The next step up? Worth upgrading?
Discussion
Hi guys, Currently have the entry level Boardman Race road bike, which i use a lot, maybe 3 rides a week, and for a lot of triathlons etc during the season.
The GF has offered to buy me a new bike for xmas, with a budget of around £1200. Now my Boardman was £600, so i'm woindering if £1200 is going to get me something that's noticeably better? I know the Boardman has good reviews for an entry level, but what sort of price bracket is the next level up in terms of spec etc? I don't want to go spending £1200 on a bike that's not really any better than the Boardman if you see where i'm coming from? i.e if next decent level of bikes is £1500+ I'd rather hang on and try and stretch my budget. Or does it not really work like that?
I don't mind last season's models either, so would i be better off looking at older discounted models for that money? Anyone got any thoughts?
The GF has offered to buy me a new bike for xmas, with a budget of around £1200. Now my Boardman was £600, so i'm woindering if £1200 is going to get me something that's noticeably better? I know the Boardman has good reviews for an entry level, but what sort of price bracket is the next level up in terms of spec etc? I don't want to go spending £1200 on a bike that's not really any better than the Boardman if you see where i'm coming from? i.e if next decent level of bikes is £1500+ I'd rather hang on and try and stretch my budget. Or does it not really work like that?
I don't mind last season's models either, so would i be better off looking at older discounted models for that money? Anyone got any thoughts?
all imho but...
i've ridden lots of bikes and a £1200 bike isnt twice as good as a £600 bike but a £1800 bike is three times as good as a £600 bike. quality and price are not linear and there is a massive step up when you get close to £2k. There just isnt as big a gap between £600 and £1200 as you might think, particularly with Boardman bikes as they are very well spec'd for the money in the first place.
Unless you are prepared to go with someone like Canyon, Ribble, Radon or one of the other internet only brands,
you wont get much more for your money
If you go with a Trek/Giant etc you are still only going to get a Carbon frame with entry level groupset, wheels and components, if you go for an alu frame, sure you will get better kit all round but how long will you wait before you start lusting after carbon....
My advice would be to search through this forum, bike radar and road.cc for advice on Canyon or drive to see Terry Dolan and see what they can do. They are the only places where you will get a quality carbon frame with a groupset and wheels to match for the £1200 budget.
i've ridden lots of bikes and a £1200 bike isnt twice as good as a £600 bike but a £1800 bike is three times as good as a £600 bike. quality and price are not linear and there is a massive step up when you get close to £2k. There just isnt as big a gap between £600 and £1200 as you might think, particularly with Boardman bikes as they are very well spec'd for the money in the first place.
Unless you are prepared to go with someone like Canyon, Ribble, Radon or one of the other internet only brands,
you wont get much more for your money
If you go with a Trek/Giant etc you are still only going to get a Carbon frame with entry level groupset, wheels and components, if you go for an alu frame, sure you will get better kit all round but how long will you wait before you start lusting after carbon....
My advice would be to search through this forum, bike radar and road.cc for advice on Canyon or drive to see Terry Dolan and see what they can do. They are the only places where you will get a quality carbon frame with a groupset and wheels to match for the £1200 budget.
What are your motives for wanting an upgrade? To be faster, or to just have something more enjoyable to ride? If it's the latter, then definitely worth upgrading.
You should try to look to find a 2012 bike for around your budget, that started off around £1800 - £2000. That way you should get a noticable difference in frame and components.
You should try to look to find a 2012 bike for around your budget, that started off around £1800 - £2000. That way you should get a noticable difference in frame and components.
Thanks guys, pretty much answered my questions! I guess the main reasons for upgrading are to have anice shiny new bike with better components 
and to be a bit faster! A few of my mates have Felt's and Canondales around the £1500-£1800 mark and they are so much lighter than my Boardman! and they just "feel" better to ride.
I'll try and stretch the budget a bit then and put some more money in myself!
Are bike expo's a good place to get last year's models at good prices?
and to be a bit faster! A few of my mates have Felt's and Canondales around the £1500-£1800 mark and they are so much lighter than my Boardman! and they just "feel" better to ride.I'll try and stretch the budget a bit then and put some more money in myself!
Are bike expo's a good place to get last year's models at good prices?
