Carbon road bike - £1k budget

skyblueweeman
skyblueweeman Posts: 9
edited June 2013 in Road buying advice
Hi,

New to the forum. After suggestions for a carbon road bike, preferrably about £1k? Looked at a Peugeot CR02 this afternoon but not sure about the Veloce groupset.

Will be used for riding 3-5 days per week, 10-80 miles per ride and also for a London-Paris challenge I'm organising in September.

Any ideas/suggestions welcome, thanks.

WM

Comments

  • pkripper
    pkripper Posts: 652
    Cannondale caad 10 - not carbon, but at that price I'd choose a good Alu frame every time.
  • Either of the above
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • evs78
    evs78 Posts: 133
    I have a Ribble Gran Fondo and would definitely recommend as a first road bike. I went for veloce about two and a half years ago and while the prices have nudged the wrong side of a grand, I much prefer it to the shimano systems (my turbo bike is shimano).

    I use the bike all year round and it handles well, is plenty quick enough and open to upgrade (I have upgraded wheels, seatpost, saddle so far). The key for me though is that it looks great; all down to opinion but I love it.
    All the gear and no idea...
  • alihisgreat
    alihisgreat Posts: 3,872
    Don't be put off Aluminium bikes.. chances are you're not going to get anything special from a carbon frame at that rice point, but there are some very good Alu frames:

    - Caad10
    - Giant Defy
    - Scott Speedster
    - Boardman Team

    (actually I think Boardman just announced a new £1k version of the Team Carbon to be in stores soon -> that would be my choice if I was going for Carbon).
  • dnwhite88
    dnwhite88 Posts: 285
    The kuota korsa carbon is in your price range, never ridden one but kuota are good frame makers so I doubt you would have any problems and if you did just send it back!
    "It never gets easier, you just go faster"
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    Nothing wrong with Veloce. If you could find a few more quid get this http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cinelli-saetta- ... loce-2012/
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    For a grand you will get a better Alu bike than a carbon one. Either the carbon frame will be crap or the extras will not be as good quality as you would get on the Alu frame.

    IF you are willing to save up another 200 or so its a bit more viable to get a carbon with a decent groupset and wheels.
  • letap73
    letap73 Posts: 1,608
    Check out Paulscycles - the carbon Giants at about £1000 are very good value.
  • IanREmery
    IanREmery Posts: 148
    I've just got the Cube Agree GTC for £1250 (a topped-up Bike to Work scheme job). Carbon frame, Tiagra components throughout. For a beginners road bike it's amazing. More comfy and enjoyable to ride than my 2yo hybrid.
  • Thanks for the suggestions. I spent a large part of last night trawling the t'interweb and taken on board your suggestions. I've narrowed it down to:

    * BeOne Diablo Sport Road Bike 2012
    * Focus Culebro SL 2.0 Bicycle Compact 2013
    * Cannondale Caad 8 105 - 2013 Road Bike
    * Ribble Gran Fondo
    * Cannondale CAAD10 105 Road Bike 2012
    * Scott Speedster 20
    * Bianchi VIA Nirone 7 Tiagra 2013 Road Bike
    * Sensa Toscana Special - 2013
    * Merlin MALT-CR Carbon Road Bike 2013

    So when I said narrowed it down, I really did trawl! I've always thought the Gran Fondo looks amazing but when I come to adding on the bits I want, it takes it above my price range. Looking at the list above, the Focus and the Bianchi are the two that take my pic most. The Focus is an alloy frame/carbon fork with Ultegra groupset and the Bianchi is the same frame/fork combo but with Tiagra groupset so maybe the Focus is the one by virtue of better group set.

    Saying that, I might go shopping on Saturday and get something completely different!

    WM
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    Purely my opinion but there are better bikes out there for a grand than the two you have narrowed your choice down to.
    I would be less concerned about the groupset and more concerned about the frame, fit, after sales service and warranty.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Thanks for the suggestions. I spent a large part of last night trawling the t'interweb and taken on board your suggestions. I've narrowed it down to:

    * BeOne Diablo Sport Road Bike 2012
    * Focus Culebro SL 2.0 Bicycle Compact 2013
    * Cannondale Caad 8 105 - 2013 Road Bike
    * Ribble Gran Fondo
    * Cannondale CAAD10 105 Road Bike 2012
    * Scott Speedster 20
    * Bianchi VIA Nirone 7 Tiagra 2013 Road Bike
    * Sensa Toscana Special - 2013
    * Merlin MALT-CR Carbon Road Bike 2013

    So when I said narrowed it down, I really did trawl! I've always thought the Gran Fondo looks amazing but when I come to adding on the bits I want, it takes it above my price range. Looking at the list above, the Focus and the Bianchi are the two that take my pic most. The Focus is an alloy frame/carbon fork with Ultegra groupset and the Bianchi is the same frame/fork combo but with Tiagra groupset so maybe the Focus is the one by virtue of better group set.

    Saying that, I might go shopping on Saturday and get something completely different!

    WM

    Out of all that list, I would have thought the Scott would have won out. And I own a Via Nirone. Scott Speedster 20 best handling bike on that shortlist by a country mile.
  • pkripper
    pkripper Posts: 652
    And I would go for the 2012 Caad 10.
  • letap73
    letap73 Posts: 1,608
    Excellent carbon frame and good components to boot:

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p449 ... ITE-3-2012

    And this with excellent reviews (good looking too):
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-2g-poggio-p20-105/

    mekk-poggio-p20-carbon-road-bike-66760.jpg
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    How timely! Bit out of touch with road stuff and contemplating something lightish, chance upon this useful summary - if I decide to have a carbon, then the Giant at Paulscycles would be it - I know that Giant "Mediums" fit me! And they are always good vfm.
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • So, decided on the Mekk Poggio. Done a couple of hundred miles on her...love her. Excitable front end compared to my old Giant but rides like a dream....
  • And some more pics..
  • And the last one...
  • dwanes
    dwanes Posts: 954
    Congratulations, I like it when there's a happy ending!

    Nice bike.
  • mrcw34
    mrcw34 Posts: 10
    If you can stretch a wee bit the Lapierre sensium 100 at £1199 is a quality left field choice, gets cracking reviews and the frame is top draw so plenty of scope for future upgrades http://www.lapierre-bikes.co.uk/road/pe ... ium-200-tp