise on an Alu frame & wheels etc.. at least get something in the package that you won't upgrade at the first opportunity.

Yeah Sora will be fine but then you'll be buying fulcrums to make up the difference.

It really is a quandry, at your price & this time of year it will depend on what "great" deal you can find and how much of a compromise it is to meets your needs.

Edited by OneDs on Monday 11th October 13:31

fair point but sora and a wheel upgrade to fulcrum 7s is a far better compromise than 105 and gash wheels... the ride qulaity will be improved far more through the wheels than the grouppo...

[BliarOut]

Roman said:

I think these are the best offers at the moment:

Secteur Elite with 105 for £679:
http://www.berkshirebikes.com/products.php?plid=m1...

Caad8 with Sora £569
http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/products/cannondale_caa...

Evans should price match the two above.

Felt with Tiagra £600:
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop/Bikes/Road...

You can get a Ribble Evo Pro Carbon for £768 at the moment - over budget I know but what a bargain:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialedition.asp?a...

Good review:
http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/r...

That Ribble looks pretty hot for the money /

That or the CAAD?

[Parrot of Doom]

I also like the look of the Ribble 7005:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mount...

According to their site, prices starting at about £520.

Edited by Parrot of Doom on Monday 11th October 22:59

[Mr Will]

pablo said:

OneDs said:

pablo said:

ignore the " dont get less than 105 etc etc" comments,

I suppose what I'm trying to say is if your gonna compromise on an Alu frame & wheels etc.. at least get something in the package that you won't upgrade at the first opportunity.

Yeah Sora will be fine but then you'll be buying fulcrums to make up the difference.

It really is a quandry, at your price & this time of year it will depend on what "great" deal you can find and how much of a compromise it is to meets your needs.

fair point but sora and a wheel upgrade to fulcrum 7s is a far better compromise than 105 and gash wheels... the ride qulaity will be improved far more through the wheels than the grouppo...

It's worth the step up to Tiagra to be able to shift both directions on the levers, rather than having the little "buttons" which are only found on 2300 and Sora.

It's then a worthwhile step to 105, because this means you are on a ten speed group-set, which means it will be compatible with the bits from higher up the range when you upgrade, rather than having to change lots at once.

It's also worth getting some better wheels, because this will probably be the most noticeable improvement you can make.

But don't skimp on the frame, because you want something that will be worth upgrading, rather than something which is going to be out-grown shortly down the line.

Here speaks the man who started out looking at a £170 Claude Butler and ended up buying a £1000 CAAD9

[BliarOut]

I can see you've upped your game for L2B :-) how is the CAAD?

[Roman]

Parrot of Doom said:

I also like the look of the Ribble 7005:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mount...

According to their site, prices starting at about £520.

Edited by Parrot of Doom on Monday 11th October 22:59

They're probably the most popular winter bike in the UK for roadies, the Ultralite for £100 more has a great frame too. They can measure you up on a jig in the shop so you can determine your ideal frame size & stem length.

If you do go for a Ribble special edition it's well worth the extra £28 to upgrade to ITM Aero 2.4 wheels IMO.

[Parrot of Doom]

I'm probably going to go up there today, unless I change my mind.

[Mr Will]

BliarOut said:

I can see you've upped your game for L2B :-) how is the CAAD?

Fantastic, so quick and easy to ride, the only thing I'm not sure about is the saddle. It's no where near as comfy as my old one and is starting to make all sorts of creaking noises

[Parrot of Doom]

Going up there early this afternoon. Any tips? Important upgrades from the base spec?

[Roman]

Arriving after 2pm would be a good idea as it gets very busy with people picking up orders over lunch time. The youngish chap (Andy?) who normally serves there was really helpful and good for advice when I bought my Gran Fondo.

As I mentioned, if you're going for a special edition the £28 extra for ITM 2.4 wheels is well worth it or if you can (& it's worth asking), the Pro-lite Trevisos. A pair of folding 25c Vittoria tyres would be well worth it too (e.g Vittoria Rubino Pro 3).

I think the Tiagra builds are pretty good value (as are the £more Veloce, Centaur, Apex & Rival) and compact 50/34 with 11-25 will give you a similar gear range to 53/39 with 12-29 but the compact set up is obviously a bit lighter.

I wouldn't upgrade to a Carbon CSN seatpost or Campag Khamsin wheels as these are both pretty heavy. The Pro LT or ITM Alutech 2 are both reasonably light & inexpensive seatposts though.

Let us know what you sort & if you fancy a ride out in Cheshire once you have something.

Edited by Roman on Tuesday 12th October 11:43

[Mr Will]

Parrot of Doom said:

Going up there early this afternoon. Any tips? Important upgrades from the base spec?

Although they are your biggest bang per buck, I wouldn't personally upgrade the wheels at the moment. Wheels are a relatively cheap and easy upgrade to do at a later date so spend your money elsewhere at the moment. Upgrade the wheels in the spring and you'll really appreciate the difference, you'll have a spare pair (which is handy) and you'll have saved your good wheels from a winters worth of salt and crap on the roads.

[Roman]

Mr Will said:

Parrot of Doom said:

Going up there early this afternoon. Any tips? Important upgrades from the base spec?

Although they are your biggest bang per buck, I wouldn't personally upgrade the wheels at the moment. Wheels are a relatively cheap and easy upgrade to do at a later date so spend your money elsewhere at the moment. Upgrade the wheels in the spring and you'll really appreciate the difference, you'll have a spare pair (which is handy) and you'll have saved your good wheels from a winters worth of salt and crap on the roads.

It is worth it if it's only costing you an extra £30 for a good pair though.

[Mr Will]

Roman said:

Mr Will said:

Parrot of Doom said:

Going up there early this afternoon. Any tips? Important upgrades from the base spec?

Although they are your biggest bang per buck, I wouldn't personally upgrade the wheels at the moment. Wheels are a relatively cheap and easy upgrade to do at a later date so spend your money elsewhere at the moment. Upgrade the wheels in the spring and you'll really appreciate the difference, you'll have a spare pair (which is handy) and you'll have saved your good wheels from a winters worth of salt and crap on the roads.

It is worth it if it's only costing you an extra £30 for a good pair though.

Depends what else you can get for that £30 though...

(or do both, but then you are back to the problem I posted earlier!)