What Bike? £3,000 - £3,500 What Groupset?

utherdoul

Hi,
Regular reader, first time poster, with a "What Bike" question! I am looking to treat myself to something new and shiny (budget £3,000 - £3,500) after riding my Specialised Allez (with upgraded Fulcrum 3 wheels) for the last few years.

I compete in Triathlons, and do regular Sunday rides with the Triathlon club. I will be racing short distances this year, and Ironman in 2013 so will almost definitely need a tri-bike then so wondering about holding off on this? I also do a few sportives / audax's throughout the year.

This has lead me down to a few bikes, most have waiting times, but I don't plan on using the bike until May next year anyway (running London Marathon in April :-)

A) Cervelo R3 (Road bike - not cheap, but get excellent reviews - possibly a bit reluctant as everyone in the club seems to have them, and they are REALLY expensive and think I will have to upgrade parts later)
http://www.royles.biz/product/7068/Cerv ... Black_2011
Canyon Aeroad (Aero bike - comes with Dura-ace+Cosmic Carbone SL's or Ultegra Di2+Cosmic Elites)
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/roadbikes/bike.html?b=2517
C) Canyon Ultimate CF SLX (Road bike - Durace or SRAM Red both with Mavic R-SYS SL's)
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/roadbikes/bike.html?b=2513
D) Planet X N2A / Sarto (Aero-bike SRAM Red)
http://road.cc/content/news/48133-exclu ... anet-x-n2a
E) Specialised SL3 / SL4 (Road bike can get 10% off from Triclub membership - SRAM Red Fulcrum 4's but think I will have to upgrade most parts later)
http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBC ... cname=Road
http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBC ... cname=Road
Something completely different?

I am getting a bike fit from bikedynamics.co.uk for a Christmas present, so hopefully this should help with making some decisions regarding fit etc - it maybe that none of these will fit well, but am happy to waiting to see).

Finally any thoughts on Dura-ace vs Ultegra Di2 vs SRAM Red? I currently have Tiagra, but happy to try something different, but probably not Campagnolo.

Any thoughts appreciated!

sloppyschleckonds

That Planet X is Fugly. Any of those frames with sram red black and Mavic SLR/ R-sys wheels

wildmoustache

Assuming you are going down the route of road bike for Tri, then I would think about:

- A road bike with a steepish ST (say 74o min in medium sizing) and a standard seatpost arrangement, allowing you to use a zero setback post if required

- A bike that does not have a huge headtube as you want to be able to get low for Tri.

- Electric shifting - having electronic shift buttons on the aero bars would be a big advantage vs. using standard Ergos/STIs in Tri. so think about Ultegra if funds allow.

Ideally an aero frame too, though that is secondary to all of the above.

cougie

What ironman are you doing ?

Seems to me that you need two bikes. One tt bike for the triathlons. One road bike for the Sunday runs and sportifs.
Your budget would allow a decent bike for each.

No measurable benefit in dura ace over ultegra I reckon so save your money there.

Cornish-J

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200686418091? ... 1586.l2649

perfect!