Bikes in the range £2.5-3k

brucebanner

Hi All,

I'm currently commuting with a Trek 1.5, which is a joy. I'm now thinking of buying higher-end bike mainly for long weekend rides. I'd also like to take it abroad sometime. Of the bikes mentioned in each category, which offers the best for the money?

In the £2,500 range;

Specialized Roubaix Expert SL 2010 Road Bike BMC Pro Machine SLC01 2009 Road Bike Trek Madone 5.2 Compact 2010 Road Bike Scott CR1 Pro 30 2010 Road Bike Felt AR4 2010 Road Bike Cannondale Super SIX Ultegra Compact 2010 Road Bike Pinarello FP3 Ultegra 2010 Road Bike

And a bit higher up

Felt AR3 2010 Road Bike

And some day dreaming

Specialized S-Works Roubaix SL2 2010 Road Bike Cannondale Super SIX Hi-Mod Dura Ace 2010 Road Bike BMC Team Machine SLR01 2010 Road Bike Trek Madone 5.9 Compact 2010 Road Bike Specialized Roubaix Pro SL 2010 Road Bike

a. Which bikes come with electronic gears these days? Off-hand, do you know if any of the bikes above have them?
b. What cycle computers do the pros use? I'm specially referring to the computers that attach to the handle bar instead of the stem. I'd appreciate it if you could give me specific model no.s
c. What are some good (road centric) cycle magazine worth subscribing to?
d. What bikes are actually made in Italy/Britain/US? For by browsing it seems even Italian branded bikes aren't actually made in Italy. Apparently, the Trek Madone line is made in in US ... is this correct?
e. What's Scott's next bike up in line after the Scott CR1 Pro 30? The addict is far too expensive.

Thanks a lot

antfly

If you want electronic gears that`s your budget gone on the groupset without the rest of the bike.
http://www.slanecycles.com/shimano-dura ... rrency=GBP

Anonymous

Scott Addict R2 - 2.5k with full Dura Ace 7800!

http://www.slanecycles.com/scott-addict ... rrency=GBP

EKIMIKE

A: Only the very top end of the market. You'd probably be selecting all your components in a custom style service to get this. A bike with Di2 is gonna cost upwards of 6k (just an estimate).

B: There are various computers the pro's use. The key element though is the powermeter. The most widely used powermeters are Powertap and SRM. Powertap is based around a hub. SRM is based around the crankset. They require a special Hub and Crank respectively. Like Di2 they are expensive bits of kit (although Di2 is the ultimate expense)

C: I favour ProCycling and CycleSport. These two magazines cover many aspects of the road scene from gear to interviews with the pro's. Cycling Plus is like reading a manufacturers catalogue. Cycling Weekly is just pants (IMO).

Most Carbon Fibre frames are made in Taiwan or China. This is because they're the best at producing them on a mass scale. They have the best technology and resources. There are a few specialists who still make CF frames in Europe or the USA but they come at a premium. Time and Look are good examples. I think Viner and Milani still make bicycles in Italy.

Don't be fooled by a ‘Made in Italy’ or ‘Made in the USA’ sticker as most of these in reality should say ‘Painted in Italy/USA’ or ‘Assembled in Italy/USA’. A sticker with country of origin is no basis to buy a bike.

E: The Addict it is. There are some good deals to be had. ^^^

EKIMIKE

Out of your List i'd be looking at:

Specialized Roubaix
BMC Pro Machine SLC01
Cannondale Super SIX

Look like the best specced bikes there although when it comes to it they're all going to be very good bikes. The Felt is an unkown to me though. Try and test ride them.

majormantra

BMC Pro Machine. With SRAM Red for £3k.

weapons

If you have your heart set on electronic gearing, Pearson Cycles are selling the Felt Z2 (sportive orientated road bike, similar to the Roubaix) for under £3000 with Di2:

http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/product/ ... NOW_299999

With RS80 wheels this seems like a decent spec for the money.

andy162

A lad who rides with us turned up on a very posh Focus last week. It's an Izalco Extreme fully kitted out with Super Record bling & Mavic Carbone wheels. It's a proper looker too, about 100% better than on tinternet. It cost him £3100, plus you can ride it for 30 days & if you don't like it send it back.

You mention Spesh SL2's...the frame can be had fir £1200, £1k for a Red or 7900 groupset leaving £800 to spend on finishing kit & wheels. If that's yr dream machine, that's what I'd buy.

smallangryman

I have a blue RC8

http://www.ten-point.co.uk/cms/bluecomp ... ycles_temp

Which I love to bits. Bought mine as a frameset (admittedly with a good discount) and built it up with chorus 11.

Far more bike than I need!

Chip \'oyler

brucebanner wrote:

d. What bikes are actually made in Italy/Britain/US? For by browsing it seems even Italian branded bikes aren't actually made in Italy. Apparently, the Trek Madone line is made in in US ... is this correct?

All the alu and steel and most of the Carbon Viner's are definately made in Italy

www.viner.it

TimoH

brucebanner wrote:

I'm currently commuting with a Trek 1.5, which is a joy. I'm now thinking of buying higher-end bike mainly for long weekend rides. I'd also like to take it abroad sometime. Of the bikes mentioned in each category, which offers the best for the money?

