Best Race Bike for £1k

Octopus1

I've been looking for a new bike, already have a relaxed geometry sportive bike so looking for something a little more aggressive.

Due to cycle to work I have a strict £1k budget limit as my employer won't let me top up or show any contribution on the invoice. I don't want a giant defy despite the good write ups as its took similiar to what I currently have.

Current choice list is

Kuota Korsa Lite £999 Ali frame Sram Apex
Willier La Triestian £949 Ali frame 105
Plant X Pro Carbon £999 Carbon sram Rival
Sensa via Merlin Sl Pro £849 or Romagna £724 105

The Romagna seems to get excellent reviews.
The Willier is a 2012 but looks lovely.

Apart from the willier all would be mail order.

Which is the best buy ? And why ?

I'm keen on the willier but its an ali frame and the ride might not be an improvement on my current bike

Thanks

bails1310

If you can get your bike shop on side, nothing stopping you getting a £1k quote/invoice on a £1.5k bike and you pay the difference, not like the bike shop will let you have it anyway unless you do.

I'm sure some pureists will go on about various reasons why you can't/shouldn't. I'm currently paying for a bike in xs of £1k through the scheme and so are some of my work colleagues.

Could be your list get bigger or smaller if you can increase budget, possibly a Kharma? Im a fan of the Kuota's but biased TBH.

cougie

Isnt it something to do with the bike belonging to the company and it's theirs ? At the end of the lease - they offer to sell it to you for a reasonable sum ? If they got arsey - you may not even get the bike ? What if you leave the job ?

mitchgixer6

I don't know what bike you have at the moment, but I'm currently using a Cannondale Synapse as my good/race bike.

When I bought this bike I was just getting into road riding so wasn't sure if I'd get on with the position etc etc so went with a more relaxed Sportive type frame.

Now I'm getting more serious and doing more and more racing, I've managed to 'adjust' the geometry of the bike by changing certain parts. Stem length/height, saddle set back, bars for reach/drop. I now have a much more aggressive position on the bike than I used to, and working on new items over the winter (wheels especially) I've got the weight down to under 7.5kg.

Ok it might not be the stiffest frame out there, but hey, I'm no professional putting out 500w plus, so is plenty stiff for the Cat4 races I'll be doing.

Just putting this out there as another option for you. If you're getting it through Ride to Work then you'd be better with a new bike, but as mentioned I don't think there will be many thorough bred race machines for £1k.

passout

Perhaps an alu framed bike from Planet X or Canyon.

rozzer32

Try and find a Cannondale CAAD.

RubbishCyclist

rozzer32 wrote:

Try and find a Cannondale CAAD.

What he said