5 grand to spend on a bike.

btiratsoo
btiratsoo Posts: 204
edited January 2015 in Road buying advice
Hello all

I currently ride an Argon 18 Krypton with full Ultegra, 3t finishing kit and a set of Ksyrium SLR wheels. I'm considering making this my winter/ year round machine, as being my only bike it gets ridden whatever the weather. I am not just a fair weather cyclist. I look after the bike and regularly clean and maintain after rides.

I'm considering buying an Argon 18 Gallium Pro with full Ultegra or Dura Ace to be used on drier days when there is less crap on the roads. This got me thinking about off the shelf bikes for large sums of money. I am in a position where I can spend up to this amount of money on a bike through sheer hard graft. But what bikes would others buy for said amount of money. For example, I could use the 5k as a deposit for the new Tarmac S-Works Disc and believe me I am tempted. Another thought is the Trek Domane Disc 6.9 or the Cannondale Supersix Evo Black Nano thing using the 5k as a deposit.

So, what would you do if you had up to 5 grand to spend on an off the shelf bike. The reason I say off the shelf only is that I am lucky enough to be friends with a very understated frame builder who will be building me a nice steel custom machine next year.

Ben
«134

Comments

  • Elfed
    Elfed Posts: 459
    Trek Project One? You can get a 6 series frame with 6870 within that price range.
  • bikes`n`guns
    bikes`n`guns Posts: 959
    Domane 5.9 and a grands worth of top clothing.
    Trek,,,, too cool for school ,, apparently
  • blackpoolkev
    blackpoolkev Posts: 474
    I find that there is some pride to be gained in running a nice well maintained bike in all weathers. Replacing worn out parts (tyres,chains,cassettes,brake blocks,chainsets and bearings) is part of what makes cycling interesting.
    Spending big in order to avoid basic bike owning chores may not be quite as rewarding as you may think.
  • btiratsoo
    btiratsoo Posts: 204
    Hi Kev. I see what you are saying. The idea is to keep my Krypton as my year round bike that get used whatever the weather. That is full 11 speed Ultegra and I take great pride in maintaining it. I just fancy another bike that is something a bit more high end. I'm not spending big to avoid chores as the new bike will be used in the rain, just maybe not in the depths of winter in the lanes of the New Forest.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Spend say three grand on a nice bike. A grand on a winter bike that takes wide tyres and guards and a grand on clothing.

    The difference between say a three grand bike and a five isn't that big.
  • cubedean
    cubedean Posts: 670
    btiratsoo wrote:
    Hi Kev. I see what you are saying. The idea is to keep my Krypton as my year round bike that get used whatever the weather. That is full 11 speed Ultegra and I take great pride in maintaining it.

    I would find it very difficult to justify spending £5k on a bike when the current will still be used all year round, unless it was something really special.

    Why don't you build from scratch?
    Transition Bottlerocket
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    5k on a Trek? Everyone the their own but...
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,312
    blackpoolkev wrote:
    I find that there is some pride to be gained in running a nice well maintained bike in all weathers. Replacing worn out parts (tyres,chains,cassettes,brake blocks,chainsets and bearings) is part of what makes cycling interesting.
    Spending big in order to avoid basic bike owning chores may not be quite as rewarding as you may think.

    Good man... 8)
    left the forum March 2023
  • btiratsoo
    btiratsoo Posts: 204
    cubedean wrote:

    I would find it very difficult to justify spending £5k on a bike when the current will still be used all year round, unless it was something really special.

    Why don't you build from scratch?

    This is exactly the reason for posting. I have the money to spend but I really don't know about complete off the shelf bikes for that amount of money. Are they really that special? This is one of the reasons I'd buy the Gallium. They do seem to be a bit rare. Thanks for all the suggestions so far.
  • cubedean
    cubedean Posts: 670
    I'm guessing carbon is your material preference?

    Why not go for something like a colnago c60 & build it up with campag record or super record for something truly special.
    Transition Bottlerocket
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    cubedean wrote:
    I'm guessing carbon is your material preference?

    Why not go for something like a colnago c60 & build it up with campag record or super record for something truly special.

    Is that 'off the shelf' and would it come in at £5k?

    You could probably get a Dura Ace Di2 Canyon CF SLX with Mavic R-Sys wheels for just under £5k
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • cubedean
    cubedean Posts: 670
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    cubedean wrote:
    I'm guessing carbon is your material preference?

    Why not go for something like a colnago c60 & build it up with campag record or super record for something truly special.

    Is that 'off the shelf' and would it come in at £5k?

    You could probably get a Dura Ace Di2 Canyon CF SLX with Mavic R-Sys wheels for just under £5k

    It's not & that's exactly why I'd go for it. Why buy an off the shelf bike for £5k? You could build something far better for the same money.
    Transition Bottlerocket
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    cubedean wrote:
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    cubedean wrote:
    I'm guessing carbon is your material preference?

    Why not go for something like a colnago c60 & build it up with campag record or super record for something truly special.

    Is that 'off the shelf' and would it come in at £5k?

    You could probably get a Dura Ace Di2 Canyon CF SLX with Mavic R-Sys wheels for just under £5k

    It's not & that's exactly why I'd go for it. Why buy an off the shelf bike for £5k? You could build something far better for the same money.

    Absolutely.

