Buying a Bike - Funds £1000-1500 - Help!

Moomaloid
Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
edited September 2007 in Workshop
Hey guys, so here's the crack. After years of riding every day, i haven't climbed on a bike for over 4 years.

This year i've suddenly had that fire re-ignited and i am dying to get back on the road. Now having seen how the cost of bikes have shot up in recent years i am calling out for advice.

I'm not gonna be racing, but i do want a superb ride, good components and the best i can get for my money.

I have looked at various makes and models, but really wanna get some feedback from you guys. I'm looking at the £1000 to £1500, buying on finance, which isn't ideal, but in light of current financial situation is all i can do.

So any ideas guys??

:?:

Comments

  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    I'm going to have that sort of money soon to get my first serious road bike.

    I've been looking at:
    Planet x value carbon build @ £1000
    Focus cayo @ £1000
    Cayo expert @ £1400
    Focus Izalco @ £1300 (normal price)
    LeMond Versailles @£1000 on sale

    I reckon for the budget you've got you should be able to get a solid bike.

    I'd look for at least 105 components, but preferably ultegra or dura ace ( it can be got in the budget), carbon frame, decentish wheels.

    Personally I think there's loads of extremely good bikes in that price range, just have a look in your LBS, along with wiggle, evans and planet x websites.
    I like bikes...

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  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    Yeah i was lloking at the focus after reading the review here. The component thing is a big one for me, not sure if getting a better spec bike with an ok frame is gonna be better than a great frame with say 105?

    Thanx for your reply though obviously 56 others dint have the time lol :(
  • Barney 2
    Barney 2 Posts: 68
    Cycle Surgery in London do interest free credit.
  • pader
    pader Posts: 152
    planet x ultegra for 999 is a steal although wheels would need upgrading
    ridley orion ?
  • Mark Alexander
    Mark Alexander Posts: 2,277
    take a look at this

    http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70363

    http://www.feltracing.com/products/prod ... 9,26&pid=5
    http://twitter.com/mgalex
    www.ogmorevalleywheelers.co.uk

    10TT 24:36 25TT: 57:59 50TT: 2:08:11, 100TT: 4:30:05 12hr 204.... unfinished business
  • PostieJohn
    PostieJohn Posts: 1,105
    I have a Bianchi 928 C2C, and I bloomingwell love it.
    I'd deffo recommend it as your 1st bike because it's soooooooooo comfy.
    http://www.bikeradar.com/road/forums/vi ... t=12792776
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Moomaloid wrote:
    Yeah i was lloking at the focus after reading the review here. The component thing is a big one for me, not sure if getting a better spec bike with an ok frame is gonna be better than a great frame with say 105?

    Thanx for your reply though obviously 56 others dint have the time lol :(

    Bikes are a personal thing, they all have the plus points and negative points. I think if there was a bike with a really good frame and decent wheels but it was only 105 I'd still be happy.

    I think the lack of replies was because there always loads of threads asking for bike recommendations and they can get a bit boring. I've got the same budget (eventually) as you, so I thought I'd add some weight to your questions.
    I like bikes...

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  • Barbes
    Barbes Posts: 72
    I would opt for a titanium frame if you're on a strict budget and looking for a comfortable rather than stiff ride. The frame will probably outlive you (unlike carbon) and it will give a decent but responsive ride. Van Nicholas do Chinese manufactured aerospace grade Ti. On their Euros frame you'd get an Centaur / Ultegra group plus entry level Fulcrum / Mavic wheels for your £1500. My LBS swears by VN and their customer service is excellent apparently.
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    This thing about ti lasting a lifetime and carbon not keeps coming up here. Curious what it is that will kill a carbon frame whilst the ti one keeps going strong?
  • nick hanson
    nick hanson Posts: 1,655
    aracer wrote:
    This thing about ti lasting a lifetime and carbon not keeps coming up here. Curious what it is that will kill a carbon frame whilst the ti one keeps going strong?
    Seem to remember cycling weekly doing a test on a (i think) Dave Hinde full carbon frame,forks & quite a few of the finishing components.After testing the bike over some time,the tester managed to have a crash on the bike,& i seem to remember it was a total write off.The correspondant basicaly said that it was a great bike but one reasonable crash cost well over a grand :cry:
    From personal experiance,I've had a VERY heavy head on impact,a couple of years ago,on my Ti frame with full carbon forks.The forks sheared at the bottom of the stearer tube & ripped the bottom section of the headset out of the frame.(big ouch!)
    I replaced the forks & within a week was riding the same bike in the Dolomites,on holiday.If the headset had been ripped out of the bottom of a Carbon frame,then this area of the frame would have smashed,with the cost of a frame to shell out for.
    Having said that,with the affordability of Carbon frames now,you can afford to take that chance,if you so wish.
    so many cols,so little time!
  • Moomaloid
    Moomaloid Posts: 2,040
    Interesting to ready guys, thanx very much... i'm gonner look into the Van Nicholas Barbes!

