First road bike £3000, which one of these ?

Cat12345

Hi all

Im new to taking road riding serious, I do a lot of MTB XC but have been doing a lot more road riding recently on my decathlon Triban 3 but now I want something a little more suited to beating my mates and getting up the STRAVA leader board the only thing is I don't really know much about road bikes!

That said I have decided (based on what friends have and say) I need a carbon sub 8Kg bike with Udi2 and decent wheels, I have a 3k max budget and im looking for a decent bike that's great VFM, im happy with 2nd hand, ex demo, 2012 spec

This is my short list to date...

Felt AR3 Di2 __ 7.89kg __ MAVIC Cosmic Elite __ £2700
LINK


Ultimate CF SLX Di2 __ 7.05kg __ Ksyrium Elites __ £2900
LINK


Cannondale supersix di2 __ NAkg __ Ksyrium Elites __ £2400
LINK


Colnago CLX 3.0 Di2 __ NAkg __ Shimano WH-RS30A __ £2899
LINK



Vitus Vitesse VRi Di2 __ NAkg __ Ksyrium Elites __ £2519
LINK


Fuji SST 2.0 Di2 __ 7.7kg __ DT swiss Oval 535 __ £2319
LINK


if you where me which would you choose and why ?
Are there any lemons and why ?

note: Im 5.7' 72kg ive been riding up to 50 miles a session at the moment but want to double that (I did 80 at the weekend on my £300 Triban 3) for longer rides but still want something focused for shorter sprints.

cheers in advance

cougie

Fit is foremost. So what shops do you have near by to test the bikes out ? No point in second hand really - much harder to get a proper fit.

You'll not get a lemon at that kind of price.
3k is a lot - you could drop down to 2k and then have a grand to spend on training camps/bike holidays/extra kit.

You can't tell the difference in a ride between a 3k and a 2k bike I reckon.

pitchshifter

£3000 on your first bike? Madness.... Although that Canyon does look nice and very good value for money..

Don't be put off by second hand. Any willing buyer will let you sit on it/take it for a spin to see if you feel comfortable with it. Then get a bike fit to get yourself in the right position.

pkripper

Of those, the cannondale for me, but maybe relook at some of your priorities. Do you need di2? Probably not - maybe wait until it becomes more accessible price wise.

A decent frameset that can be hung with accessories that make it fit and good wheels should be the priority, all the rest is interchangeable. I've a very expensive bike but the difference between it and the 2k level bikes is far less than the price would have it believed. Ultimately, due to this country having such dog awful weather for the last couple of years, I've probably put in 3 times the miles on a winter bike, and the nice bike remains hardly used.

So, to cut it short, try as many as you can and buy one that fits and if more than one fit, buy whichever you prefer the colour of - at that price it won't be a dog!

VTech

Im a felt fan so that would be my choice but seriously, if I were to ever give advice to someone in your position on this forum I would say to never mention spending anything like that on your first bike, there are so many haters here

YIMan

pitchshifter wrote:

£3000 on your first bike? Madness.... Although that Canyon does look nice and very good value for money..

Don't be put off by second hand. Any willing buyer will let you sit on it/take it for a spin to see if you feel comfortable with it. Then get a bike fit to get yourself in the right position.

I was just going to say....cue people telling you how much they think you should be spending, instead of answering the question you actually asked. :shock:

The answer to your question, only in my opinion of course, is buy the one you like the best, whichever one will inspire and excite you the most. Don't be persuaded by minor specification or weight differences.

uberkraaft

Just had the same kind of choice - Out of your list I'd go for the Canyon - In fact I had one on order but couldn't wait any longer for the delays & decided against Di2 ... eventually. Part of the reason I ended up going for something else was also because it's a LOT of money to spend on something you haven't actually sat on & ridden ...

If you're sticking to the Di2 route - I'd get one that conceals the battery pack but other than that they'll all be cracking bikes! Enjoy your ride! (Not technically your first if you've been riding a Triban?!)