    I'd go for a 2 grand frame, some Lightweight wheels, then shop around for the rest (DA in the sales, etc. etc.)
  • socrates
    socrates Posts: 453
    Why not go custom.
  • norvernrob
    norvernrob Posts: 1,448
    edited December 2014
    Or look at previous years models and get more for your money. I paid £3k for a Scott Foil 10, full Sram Red, ritchey wcs bars/stem. I sold the wheels for £450 and bought some Zipp 202 tubs for £500, and replaced the saddle with a Fizik Antares carbon. In total it's cost me £3,120, and I have a bike with pretty much top of the line everything. It weighs 6.35kg all in and I absolutely love riding it. :D

    I've got a Cube Peloton Race for winter/training use and there is no comparison, it feels dead compared to the Scott.
  • DKay
    DKay Posts: 1,652
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    cubedean wrote:
    I'm guessing carbon is your material preference?

    Why not go for something like a colnago c60 & build it up with campag record or super record for something truly special.

    Is that 'off the shelf' and would it come in at £5k?

    You could probably get a Dura Ace Di2 Canyon CF SLX with Mavic R-Sys wheels for just under £5k

    I'd also go with Canyon, but the Aeroad CF SLX 8.0 Di2 instead. Full 6870 Di2, one-piece aero cockpit, excellent Reynolds Strike wheels. All for £3599.

    Spend an extra £260 on some Zondas for wet weather duties, job done.

    Alternatively, the Bianchi store outlet has some lovely factory refurbished Oltres for around £3000, if you're willing to take a punt.

    http://www.bianchistore.de/Bianchi-Bike-Outlet

    (But personally, for £5k, I'd definitely go custom and spec exactly what I want).
    N
    N+1
  • Dippydog3
    Dippydog3 Posts: 414
    I had a similar budget.

    Really enjoyed buying a frame, groupset etc separately. Put most of it together myself. A little help from the LBS. Learnt lots and lots. Very rewarding and I now have much more confidence in looking after it properly.

    And I got everything I wanted. No compromises to annoy me.
  • stueys
    stueys Posts: 1,332
    Cervelo r5 with dura
  • secretsam
    secretsam Posts: 5,120
    A £3k bike, some nice clobber and a couple of nice holidays in the sun. With your bike.
    It's just a hill. Get over it.
  • mercia_man
    mercia_man Posts: 1,431
    What about a Look 695 Light? Looking at Epic Cycles' website, they are £4,999 in standard off the shelf spec with Ultegra Di2 and Aksiums or £5,049 with upgraded Cosmic Carbon wheels or they'll do custom builds. An unusual high end bike and exactly on budget.
  • How Far is too Far
    How Far is too Far Posts: 534
    Both a lot of bike for the money

    http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p522 ... -TEAM-2013

    http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/cannon ... 14-p228573
  • btiratsoo
    btiratsoo Posts: 204
    Thank you for all the replays so far. I'm away for work at the moment and will be back in the UK for Christmas. Looks like some early new year shopping and test rides are in order. Keep the advice and suggestions coming, they are much appreciated.
  • jimwalsh
    jimwalsh Posts: 113
    get a custom frame made and fitted with a decent gruppo. rather than an off the shelf carbon copy of a race machine get yourself down to a custom builder and get every speced out for the type of riding that you want to do.
  • btiratsoo
    btiratsoo Posts: 204
    Hi Jim. I'm on the waiting list of a friend of mine to have a custom steel machine built. It will be 953 and completely custom. I just fancy a more off the shelf style build - either complete or cherry pick parts etc and have the fun of building up a bike myself. I started this post to see what others would do in my position and to get some ideas. I have spoken to Phil at Aprire bikes and will hopefully be able to pay them a visit when I get home.
  • Undertones
    Undertones Posts: 52
    Haven't seen anything posted here I would rather have than the gallium from the first post.

    also a C60 with Record is hardly unique.
  • jimwalsh
    jimwalsh Posts: 113
    btiratsoo wrote:
    Hi Jim. I'm on the waiting list of a friend of mine to have a custom steel machine built. It will be 953 and completely custom. I just fancy a more off the shelf style build - either complete or cherry pick parts etc and have the fun of building up a bike myself. I started this post to see what others would do in my position and to get some ideas. I have spoken to Phil at Aprire bikes and will hopefully be able to pay them a visit when I get home.

    If I was in your position I would be popping in to see these guys and getting a lovely bit of Italian beauty built up for me

    http://artisancycles.co.uk/bikes.php a Tommasini x fire and some nice handbuilt wheels would float my boat.
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,104
    I'd be in two minds as to whether I'd want a 5 grand race bike as I'd be afraid to lean it up outside a cafe but if pushed a Look or lugged Colnago with campag - spec would depend on what deal I could get. I think maybe the Look having had good experiences with that brand in the past.

    If I can split the money though I'd have a winter bike with discs, maybe a 3k canyon or some other light carbon job with shallow rimmed clinchers and then a classic - I don't suppose I'd have change left for a La Vie Claire era steel Look ?
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    How about an ex-Lotto Belisol Ridley Helium SL

    http://www.merlincycles.com/ridley-heli ... 76100.html

    Merlin are selling off these ex-team bikes at under £3K with Campag Record EPS and a Zonda wheelset. Would retail at £6.5K
  • papavero
    papavero Posts: 57
    Legend?
  • btiratsoo
    btiratsoo Posts: 204
    I'm not sure you can buy a Legend for 5 grand.

    The ex team bikes sound like a good deal. Another one to the list of potentials and it has a bit of a story behind it too.

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