£2000~ Road Bike Advice

RichardKingston

Hi guys,

I've been looking at getting a new road bike for almost a year now! I ended up waiting for the 2013 models and have a good look around and have it down to just two (after edit!) at the moment -

CANYON Ultimate CF 9.0
£1,899.00
Shimano Ultegra 6700
Mavic Ksyrium Elite Black
https://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3085

ROSE CRS-3000
£1990.00
Shimano Ultegra 6700
Mavic Ksyrium Elite S
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose-xeon-crs-3000

Two similar bikes from companies with similar principles it would seem, cut out the middle man to offer high quality bikes at competitive prices.

cloggsy

Some very nice kit listed here

What about the Giant TCR Composite 1?

I hired one while I was out in Fuerteventura over Christmas and it was a very capable machine; Ultegra kit throughout!

Well worth a look!

zakstory

I wouldn't spend £2150 on a build with 105. Those Bianchis are pretty pricey..

I've got an ultimate CF 9.0, very pleased with it, great spec and performance for not much of a price tag, only downside is you can't try it first etc. Wouldn't worry about the putting together of the bike, only need to slap the wheels/handlebars on etc, nothing complicated.

Probably comes down to if you really want to see/try a bike in the flesh before you make the purchase!

What about a SuperSix?

RichardKingston

cloggsy wrote:

Some very nice kit listed here

What about the Giant TCR Composite 1?

I hired one while I was out in Fuerteventura over Christmas and it was a very capable machine; Ultegra kit throughout!

Well worth a look!

Thanks for the reply!

I looked at the Giant TCR Advanced 2 originally at £2000 and came close to the final short-list but its Shimano 105 and I don't have knowledge of the wheel system they were using. In terms of the Composite, unfortunately I've had the white bike (Specialized Allez Sport 2011 at the moment) and now its time for a change! I know I shouldn't dismiss a bike on that alone but I think the market is pretty competitive £2000~ so I can afford to be I suppose!

RichardKingston

zakstory wrote:

I wouldn't spend £2150 on a build with 105. Those Bianchis are pretty pricey..

I've got an ultimate CF 9.0, very pleased with it, great spec and performance for not much of a price tag, only downside is you can't try it first etc. Wouldn't worry about the putting together of the bike, only need to slap the wheels/handlebars on etc, nothing complicated.

Probably comes down to if you really want to see/try a bike in the flesh before you make the purchase!

What about a SuperSix?

Yeah I thought the Bianchis were pricey for the spec, but stunning to look at. I'm never going to need a bike at a higher level than that I don't think. I guess the wheelset upgrade makes the Ultegra Squadra more expensive but I expect I could find better spec bikes for the £2500 range. The Fulcrum Racing 7 wheels on the standard Ultegra would probably be ripe for an upgrade if I went for the cheaper one, would be a shame to spend £2350 and then want to upgrade (ending up the same cost as the Squadra anyway) The best wheels are on the Canyon I believe from looking around at RRPs and reviews. Not sure if someone could confirm that for me :?

With the Canyon I would take it for a bike fitting and usually I need smaller handbars for my size bike due to having narrow shoulders so I'd probably end up spending close to £100 on that.

noiseboyfeetman

I think next months C+ has their bike of the year, might be worth a read when its out.

bernithebiker

I just went to Ribble and specced up an R872 with full Ultegra and Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL wheels for below £2100.

Looks the business, and strikes me as better value than anything you listed above. And it's a UK based company!

muzzan

Hi,

I've just been through same tortuous decision making process & have today just ordered a Canyon Ultimate CF 9.0.

Was seriously tempted by a Bianchi. If I'd been within any reasonable distance of Epic I would probably have been swayed by their customer service, but as it is couldn't see past spec of the Canyon & the lower cost will allow some nice clothes purchases as well.

If your interested in Bianchis though these guys are doing some good deals on 2012 models & 2013 ones with upgraded wheels:

http://www.bianchibikes.co.uk/

RichardKingston

bernithebiker wrote:

I just went to Ribble and specced up an R872 with full Ultegra and Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL wheels for below £2100.

Looks the business, and strikes me as better value than anything you listed above. And it's a UK based company!

Thats a good call! Originally that was on my list. Does anyone on here have one? They do look awesome. I've configured it as I would have it, dropped the wheelset down to the Mavic Ksyrium Elite and its come out at under £2000. As its a custom build I wont be able to ride it before though.

RichardKingston

muzzan wrote:

Hi,

I've just been through same tortuous decision making process & have today just ordered a Canyon Ultimate CF 9.0.

Was seriously tempted by a Bianchi. If I'd been within any reasonable distance of Epic I would probably have been swayed by their customer service, but as it is couldn't see past spec of the Canyon & the lower cost will allow some nice clothes purchases as well.

If your interested in Bianchis though these guys are doing some good deals on 2012 models & 2013 ones with upgraded wheels:

http://www.bianchibikes.co.uk/

I'm in SE London so I'm a long way from Epic but I'm happy to go up there if its worth it. How long is the wait for the Canyon Ultimate CF 9.0? I hope its the right decision for you

I need new shoes and I've been wanting Oakley Jawbones forever so going for the Canyon might make more sense.

displacedaussie

My CF 9.0 arrived a month ago. It's fantastic.

muzzan

They say its in stock, so hopefully should have it in 10 days/2 weeks or so. Of course they do have a 30 day return policy so if its not right for whatever reason you can send it back (not sure about return postage costs).

To be honest havent been overly impressed by the selection of LBS's we have up here. Been round most of them & just get the impression they want to sell you the bike in front of you, not a lot of concern about fit etc & in some cases even reluctant to let you ride the bikes, so that made the decision to go online easier as well.

