new roadie thoughts please

[BPC7]

How exciting, I have been told by the Mrs if the business does well for the next 6 months I can have a new road bike in January, obviously this has got me in a cycle frenzy looking at all my different options.

Currently own a Scott Speedster S30 and have been looking on line at various makes and models. I would like to go all carbon to cut some of the weight down.

So far the contenders are:

Wilier Izoard Ultegra 2012 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/wilier/izoard-...

Bianchi Infinito 105 Compact http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bianchi/infini...

Eddy Merckx EMX1 Ultegra http://www.evanscycles.com/products/eddy-merckx/em...

I have not tested any of the above yet and have only based these choices on their spec and whether they appeal looks wise. The bike will be used for sportives and not during the winter months when the Scott will come out again.

Does anyone have any of the above and can therefore pass on their views of them. My favourite is the Wilier but am concerned I may be paying a lot for the name.

Should I be looking at any other makes and models up to a value of £2300???

[nammynake]

Canyon do some great bikes and for value are nigh on unbeatable. They are doing further discounts while the TdF is on:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=25...

[Rouleur]

Of the bikes you've posted the Merckx is the only one with a decent spec, the other have cheapo wheels and the Bianchi is poor value.

Canyon is a good shout, although this one looks a better bet IMO http://www.canyon.com/_uk/roadbikes/bike.html?b=25...

Some other ideas as you get more for your cash by going a little off piste -
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-damocles-1117a-ulte...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bottecchia-r625-8avio-athe...
http://www.dolan-bikes.com/road-bikes/Carbon/Sram%... - upgrade the wheels and tyres on this and it'll be super fast

[aspender]

Lots of options at that price bracket. As I own a Cube I'd look at either the GTC SL with Dura-Ace or the GTC Di2 at in or around that price.

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/products.asp?cate...

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/products.asp?cate...

[BPC7]

quick bump to the front as the Wilier has now been reduced to £1900 with the same spec, so am quite tempted to jump in now lol any thoughts?

[MHB]

Can I throw in a recommendation for the Focus Izalco Pro 3.0 to the mix? This won bike of the year with Cycling Plus magazine and having recently become an owner can confirm that they are an excellant bike and within the same price range of the other models suggested.

[anonymous-user]

its my honest opinion but its still a bit bland for the best part of £2k, ok bland might not be the right word but its a generic off the peg bike and the same as so many others out there, if you are happy with that, its nice bike and will ride along happily.

However......my advice is go custom, spec it yourself, bide your time, wait for some bargains online for groupsets and wheels and speak to your local roadie shops not the unit shifters like Evans.

For £2k you could easily be looking at something gorgeous in ti from Van Nicholas or Enigma, something with a bit of individual personality....

if it has to be carbon, I found a Time Speeder module at totalcycling.com (frame, fork, stem and headset) for £850 in medium or large if it fits, thats waiting to be built up into a stunning bike. 1600gs for frame, fork and headset... that thing will absolutely fly! it will turn heads far more often than the Wilier - if that sort of thing matters

If it was me, i'd probably look for a Cervelo S1 frame, throw some Sram Rival at it, fit some Mavic Ksryium wheels and have change from £2k to buy the rest of the components.

where are you based, i'm sure we can find a good shop to sort you out with something suitable!

alternatively give someone like Primera a call in Bournemouth and see what they can do, they usually have a good stock of the high end carbon frames from Specilaised, Cannondale etc....

Going custom might sound like a faff but its worth it to get the bike you want with the spec you want and at a surprisingly low price compared to the eay route.

[Raoul Duke]

nammynake said:

Canyon do some great bikes and for value are nigh on unbeatable. They are doing further discounts while the TdF is on:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=25...

Canyon are unbeatable value at the moment, again have a look at this one, which would also be my choice for that budget. You'll struggle to build anything close to the spec for the money.

http://www.canyon.com/_uk/roadbikes/bike.html?b=25...

[ChrisMCoupe]

Came very close to going for a Canyon myself so can only echo what has been said so far. Ended up going for a 2011 model Cannondale at a great price from Pauls cycles. In your price range they also have this which would certainly give me some consideration..

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m7b...

[BPC7]

Cheers for info, I live near Brighton so choice of stores is not massive without travelling a fair distance. Have the usual Evans, Quest in Worthing and In Gear in Uckfield, and I think thats it.

I hear what everyone is saying but Im a hands on person and to buy a bike on line from Canyon for example where I would be unable to demo ride is not for me. To spend that much money on a bike I have not seen or sat on is defo not my style.

I will have a look on the various companies sites to see if I like the look of anything, cheers

[AyBee]

I'm in the same position as you and Canyon are currently my favourite, unfortunately the Ultimate CF 9.0 I was looking at is out of stock in 54cm, however, their 2013 range is being announced at a show on 31Aug/1Sept so I think I'll be waiting to see what they announce, I will then spend the extra on a set of aero wheels

[Reardy Mister]

Ive got a 2012 one of these and I absolutely LOVE IT.