If you have the guts to buy a bike without a test ride, Canyon Ultimate CF 8.0 or CF SLX 8.0 should be on your short list.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=1923

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=1925

It's very difficult to get better value for your money.

joewhitebaby

Check out www.phiancarbon.com (website is due an update)
Beautiful products. Prices are good too, set to change the ones currently up. About to start offering complete bike builds!
DM me for more info or a quote on a build up.
Currently got a 2 time beijing gold medallist on them, triathlete at world championships, and a time triallist off to commonwealth games. Can't be bad!

brucebanner

How do I learn about assembling (road) bikes aside from subscribing to magazines, which I going to do?

Thank you all for the feedback.

PS. The PHAIN Carbon looks stunning. I but I know too little about bikes - e.g., what parts are good etc. and what I should be expecting - at the moment to buy one from a a relatively unknown brand. It's why I'd rather buy from a retail outlet.

TimoH wrote:

brucebanner wrote:

I'm currently commuting with a Trek 1.5, which is a joy. I'm now thinking of buying higher-end bike mainly for long weekend rides. I'd also like to take it abroad sometime. Of the bikes mentioned in each category, which offers the best for the money?

If you have the guts to buy a bike without a test ride, Canyon Ultimate CF 8.0 or CF SLX 8.0 should be on your short list.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=1923

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=1925

It's very difficult to get better value for your money.

Why can't I test ride them?

TimoH

brucebanner wrote:

How do I learn about assembling (road) bikes aside from subscribing to magazines, which I going to do?

...

TimoH wrote:

If you have the guts to buy a bike without a test ride, Canyon Ultimate CF 8.0 or CF SLX 8.0 should be on your short list.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=1923

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=1925

It's very difficult to get better value for your money.

Why can't I test ride them?

They sell directly through web. They don't have any importers or retailers you can visit. That's why the bikes are "cheap".

The recent BikeRadar review at ...

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... m-10-38298

... may give a hint about how good bikes we're talking about 8)

relanium

Focus Izalco Extreme Di2 £3600 Wiggle
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Izalco_Extreme_Di2/5360037580

brucebanner

relanium wrote:

Focus Izalco Extreme Di2 £3600 Wiggle
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Focus_Izalco_Extreme_Di2/5360037580

Looks horrible I'm afraid.

cyclowen

Hi Bruce,

I would say that once you spend over £2,500 you're always going to feel like you've got an excellent bike, whatever you choose. Most likely your decision will come down to whether you want Shimano, SRAM or Campag and the looks of the bike...lots of people selling off 2010 models at the moment, almost everywhere is selling Felts off (AR4 is under £2,000 most places now, see Merlin bikes website) and demo Madones, Cannondales and Spesh's are around if you look. I don;t think the 2011 updates on most bieks are going to be significant - most will probably be slightly dearer for the same spec.

porker33

Bruce,

haven't you pulled the trigger yet?

Ger over to wheelbase before they sell out in all sizes, it seems to be the best price of the deals that are left!

http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/products/tre ... ompact.htm

brucebanner

Anyone tried the Cannondale Super SIX Hi-Mod DI2 2010 Road Bike? Does the Focus Izalco Extreme Di2 £3600 offer more value for the money.

letap73

What about the Felt Z2?

It has the "electronic" Dura Ace on it!

http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/product/ ... NOW_299999

The groupset cost almost as much as the bike :!:

Anonymous

brucebanner wrote:

Anyone tried the Cannondale Super SIX Hi-Mod DI2 2010 Road Bike? Does the Focus Izalco Extreme Di2 £3600 offer more value for the money.

The Cannondale is about 7 grand!! Bit over your budget...

all show no go

Pretty much all of the afore mentioned bikes are excellent. But what I would first suggest is get yourself professionally "bikefitted". If you're gonna spend that kind of dough on a bike you want to make sure that whatever you buy is going to fit you properly. All of the bikes you like are great but they will all fit, feel and ride very differently. Get thee to a place that knows how to do a proper bike fit and then use the info you've gained to choose what kind of bike is best for you. A hundred quid well spent if you ask me.

Good time to look for a bike though because most stores are starting to pull in their 2011 ranges so if you're reasonably patient and are prepared to really search, some bargains on 2009/10 bikes can be had.

tigerben

What is wrong with your 1.5? Based on your previous posts you only got the bike last month. Why not wait a bit before buying another ... especially as DI2 will get almost certainly be cheaper next year. More miles travelled will enable you to make a better more informed decision when you do come to buying your next bike.

However if you really want to upgrade now then go for it. If you have the funds I would go for a custom build - then the bike is unique to you and exactly how you want it. Have you considered Titanium frames?

Chip \'oyler

Have a look at the Viner carbon range. The top end frames are made-to-measure for the perfect fit. Plus they're handbuilt by Italian craftsmen.

The Volata (basically the Perfecta frame re-badged) would probably be in your price range.

Review of the Perfecta here http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... a-10-37421

Prices here http://www.lebeauvelo.co.uk/Viner%20Pricelist.html

mr_goo

Have a look at the Bottecchia for something different. Never seen one but look rather good for the money.

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sk ... _Bike_2010

lotuseater

Check out Cervelo - very well engineered frames and within your price bracket.