Best long distance Road bike for under £1k?

mjk100
mjk100 Posts: 12
edited May 2010 in Road buying advice
Hi all, i'm on the verge of buying a Specialized secteur or Allez for my impending L2P in June but am i missing any obvious alternatives? Have read on here that with the secteur in particular you don't get a great deal of bike for your buck. Any thoughts on what would fit the bill...comfort is important and i don't want anything with too much of an aggressive riding position due to a slightly dodgy lower back and i'll be riding 100 miles+ per day. Am reluctant to spend over £1,000. thanks in advance...M

Comments

  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Yikes! If I was doing L2P in June I'd have sorted the bike months ago. You really need to be test riding something asap!

    Secteur is meant to be a cheaper (alu) version of the Roubaix (carbon) with more upright geometry for all day comfort, so I'd have a go one one of those first if you're determined to buy Specialized. Then try an Allez.

    But sort it out soon!
  • mjk100
    mjk100 Posts: 12
    keef66 wrote:
    Yikes! If I was doing L2P in June I'd have sorted the bike months ago. You really need to be test riding something asap!

    Secteur is meant to be a cheaper (alu) version of the Roubaix (carbon) with more upright geometry for all day comfort, so I'd have a go one one of those first if you're determined to buy Specialized. Then try an Allez.

    But sort it out soon!

    you're right i should have sorted it months ago but have only recently confirmed i can actually do it....just gotta really rack the miles up in the next 6 weeks :)
  • keitht
    keitht Posts: 2
    A couple of years ago I was watching the Tour de France and in a quiet moment the commentators started talking about bike comfort. They described the comfort of the Cannondale Synapse as legendary.

    So last year I ordered one through my company's ride to work scheme. LBS tried to persuade me to take a CAAD frame, saying it would be quicker.

    I stuck to my plan and got my Synapse 105 last August. What a good decision.

    After 2, max 3, hours on the bike, comfort goes zooming up my priority list. The Cannondale met all my goals - I just need to be able to live up to it!

    Good luck in the L2P, on whetever you ride.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I'd have mentioned the Synapse, but I got the impression the OP was wanting a spesh, (maybe cos that's what his LBS sells?)

    I'd have had a Synapse, it was the best fitting bike I tried, but I wanted proper mudguards :cry: .

    If ever I can justify a summer bike I'll be going for a Synapse carbon.
  • Evil Laugh
    Evil Laugh Posts: 1,412
    A synapse would be a good option. Mine is very comfy. I've toyed with the idea of selling it recently as I'm building another bike but I can't bring myself to do it. The ride's too nice.

    However having watched recent auctions etc, you could pick a nice one up second hand for around a grand.
  • mjk100
    mjk100 Posts: 12
    keef66 wrote:
    I'd have mentioned the Synapse, but I got the impression the OP was wanting a spesh, (maybe cos that's what his LBS sells?)

    I'd have had a Synapse, it was the best fitting bike I tried, but I wanted proper mudguards :cry: .

    If ever I can justify a summer bike I'll be going for a Synapse carbon.

    no i'm open to lok at any bike but on the few trips i've made to my local evans store it tends to be the specialized they point me towards when i say comfort is the number one priority. i'm going to try and test ride the synapse though, seems to have a top spec and looks like a 2 year old model can be picked up 2nd hand for under 1k :)
  • ScaldedCat
    ScaldedCat Posts: 111
    I'd always have something custon built if I wanted long distance comfort, you could get a frame made to fit you and build it up for about £1000, think Mercian or Bob Jackson.
    Obviously time isn't on your side, even an off the peg frame can take a good few weeks to be ready.

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