Its a missile and in team colours it looks the nuts. Will upgrade wheels, stem and bars when the budget permits. Got a few compliments on the L2B too, which is always nice.

[Roman]

I'd be very tempted by either of these if the right size.

Guerciotti
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/YBCL117498/gue...

Basso
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/31031/Ba...

Edited by Roman on Thursday 12th July 11:18

[TonyHetherington]

pablo said:

Going custom might sound like a faff but its worth it to get the bike you want with the spec you want and at a surprisingly low price compared to the eay route.

I intend to buy a bike, similar price range to this thread (2-2.5k) ready for summer next year. So, as with all blokey things, I'm considering all parts of it now

Anyway - I always thought that buying a bike in bits and building it yourself (or having a bike shop build it) works out MORE expensive - much like buying a car in spare parts will work out high cost compared to the total cost of a pre-made one?!

Is that not the case with bikes?

[AyBee]

TonyHetherington said:

pablo said:

Going custom might sound like a faff but its worth it to get the bike you want with the spec you want and at a surprisingly low price compared to the eay route.

I intend to buy a bike, similar price range to this thread (2-2.5k) ready for summer next year. So, as with all blokey things, I'm considering all parts of it now

Anyway - I always thought that buying a bike in bits and building it yourself (or having a bike shop build it) works out MORE expensive - much like buying a car in spare parts will work out high cost compared to the total cost of a pre-made one?!

Is that not the case with bikes?

Well, there's no way you can buy the Canyon frame and running gear for less than the price of the whole bike!

[ChrisMCoupe]

Reardy Mister said:

Ive got a 2012 one of these and I absolutely LOVE IT.

Its a missile and in team colours it looks the nuts. Will upgrade wheels, stem and bars when the budget permits. Got a few compliments on the L2B too, which is always nice.

Snap! Love mine so far.

I ordered the 2011 team colour bike from Pauls Cycles but the frame looks identical to the 2012 one, and not like the 2011 one, result all round

[anonymous-user]

Almost everything you need to know about bikes in the £1500 - £2000 range is here:

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/-focus-...

[anonymous-user]

BPC7 said:

Cheers for info, I live near Brighton so choice of stores is not massive without travelling a fair distance. Have the usual Evans, Quest in Worthing and In Gear in Uckfield, and I think thats it.

I hear what everyone is saying but Im a hands on person and to buy a bike on line from Canyon for example where I would be unable to demo ride is not for me. To spend that much money on a bike I have not seen or sat on is defo not my style.

I will have a look on the various companies sites to see if I like the look of anything, cheers

defintely go to www.thetristore.com in Eastbourne and see what they have. i bought my cervelo rs from them and it was stress free.

i know what you mean about wanting to sit on it and all that but in all honesty, sitting on it in a shop or even a quick up-the-road-and-back isnt going to give you an accurate feeling of how comfy it will be after 5 hours and 100 miles and furthermore, its quite likely that you will want to change the stem length or the width of the bars from the stock sizes to get a better fit.

thus if you are spending £2k on a bike, its probably worth spending an hour in a bike fit lab to get the right size (and then you can buy a Canyon on a 30 day trial! )

seriously though, I cant emphasise enough how easy the right shop will make buying a custom build.

[TonyHetherington]

AyBee said:

Well, there's no way you can buy the Canyon frame and running gear for less than the price of the whole bike!

Indeed - hence my musing.

[anonymous-user]

AyBee said:

TonyHetherington said:

pablo said:

Going custom might sound like a faff but its worth it to get the bike you want with the spec you want and at a surprisingly low price compared to the eay route.

I intend to buy a bike, similar price range to this thread (2-2.5k) ready for summer next year. So, as with all blokey things, I'm considering all parts of it now

Anyway - I always thought that buying a bike in bits and building it yourself (or having a bike shop build it) works out MORE expensive - much like buying a car in spare parts will work out high cost compared to the total cost of a pre-made one?!

Is that not the case with bikes?

Well, there's no way you can buy the Canyon frame and running gear for less than the price of the whole bike!

maybe not when you are comparing a custom build against Canyon but thats not quite the same as comparing a custom build with something off the peg from your LBS. There is another side to a custom build though, and that is gettinga frame from manufacturers who dont sell complete bikes as a priority such as Look, Time and Cervelo. I can only speak from experience but my custom build seems to offer better value than an off the peg bike at the same price.

The simple way to do it is bide your time and look for bargains, the big shops like Wiggle and CRC, Ribble etc are always doing sales or special offers, plus there are places like shiny bikes where i got my groupset who just do big discounts on stuff every now and then. buying last years kit always helps and there are only major technology shifts every couple of years eg Di2

take that Time Speeder for £849, add an ultegra groupset from someone like ribble for £550, add a nice wheelset like some campag zondas for £250, add some 3T bars and seatpost, a good saddle, bar tape etc and you will have change left from £2K but most importantly you get to choose where to put the big ticket items on a custom bike. Save the money on one thing and then put it towards a better wheelset where there is a greater performance benefit. When all is said and done, you end up with similar spec'd bike overall, but the critical areas are different and thats where the advantage is.