£2k for Road Bike - Any ideas?

Wicked666

Hi Guys,

I've never had a road bike before but am considering one under Cycle 2 Work and have up to £2k to spend.

I have currently got a Boardman HT Pro for going offroad but don't always want to come home covered in mud so after a Roadbike. I do love the brand though.

I really like the spec on the Boardman Carbon Pro http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_pro_carbon.html
However I have heard these can be a bit 'twitchy' at speed. However i'm willing to overlook this on the basis of having a bike with a groupset that will last.

Do you have any others that you recommend with a similar groupset? I do not have to buy through Halfords as they have teamed up with other companies.

Thanks

ride_whenever

Go round your lbs and ride as many possible bikes (even if it is the same frame with lower grade parts) to see which you prefer.

bobtbuilder

WHS ^

For that kind of dosh, you're not going to get a bad bike, so it's going to come down to looks and feel, both of which are personal.

There are plenty of threads on this subject and they all end up as people recommending (surprise, surprise) the bike they own or have owned.

Pross

Are you sure you can have up to £2k on your Cycle to Work scheme? I know there isn't an official limit but most employers limit it to £1k to avoid the need for a consumer credit licence. If so, same as all the others have said - loads of choice so take a few for a test ride.

cougie

Even if you save money on the bike - you're still spending money. 2k is in the region of diminishing returns I reckon.

What do you want the bike for ? To actually ride to work on ? In that case - you need a bike that will take full guards for comfort. If its just an occasional ride to work in nice weather - look at the 999 boardman - great reviews and half your budget. Leaves you with more money to spend on kit ?

wicked2627

Cheers guys,

Yeah it's definitely £2k for 2011 over 3 years. In addition we get 15% of voucher to spend on accessories and there is no end of term repayment as it's included with the monthly figure. So it's quite a good deal - was only £1k over 1 year for 2010.

I think i'll need to speak with Halfords and see if I can have a go on the Boardmans. I don't think anything comes close to its spec but will keep an eye out.

Thanks

Teach

Our local authority is not allowing any cycle to work scheme. They are saying inland revenue are not happy with the buy back aspect and saying that the authority could be made to pay the difference.
Ignoring the fact the authority have said no. The whole idea is to buy a bike to get to work. Do you really need to buy a £2000 bike to commute on?

wicked2627

Teach wrote:

Our local authority is not allowing any cycle to work scheme. They are saying inland revenue are not happy with the buy back aspect and saying that the authority could be made to pay the difference.
Ignoring the fact the authority have said no. The whole idea is to buy a bike to get to work. Do you really need to buy a £2000 bike to commute on?

Nope - it will be used for leisure at the moment but in the future I will hopefully have a role that will require me to cycle to work. I want a superb bike now so that I don't need to worry about replacing bits every few months, the components work and I know the reason i'm so slow is because of me, not the bike. This will make me train harder as i'll have no excuses.

There were issues with Inland Revenue but I believe they have come to a compromise.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/nov/13/cycle-to-work-bike-tax-benefit

Either way, Interest Free over 3 years is better than nothing.

kingrollo

orbea orca would be worth a look IMO

chrishd883

FWIH I'd choose a Cannondale.....

CAAD9 / 105 spec (circa £1,300) + a good wheel upgrade if you really want to spend £2K
or CAAD 10 / Ultegra £1.9k - The best alu frames available!!

Or if you want carbon then the SuperSix 6 / 105 @ circa £1.8k

All price as per Evans Cycles - you may get cheaper elsewhere!

But as said above - you'd be hard pressed to get a bad bike for £2K.

And if you can get a £2k bike without worrying about the "money" good luck to you - enjoy it!

benno68

I like my Cube Agree GTC Race 2010, 2011 model is £1850 I believe with full Ultegra.

A great bike for the money IMHO.

CiB

£2k gets you a nice bike. Ignore the doomsayers who claim that that's too much just to ride to work. You wouldn't limit yourself to a Ford Focus or a Hyundai i10 just to drive to work; buy the best you can stretch to, go overboard. Even if it is only a bit better than something half the price. Treat yourself.

cougie

On the contrary - if you know what you want in a bike, and have ridden loads - then yeah - treat yourself. On the other hand - it is the OP's first road bike.
I'd not really encourage a new driver to buy a porsche or whatever the car equivalent of a 2k bike would be.

