2.5K to spend, what would you get...

navier_stokes

I'm currently looking at an Orbea Opal and Look 566 (possibly 585 if I can stretch the budget)... what others should I put on my shortlist to test ride?

mrushton

Time,Colnago,Cervelo,Serotta Fierte. A lot of bikes for that price.

pontarlier_pete

What do you want? Ferrari, Maserati or Jaguar?

Out and out speed - Storck, Cervelo
Speed and slightly more comfort - Viner or Lynskey Helix
More comfort than speed - something titanium (Lynskey Cooper, Van Nicholas Aeiolus etc)

incog24

Handily there's that C+ test based on that price (upper bound) just out. If you believe what they write that is. If you race I'd spend 2k on the bike, £500 on a set of gigantex 50mm wheels. Test ride lots of stuff, its pretty impossible for us to give a definitive answer as we don't know how much power you put out/how much you weigh/what your local roads are like/what riding you do.

navier_stokes

Pontarlier Pete wrote:

What do you want? Ferrari, Maserati or Jaguar?

Out and out speed - Storck, Cervelo
Speed and slightly more comfort - Viner or Lynskey Helix
More comfort than speed - something titanium (Lynskey Cooper, Van Nicholas Aeiolus etc)

Probably the middle of the two - I want something thats not going to be painful to ride for long rides, yet something stiff enough to provide that feel of acceleration. I'm pretty much decided on a carbon based frame.

I want something that is good looking yet simple design and not too flashy. The Look meets this criteria pretty well I think.

If you're going down the car analogy route I'd say I want an Aston Martin - understated beautiful looks, and a comfortable grand tourer that can sharpen up and race with best of them when required

I'm not a fan of Cervelo design and although I'd love a Colnago, I'm not a fan of the CLX which will be the only decent Colnago in my price bracket.

Frame must come with a decent warranty as well, 5+ years.

Does that narrow it down a bit further?

navier_stokes

incog24 wrote:

Handily there's that C+ test based on that price (upper bound) just out. If you believe what they write that is. If you race I'd spend 2k on the bike, £500 on a set of gigantex 50mm wheels. Test ride lots of stuff, its pretty impossible for us to give a definitive answer as we don't know how much power you put out/how much you weigh/what your local roads are like/what riding you do.

What bikes were included in the test?

I'm 6'4" and about 90kg - tall of average build. Local roads are around Derby(shire)... so not many flats Riding is mainly shortish weekday rides 20-30 miles mixed with longer weekend rides.

I'm testing as many as possible, but trying to build up a "short" list first.

giant_man

Get the latest C+ with the huge 50-bike test, should give you some ideas .....

Chip \'oyler

navier_stokes wrote:

Pontarlier Pete wrote:

What do you want? Ferrari, Maserati or Jaguar?

Out and out speed - Storck, Cervelo
Speed and slightly more comfort - Viner or Lynskey Helix
More comfort than speed - something titanium (Lynskey Cooper, Van Nicholas Aeiolus etc)

Probably the middle of the two - I want something thats not going to be painful to ride for long rides, yet something stiff enough to provide that feel of acceleration. I'm pretty much decided on a carbon based frame.

I want something that is good looking yet simple design and not too flashy. The Look meets this criteria pretty well I think.

If you're going down the car analogy route I'd say I want an Aston Martin - understated beautiful looks, and a comfortable grand tourer that can sharpen up and race with best of them when required

I'm not a fan of Cervelo design and although I'd love a Colnago, I'm not a fan of the CLX which will be the only decent Colnago in my price bracket.

Frame must come with a decent warranty as well, 5+ years.

Does that narrow it down a bit further?

Viner's come with 5 year warranties. Comments on this thread from Viner UK rep about the warranty
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopi ... highlight=

rolf_f

Find a good shop and get measured up - if you are a wierd enough shape, that will make most of the decision for you. I have ordered a 585 Optimum (special order XR3i white!) which was one of few bikes available that actually fit me reasonably well!

on-yer-bike

Wilier Izoard, Athena

Daimler

Felt F3 or F2 on offer.
Speed and Comfort and always always overlooked.

Tarmac model and Scott Addict for Speed.
I don't do Italian!

Wheelspinner

Two and a half grand to spend, eh?

To paraphrase someone, I'd spend half of it on fast women, booze and cigarettes. The other half I'd just waste.

rolf_f

BTW, if you want your new superbicycle to be at least partly lovingly crafted in Europe, you probably need to stick with the Look 585, Viner Volata or the more expensive Orbeas (not Opal I think) - the rest seem to be pretty much all banged out by the million in Taiwan. Nothing wrong with that but I want the chance to find the odd old Gitane cigarette butt in the bottom of my seat tube

passout

A ribble trainer and a new boiler according to Mrs Passout.

According to me - the Look.

8can

canyon ultimate framset
sram force 2010
and a nice set of wheels then save the extra £500

bosh job done

8can

canyon ultimate frameset
sram force 2010
nice wheels
and a little left over. nice.

Lillywhite

Trek Madone or good secondhand Trek carbon with minimum Ultegra or equilavent.

For £2500 you can buy a good second hand bike that probably retailed for £4-5 k a few years ago.

markos1963

Cervelo S1 with Sram Force and some sprint style wheels for racing

gabriel959

The ORbea's have got a fantastic lifetime warranty and the Opal looks like an amazing bike too.

gabriel959

The ORbea's have got a fantastic lifetime warranty and the Opal looks like an amazing bike too.

Daimler

Epic Cycles often let you build a good bike around certain frames.
They seem to be very comptetive in their pricing and helpfulness too.

jgsi

Has the budget gone up from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2?

rolf_f

JGSI wrote:

Has the budget gone up from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2?

It should have - mine started at about 1.5 and ended at 3.5

Daimler

I think we all do that.....
I did with my bike and my TV/Home Cinema.....

Toonraid

Out of your choices I would say 585 - its the best package of weight, performance, comfort and its Lug & tube as opposed to monocoque so putting the construction on par with EPS - if you can't stretch the budget to a 585 then Ridley Excalibur would be a great compromise.

sampras38

Probably some kind of Italian frame, plus sRAM and hand built wheels.

Chip \'oyler

sampras38 wrote:

Probably some kind of Italian frame, plus sRAM and hand built wheels.

Do you mean an Italian frame that's built in the Far East, or an Italian frame that's actually built in Italy?

sampras38

Chip \'oyler wrote:

sampras38 wrote:

Probably some kind of Italian frame, plus sRAM and hand built wheels.

Do you mean an Italian frame that's built in the Far East, or an Italian frame that's actually built in Italy?

Too shay..;-)

If I could find one...Italy.

pickled

I've got a Bianchi Infinito itch.

I don't care who makes the frame...

sampras38

I've got a Scott CR1 Pro from La la La Merica...;-)

AndyD2574

Cervelo.