Bike for £1000 + custom build?

phreak

I'm looking to get a nice bike for the summer and have a budget of around £1000. What would be the best bike to get for that kind of price?

Also is it worth looking into a custom build like you can get from Condor and people like that? How big a difference does it make? I'm 5'5" if that makes any difference.

DomPro

Buy a second hand Volvo, lol

phreak

I'm looking at the Focus Cayo 105. Seems to have decent reviews.

zedders

Hi:
Custom builds cost more than a complete package. So for your £1000, I would think very wisely before going down that route:

Going on reviews? The Kiron Scandium £968 (wiggle.co.uk) had a fantastic write up in Cycling Plus, and the Eston wheels on it are nice.
Costum build? You could get a great bike from 'Ribble' for under £1000
Want Titanium? How about the Emigma Echo £999.

But personally I'd go for a 'Specialized' or a 'Felt' bike. They seem value for money to me. Last year I brought a Bianchi C2C and upgraded the wheels and tyres, all for under £1000.
Happy hunting.

Z.

acorn_user

What zedders says does not always hold true. "custom builds" can be competitive with prepackaged bikes on price, whilst offering you choice in how it gets built. True custom would be when the frame is made to measure for you. You can definitely fit that into 1000 pounds if you are prepared to make a few small sacrifices on the components front; British custom frames start at about 3-400 pounds for the frameset. Italian custom frames (e.g. Viner, Billato, Simoncini) aren't unresonably priced either. And they are much cooler than mass-produced stock bikes.