Coolest road bike brand

[JRM]

I'm about to start looking for a new road bike in the £1000-£1500 bracket.

Clearly the most important criteria is which brand is going to give me the highest amount of street-cred, so the company needs to be somewhat obscure and low volume.

Pretty much the same as watches really, I'd want to get something that decent cyclist will recognise, but average numpty won't (which rules out all the usual Bianchi, Trek etc)

I was having a look at Planet X, Ribble, Dolan and Pearson - can anyone suggest any others I should check out?

[Rico]

Don't know prices, but Cervelo are lovely. Very well regarded too.

[Nuggs]

JRM said:

I was having a look at Planet X, Ribble, Dolan and Pearson - can anyone suggest any others I should check out?

They're all okay brands, but no ones going to get particularly excited about them...

If you want prestige, Cervelo, Pinarello, Litespeed, Storck etc will do it for you.

[mat205125]

I didn't spend that much money, but would still have chosen Bianchi in the team colours. Looks great, and the perfect excuse for it to live in the living room.

[JRM]

Yeah the O/H will of course have to put up with it being in bed with me!

Cheers for the tips Nuggs, I have seen some nice Pinarello's, but not heard of Litespeed or Storck - they sound perfect!! I'll go and check them out

[mat205125]

Don't they make margarine?

[JRM]

What about wheels? I like the Camp Zonda's, but I saw a pair of Reynolds out today and they did look super cool, with the white writing flashing past, although didn't have aero spokes, which I think would look the part.

[mat205125]

I'd also be a little bit interested in how well the wheels performed too.

A super expensive lightweight set of race rims will look great, but if you are a fatty using the bike loads over our wonderful patchwork england roads, they'll quickly be trash

[JRM]

True, that is worth considering, although I'm pretty lightweight at about 12st, so hopefully that's not a prob, however getting out of London I'll be bouncing off potholes for miles, so would need to be robust - and cool.

[JuniorD]

De Rosa are swish although you won't get one for that kind of money.

[trackcar]

I've got a ribble, i wouldn't buy another if they were the last bike manufacturer on earth. Once bitten twice shy etc.

[Marcellus]

JRM said:

Yeah the O/H will of course have to put up with it being in bed with me!

you wouldn't be the 1st;



Needless to say MrsM wasn't impressed when she came to bed!!

What about a Lamprer (sp?) french manuf highly rated out here but not big enough to be mass market in UK......or an obrea (again sp??)

[MATRS]

Focus range @ wiggle.com

[jacobyte]

Don't get a Cervelo... you'll spoil my exclusivity

Other than that, Colnago are quintessentially cool and very well made.

[Rico]

jacobyte said:

Other than that, Colnago are quintessentially cool and very well made.

Didn't they go through a phase of lesser quality for a few years? Was told by someone in the industry but can't remember the details

[JRM]

trackcar said:

I've got a ribble, i wouldn't buy another if they were the last bike manufacturer on earth. Once bitten twice shy etc.

Really? Why's that?

[mk1fan]

Bianchi - I don't know why but they are. Contrary to the OP - which just proves they don't know what they're talking about.

[Nick_F]

trackcar said:

I've got a ribble, i wouldn't buy another if they were the last bike manufacturer on earth. Once bitten twice shy etc.

I was looking at Ribble frames and they seem good value - what's been the problem?

[Nuggs]

mk1fan said:

Bianchi - I don't know why but they are. Contrary to the OP - which just proves they don't know what they're talking about.

I remember when Bianchi were very exclusive and 'the bike to have'.

However, by offering budget models, IMO they've devalued the brand (but probably made a lot more £££)...

[Nuggs]

jacobyte said:

Colnago are quintessentially cool and very well made.

Definitely cool but much, much cooler in the days of steel frames. The detailing on the Colnagos was something else. I'd love one for a fixie project.