New bike to ride this years Etape Du Tour..PURCHASE NOW MADE

Redsteveb
Posts: 201
Not for me but for a good friend of mine who has booked to do the Etape Du Tour (Alp Stage 19).
He has a couple of bikes but feels he'll probably need a triple to cope with the ascents of the Galibier & Telegraphe not to mention Alpe D'Huz to finish off the ride.
He has a budget of £1200 to £1500 and would prefer SRAM components if possible, and a frame that gives a slighlty more relaxed (if that's the right word) riding position, he's 41 now so feels the aches and pains a little more these days (don't we all)
Anyone have any recommendations? maybe include a link to a dealer etc would really help. He's looking to buy asap so can get some training miles in before July.
Cheers.
Steve.
He has a couple of bikes but feels he'll probably need a triple to cope with the ascents of the Galibier & Telegraphe not to mention Alpe D'Huz to finish off the ride.
He has a budget of £1200 to £1500 and would prefer SRAM components if possible, and a frame that gives a slighlty more relaxed (if that's the right word) riding position, he's 41 now so feels the aches and pains a little more these days (don't we all)

Anyone have any recommendations? maybe include a link to a dealer etc would really help. He's looking to buy asap so can get some training miles in before July.
Cheers.
Steve.
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Comments
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The list is endless and the obvious answer is going to be to visit as many bike shops as possible to see what's out there and what feels best.
However, for value for money you can do worse than check out the Ribble online bike builder or ready built bikes. I'm sure you could get a well made and sensibly specced bike for the budget. I previously owned the Ribble Sportive Racing frameset and it would be just the job - however I was confident on my sizing so didn't need advice that a LBS could offer your friend.0 -
Just out of curiosity - I had a 2 minute look an the Ribble site and borrowed this from the special edition bikes - just gives you an idea as a starting point and you can easily upgrade the groupset to Rival and still stay within budget.
Frame
Ribble Sportive Bianco Carbon Road Frame L (55cm C to Top)
Groupset
Sram Apex 10 Spd Groupset
Show Groupset Data
Wheels
Shimano RS20 Clincher Black Wheels Pair 8/9/10 Shim Black
Handlebars
Deda RHM 01 Bars Black 42cm
Handlebar Stem
Deda Zero 1 Stem Black 100mm
Saddle
Pro-Lite San Carlo Saddle White
Seatpillar
CSN Carbon S.E. Seatpillar 31.6 400mm
Tyres
Vittoria Rubino 3 Rigid Tyre Black/Black 700x23mm
Handlebar Tape
Deda Cork Ribbon Handlebar Tape Black
Price excluding Pedals: £1,110.95
Approx Weight ex Pedals: 0.000
Pedals: Look Keo Classic Pedals Grey
Total Price inc Pedals: £1,155.900 -
or something from Spesh:
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... ?&id=14821
That will leave enough change for any additional bits and bobs, or go for the Comp version with full 105 (yes, not SRAM but v good in any case) and carbon frame:
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... ?&id=147410 -
Whats he riding now ?
Really he'd be better off looking for himself - I have no idea what he fancies. Any bike in that price bracket that fits him will be fine to get round.0 -
Orbea Onix, something a little different?"That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college! " - Homer0
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Hi there
One problem he might find is sourcing a bike with the triple crank he has specified. I know from experience that the availability of triple options is limited as the compact chainring has taken over.
Being somewhat older than the OP's friend I ride a Spesh Secteur Elite with Shimano 105 triple set up and that suits me fine. He could do worse than search out one of those although I'm not sure if the 2011 models have the triple as an option.
Alternatively, what about the Cube Agree GTC Pro. It comes with carbon frame and the option of specifying a Shimano 105 triple groupset.
http://www.cube.eu/en/road/pro-composit ... e-gtc-pro/
Leisure Lakes are agents for Cube and there are other dealers spread around the country so you should be able to source a model to try out. eg
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/produc ... ?&id=15388
The above is a compact spec but I'm sure Leisure Lakes could order in the triple if you wanted one..
If you look at other recent threads, the Cube gets a good recommendation and it is well specced for the price.0 -
Hi fellas. Thanks for the replies which I'll copy & paste to an e mail & forward to my friend.
He currently rides a 5 year old Battaglin with low end Campag kit, which is currently sporting mudguards for his daily commute which he does 2 or 3 times a week.
He's quite a fit chap, despite just giving up the ciggies after 22 years of being a heavy smoker (including rolling his own :shock: )
He's one of these guys that believes in the adage "all the gear no idea" and is anti spending what he considers "silly money" on a new bike. He kind of believes that just by buying a top of the range Trek for £7k or whatever, that it won't make you ride like Lance Armstrong if you get my meaning.