If he hates road riding - then thats 2k down the drain and he cant sell it for 3 years ?

benno68

cougie wrote:

On the contrary - if you know what you want in a bike, and have ridden loads - then yeah - treat yourself. On the other hand - it is the OP's first road bike.
I'd not really encourage a new driver to buy a porsche or whatever the car equivalent of a 2k bike would be.

If he hates road riding - then thats 2k down the drain and he cant sell it for 3 years ?

Did he say he was getting a 56 frame?

saunaboy

I'm going to be murdered for this, but shouldn't the C2W scheme just be able to get you a bike that is 1) safe 2) adequate to get to work?

Surely being able to buy a 2k bike on it shows that the scheme is daft. Or at least wrongly named. Shouldn't it be called...

'Buy a great bike for cheap that you might ride to work but ismore for weekends'

It's like a drive to work scheme allowing you to buy a Ferrari.

Just a thought.

wicked2627

Thanks guys,

I agree that £2k on a C2W bike is silly as people paying that much are obviously going to use it in their spare times. I imagine the reason it is done is so the Government looks good for environmental reasons, employer has healthier and fitter staff who they are more likely to retain and the employee gets a good deal.

It's a valid point that £2k for a bike i've never tried before is a bit ott. I have a hardtail and don't really want a full sus but would love to go for rides after work to the Peaks and think a road bike is the way to go. I intend this bike to last at least 10 years before I think about changing it hence taking advantage while I can.

I'm pretty sure i'll get the £1.6k Boardman as the spec is really good and it's only 16lbs. As i've spent that much money, I will make myself enjoy road cycling - I just need to be brave enough to stay away from the edge of the road where all the pot holes are.

Frank the tank

If purchasing a bike under the cycle2work scheme £1,000 is the limit. Or have I mis-understood and you're buying one for cycling2work on?

wicked2627

Frank the tank wrote:

If purchasing a bike under the cycle2work scheme £1,000 is the limit. Or have I mis-understood and you're buying one for cycling2work on?

Limit's are up to the company you work for.

kingrollo

Wicked2627 wrote:

Thanks guys,

I agree that £2k on a C2W bike is silly as people paying that much are obviously going to use it in their spare times. I imagine the reason it is done is so the Government looks good for environmental reasons, employer has healthier and fitter staff who they are more likely to retain and the employee gets a good deal.

It's a valid point that £2k for a bike i've never tried before is a bit ott. I have a hardtail and don't really want a full sus but would love to go for rides after work to the Peaks and think a road bike is the way to go. I intend this bike to last at least 10 years before I think about changing it hence taking advantage while I can.

I'm pretty sure i'll get the £1.6k Boardman as the spec is really good and it's only 16lbs. As i've spent that much money, I will make myself enjoy road cycling - I just need to be brave enough to stay away from the edge of the road where all the pot holes are.[/quote

no disrespect to boardman - I think the £1k boardman is hard to beat. but for £2k you really should be aiming for something with a bit more panache...

have a look at these for starters

Wilier Iozard
Orbea Orca
Colnago CLX

I wouldn't get to hung up on spec or weight - its the design and fit that make a good bike.

ride_whenever

kingrollo wrote:

no disrespect to boardman - I think the £1k boardman is hard to beat. but for £2k you really should be aiming for something with a bit more panache...

have a look at these for starters

Wilier Iozard
Orbea Orca
Colnago CLX

I wouldn't get to hung up on spec or weight - its the design and fit that make a good bike.

THIS IS VERY GOOD ADVICE

Anonymous

Isn't this thread about the best bike for £2K?

Yes.

So why is the C2W scheme coming in to it? I know the OP stated it, but it's not important.

Have you looked at Ribble? You can get a hell of a lot of bike for your money, that's what I'm going for when my work introduce C2W in the new year.

I'm also in a position like you, going from a MTB to a first road bike. I can't wait.

CiB

cougie wrote:

I'd not really encourage a new driver to buy a porsche or whatever the car equivalent of a 2k bike would be.

