First carbon road bike?

deepblue

Hello
this is my first post so please be gentle...

i am looking to buy my first raod bike, i have a MTB but want to get into road riding as more of my pals do that.

I want carbon but dont have loads of dosh so i am looking at 2011 models currently on sale and so are looking to spend £1-1.5k max

i would say my ability level is 'average' and have been looking at Trek or Specialized carbon bikes in this price bracket.
My LBS keeep raving about Trek being the brand to go for but i would welcome some feedback to assist my choice.

Thanks!

KnightOfTheLongTights

2011 Cannondale SuperSix 105s were available for £1,300-500 not long ago but there won't be many sizes left by now.
It is by all accounts a great all-round bike.

alihisgreat

Boardman Team Carbon (great reviews)
Planet-X RT-57 (goes up to £2k in a few days http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/PBPXRT57SF/planet_x_rt_57_sram_force_road_bike)
Ribble (you could get SRAM rival + nice wheels eg fulcrum racing 3 for under £1.5k)
Giant Defy composite or TCR composite

deepblue

i will take a look...
should i be concerned about getting a better g/set?
someone i know is selling a C/dale synapse 2010 upgraded to Ultegra for £1100 - reckon its worth a look?

petemadoc

There's loads of choice at this price point.

If you have confidence in your local bike shop and they can give you a good service with fitting and maybe some freebies then go for it. I'm sometimes wary of what they try to push you into, I know that Trek give independent shops a good deal and prevent internet sales so this could by why they come recommended so highly.

Enjoy the buying experience

petemadoc

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

Boardman Team Carbon (great reviews)
Planet-X RT-57 (goes up to £2k in a few days http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/PBPXRT57SF/planet_x_rt_57_sram_force_road_bike)
Ribble (you could get SRAM rival + nice wheels eg fulcrum racing 3 for under £1.5k)
Giant Defy composite or TCR composite

That RT-57 Force deal from Planet x is pretty good!

And a synapse carbon ultegra is a safe buy but make sure it's the right size.

deepblue

i like the look of the planet x, but will have to study things a bit more out of work....
never heard of this make, i assume you guys rate them ok (always a bit wary of unheard of bike brands...)

cheers.

ads2k

Cube Agree GTC's offer great 'bang for ur buck' and would be a good choice for your first carbon bike.

That's were my money went anyway

romka123

You will have to make trade offs. Even though bikes in the $1500 price range are very good, you won't get the best of everything. If you think you won't be completely satisfied with the bike you'll get for $1500, consider buying one with a nicer frame, but lower spec components; they will be easy to upgrade one by one as you get the money

You can often buy a used two-year old version of the exact bike you want from eBay or Craigslist for less than half the price of a new bike.
If you are willing to spend some time, these sites can yield some great deals, but do your research before-hand. Go to a bike shop, figure out what sized bike you need, figure out which bikes you are interested in, and then start to hunt.
If you buy a used bike, be willing to spend $100 to take it into your local bike shop to adjust the fit for you and have the bike tuned up.
Long distance rides/ triathlons are nicer with aero bars. Make sure you practice with them before going for a big ride!

Chris James

romka123 wrote:

Long distance rides/ triathlons are nicer with aero bars. Make sure you practice with them before going for a big ride!

I wouldn't normally comment on his sort of thing, but given the OP is a beginnner, then I think it is only fair to say that every single roadie that i have ever known hasn't fitted aerobars for long rides, unles doing a time trial.

Re £1500 carbon road bikes, there are loads around at this price range. Pick any, they are all good. In fact pick the one with the paint job you like the most. Most of them have similar kit on them and the frames are made in the same far eastern factory. The only real choice is whethe you would like a shorter, more upright 'sportive' fit as per the current fashion or a long and low position of the old school roadie.

There are very few riders who are good enough ton be held back by a £1500 bike. I seem to recall Chris Boardman, on launching his range of bikes a few years ago, saying that even the budget model was simiolar in standard to what he first raced the Tour de France on.

Buying from your LBS will be more expensive (or get a lower spec) than from online retailers like Ribble and PlanetX but you may be hapier having the support the LBS may offer in the event of warranty claims etc.

Treks and Specialized are the Ford and GMs of the bike world, decent value but ubiquitous.

deepblue

cheers for all the advice.
i think i am going to travel to Planet X at the weekend to have a good look at the RT-57 Sram Force and also try to get a look at a Cannondale Synapse 2010 too.
they both seem to be similar in frame and g/set...the Cannondale will cost me a couple of hundred quid less, but obviously its 2 years old.
appreciate all the helpful comments :-)

HonestAl

You seemed to ask if Planet X was a safe choice, not sure I saw a response but I'd give them a big thumbs up (and you'll find lots of others on here would do the same) I've had a Ti Pro Road for several years, it's been great and they've dealt with any queries or problems really well. Even to the extent that they swapped the frame after several months of my owning it 'cos I didn't like the original matt finish. I call that excellent service. My son's also got a PX carbon model which he's very happy with.

I'd give them a "safe bet" vote