He's much more a believer of it's the rider not the bike that makes the difference however he does appreciate that in taking on the ride he'll need all the help he can get and a triple chainset, plus a lighter overall bike will certainly assist him.
He's a very busy chap, so just needed a starting place to look at and I think you've given him a few ideas.
Thanks & any more would be welcome too.0 -
Get something with a Sram Apex grouppo so he can avoid using a triple. Ribble is a great shout as you can get something within budget seeing as Sram ain't cheap. Long cage mech and 11-32 cassette. Lowest gear of 34 - 32 will get you up anything.0
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Boardman Team or Pro carbon and switch the rear mech and cassette to Apex with an 11:32.0
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Even better considering you can walk into your local Halfords and get one. Ribble lead times are usually at least a month for a full bike.0
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For 1500 quid budget I'd be looking at a second hand Specialized Roubaix triple, there's a few on ebay. That'd be a perfect bike for that sort of ride.http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!0 -
apex sounds a good starting point as the gearing sounds the most important for your friend and the low cost of a ribble will prob be to his liking.eating parmos since 1981
Canyon Ultimate CF SLX Aero 09
Cervelo P5 EPS
www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=130387990 -
Hi guys...just come off the phone to my mate who has just ordered the following:
Frame Ribble Sportive Bianco Carbon Road Frame L (55cm C to Top)
Groupset Sram Apex 10 Spd Groupset
Show Groupset DataCassette Sram 10 Spd PG 1050 Cassette 11-32
Chainset Sram Apex Black 10 Spd Chainset 175 34/50
Rear Gear Sram Apex 10 Spd Rear Gear Long -max 32T
Wheels Pro-Lite Pair Wheels Como Clincher Black 8/9/10 Shim
Handlebars Deda RHM 01 Bars Black 42cm
Handlebar Stem Deda Zero 1 Stem White 90mm
Saddle Pro-Lite San Carlo Saddle White
Seatpillar Deda RS 01 Seatpillar White 31.6 350mm
Tyres Vittoria Rubino 3 Rigid Tyre Black/Black 700x23mm
Handlebar Tape Deda Cork Ribbon Handlebar Tape Carbon Silver
Price excluding Pedals: £1,086.95
Approx Weight ex Pedals: 0.000
Pedals: No Pedals currently selected.
Total Price inc Pedals: £1,086.95
He'd just like to pass on his thanks to everyone who passed on their thoughts which helped him no end.
Thanks, Steve.0 -
Oof, Comos up Galibier and the Alpe?
Bonus style marks for making it difficult!0 -
FleshTuxedo wrote:Oof, Comos up Galibier and the Alpe?
Bonus style marks for making it difficult!
I was just thinking that!!!!
THey are good bombproof wheels that look the part but by god they are heavy! *cough* I have 2 sets *cough*:oops:
FCN 7
FCN 4
if you use irrational measures to measure me, expect me to behave irrationally to measure up0 -
Thanks for the feedback - it's not often you get to hear what the outcome was when someone asks for advice on the forum!
Get some pics sorted for us.....0 -
ajb72 wrote:Thanks for the feedback - it's not often you get to hear what the outcome was when someone asks for advice on the forum!
Get some pics sorted for us.....
Will do. I've not asked him about the estimated delivery date, but will definitley post some pics when I see it. Looks nice in on the website..white & silver.
Re the wheels...as I said he's a bit tight with his cash, but I guess he can assess whether they need to be upgraded after he gets the bike.0 -
£28 extra gets the ITM Aero 24 which saves almost 300g. Don't know how good they are but that seems a very good weight saving for the money. BTW Ribble will change details on the order if the build hasn't started.Faster than a tent.......0
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Aksium 2011 also saves 300g and would be a safe bet. Only be a few quid more.
He shouldn't spoil the ship for a hap'orth of tar. So to speak.0 -
+1 re. the Comos.
They would survive a nuclear holocaust but you don't want to drag them up any cols.
Incidentally he has paid £100+ more for his bike than he would have done if he'd ordered the 'Special Edition' version instead, which would have been more or less the same bike, apart from cassette ratios and saddle.
That £100 would have gone towards a nice lightweight wheelset.0 -
+5,000 - those damn Comos weigh a ton! I bought some then sold them pretty damn quick. It's not always the weight of wheels which is offputting, it's the way that weight is distributed and how the wheelset performs thats important.
Completely bombproof as others have said, but jeez you need a rocket up your ar$e to get you up any col riding those! Not recommended!0