best road bike to buy for approx £1000

chrishumes
chrishumes Posts: 227
edited October 2009 in Road buying advice
right, ive decided on a road bike, mainly for commuting and maybe a few triathlons if im keen enough. Can get anything basically from the cyclescheme company scheme (local bike shops). Will be buying around christmas, so what is the best bike to go for.

I know this has been asked a hundred times, but some of the posts are years old and not sure if the bikes have moved on. Should I get the planet x one for £999, (bear in mind an extra 100 for building it and 100 for going via the cyclescheme!)

cheers

Comments

  • dbg
    dbg Posts: 846
    Yes!! brother just bought one - astonishing value
  • Definately yes!
    Do it now quick, before countless other suggestions pop up from people recommending their own bikes :wink:

    P.s i'dprobably get a caad 9(i don't own one by the way) :wink: :roll: :arrow:
  • Gav888
    Gav888 Posts: 946
    Planet X is a very good bike for the money, just a shame it doesnt look good. The Boardman is also a good choice for the money...
    Cycling never gets any easier, you just go faster - Greg LeMond
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,207
    Thank God for that, someone else who thinks the Planet X doesn't look very nice! It seems a brilliant bike for the cash but the looks are putting me off (yes, I am that shallow :lol: )
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,439
    focus cayo 105 is currently 880ish on wiggle. similar spec but looks far better than the boardman imo
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • Weird how we all see different things!

    I think Boardmans look cheap and hideous IMO. Focus look OK but their graphics are very generic but they are a good bike for the money.
  • Another option would be to get second hand from eBay?

    I just picked up a titanium framed, carbon forked, full Dura-Ace and Mavic Ksyrium for £1085, hardly been used, almost new and it is awesome, retail price... £3500, bargain!!
  • holybinch
    holybinch Posts: 417
    Though I doubt the seller would do cyclescheme ;)
    FCN 4(?) (Commuter - Genesis Croix de Fer)
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  • Gav888
    Gav888 Posts: 946
    This is my £1000 - £1500 shopping list:

    Boardman Team Carbon
    Boardman Pro Carbon
    Cannondale Synapse
    Focus Cayo
    Giant TCR Advanced 3
    Giant TCR Alliance 1
    Ribble Sportive
    Pinerello FP1
    Pinerello FP2

    Im not sure if I should get a Boardman Team on C2W and save some money for some nice wheels for about £600 and a few other upgrade bits, or something a bit more special like the Cannondale or TCR Advanced, but they only have 105 groupsets, which I will probably upgrade to Ultegra as the guys I ride with use Ultegra so im going to feel below par with 105 even though it is a good groupset in its own right....
    Cycling never gets any easier, you just go faster - Greg LeMond
  • Difference between ultegra and 105 is mainly vanity.

    MOney is better spent on ensuring your frame, forks and wheels are decent.
    I'd rather a 105-equipped fantastic-framed ride than compromise on frame & wheels so I could afford DA / Record.

    (saying that; whilst it is a matter of priority on how you spend your money, I still have a nagging feeling that buying below-top-spec kit is a missed opportunity (having just sold a fair bit of old DA/ XT / XTR and Record stuff on eBay for great prices, mainly because it was top-spec)
    Commute: Langster -Singlecross - Brompton S2-LX

    Road: 95 Trek 5500 -Look 695 Aerolight eTap - Boardman TTe eTap

    Offroad: Pace RC200 - Dawes Kickback 2 tandem - Tricross - Boardman CXR9.8 - Ridley x-fire