Recommendations for a winter road bike around £500

pinotnoir

I've just taken up cycling again this year after a longgggggggg layoff

I have a Planet X SL Pro as my main bike and an old bike setup on the turbo in the spare room for those really nasty days over the winter months.

I would really like to be able to get out at the weekends and do some road work over the winter months but don't have a bike for that.

Could anyone recommend something around about the £500 mark that's suitable. something that could take mudguards, or perhaps those clip-on mudguards that i've heard about?

I've had a look at the Ribble winter bikes, but have also seen loads online about issues with their customer service.

Thanks all

schlepcycling

You could go for a Ribble winter bike £579 Shimano or £589 Campag http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/specialedition.asp?action=showframes&sub=conf_SERW&type=RIBMO

Stuey01

Why not just put crud road racers on your planet x?
It's miserable enough riding in the winter due to the weather, why make it worse by doing it on a cr@p bike?

pinotnoir

i'm definitely tempted by the shimano ribble - Thanks!

schlepcycling wrote:

You could go for a Ribble winter bike £579 Shimano or £589 Campag [url][/url]

andyrr

Spec Allez seem to be available around £450 at the mo' - needs Cruds to make it winter-proof, won't take full guards.

Dave-M

I noticed a place online had a Giant defy 4 with mudgaurds and stuff for £450.

pinotnoir

do you have the link?

thanks

Dave-M

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/giant-de ... 48809.html

pinotnoir

Thanks !

chrishd883

A couple of quick points.....

Ribble - bought one item from them, had problems after a few weeks, sent several emails, etc no response at all. Would definitely avoid in future - well I have done so!

+1 for riding a good bike with Crud Race guards fitted in preference to a cr*p bike!!

If not your "best bike" then a good alternative - with lights and Crud's or race blades, but having tried both the Crud's are better. Mark 2's just out - inproved?

Check the web for the Guess RB1 - circa £450 - once voted best bike under £500 by Cycling+

night_porter

Carrera Vanquish £499.99

Tiagra shifters and the fixings for full mudguards, excellent budget buy!

Super Domestique

Plenty of good value Spesh's here:

http://www.freeborn.co.uk/bikes/road-bi ... ce&dir=asc

Not Another Hill

Surosa Bikes do a good one

http://www.surosa.co.uk/4347/products/Surosa_Audax_Pro_Tiagra_.aspx

This is the Tiagra equipped one. They used to do a Sora equipped one for around £500. They'll probably still do one for you.

warrior4life

I was tempted by this... Great looking bike!
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/Bike+Shop ... LT-F95.htm

cyclingfury

I bought a Ribble winter bike with a campag groupset on it for around £560 odd quid.
It's brilliant. Nothing fancy but great for winter riding as it came with mudguards as standard. I also use it during the summer for doing shopping and errands, etc. so it pretty much gets used the whole year round.

I know some on this forum complain of poor customer service, but that's not my experience. When I ordered it, it took a few weeks longer than I expected, but all my emails were answered. I also specced a couple of changes to the standard build (eg. front brake lever on the left) which they accommodated without any problems whatsoever.

Maybe I was just lucky, but you get a lot of bike for your money, so definately worth a punt!

mike ives

Why not try these. I use them in the winter and think they are a much better product than Cruds. They are cheaper, do the job and only the small metal bracket has to stay on the bike. They take 30 seconds to fit once the bracket has been fitted and so I only use them when it is actually wet.

I definitely recommend them. Think of all the money and storage space you would save.