Best Bike for around £1200

Cornish-J
Cornish-J Posts: 978
edited January 2010 in Road buying advice
Hi everyone!

Done a few audaxs in Cornwall and used a mountain bike with slick tyres, but have decided to take advantage of the cycle2work scheme and get myself a proper road bike.

Unfortunately halfords aren't part of our 'cycle scheme' (they are part of 'cycle2work') so I can't get the 999.99 boardman team carbon which i've read some very good reviews on. Also the Focus Cayo 2010 is extremely sexy but can't quite justify 1500quid on it...

So therefore i'm after some ideas for a road bike, no more than £1200ish and has to be a 2010 model.

Thanks all!

Comments

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Hi mate -

    If you are doing audax rides I'd suggest looking at an audax type bike, probably steel with mudguard/rack mounts and a triple chainset.

    If you are wanting a road bike for general riding then I'd suggest trying all your local bike shops, speaking to them and trying as many different bikes as possible and picking the one you like best from the shop that seemed to give the best service. There are no lemons at this price point! However, a good LBS is worth it's weight in gold!

    My favourite bike at this price level is the Cannondale CAAD9 but the geometry may be too aggressive for you.
  • Cornish-J
    Cornish-J Posts: 978
    excuse my ignorance but .. LBS?

    I don't want an audax bike, i want a proper road bike. Will take a look at the cannondale now.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    Cornish-J wrote:
    excuse my ignorance but .. LBS?

    I don't want an audax bike, i want a proper road bike. Will take a look at the cannondale now.

    Heh heh, an audax bike is a 'proper' road bike.

    LBS is Local Bike Shop, soz.
  • Cornish-J
    Cornish-J Posts: 978
    ahh...that makes sense!

    I always thought an audax bike was a bit of a watered down version of a 'proper' road bike, ie: more comfortable etc, bit more of a tourer kinda bike?

    but anyway, any other recommendations?
  • bobtbuilder
    bobtbuilder Posts: 1,537
    Cornish-J wrote:
    ahh...that makes sense!

    I always thought an audax bike was a bit of a watered down version of a 'proper' road bike, ie: more comfortable etc, bit more of a tourer kinda bike?

    but anyway, any other recommendations?

    Sportive or Audax frames are usually slightly less agressive in their geometry, and therefore more comfortable. They can also be made of a different type of carbon weave which can seriously reduce road buzz. They don't look any different to a true "race" frame though.

    Try one out before making your final decision. I have a true "race" frame and a sportive frame, and the sportive frame is a much nicer ride.
  • Cornish-J
    Cornish-J Posts: 978
    how do you guys rate the Basso range of bikes? I quite like the look of the Basso Devil Xenon 2010 but have never heard of the groupset before..

    basso-devil-xen-zoom.jpg
  • Cornish-J
    Cornish-J Posts: 978
    or the Viner Magnifica?

    http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Viner.htm
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    The Xenon groupset is entry level Campagnolo and is fine.

    The Viner Magnifica is very highly regarded as are Epic Cycles (I've never tried either!)
  • stuaff
    stuaff Posts: 1,736
    Cornish-J wrote:
    or the Viner Magnifica?

    http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Viner.htm

    Cracking bike. Quite a few comments from owners (including myself) here:
    http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12670686
    Dahon Speed Pro TT; Trek Portland
    Viner Magnifica '08 ; Condor Squadra
    LeJOG in aid of the Royal British Legion. Please sponsor me at http://www.bmycharity.com/stuaffleck2011
  • Tony Mc
    Tony Mc Posts: 180
    NapoleonD wrote:
    The Xenon groupset is entry level Campagnolo and is fine.

    The Viner Magnifica is very highly regarded as are Epic Cycles (I've never tried either!)

    Epic cycles were excellent when I bought my Onix
    Getting there
  • Cornish-J
    Cornish-J Posts: 978
    Thanks guys, think i'm going to get the viners, anyone know the weight of the magnifico?
  • Chip \'oyler
    Chip \'oyler Posts: 2,323
    1180gr

    http://www.viner.it/index.php?option=co ... &Itemid=74
    Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/

    http://vineristi.wordpress.com - the blog for Viner owners and lovers!
  • sportbilly1976
    sportbilly1976 Posts: 524
    1180 grams....just over 2lbs - I take it that is just the frame??

    the Boardman Pro Carbon at £3.6k is 14.6 lbs (which I make 6544 grams)
  • Cornish-J
    Cornish-J Posts: 978
    Hard to find any info on the viner bikes, does the magnifico come with 50/34 or 53/39? ... it just says 10spd on epic cycles website?
  • prawny
    prawny Posts: 5,443
    Epic will do what you want, I hear good things. I've not used them myself yet, but probably will get my next bike from them.
    Saracen Tenet 3 - 2015 - Dead - Replaced with a Hack Frame
    Voodoo Bizango - 2014 - Dead - Hit by a car
    Vitus Sentier VRS - 2017
  • Cornish-J
    Cornish-J Posts: 978
    unfortunately im tied to a local supplier (cycle2work scheme) who cannot get viner bikes
  • Chip \'oyler
    Chip \'oyler Posts: 2,323
    sportbilly1976 wrote:
    1180 grams....just over 2lbs - I take it that is just the frame??

    the Boardman Pro Carbon at £3.6k is 14.6 lbs (which I make 6544 grams)

    Yes it's probably just the frame - minus the forks
    Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/

    http://vineristi.wordpress.com - the blog for Viner owners and lovers!
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    Cornish-J wrote:
    unfortunately im tied to a local supplier (cycle2work scheme) who cannot get viner bikes
    Is that Ricci's (Bike Chain)? He's been selling Basso bikes for years – all the local club riders used to be on them in the 80's.
  • bigbertha
    bigbertha Posts: 18
    bianchi c2c via nirone veloce £1059 at epic, c2c means coast to coast comfort, looks great too, im buying one on cyclescheme, bought highbrid last year done a couple of devon sportives but should of bought a road bike, going for a top alu frame bike this year and next year upgrade to a carbon frame hopefully! dne so much research and this has ticked all my boxes, sportive, comfortable, good looking and good gear.
  • dindondan
    dindondan Posts: 11
    Hi you have got to try Tredz i have just got my new Cannondale Synapse from them they are cheap and very friendly ...oh and the order arriver on time now just waiting for someone to fix the potholes on all the roads around these parts.

Categories