£2k roadie, options and opinions.

[B1G GK]

In the market for a new Roadie, the GT has served its term and its time to move on,
It will be for leisure riding and the odd Sportive here and there, 50+ miles a ride in the summer and will prob get parts upgraded through boredom and free spending.

So far The Trek Domane 4.5 and Specialised Roubaix Comp have caught my eye, I like the look of Planet X but would they be too full on for my liking.

[CaptainSlow]

I'd be taking a look at this

http://road.cc/content/review/81979-rose-xeon-rs-3...


eta

buy here
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-rs-3000-...

[Usget]

Typical PH budget creep, but I saw this the other day and couldn't believe what a storming deal it is. TdF-ready frame with last year's SRAM RED - just wich I could afford it!



http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5164/CANNONDAL...

[Rich_W]

Have a look at 2-13 bikes. Normally not a massive spec change for 2-14. Just stickers and can be a decent discount.

Honestly, I'd stick to the major brands. Specialized, Trek, Giant, Pinarello, Cannondale etc.

In order of importance.

1) Make sure it fits
2) Good manufacturer with a warranty
3) Frame material

Also don't forget to budget for clipless shoes/pedals and a few accessories (if you don't already have them)

[Magic919]

I got a Giant Defy Composite 0 with Di2 for that. You should find the odd 2013 and have some change.

[anonymous-user]

Its a predictable response but I'd go for this Cervelo S2 primarily because that frame is absolutely effing awesome. 105/FSA finishing kit is fine, a satisfactory if not exciting wheelset but for £1700 the whole bike is incredible value for money and ripe for upgrades over time.... for a quick wheel upgrade, flog the R500s immediately (you should get £75 for them) then get with the spare cash form the budget, buy some Campag Scirocco wheels which save 300gs or so and have a semi-aero profile to match the full on aero frame or if the Sciroccos dont appeal, have a look at these Vision T30s

You wont find the S2 frameset for under a grand so you know that the core of the bike is the most expensive part and you arent riding around on a sub-standard frame adorned with a few shiny things to justify the price. Honestly, you will love that frame and it will never be a case of it holding you back!

[duff]

Rich_W said:

Have a look at 2-13 bikes. Normally not a massive spec change for 2-14. Just stickers and can be a decent discount.

Honestly, I'd stick to the major brands. Specialized, Trek, Giant, Pinarello, Cannondale etc.

I agree that last years bikes are always a good bet for a deal but from what I've seen at £2k, the likes of Specialized and Pinarello offer very poor VFM. If you are confident about sizing yourself and don't need LBS support it's hard to beat Canyons and the 2014 Ultimate CF looks great (and is a new frame so I would probably take that over a discounted 2013 one).

I wouldn't worry too much over the manufacturer, so long as it's not a really random brand no one has heard of the warranty should be fine. My experience of warranty claims with Specialized and Scott has been very good, my Canyon was a hassle though as it had to go back to Germany so took some - for me, still worth it for the superb spec.

Also looks are important to me - for example I wouldn't buy PX purely because I don't like the look of them, I also find Specialized and Trek bland but I guess many would say the same about Canyon...

OP, your're looking at a Roubaix or Domane so really some of the bikes suggested above might be too race orientated. The Cannondale Synapse might be more suitable than a Supersix, likewise the Giant Defy rather than TCR Advanced etc.

Edited by duff on Saturday 25th January 13:26

[Rouleur]

Scott http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/scott-foil-20-roa...

Canyon http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=32...

This Felt looks to be a good deal as you get a second set of wheels thrown in. I'd flog both pairs and buy one decent pair http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f4-ultegra-11-speed-2...

Ridley http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ridley-fenix-ultegra-11-sp...

This aluminium Rose - nothing wrong with alu - gets you Chorus and Zondas http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-rs-5000-...

The Canyon or Rose would be my picks

[B1G GK]

duff said:

OP, your're looking at a Roubaix or Domane so really some of the bikes suggested above might be too race orientated. The Cannondale Synapse might be more suitable than a Supersix, likewise the Giant Defy rather than TCR Advanced etc.