M

cooper.michael1

You ultimately don't have to spend £3000 to achieve the results you require.

As others have noted, the fit/style of the bike is the priority and Professional Racing geometry might not be right for you. I made that mistake 12 years ago, when transitioning from a MTB to a road bike, I had a lovely professional bike which was great to look at but I hated to ride it because it was too aggressive...and I'm actually quicker on my £1000 Planet X.

If you do want a ridable race orientated bike I really recommend Planet X, their latest road bike is £1000-1500 and is all the bike 99% of us will ever need - loads of colour options, and modifications available too. Later in the year you'd also have money for trips away, clothing, buying some fancy wheels etc...

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... _road_bike

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... _road_bike

I'm guessing you want lightwieght as you've listed all the bike weights, The RT58 is listed at 7.2Kg, and they are really good quality at £1500.

galatzo

Get something with mudguards on as we've just had our summer !!!!

Canyon looks good.

Cat12345

Thanks guys

Yes I was waiting to get told off for spending 3k on a road bike lol (still its only half what i paid for for my MTB!) but as uberkraaft pointed out its not technically my first road bike but it will be my first proper road bike, iv said 3k as that seems like a sweet spot for most new Di2 carbon bikes anything below seems to make some serious wheel and finishing kit compromise's but I'd certainly prefer to pay less hence me looking at old models

As for Di2 no I don't need it at all, but I love my gadgets

I must admit I'm kind of pulled to the Cannondale at the moment but it seems a bit cheap whats wrong with it ? Whats the difference between that and the canyon ? I also don't know what the weight is and can't seem to find it, I'd hope it's similar to the canyon?

The aero bikes are stunning but I've decided that as they are heavier and as I'm already adding Di2, I'm only small so maybe I should stay clear.

Also I appreciate what has been said about fit, I'm test riding a Cannondale SS this week and iv already rode the canyon

cooper.michael1

Effectively what you are asking is like, 'I'm going to trade in my Ford Fiesta - Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini which one?'

1. Professional specification is not necessarily appropriate for day-to-day use
The reality is the 'superbikes' may not be the most appropriate for you. Do you have the flexibility of a professional, do you have the same goals as a professional, do you ride on the same roads, in the same conditions as a professional?
2. Other options therefore may be quicker Is a Ferrari quicker than the Fiesta through London? The same goes for bikes, super stiff, steep angled, high geared, tight clearance bikes might not be the best option.
3. Does it Matter? All are top bikes, all are far too good for 99% of people, therefore pick the one you like the colour/paintjob/look of.
4. There are other options than Carbon/Di2 etc.. Titanium for example would really stand out from the crowd and be a about the most durable top end bike you could buy. http://www.vannicholas.com/7/Chinook/bike.aspx

markwb79

I hate these questions, everyone has their own opinion! Yet I still have to reply.

Its your money, doesnt matter how much you spend.

I have given advice to colleagues before and always regretted it.

Spending that much, dont be persuaded by too many of the deals, buy the bike you love and want to ride every day. For me, thats the most important thing. The bike will last for years, make sure you love it and dont regret picking one of the others etc.

On the spec part, nothing wrong with Di2. But for me, I wouldnt be bothered about getting good wheels as part of the deal. I bet you will want to change them to either lighter or deeper ones.

Buy the bike you love, but buy it with the cheapest wheels to try and get the price down, then buy some C24's or Zipp's with the money you saved.

Camcycle1974

For me the Canyon is the best looking bike (if looks are the main criteria?). I would not bother with Di2 as it adds weight and unesscessarily complicates things. Spend the money (if you have to) on better wheels. £2.5k should still buy a top bike.The best frame and wheels for your money should be top priority, not electronic shifting which has been binned by some of the pro teams if media reports are anything to go buy (see Sir Bradley's bike parking incident!)

passout

I honestly think that you should get a Ribble Winter Triainer, so that at least you can ride long distance in all weathers! I realise that this may be in addition to your best bike of course, but I'd figure it nto your budget & get a cheaper main bike - £2300? You'd stilll get something good for that - like an alu Canyon with electronic shifting?

metronome

Cat12345 wrote:

I must admit I'm kind of pulled to the Cannondale at the moment but it seems a bit cheap whats wrong with it ? Whats the difference between that and the canyon ? I also don't know what the weight is and can't seem to find it, I'd hope it's similar to the canyon?

