3K budget. What bike?

miggillicuddy

I need a swish new road steed for next season. Something for fast club runs/chain gangs, a few time trials and some hill climbs.

It's taking me a while to get to grips with the road bike market, having come from a mtb background, but I've got 3000 to play with.

I have my eye on the Bianchi Sempre and the Scott Foil. Who's got an opinion on either of these?

I need some inspiration!

kamil1891

Canyon? or maybe Cannondale SuperSix on sales

sloppyschleckonds

That Scott looks fairly decent, would prefer a slightly better gruppo though

mr_poll

Know a guy who has a Specialised Roubaix Elite and swears its the best bike he has ridden (and he has had a few) - Evans are selling that bang on budget.

It's all I can add as would love to have access to that budget - one day when the kids are out from under my feet.

fludey

Felt ar4? I have one and frame would lend itself nicely to time trials and under 3k will leave you change for some tt bars!
Had mine 2 years now and it has been a perfect bike, only thing ever replaced was the cassette as I needed bigger gears for the hills!

noodleman

Not got much opinion on the sempre, but have you thought of the infinito? Looks beautiful and is a fantastic all round bike. Mine is kitted out with chorus groupset and Reynolds assault wheels.
I also have a felt ar4 also with the same wheels which flies when you put the power down and is fantastic for fast road riding/time trials but nowhere near as good all round as the infinito. I'm sure the sempre would be great too, Slightly racier geometry I think but the infinito hardly feels like a slouch.

EarlyGo

Something Titanium with Easton EC90 forks, Dura Ace/Ultegra/Red and some DT Swiss wheels! Oh how I wish I had £3K to burn!

Regards, EarlyGo

greeny1

bmc team machines going at evans for 3k sraTour winning bike at that price got to be a bargain (well as much as a 3k bike could be) Id look at Canyon also.

pickled

If you're thinking of TTing I'd definitely go for the Sempre over an Infinito
I find the infinito a bit too soft in comparison. I don't think the front end is low enough either.
It's also a lot more expensive. You could get the Sempre and some pretty good deep section wheels for less than the price. (I did...)
I got my PB down to 23:57 on mine this year.

RoadyForever

You really need to try some bikes out for yourself. If you are spending 3k your local LBS's will be happy to help!

cougie

Split your budget and get two bikes - one road and one tt. That'll get you better results.

airbusboy

I had a similar budget and found it much better to build the bike i wanted; I found bikes around 3k suffer from either a lower grade groupset OR crap wheels etc.

Start searching wiggle/merlin/CRC and you might find a few end of year deals.

#7rider

How about Canyon Aeroad CF

New design aero road bike you can add bars for TT and use the spare cash towards deep profile wheels

http://www.canyon.com/_uk/roadbikes/bike.html?b=2122

If you want/need 2 bikes get a new road bike and secondhand or discountted 2011 TT bike

briantrumpet

airbusboy wrote:

I had a similar budget and found it much better to build the bike i wanted; I found bikes around 3k suffer from either a lower grade groupset OR crap wheels etc.

The SuperSix I got last year (see signature) had Ksyrium Elite wheels and Ultegra groupset, and came in at just under £2000. Crap wheels, obviously.

miggillicuddy

Thanks for the replies guys, you've put lots more ideas in my head!

I don't think I'm committed enough to TTs to warrant getting a TT specific bike, I'm happy enough to stick some tri bars on whatever road bike I decide on.

Did look at the infinito but I think the sempre would suit my needs better. I have spoken to several bike shops about test rides but it's proving difficult. (The local Bianchi dealer is small and it didn't sound as if they allowed test rides but I'm sure I could hassle them further and work something out.)

Like the look of the Felt ar4 too, hmmm

Canyons also look pretty tasty. What's the chat with test riding them, doesn't look like I can?

canbakay

ive been through this several times and for the price range the best bang for buck set up is a canyon. there is only the size 60 left in the team cf slx in matt black and thats a compact :?

but without a doubt id be looking at a canyon or building second hand parts (but thats very time consuming)

jonbristol

Scott Foil or Orbea Orca with ultegra di2 for £3k. Either would be a beautiful and different bike. Get them from a shop that will allow you full warranty and after sales because at that price you dont want any issues for years to come.

galatzo

£3000 ?
DIY or a sale 'dale Super Six Hi Mod
What size frame you after ?

warrerj

miggillicuddy wrote:

Thanks for the replies guys, you've put lots more ideas in my head!

I don't think I'm committed enough to TTs to warrant getting a TT specific bike, I'm happy enough to stick some tri bars on whatever road bike I decide on.

Did look at the infinito but I think the sempre would suit my needs better. I have spoken to several bike shops about test rides but it's proving difficult. (The local Bianchi dealer is small and it didn't sound as if they allowed test rides but I'm sure I could hassle them further and work something out.)

Like the look of the Felt ar4 too, hmmm

Canyons also look pretty tasty. What's the chat with test riding them, doesn't look like I can?

If I went into a LBS with £3k in my pocket and they wouldn't liek me test ride a bike (as long as it was in stock) I'd tell them who's business they wouldn't be gettign and walk out!
My LBS just got a frame in on sale or return for my wife to try. They put a set of wheels, seat, crank and bars on it for her to try for size as well. That was a £400 frame & fork combo so if you're won't let you test ride for £3k tell them where to stick it!

carrock

mr_poll wrote:

Know a guy who has a Specialised Roubaix Elite and swears its the best bike he has ridden (and he has had a few) - Evans are selling that bang on budget.

