What bike (Sorry!) Carbon around £1500

[Eddh]

I have been looking for a new bike now for a while and am a bit stuck as to what to get, I have around 1500 quid to spend (give or take a few hundred).

This bike is to be a best bike as I have my current Scott Speedster S40 for commuting and wet weather work.

I quite fancy something a bit left field and a bit more exotic rather than just the usual run of the mill stuff. I have a few friends in the trade and can get some good discounts so really looking at bikes around the 1900-2000 mark that will come down to 1500ish.

I have been offered an Orbea B105 for £1500 with a free upgrade to a Mavic Aksium wheel set

http://www.orbea.com/au-en/bicycles/orca-b105aus-1...

and a Cannondale Carbon Synapse 105 for £1500

http://www.cannondale.com/gbr/2013/bikes/road/perf...

Now the Orbea is a nicer looking and more left field bike but is the Cannondale a better bike?

I was lusting after a De Rosa 848/838 but when they are just generic carbon frame sets it is a bit disappointing. I'd love a Cervelo or a Colnago but I don't think the budget will stretch that far...

Does anyone else have any other suggestions?

[Jimbo.]

Balls to the plastic bikes at this price: CAAD10 Ultegra (assuming some element of mates rates). Top-end stuff, and IMO infinitely more "exotic" (if such a thing matters) than some low-end carbon thing, as every man and their lycra-clad dog automatically assumes "carbon = best whatever the price".

Neither of the two suggested are special, and I believe the CAAD weighs in at less than either of them.

[itsnotarace]

http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/frames-c6/road-fr...

105 groupset £400ish from Ribble
RS80 wheels £350 from PlanetX

Leaves £250 for bars/stem/seatpost/saddle/tyres etc

[Eddh]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

They look lovely, but the lower end models 848 and 838 are just the same Chinese or whatever frames that ribble are slapping their badges on and pumping out the door

[Gizmoish]

Eddh said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

They look lovely, but the lower end models 848 and 838 are just the same Chinese or whatever frames that ribble are slapping their badges on and pumping out the door

Don't forget that De Rosa put CX wheels on them which add 2-3mph, etc etc.

[Gizmoish]

I'm not sure why you necessarily want something 'leftfield' - but then is there any such thing as a 'mainstream' £1500 carbon road bike? Giant or Specialized perhaps.

The Synapse is a big seller but it's what I was going to recommend - or you may find a Supersix Apex/105 for that price.

Lots of options though, and no such thing as a bad bike - just some bikes that aren't as good value as others.

Trek Domane 4.3 would be tempting too... http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/...

[GTO-3R]

I'm selling my 2012 Cube Agree GTC Race. It's a £1600 bike new and has only done approx 50 miles so still effectively brand new. Ultegra groupset, Full carbon frame, standard bike.

I'm after £1100 for it.

[Usget]

Jimbo. said:

CAAD10 Ultegra

^^ What he said.