Edited by duff on Saturday 25th January 13:26

I have ridden a couple of 'race' bikes and I felt achy afterwards, my GT is alright to a degree, but thats not full on race orientated either, hence me looking towards the comfort factor of Domane and Roubaix etc.

[anonymous-user]

There's two ways of looking at this really, i suggested a fast bike because I suspect "leisure riding and the odd sportive" will quickly become regular sportives and weekly club rides and you already have tool for the job but if you really are just pootling about, dont drop £2k on a bike you cant leave unattended for of thieves etc, spend half the budget and get the Canyon Roadlite or an equivalent from the usual suspects. A £2k bike for pootling about is ridiculous.

[TKF]

pablo said:

A £2k bike for pootling about is ridiculous.

If you can afford it and enjoy the ride why not?

[anonymous-user]

I don't disagree it just seems overkill. If all you are doing is riding for fun at a gentle pace, carbon and ultegra for example, offers nothing that a good alu frame and tiagra cant do. The benefits of the former are never utilised. TriUK have an R3 with very similar spec for £2k which has a taller headtube and thinner seat stays so will be nice and comfy for those sportives....

[Magic919]

TKF said:

If you can afford it and enjoy the ride why not?

Exactly.

[Antony Moxey]

pablo said:

If all you are doing is riding for fun at a gentle pace, carbon and ultegra for example, offers nothing that a good alu frame and tiagra cant do.

Not sure I agree with that. I've just upgraded the Tiagra shifters on my Spesh Tricross for 105 and the difference is night and day. The shifting's more crisp and because the cables don't come out of the side of the hoods they're much more comfortable too.

[yellowjack]

Leave it out, fellas.

I'm WELL overbiked, by most standards. Merida 905 - alright it's an aluminium frame, but with a full Ultegra groupset, and a price tag of £1540 when new three years ago, it's far more bike than I actually need to do 30 mile loops at 14.5mph averages. In fact, I had a bike already that would do the job just as well, but I didn't look at the old bike and really want to ride. Now I do, and even when the going is tough, I'm inspired to work as hard as I can, to do the bike justice. As such, the bike itself has become a motivational tool. If, like the thread OP, I could have afforded to spend more at the time, I probably would have.

[CaptainSlow]

Antony Moxey said:

Not sure I agree with that. I've just upgraded the Tiagra shifters on my Spesh Tricross for 105 and the difference is night and day. The shifting's more crisp and because the cables don't come out of the side of the hoods they're much more comfortable too.

A lot of people, me included, find that Sora and Tiagra shifting is much crisper than 105 due to the less restrictive cable routing.

eta
especially on the front mech

[Antony Moxey]

CaptainSlow said:

Antony Moxey said:

Not sure I agree with that. I've just upgraded the Tiagra shifters on my Spesh Tricross for 105 and the difference is night and day. The shifting's more crisp and because the cables don't come out of the side of the hoods they're much more comfortable too.

A lot of people, me included, find that Sora and Tiagra shifting is much crisper than 105 due to the less restrictive cable routing.

I can only go on my own experience. Had Sora on my Allez but preferred the 105 on my Roubaix because I felt the shifting to be more precise, especially on the downshifts, and far more comfortable because the cables were out the way and there wasn't a thumb shifter.

When I got the Tri with Tiagra again I thought them not as 'clean' as 105 with intrusive cables and a less precise downshift. 105 in comparison feels very much more click, bang. So when I upgraded the Roubaix shifters to Ultegra it seemed obvious to port the 105s straight to the Tri. I wouldn't want Sora or Tiagra again.

[B1G GK]

Dont see many Sportive's on a Tuesday when its my day off
But that doesnt stop me knocking out a 50+ miler whilst you at work, thanks for being judgmental folks

Now if anyone wants a race, i will be at the lights at 10am a week Tuesday, gives you next weekend to get some practice in whilst your off .....

[anonymous-user]

I just find your obsession with 50+ milers kind of sweet to be honest... you must be very brave.

[B1G GK]

pablo said:

I just find your obsession with 50+ milers kind of sweet to be honest... you must be very brave.

I like round figures, 44's annoy the hell out of me