RichardKingston

displacedaussie wrote:

My CF 9.0 arrived a month ago. It's fantastic.

I think all it needs is black grip tape and a black seat and its there the only Bianchi Sempre I think I would consider is the £2,605 model and although it looks nicer it doesn't warrant £700 AND the wheels are better on the Canyon.

RichardKingston

muzzan wrote:

They say its in stock, so hopefully should have it in 10 days/2 weeks or so. Of course they do have a 30 day return policy so if its not right for whatever reason you can send it back (not sure about return postage costs).

To be honest havent been overly impressed by the selection of LBS's we have up here. Been round most of them & just get the impression they want to sell you the bike in front of you, not a lot of concern about fit etc & in some cases even reluctant to let you ride the bikes, so that made the decision to go online easier as well.

Thanks Muzzan, its a good point. I hear Epic Cycles really are up there in terms of customer service, test rides, bike fittings etc. I'm sure I would walk away with 100% confidence in the bike I was getting but I think the Bianchi is just too much. I will go to On Your Bike @ London Bridge before deciding as they have served me well before.

RichardKingston

Hi guys,

I spotted the Aeroad CF 7.0 on the Canyon website, wow it looks spot on for what I'm looking for, stands out more than the Ultimate CF 9.0 but when I compared the bikes using their comparator by their own admission their doesn't appear to be any difference? Same wheel set, same drivetrain... how is it worth the £340 difference?

philbar72

It's aero. Frames heavier, but slips through the air better, apparently!

RichardKingston

philbar72 wrote:

It's aero. Frames heavier, but slips through the air better, apparently!

That's not enough to warrant the price difference right? I much prefer the frame shape on the Aero, it's not that I don't like the Ultimates frame its just that for the price it doesn't have me saying *wow* like the Aero does.

bobbydazzla

I went through the same agonising selection process, boring anyone who would listen about my dilemma of which bike to go for.

And in the end I went for the Canyon Ultimate CF 9.0. I ordered 12 days ago and it was in stock so I'm hoping to get my despatch confirmation in the next day or two.

bernithebiker

RichardKingston wrote:

philbar72 wrote:

It's aero. Frames heavier, but slips through the air better, apparently!

That's not enough to warrant the price difference right? I much prefer the frame shape on the Aero, it's not that I don't like the Ultimates frame its just that for the price it doesn't have me saying *wow* like the Aero does.

It's a fashion thing. Save your money and stick with the Ultimate.

GGBiker

I would be tempted by the Scott foil at the moment, aero bike which would give an extra 1mph average going by their claims.

smidsy

GGBiker wrote:

I would be tempted by the Scott foil at the moment, aero bike which would give an extra 1mph average going by their claims.

What if you do not live anywhere near their claims, does it still provide the 1mph benefit in other locations?

GGBiker

Boom boom!

The'ir Claims is a legendary alpine Col.

RichardKingston

bernithebiker wrote:

RichardKingston wrote:

philbar72 wrote:

It's aero. Frames heavier, but slips through the air better, apparently!

That's not enough to warrant the price difference right? I much prefer the frame shape on the Aero, it's not that I don't like the Ultimates frame its just that for the price it doesn't have me saying *wow* like the Aero does.

It's a fashion thing. Save your money and stick with the Ultimate.

Thought as much, I'm a sucker for a bike with good looks! At the moment the Ultimate is winning hands down because there doesn't appear to be a tangible difference between it and the Aero. I always liked Rose but can't get a bike just right on there at the moment with all of their configurations.

I modified my original post now too

rolf_f

smidsy wrote:

GGBiker wrote:

I would be tempted by the Scott foil at the moment, aero bike which would give an extra 1mph average going by their claims.

What if you do not live anywhere near their claims, does it still provide the 1mph benefit in other locations?

I think their claims are in cloud cuckoo land........ Scott should consider doing standup

bernithebiker

The £350 that you save over the aero would buy you a tasty wheel upgrade which would do far more for you than any shaped downtube.

mikenetic

I went for a CF 9.0 recently too, and have been impressed with it. The spec was amazing value for money, build quality seems very good, and I had mine within a week of my initial order.

I swapped the saddle over for a black Fizik Antares as I find them comfy, and the whole thing is pretty discrete. When you're riding the bike you're not looking at it, so the understated design appeals to me.

My mate has the Aeroad, his comment was "it assumes you don't have any vertebrae." The fit is a lot more aggressive than the CF. Not that the CF is a Sportive potterer, by any means.

RichardKingston

I would be looking at changing the saddle and the griptape to black, will look much better I think. I presume Canyon don't offer that service for free?!

bobbydazzla

RichardKingston wrote:

I would be looking at changing the saddle and the griptape to black, will look much better I think. I presume Canyon don't offer that service for free?!

I emailed them to ask about switching the colours of the bar tape and saddle to black and they won't do it.

mikenetic

Yeah, they will swap certain things (stem length, handlebar width) but other than that, you're out of luck. Eventually I'll probably stick black bar tape on mine, there's no way I'll keep white remotely clean.

chigman

bobbydazzla wrote:

RichardKingston wrote:

I would be looking at changing the saddle and the griptape to black, will look much better I think. I presume Canyon don't offer that service for free?!

I emailed them to ask about switching the colours of the bar tape and saddle to black and they won't do it.

Oh well, that saved me a job then. Was gonna email them about the same thing.

Steve

smidsy

Dear Mr Canyon.
As I am the customer and you are providing a service that I am paying for, can you please change the colour of some very minor components.

Dear Mr Customer.
Thank you for your large cheque. With regards to your other query, no way, we are in charge round here.

WTF.

Buy another bike from a proper customer focused company.