    A :P
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    nick hanson wrote:
    If the headset had been ripped out of the bottom of a Carbon frame,then this area of the frame would have smashed,with the cost of a frame to shell out for.
    How do you know that? Sounds a lot like the claims made when people smash their helmets that the helmet "saved my life" when there's no proof at all for that assertion either. It might have broken a carbon frame, but since frames are designed to take loading from the headset cups, I see no reason to belivee one might not be able to take just as much excess loading as a ti frame - might have not even had the headset cup come out (though most carbon frames use integrated headsets, in which case the actual loading on the frame in such an accident would probably be different and easier to handle).

    I do also wonder whether the crash on the Dolan might just as well have killed a ti frame, given that carbon is actually tougher than many people seem to think.

    Can't say I've ever crashed my carbon frame hard (and surely most bikes aren't), but it's still going strong after 10 years. Can't see any reason for it not lasting another 20, but I'm feeling the need for change due to improvements in bikes in 10 years anyway - how many ti bikes really do last a lifetime before their owners get bored and want something new?

    In any case, why not just have insurance if you're expecting to kill it by crashing?
  • bwfcmullet
    bwfcmullet Posts: 45
    Evening All

    Rather than start a new thread thought I would tag my question in here as its kind of relevant. I'm looking for a new bike have around £1500 to spend.

    Requirements/needs/use.

    i'm not currently a racer but would like to start next season both TTs and Road races. I currently do most of my riding as endurance riding solo, I have done many 100+ milers so although i'm a novice to group/racing even if the racing turns out to be a complete no no, the bike will still get some serious use. :)

    Anyway to the point i've been reading on here and searching many sites for a bike to suit my budget and need. the usual Focus and Planet x have been mulled over and the above williers but theis RIDLEY EXCALIBUR seems like a bit of a bargain? what do people think, anyone riden one? the components are obviously better at least comparible to focus/planet x etc but what about the frame? any thoughts most welcomed :)

    http://www.biketraks.com/products.php?plid=m15b8s172p1198[/url]
  • Shadowduck
    Shadowduck Posts: 845
    Moomaloid wrote:
    Thanx for your reply though obviously 56 others dint have the time lol :(
    Apologies for the lack of replies - the full consultancy fee will of course be refunded by return of post. :P :wink:

    The chances of me ever spending a four-figure sum on a bike are slim to nothing, so I'm afraid I don't take much interest in the carbon exotica...
    Even if the voices aren't real, they have some very good ideas.
  • star_rover
    star_rover Posts: 318
    Spending 1500 quid on your first bike, and on finance, seems totally mental to me.
    You should be able to buy something with a decent frame and components for half that money, eg, the Focus non-carbon models.
  • Pagem
    Pagem Posts: 244
    star_rover wrote:
    Spending 1500 quid on your first bike, and on finance, seems totally mental to me.
    You should be able to buy something with a decent frame and components for half that money, eg, the Focus non-carbon models.

    agreed.
    Only the meek get pinched. The bold survive.
  • Shadowduck
    Shadowduck Posts: 845
    Pagem wrote:
    star_rover wrote:
    Spending 1500 quid on your first bike, and on finance, seems totally mental to me.
    You should be able to buy something with a decent frame and components for half that money, eg, the Focus non-carbon models.
    agreed.
    Thirded. But I've done mental things from time to time, so I suppose I shouldn't judge. :?
    Even if the voices aren't real, they have some very good ideas.
  • star_rover
    star_rover Posts: 318
    I know it's hard to resist the allure of these bikes, especially when you see them in the flesh next to the cheaper bikes, but there are hell of a lot of good bikes for around £800 (and less).
    Another example, the Flandria Competition, which you spec up yourself on their website, the cheapest builds being 105 or Xenon.

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