Help needed with carbon bike choice!

not-another-hillǃ

Guys,

I need your help - I am blinded by Googling so many bikes......Ive just sold my Mountain bike and my Trek 1.7 is currently up for sale, so by the weekend, I'll hopefully have £1300 odd burning a hole in my pocket.

Now, I definitely want carbon so dont try to sway me away to some old-skool Reynolds 531 jobby .... I think I've narrowed down my choices to:

Brand new Fuji SL 2.0 with 105
Second Hand Wilier Izoard (not the XP one) with Campy Centaur
Second Hand Pinarello FP2 with 105
Brand new Cube Agree GTC Pro Triple with Ultegra
Second Hand Pinarello F3:13 with Ultegra

I've got a good pair of Mavic Ksyriums already, so wheels are not too much of an issue

What do you reckon....I'm leaning toward the Pinarello F3, just because its a Pinarello.....or has anyone got anything else to confuse me with? :?

Cheers

sandyballs

I have test rode the Pinarello FP2 and was thoroughly underwelmed, it did not feel special. Friends have got the Cube and love it. Personally i love Giant.

You pays your money you take your chance, it is your decision.

Can you test ride all/ any?

option_click

Of that list, personally I'd go for the Wilier, with Campagnolo (we're not in the US here, dear boy)

thegreatdivide

Get the Izoard. It’s a great bike.

Sadly I own an ‘inferior’ Izoard XP which has me weeping in my pillow each night as it’s 170g heavier due to its carbon fork and aluminium steerer (490g) and UD carbon frame (1170g) instead of a ‘real Izoard’ with its 3k frame (1150g) and carbon fork/steerer (340g). This makes it ‘inferior’ as every ‘real Izoard’ owner will tell you – even though a ‘real Izoard’ owner would never be able to feel any a ride difference between the two.

(Yes, this gets my back up ;-))

racingcondor

New - the Cube
2nd hand - the Wilier despite the Campy

not-another-hillǃ

Great advice, thanks all..........no takers for the Fuji or the F3:13....it the F3:13 too old?

Sorry about the abbreviated Campagnolo Option Click expedience over tradition, apologies!!

Im seeing the Wilier later this week and will test ride, I like the look of it and its a bit "different" - I do also like the look of the Cube though....

Keep the advice coming.....I am a relative newbie in road terms.....

alihisgreat

Cannondale Caad10? not carbon but a great bike in that price range
Boardman Team carbon? On sale for £1300 at the moment




i would probably go for the Wilier out of that selection for the looks.

not-another-hillǃ

Ooh, might be able to stretch to a second hand Pinarello Paris with Campagnolo record groupset.......what about that?

MarksMintness

For £1300 I believe you can also buy last years Trek Madone 3.1 - very good frame...

giant_man

Not-another-hill! wrote:

Great advice, thanks all..........no takers for the Fuji or the F3:13....it the F3:13 too old?

Sorry about the abbreviated Campagnolo Option Click expedience over tradition, apologies!!

Im seeing the Wilier later this week and will test ride, I like the look of it and its a bit "different" - I do also like the look of the Cube though....

Keep the advice coming.....I am a relative newbie in road terms.....

Some good choice of bike being touted here, if you do have a go on the Izoard, see if you can get a ride on the Cento Uno. Out of your budget I know, but it will spoil you for ride quality. The only advice I can give is have a ride on as many as you can to decide, only you will know which one is right, good luck with it!

Canny Jock

Another vote for the Wilier, I've had one for nearly 2 years and it's ideal - stiff and fairly light while still being very comfortable. I really can't see the point in upgrading to anything this side of a Colnago C59. I like Campag and 2010 Centaur has ultrashift which is great. It's worth upgrading the wheels but it sounds like you have that covered.

Mickyg88

Maybe a look at the Scott cr1, you can still get a 2011 model within your budget, I got one just before Xmas an I'm brand new to road bikes, it rides like a dream and gets great reviews.

MartinB2444

Just been through the same process. I had a look at a few different bikes. The Cube GTC range are terrific value for money, really well specced, not just the group set but wheels, tyres, handle bars. I was really pleased when I found that the GTC frame gave me a better fit than other bikes I'd tried, I was bang in between a 56 and a 58cm Trek Madone. I got a 2011 GTC Race for £1469. Been out a few times and loving it.

I did enquire about a 2012 model because, like you, I fancied a triple. I was told that the earliest Cube are going to be supplying the 2012 bikes is end of March. I gather that supply of carbon frames has been hit by the flooding problems in Thailand. So it was the the 2011 compact for me. The triple groupset has a smaller bottom sprocket than the compact 26 vs 28 (2011 models anyway) so the difference in the bottom gear isn't that great. The bottom gear on the compact is 34/28 and on the road needs similar power to the middle ring and 2nd biggest sprocket on my GT MTB. This means I can manage most long Peak District climbs but not tried Curbar Gap yet.

EarlyGo

New: Cube

Second hand: Wilier

The question is, just how shiny do you want your next bike to be?!

Regards, EarlyGo

not-another-hillǃ

Hi All

thanks for all the comments.....Ive narowed the choice down to 3:

Brand new Cube GTC Agree Pro Triple with Ultegra - Ive found one within budget
Second Hand Wilier Izoard with Campagnolo Centaur
Second Hand Pinarello Paris with Campagnolo Record

Help!!!

option_click

A Cube with a triple? Groupset brand aside, it seems an odd choice when the other two bikes you've listed will likely have standard doubles on them.

You should really try test riding some bikes with Shimano and Campagnolo groups (standard and compact) to see which you prefer. Add SRAM into the mix and you might end up with a new list again.

I'd still go for the Wilier!

not-another-hillǃ

Well, most of you will be pleased to know, I bought the Wilier....it's so light and looks beautiful....I can't wait for my pedals to arrive so I can take it for a blast.
The Campagnolo centaur is a bit different to the 105 shifters I was used to, the button is a bit like My very first bike with Sora on it, so will take a bit of getting use to, but I'm really pleased with it.

Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it!

Mark