Help needed for this crash victim to make up his mind

Wookiemcbear

Hello all 

I am a newbie on here and to road bikes and am looking for some advice. Some weeks ago I was involved in a crash which totalled my bike and everything i was wearing but somehow I managed to get away with just a sore head and cuts and bruises mostly thanks to the helmet my wife convinced me to buy (thank god but just don't tell her). 

In my past I have been a lover of mountain biking and dabbled in road bikes on my dads brown 2ton raleigh lol. When I was looking at bikes back then it was GT, treks, orange and the such like but now I'm looking at the world of road bikes some 15 years on I'm completely lost with the fancy foreign names and don't know my giants from my pinarello's and my aluminium from my carbons. 

The bike I lost in the crash was just a standard carreara which I purchased as a cheap cycle to work bike worried i might not take to it. I then found myself cycling 30miles most evening just for fun and lost 3 stone. Now that bike has gone and I'm due some compo as the fella driving the car broad sided me when I was going round a roundabout and he was joining it. I feel it's time to get a much better bike to help myself progress and become a better cyclist and take part in some sportive events.

I have been doing some research and the giant defy1 is looking like a safe choice for my ball park price bracket. But I think I want something a little different and i also want the get the best I can for my money I have a budget of around £1500 and open to any suggestions that people may have.

Thank you all for your time 


Mark 

Stockton on tees 
Northeast England 

carrock

Hi mark

To be honest, at 1500 ish the best value would be something like a Boardman, or Ribble or Merlin. You may even get an Ultegra group set on these bikes at this price. The mainstream manufacturers such as trek, specialized or giant will offer an inferior group at this price. Merlin offer a carbon bike with full ultegra and reasonable wheels for £1574. http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/b ... -2013.html

Wookiemcbear

Thank you for your response I have looked at the ribbles and found them to be very good value for money but I would love to see one in the flesh

philvantwo

I'd recommend a ribble, you can chose what bars, stem, crank length , wheels, tyres etc what you want on your bike. Can never see the point of splashing out on a new bikey then 'upgrading' things like wheels!

dave35

£1500 can get a very good bike if you know what you want
This for a start
http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3078

Or
http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/p/23985/foc ... bike-2013/

carrock

dave35 wrote:

£1500 can get a very good bike if you know what you want
This for a start
http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3078

Or
http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/p/23985/foc ... bike-2013/

Both aluminium frames though, whereas the OP could get carbon for a similar price.

EPO Delivery Man

Have a look at Sensa bikes. Getting rave reviews and a bargain for your money. Here...

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/b ... nsa-bikes/

Check out the Toscana custom...Ultegra, carbon, Mavic wheels..£1300

ooermissus

Sorry to hear about your crash, but happy you survived unscathed. Here's six bikes in your price range with reviews: http://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/708 ... road-bikes

Wookiemcbear

Thank you everyone for the responses I will take a look at all of the options you have posted there are some very nice bikes there

Cheers

Mark

mhj999

EPO Delivery Man wrote:

Have a look at Sensa bikes. Getting rave reviews and a bargain for your money. Here...

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/b ... nsa-bikes/

Check out the Toscana custom...Ultegra, carbon, Mavic wheels..£1300

+1 for Sensa bikes. I have the Sensa Giulia - it is an awesome piece of kit for the money. Romagna, Toscana and Giulia have all had great reviews.

passout

As above really. look at Ribble (see: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sed/road- ... =conf_SERC), Merlin, Planet X / Battaglin (see http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBB ... plete_bike), Boardman / Halfords, Canyon or your local bike shop. Vitus at CRC look interesting too.