Haha, nothing's wrong with it... The SS are truly fantastic but the original price of £3600 could be considered high.

Cannondale claim the weight of the SS Di2 to be 16.6 lbs (7.5KG). A useful breakdown of the different 2012 SS's can be seen here: http://www.infinitecycles.com/bikes/roa ... -supersix/

The Supersix is a very stiff and racey ride. With the Elites, it makes for a good climber.

Will you be testing a Supersix with Di2 or mechanical?

Mccaria

As has been posted above, geometry/fit is the first criteria.

If I was looking at the Canyon, I would personally go for the SLX with 9000 manual which is about £100/150 more than the SLX with Ui2. The shifting on the 9000 is excellent, it is lighter than Ui2 and with 6800 coming out later this year the current Ultegra electronic groupset is going to look dated much sooner.

I think the Canyon is an exceptional bike at £3100, if the geometry works for you. I like the look of the Cannondale, but it has a much more aggressive front end geometry - so it may depend on how supple your back is !

galatzo

Mccaria wrote:

As has been posted above, geometry/fit is the first criteria.

If I was looking at the Canyon, I would personally go for the SLX with 9000 manual which is about £100/150 more than the SLX with Ui2. The shifting on the 9000 is excellent, it is lighter than Ui2 and with 6800 coming out later this year the current Ultegra electronic groupset is going to look dated much sooner.

I think the Canyon is an exceptional bike at £3100, if the geometry works for you. I like the look of the Cannondale, but it has a much more aggressive front end geometry - so it may depend on how supple your back is !

Agreed, everyone's gone 11 speed now and the Canyon will have a touch taller headtube which will be comfier yet still look the biz.

Cat12345

thanks guys, the comments are really helping me decide, cheers metronome for the link to the super six that was just what I was after

im definitely after something that climbs well as ill be doing a lot competitive climbing with my riding group,
Im taking on board the comments about the aggressive racy geometry, iv never had any issues with any of the riding positions on the bikes iv tried and I am slender and flexible so maybe that helps, but id certainly appreciate something that dampens the road and it seems like all the bikes ive chose are harsh ?

ill go check out the giant that's been recommended shortly

also the SS im testing is mechanical, but I also have a test on one of these ...

BMC RM01 6.80kg Ksyrium Elites £3000 LINK


As a reference point I took THIS out for 50mile today, riding position felt fine (even though its a 56 and all the shops tell me im a 53/54) it weighed 8kg without pedals but with Easton EC90SL wheels



also I understand that I don't need di2 but I just want it, ive tried to talk myself out of it and tried to justify why I need it, I know at the end of the day id be disappointed if I did not go for it.

so the scope is DI2, lightweight, comfortable, fast bike that's good VFM ....if only lol

also noted about the all weather bike, I do have my trusty triban and a MTB should the weather not be perfect 8)

drlodge

For £3k I'd go custom built 853.

galatzo

Doubt your a 54. I'm same height as you and had a fitting which said 52. They can make a 54 fit in the shop by moving saddle forward and shorter stem but your position over the pedals will be all wrong. Don't get talked into something too big. Slam that saddle back first then work from there.
Get a proper fit done.

drlodge

Galatzo wrote:

Doubt your a 54. I'm same height as you and had a fitting which said 52. They can make a 54 fit in the shop by moving saddle forward and shorter stem but your position over the pedals will be all wrong. Don't get talked into something too big. Slam that saddle back first then work from there.
Get a proper fit done.