Raven Flyer said:
Boardmans are very well specc'ed, especially with the groupsets, so your best bet may be to buy a nice carbon frame and transfer your groupset, then add some nice wheels and bars etc.
You may well get a very decent bike out of your £1200 that way.
I did think about doing something like that. I even thought about getting some decent wheels for mine, but i'd prefer a ligther frame aswell like you say.You may well get a very decent bike out of your £1200 that way.
What about this? I really like the Bianchi's, and this seems like a good upgrade, and within budget? Thoughts?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bianchi-sempre-105/
nick s said:
Raven Flyer said:
Boardmans are very well specc'ed, especially with the groupsets, so your best bet may be to buy a nice carbon frame and transfer your groupset, then add some nice wheels and bars etc.
You may well get a very decent bike out of your £1200 that way.
I did think about doing something like that. I even thought about getting some decent wheels for mine, but i'd prefer a ligther frame aswell like you say.You may well get a very decent bike out of your £1200 that way.
What about this? I really like the Bianchi's, and this seems like a good upgrade, and within budget? Thoughts?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/bianchi-sempre-105/
It will be far better than the Bianchi.
Don't buy a Bianchi, it will be poor VFM. If I were you I'd look at getting one of these http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=30... they're awesome bikes that don't need any upgrades at all.
or a PX or Ribble with your choice of bits. The Cervelo S1 is a good shout but will be way over budget.
or a PX or Ribble with your choice of bits. The Cervelo S1 is a good shout but will be way over budget.
I had the previous model Bianchi Sempre (B4p 928) and it was a lovely frame. Very comfortable and also very light. I rode it alongside a scott carbon and it felt much nicer to ride (to me). I would reccomend the sempre if you want a very nice all-rounder (think it looks great in black too!)
If you want to go faster in triatholon races after hard training (this is where the biggest gains are found) the aero posit achieved from a Time trial or triathlon bike is the first step, followed by light and aero wheels (stay with tyres for now avoiding tubs until you are after the tenths of a second) then look at good components and a skin suit.
At around £2500 the Planet X TT bike is good value (I have a Exocet and my son has a stealth which he pedals faster than my exocet)
As others have said you could buy a frame set and swop the bits over but you then have to ride/train on a TT bike all the time (not that bad if you just train to win) but a pain if you want to ride to the cafe with your mates.
At around £2500 the Planet X TT bike is good value (I have a Exocet and my son has a stealth which he pedals faster than my exocet)
As others have said you could buy a frame set and swop the bits over but you then have to ride/train on a TT bike all the time (not that bad if you just train to win) but a pain if you want to ride to the cafe with your mates.
Wiggle have plenty of really nice road bikes with between 40-60% off. might be worth a look....
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/road-time-trial-bikes/?o=5...
other than that, have a look around the usual places.
Merlin, CRC, Evans, Leisure Lakes, Winstanleys etc to see if anything takes your fancy
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/road-time-trial-bikes/?o=5...
other than that, have a look around the usual places.
Merlin, CRC, Evans, Leisure Lakes, Winstanleys etc to see if anything takes your fancy
nick s said:
A few of my mates have Felt's and Canondales around the £1500-£1800 mark and they are so much lighter than my Boardman! and they just "feel" better to ride.
Cannondale would be my personal choice, but i've been riding a Cannondale of one description of another for close on 20 years, great bikes.
pablo said:
all imho but...
I've ridden lots of bikes and a £1200 bike isnt twice as good as a £600 bike but a £1800 bike is three times as good as a £600 bike. quality and price are not linear and there is a massive step up when you get close to £2k. There just isnt as big a gap between £600 and £1200 as you might think
I was chatting to the owner of my LBS who agreed with this mindset. I was asking what he's recommend in the £1200-1500 range and he said not to bother and just get a nice £1k alu bike and use the savings on some fancy shorts and some sportives.I've ridden lots of bikes and a £1200 bike isnt twice as good as a £600 bike but a £1800 bike is three times as good as a £600 bike. quality and price are not linear and there is a massive step up when you get close to £2k. There just isnt as big a gap between £600 and £1200 as you might think
He said that there is a bit of a no-man's land between £1-2k (rrp). Once you get close to £2k you are in a different league whereas the difference between a £800 bike and a £1500 bike is largely down to paint jobs.
It's in the £1-2k bracket where Canyon etc. start to become outstanding value if you're happy buying direct.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff