Recommend me a bike

Fursty Ferret

I beg the collective wisdom of the bikeradar crowd in helping me with my choice of future purchase.

Let's see. I'm 38 going on 39 and ride primarily for fitness. I don't intend to race, although I may enter the odd sportive, but I take the opportunity when I am on a bike to push myself pretty hard and get the most out of it (aware that my definition of pushing may differ from others). For a variety of reasons I tend to restrict my time on the bike to between 1-3 hrs depending on what I am doing but the majority of my riding is on and around the Ridgeway in S Oxforshire/Wiltshire i.e. rolling hills, some of which are quite sharp, and juddering roads. I'm generally out on the bike around 4/5 times a week, distances (with hills) generally around the 20-60 mile mark depending on how much time I have on my hands (I generally ride alone). I weigh about 14.5 stone so I need a bike, and particularly some wheels, that can take the punishment. I currently ride a Specialized Allez sport triple and although it suits my needs perfectly well it is now that I am beginning to notice its shortcomings. It's fairly porky (as am I) and obviously it suffers from relatively budget components. It will stay however as a commuting and winter training bike as it has done me proud.

My budget would be around 2.5K max

If you were me(and I bet you're glad you're not), what would you plump for?

Cheers

Ferret

southdownswolf

If it were me with 2.5K to spend on a bike that will not be used for racing except sportives, I would go for something like an Enigma. A nice handcrafted, manufactured in the UK, titanium cycle.

http://www.enigmabikes.com/bike/bike-en ... lipse.html

defycomp2

Giant Defy Composite 2. v v nice and only £1500 (if you can find one). Check the sizing and then ride them. Giant say i'm a M/L but after riding I got a M. Great frame, decent wheels and tyres, and SRAM Apex for those hills.

Fursty Ferret

southdownswolf wrote:

If it were me with 2.5K to spend on a bike that will not be used for racing except sportives, I would go for something like an Enigma. A nice handcrafted, manufactured in the UK, titanium cycle.

http://www.enigmabikes.com/bike/bike-en ... lipse.html

Hmm. It was looking good until I added a fruity groupset and some cheek wheels and then I was past 3k and still climbing! Can't be doing with the buffet approach. Before you know it you have the bike of your dreams but no wife or house...

BruceG

Take a look at a Specialized Tarmac, geometry will be the same (near as dammit) as your Allez, so you know what to go for in terms of sizing and set up. This may allow you to buy used and get a higher spec than you thought possible for your budget!

dav3e

Not sure if your married Ferret, but my missus would have a few choice words to say if I told her I was spending 2.5k on a new bike (as much as I'd like to !)
PS - Don't forget to increase your insurance policy ;o)

giant_man

dav3e wrote:

Not sure if your married Ferret, but my missus would have a few choice words to say if I told her I was spending 2.5k on a new bike (as much as I'd like to !)
PS - Don't forget to increase your insurance policy ;o)

hmm, WOMEN know your limits!! lol

Fursty Ferret

dav3e wrote:

Not sure if your married Ferret, but my missus would have a few choice words to say if I told her I was spending 2.5k on a new bike (as much as I'd like to !)
PS - Don't forget to increase your insurance policy ;o)

About to get married.

Actually, to be fair, the only person putting the clamps on my spending is me. And I don't run a car or do holidays so a decent bike isn't actually that much of an extravagance.

Fursty Ferret

BruceG wrote:

Take a look at a Specialized Tarmac, geometry will be the same (near as dammit) as your Allez, so you know what to go for in terms of sizing and set up. This may allow you to buy used and get a higher spec than you thought possible for your budget!

Yeah. I do like some of those Specialized. I was looking at a Roubaix Comp. Shiny!

EclypseDesigns

Cube !

MartinB2444

What is that 14.5 stone made up of. If you're big but lean then go for the swanky up grade. If there is a bit of the lardy stuff around your belly then you should be able to rid yourself of that easily enough with the amount of riding you are doing. That will give you a much bigger performance boost than a change of bike and be a better tick for meeting the fitness goal. It might be better to get down to a good target weight and then reward yourself with a new mount suitable for your cycling god figure

Martin

Fursty Ferret

MartinB2444 wrote:

What is that 14.5 stone made up of. If you're big but lean then go for the swanky up grade. If there is a bit of the lardy stuff around your belly then you should be able to rid yourself of that easily enough with the amount of riding you are doing. That will give you a much bigger performance boost than a change of bike and be a better tick for meeting the fitness goal. It might be better to get down to a good target weight and then reward yourself with a new mount suitable for your cycling god figure

Martin

Funny you should say that. It's obviously a logical move. But the 14.5 stone, down from about 17 stone at my biggest, is as much a legacy of years of weightlifting and playing front-row in rugby. Most of that weight (if you get my drift) is in my shoulders, neck, chest and upper arms. I exercise 4/5 times a week, don't really drink alcohol, eat sensibly, (mainly fish and veg in the evenings to be honest, with the odd weekend blowout) and my only vice is yoghurts (and a bit of cheese). But getting to below 14 stone for me is a real effort and requires a drastic alteration in diet, and anything below about 13 stone 10 is unsustainable. That's why I look in amazement at all these people who shed the stones as over a few months of cycling. I'm out there as often as possible and havent shifted a pound. I have, however, become much, much fitter, that much is clear. So it's having an effect, just not on my physique (apart from more solid legs, obviously)

So I've decided that the reward for having nicer legs is having a nicer bike. And yes, the Cube's are lovely.

MartinB2444

Fursty Ferret wrote:

Funny you should say that. It's obviously a logical move. But the 14.5 stone, down from about 17 stone at my biggest, is as much a legacy of years of weightlifting and playing front-row in rugby. Most of that weight (if you get my drift) is in my shoulders, neck, chest and upper arms.

Then you've qualified for a new bike permit. My Cube GTC Race is plenty of cycling loveliness for me.

Martin

lostboysaint

Wilier Izoard Centaur.

I'm 95kg (more than you) and it's fantastically comfortable, stiff wheels (Fulcrum Racing 5), Centaur groupset is superbly reliable and just gets better with use, it's rare enough , it's Italian etc.etc.

Just find one that's comfortable and ride it.

Fursty Ferret

lostboysaint wrote:

Wilier Izoard Centaur.

I'm 95kg (more than you) and it's fantastically comfortable, stiff wheels (Fulcrum Racing 5), Centaur groupset is superbly reliable and just gets better with use, it's rare enough , it's Italian etc.etc.

Just find one that's comfortable and ride it.

Yeah, the Wilier's have certainly caught my eye. Italian loveliness indeed. Saw one for 8K. Swoon.

Fursty Ferret

Actually, looking at those Wilier's again, they look bloody lovely