It's all I can add as would love to have access to that budget - one day when the kids are out from under my feet.

Roubaix elite is near-base model (105 group) and is £2000

£3000 gets the Roubaix expert with Ultegra and some change

I have the Roubaix Pro and it's fantastic

greeny12

If you fancy something a bit left of centre, you could try NeilPryde.

Their Alize model:

http://www.neilprydebikes.com/euro/alize-ultegra

is supposed to be the more aero one, but I've ridden the sister Diablo and that was an unbelievably good race machine.

I blogged about it here:

http://cyclingapprentice.wordpress.com/ ... e-and-joy/

Runningrunningjumpp

I bought a £3k road bike last year about this time, great time of year for deals.

I think the part about wanting to do TTs is throwing us off a little. If your just trying them out, then use your road bike and worry about a proper TT bike if you get the bug.

You've had some good shouts, but I'd add;

End of line Cannondale super six hi mod 105 (pauls cycles has um).

Take off and eBay from new;

Cassette
Chain
Wheelset

Buy;

Dura ace cassette and chain
Zipp 303 tubs or 202/404 mix

I can't see why you couldn't do that for under £3k. Anyone who says any part of a road bike is worth spending money on ahead of the frame set (super six hi mod is their flagship frame) and wheels (zipp 303 tubs are considered to be the benchmark) is just wrong.
Brand new 105 with dura ace cassette and chain actually works really well and with cannondales coming with nice bb30 fsa cranks, I think the drivetrain will be sweet.

The bonus of this set up is; you have the starter wheels for TTs, so you could pick up a average price TT bike later on and use the zipp wheels. Also if you get right into TT s then you can put nice £300 ish quid mavic s on the supersix and keep it, knowing you've not gone to mad, get a TT bike, use the zips on that, and trade the rear for a 808 et al if you need to and for little outlay (who's not gona want to buy a rear 303 or 404 from you...

Best of luck

miggillicuddy

Right guys, many thanks for all the replies! I've now got a lot more ideas to work from.

As for the time-trialling, I'm not going to be getting into it seriously; I've ridden a couple and while I like to test myself, it's not worth me getting a TT specific bike. Although I will maybe look at getting specific wheels to use for TTing

Slimbods

No love for the Foil?

DrLex

If the Roubaix interests you, it's worth looking out for an Expert version test bike- Spesh. dealers were selling them off cheap (two on eBay at present- here's one) - I got over a grand off the list (£2,850) and a full first-owner warranty. Also prefer the red to the 'normal' White & Blue.

Runningrunningjumpp

To add, regarding test rides and retailers your visiting. Please do only shop where you get great service when spending £3k + on a road bike!

If the shop guy looks you up and down and says "your a 56" then run!

If the guy sits you on the bike in your jeans and says "ah that one ll be perfect with a 130mm stem on" then run!

You should be asked questions, lots of questions.

You should be told to come back with your bibs and shoes and socks.

They should set your cleats up perfectly first.

You should be warm and have stretched your legs.

You should be measured up using lots of fancy measuring devices.

You should be put on several different bikes on a turbo trainer.

You should ride the exact bike your buying on the road, for at least 20 mins.

If your gona buy the bike end of line mail order, tell the shop that did the work. Let um know. And buy the zipps there to make up for the lost sale on the bike (you won't get money off zipp anywhere anyhow sort of some free tubs). At least then if you have a little problem with the bike they might help you out rather than kicking you out....

Runningrunningjumpp

To add, regarding test rides and retailers your visiting. Please do only shop where you get great service when spending £3k + on a road bike!

If the shop guy looks you up and down and says "your a 56" then run!

If the guy sits you on the bike in your jeans and says "ah that one ll be perfect with a 130mm stem on" then run!

You should be asked questions, lots of questions.

You should be told to come back with your bibs and shoes and socks.

They should set your cleats up perfectly first.

You should be warm and have stretched your legs.

You should be measured up using lots of fancy measuring devices.

You should be put on several different bikes on a turbo trainer.

You should ride the exact bike your buying on the road, for at least 20 mins.

If your gona buy the bike end of line mail order, tell the shop that did the work. Let um know. And buy the zipps there to make up for the lost sale on the bike (you won't get money off zipp anywhere anyhow sort of some free tubs). At least then if you have a little problem with the bike they might help you out rather than kicking you out....

Runningrunningjumpp

To add, regarding test rides and retailers your visiting. Please do only shop where you get great service when spending £3k + on a road bike!

If the shop guy looks you up and down and says "your a 56" then run!

If the guy sits you on the bike in your jeans and says "ah that one ll be perfect with a 130mm stem on" then run!

You should be asked questions, lots of questions.

You should be told to come back with your bibs and shoes and socks. 

They should set your cleats up perfectly first.

You should be warm and have stretched your legs.

You should be measured up using lots of fancy measuring devices. 

You should be put on several different bikes on a turbo trainer.

You should ride the exact bike your buying on the road, for at least 20 mins.

If your gona buy the bike end of line mail order, tell the shop that did the work. Let um know. And buy the zipps there to make up for the lost sale on the bike (you won't get money off zipp anywhere anyhow sort of some free tubs). At least then if you have a little problem with the bike they might help you out rather than kicking you out....

sloppyschleckonds

Slimbods wrote:

No love for the Foil?

Philistines!