£800 to spend!!

Robert208454
Robert208454 Posts: 59
edited March 2010 in Road buying advice
i still hve £800 burning a hole and still not found a bike yet! i cant aford a penny more so please dont say the normal of STRETCH TO £1000 and get blah blah!! and i dont want second hand either blah blah!! please help because im stuck and frustrated!! (dont like the allez either :shock: )

Comments

  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... m_Alu.html
    I like bikes...

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  • racingcondor
    racingcondor Posts: 1,434
    What are you planning on using it for? Commuting, general fitness and sportives, racing?

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Variado_Expert_Compact_2010/5360045297/

    Gets you 105 for only £7.50 outside your budget.
  • South Bound
    South Bound Posts: 55
    I got a Bianchi VN7 for that sort of money. Quality Alu frame that I love, but weight and carbon bling does not bother me. Was a great introduction for me to being a Roadie and I will keepit forever as winter/turbo bike. Seems to be a love/hate thing with Bianchis as they are a bit of a cliche, but it fitted and worked for me.
  • the_prophet
    the_prophet Posts: 426
    im looking at the same price range at the minute, looking at the specialized allez elite, the Trek 1.5 and also the planet x mentioned above. The Bianchi I did look at but, the spec wasnt as good as the others and you were paying for the frame imo.

    Issue ive got with the planet x is its my first road bike so no idea on sizing, stem lengths etc so could really do with a shop fitting me properly. doesnt seem like id be able to get that with the planet x which is a shame.
    my canyon slx

    http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy19 ... AG0298.jpg
  • Robert208454
    Robert208454 Posts: 59
    Fitness sportives and maybe some entry level racing a little down the line (im competitive) i looked at the focus however it didn't get a stellar review on here!! bikes i have looked at already if it helps:-

    Ridley Eos (LBS £799)
    Giant defy 2
    Merida 905-18 (i think thats the correct model)
    cannondale CAAD8
    Bianchi nirone xenon
    Boardman team (Sram rival) nice spec but looks really bland, not important i know but still!!
    Felt z85 (and before you shout thats over £800, i know im gutted because i love it :cry: )

    i looked at the planet x site and yeah you are getting shimano 105 (which is what i would prefer) but you cant get a proper look at it on the site. Same with Ribble!! does anyone have any photos of either so i can have a closer look????? Im looking to get in next couple of months so im desperate!!
  • South Bound
    South Bound Posts: 55
    The Bianchi I did look at but, the spec wasnt as good as the others and you were paying for the frame imo.

    Yep, but easy to upgrade components when they wear out, frame is a keeper and chose to go that way as was fitted for me (change of stem etc). Was important to me to get the fit right so that I did not give up riding something that felt hideous. Coming from an MTB background, the road bikes felt so awkward to ride that I could not have fitted myself onto one. Was worth paying a premium to the LBS to get it right.
  • the_prophet
    the_prophet Posts: 426
    yeh same as me, mtb background, decided i fancy a change and sold the lot.

    dont get me wrong, every bike ive bought in the past has been upgraded, just thought it would be a good idea, to get a decent frame with decent components, use that for a couple of years, learn a bit and then buy something newer and of a higher spec then.

    thats all my opinion and plans so it may be different for others.

    I do like the look of the Bianchi mind, looks a bit more special.
    my canyon slx

    http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy19 ... AG0298.jpg
  • South Bound
    South Bound Posts: 55
    Yep, was not having a dig - we all look for diff things else we would all be riding dull Speshes with Ultegra...

    Funny, I went to the shop saying 'I do not want a campag equipped celeste Bianchi' and that is what I came home with because it fitted me best and the Giant equivalent was too dull!
  • the_prophet
    the_prophet Posts: 426
    i realise that, apologies if it came across like i snapped fella, wasnt intentional.

    thats the one thing im really struggling with some of the bikes do look a bit bland. the allez / boardman / defy all look a bit plain. the bianchi just looks "quality"

    thats also why i started looking the planet x, looks quite nice, (options on fork colours) and its a good spec for the price, its just the fact i can't get fitted up for one thats pushing me elsewhere.

    couple of trips to some shops over the weekend is on the cards for me. see if that helps narrow things down.
    my canyon slx

    http://i791.photobucket.com/albums/yy19 ... AG0298.jpg
  • Robert208454
    Robert208454 Posts: 59
    sort of not helping me chaps!! enjoyed your liitle tit for tat though :lol:
  • South Bound
    South Bound Posts: 55
    Yeah yeah. Seriously though, there are some great nearly new bikes out there. Now with a bit more confidence I know that fettling can make most bikes fit if you are a pretty standard size.

    If you really think you are going to race on it (and not just blow a fortune on another bike 12mths down the line like most of us) you can't beat the blandness of the Boardman, Focus or PX you have already discounted. Apart from that, it is all about how they fit you chap and how they feel when you ride them. Too many variables to give you a definitive, you need to ride some more!
  • Robert208454
    Robert208454 Posts: 59
    can you race on that focus?? is it not a little heavy???
  • Daimler
    Daimler Posts: 215
    Get a last years/or older model bike....like at £1200 reduced to £800.
    You'll always get a better deal doing it this way.
    Winstanley cycles are a good shop for old stock models.

    Most discounted bikes are better than the latest 2010 model at £800 so just have a look.
    You should get a carbon frame or at least alloy frame with carbon stays, 105 gears, aksium wheels, that sort of thing.

    Good luck
    Planet X RT-57 custom build
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,665
    South Bound wrote:
    Yeah yeah. Seriously though, there are some great nearly new bikes out there. Now with a bit more confidence I know that fettling can make most bikes fit if you are a pretty standard size.

    If you really think you are going to race on it (and not just blow a fortune on another bike 12mths down the line like most of us) you can't beat the blandness of the Boardman, Focus or PX you have already discounted. Apart from that, it is all about how they fit you chap and how they feel when you ride them. Too many variables to give you a definitive, you need to ride some more!

    Oh dear, your'e going to be offending lots of folks on here, talking that bad talk. :roll:
  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    Felt z85 (and before you shout thats over £800, i know im gutted because i love it )

    Dude, the Z85 is currently on offer with Wiggle's 15% promotion- yours for £722.
    Bargain I'd say.
  • symo
    symo Posts: 1,743
    I'd go for the planet x.

    Give them a call and they will happily talk you through how to do your measurements to help them select the right bikes and parts for you.

    I have bought 2 bikes over the internet, a Kiron Scandium from Wiggle and a Ti Road Pro from Planet X. I found explaining my fears of buying and getting sizing wrong helped them to ensure a good fit.

    Oh and both bikes are superb and fit me well.
    +++++++++++++++++++++
    we are the proud, the few, Descendents.

    Panama - finally putting a nail in the economic theory of the trickle down effect.

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