This analogy often pops up as a reason for not buying the best bike you can afford, and it's inherently wrong. I thought you'd all agreed on here recently that the bike doesn't make much difference; ergo a decent bike isn't going to be much quicker than a mid-range bike.

A decent bike v mid-spec doesn't equate to a Porsche v a Hyundai, it's more like buying a base spec Ford Focus against a Ghia, or whatever Ford sell now as the top of the range. It'll have slightly better performance, but will be a much nicer and more pleasurable experience. That's why I'd recommend spending a lot - you're getting a better experience for a bit more dosh.

And the inverse holds true - if OP does what the rest of us on here all did and falls in love with riding a nice bike, but has bought a mid-range jobby, he'll have to buy another bike which really isn't cost effective. Glass half full / half empty syndrome in the end, isn't it?

OP - go and buy whatever lights your candle in the shop. For this money, you won't end up with a duff purchase.

wicked2627

CiB wrote:

cougie wrote:

I'd not really encourage a new driver to buy a porsche or whatever the car equivalent of a 2k bike would be.

This analogy often pops up as a reason for not buying the best bike you can afford, and it's inherently wrong. I thought you'd all agreed on here recently that the bike doesn't make much difference; ergo a decent bike isn't going to be much quicker than a mid-range bike.

A decent bike v mid-spec doesn't equate to a Porsche v a Hyundai, it's more like buying a base spec Ford Focus against a Ghia, or whatever Ford sell now as the top of the range. It'll have slightly better performance, but will be a much nicer and more pleasurable experience. That's why I'd recommend spending a lot - you're getting a better experience for a bit more dosh.

And the inverse holds true - if OP does what the rest of us on here all did and falls in love with riding a nice bike, but has bought a mid-range jobby, he'll have to buy another bike which really isn't cost effective. Glass half full / half empty syndrome in the end, isn't it?

OP - go and buy whatever lights your candle in the shop. For this money, you won't end up with a duff purchase.

My thoughts exactly. I am sure I will love Road biking and want a bike that I can use for years, not something that starts causing problems after a couple of months as that will put me off it.

The previous poster is correct in that this isn't really a C2W question however I am limited as to where I can use my voucher.

I know it can be used in Halfords, On Your Bike and Leisure Lakes and apprantly 67 other places. I don't think I can use it on Ribble bikes though - but otherwise they would be worth a look.

Thanks for the help guys. Just measures my inseam and know what seat post length I nee too )

CiB

Good man. Go to it.

ian@srb

Check you can spend £2000. I thought the maximum was £1000

ian@srb

Have a look at the SINTESI Z1 Pro. Nice Sram Rival Carbn group set.

£2000 is lot for a first road bike. You could get a great bike for under £1000 if you have a good look around

Anonymous

Depends if the company has a consumer credit licence, if it has the sky is the limit...

CiB

ian@srb wrote:

£2000 is lot for a first road bike.

No it's not. It is if you're on minimum wage, but not if you're a 40% tax-payer. Give the guy a break; he wants to spend his money, not be told that he's going overboard.

ian@srb

You should be able to get at least an ultegra group set for that. Good luck

TommyEss

saunaboy wrote:

'Buy a great bike for cheap that you might ride to work but ismore for weekends'

The Libservatives have renamed it the "Buy a great bike for a little less than you might be able to manage in the shops; don't worry if you don't ride it to work but please don't whinge when it costs you more at the end than you first thought scheme"

Snappy, eh?!

dilemna

What ever £2k bike you settle on, make sure you buy a couple of really good D-locks such as the Abus Granit X Plus about £70 each.

Also budget at least £500 for decent shoes, kit, helmet and set of lights. Just my 2ps worth.

The whole point of the cycle to work scheme is that you ride your new bike to ......... work. Not leave it at home in the garage, shed or spare room while you drive or ride in on your £30 jaloppy. You get the tax breaks because you will be commuting on the new bike. The Revenue would take a dim view ...................

Maybe try a Dawes Super Galaxy which I think would be just as rewarding for you plus you would be able to carry suff whereas with a road bike unlikely unless you are prepared to have a heavy rucksack on your back. Eugh!!!

Another very good all round bike is the Condor Fratello fitted with say Campag Chorus or Shimao Ultegra groupsets.