Agree, I'm 5'9" and about a 54cm, so 52cm is more likely unless you have odd proportions. Effective top tube length is your friend, get that wrong and you're stuffed.

cogidubnus

If I was buying a Canyon for 3k I would buy this one:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3104

galatzo

drlodge wrote:

Galatzo wrote:

Doubt your a 54. I'm same height as you and had a fitting which said 52. They can make a 54 fit in the shop by moving saddle forward and shorter stem but your position over the pedals will be all wrong. Don't get talked into something too big. Slam that saddle back first then work from there.
Get a proper fit done.

Agree, I'm 5'9" and about a 54cm, so 52cm is more likely unless you have odd proportions. Effective top tube length is your friend, get that wrong and you're stuffed.

The 52cm may feel small when you first sit on it but get the saddle back and the right stem and bar height and then ride it and you'll feel that the weight distribution is better.
If you've had a bike or bikes the wrong size for a while as I did its quite strange when it all clicks and you don't have any stress areas and you sit still on the bike !

Cat12345

Cheers guys, Ill deffinatly try a 52, must admit iv always felt cramped on smaller frames and preferred the stretched out feeling, I'd say I'm normal in proportion, not saying your wrong, i may have been badly advised and im not used to road bikes, if a 52 is better I'd sooner find out now before I get any bad habits, must admit I did a fair bit off moving around today on the 56 but put it down to now being used to the bike / seat

Ill make sure I try a few stores and get plenty of test rides

Camcycle1974

Love that BMC. For £3k if I had the budget I'd be tempted. Not too many about, in budget, with Di2, what's not to like?

Cat12345

This is one other option

BMC time machine £3500 6.35kg
Link

Reviews are good and highlight excellent climbing but forgiving frame

Must admit I'm going round in circles now I have bikes on the list from £2300 to £3500 :?

Are these discounted shop bikes actually any better value than the canyons ?

The aero bikes do look great codgidubnus but I'm not sure the weight penalty is worth it and I'm led to believe they are a little harsher in general

Cat12345

Also is their any other discount mail order cycle shops like Paul's that I should look at ?

letap73

No di2 but top notch in every other way + in your size.

http://www.bike-treks.co.uk/451071/prod ... ouble.aspx

Alexvs

Cat12345 wrote:

Cheers guys, Ill deffinatly try a 52, must admit iv always felt cramped on smaller frames and preferred the stretched out feeling, I'd say I'm normal in proportion, not saying your wrong, i may have been badly advised and im not used to road bikes, if a 52 is better I'd sooner find out now before I get any bad habits, must admit I did a fair bit off moving around today on the 56 but put it down to now being used to the bike / seat

Ill make sure I try a few stores and get plenty of test rides

I can't help on the bike advice I'm afraid as I've only got a Specialized Secteur Comp which is a 3rd of what you're looking to spend but as for size it does vary massively between manufacturers. I ride a 54 which I always thought was too long because I'd never had proper advice and bought from Evans who just said I look fine standing over it but the sloping top tube is very deceptive. As a comparison on a Giant Defy 1 my local dealer sized me on a 51 which felt good.

I recently paid out for a Retul fitting at a local place and asked what he initially thought and after my first spin and him having a look around me he said the size was right. After a proper fitting I now have the saddle set back, a 20mm longer stem and the bars slammed which really threw my thoughts out but it works. End of the day the best money I think you can spend is getting properly fitted to whatever bike you choose, it's the best £185 I spent so would say just do it when you've got the bike. Or if you've got a local fitting centre like I have that have the facilities they can size you up first on a jig and recommend you the one which will be right for you and then dial the bike in once you have it on your follow up. If you're anywhere close I can recommend Velomotion/all3motion in Milton Keynes who do this and up until last month didn't even know I had them on my doorstep.

robbo2011

Cat12345 wrote:

This is one other option

BMC time machine £3500 6.35kg
Link

I ride a BMC SLR01 and so I am biased, but the BMCs are great bikes.

But in the end, all of the bikes you have mentioned are good bikes, just buy the one you like the look of the best and make sure it's the correct size.