Help me spend £2000

Mikeypoos

Hi All

I've just been given a bonus from work of £2000 and want to buy a new bike. I've been riding a Verenti Millook for the past 5 years or so and have enjoyed it immensely. I ride with a club on a Sunday, sometimes commute to work about 17 miles each way and have signed up to a few 100 mile sportives this summer. I'm not a seriously quick cyclist, it's more of an enjoyment and fitness thing for me. Although I do like to push myself to keep improving.

I started looking at the BMC Teammachine SLR2 which was a little bit over the £2k but that's fine. Then I've been looking at Canyon; Endurance CF and the Ultimate CF SL. I also like the sound of the Rose Xeon Team CGF-3100 Di2 - For the price this seems ridiculously good value at £1876.

I think I now have too many options and am confusing myself about what I want. I can throw in an extra couple of hundred quid if needs be.

If anyone has any thoughts on what to go for, I'd love to hear them.

tlw1

the advice is always go and try a few, buy what fits you best and obviously start saving, as the budget will creep (mine doubled last time)!

Anonymous

What do you want the new bike to do that the current one does not?
Am not saying forget about a new bike but you have not given anything to go on.

I want the SLR02 for the wife if that helps, and SLR01 would be a favourite of mine if I was in the market for a new bike right now.

ugo.santalucia

Mikeypoos wrote:

Hi All

I've just been given a bonus from work of £2000 and want to buy a new bike. I've been riding a Verenti Millook for the past 5 years or so and have enjoyed it immensely.
If anyone has any thoughts on what to go for, I'd love to hear them.

Your post is missing a BUT... in the absence of a but you are just wasting money... :roll:

cycleclinic

You are over thinking. Try a few out and decide. Ideally buying something different in purpose to what you have or all you have is another version of what you have already got. Perhaps disc brakes well you might as well if you are getting something new that will at least be different to what you have.

Mikeypoos

I just feel the time is right to upgrade what I have. My current bike isn't very exciting and the frame size is slightly too big as I bought it on the cheap (ex display) when I didn't have much cash. I would also like it to be lighter for hill climbs as I've signed up for a few rides through Wales in the Summer. I would still keep the Verenti and ride it through the Winter as it's a good trusty bike but I as soon as Spring comes around I want something that will be fun and exciting to ride yet comfortable over 100 miles or so.

wotnoshoeseh

If L is your size this is what I think I'd be going for....

http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/focus-cayo-e ... y-page-top

Review here.... http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... -14-48172/

Save the remaining £700 for a set of pedals, bottle cages, and maybe treat yourself to a Garmin (if you don't have one).
Put the rest in the bank!!

Pigtail

There are lots of decisions to make, though some people will argue that some of these decisions don't matter very much.

Race versus endurance frames, shimano or something else, disc or rim brakes?

I've just spent that kind of money on a bike and bought a Tarmac comp. I looked at last year's model BMC and liked the look of it but had some concerns, maybe misplaced, about warranty.

Decision was relatively simple though. My first road bike was an Allez elite and I loved it. The bike was worn out and I had some money to spend so basically thought it has done me really well in the time I had it so why change now? The Tarmac is pretty much the same bike in carbon, and I was worried about spending what for me is a lot of money and then thinking it didn't live up to my Allez.

Fishboyz

Canyon Ultimate CF would be my choice...at least you get some decent wheels. Also last years Scott Addict would be great around 1400 rubs

velohutts

Cervelo r2, nice bike, light and rides really well.
In need of a wheel upgrade as and when but fine as it is, at 200 more the s2 is another really nice bike if considering aero frame.
Enjoy the shopping !

roubaixtom

Just ordered a Rose CGF 3000 mechanical Ultegra, should arrive in next couple of weeks. Rose where great and if you ring their UK rep you can test ride the bike in Bath. Awesome bike for the money.

Dizeee

Evans has one of the last De Rosa Merak's available in White at £1999 now on their website which was discontinued Spring 2014. Big discount from new of over 1k.

ugo.santalucia

Pigtail wrote:

Race versus endurance frames, shimano or something else, disc or rim brakes?

... curry or Chinese... red or white :roll:

menthel

I tried the 105 equipped slr02- was a rather dull ride. Too comfortable with little feedback from the frame. The Emonda sl5 was much better, with more feedback through the frame and the massive bottom bracket made it have good power transfer when you pedalled hard. It felt significantly different. I went for a 3rd option over budget though!

Go and try the bikes, they really do feel different. Don't just base your decision on spec. Also remember that you can change the ride of a bike and your position later with different components, wheels and tyres etc.

ai_1

If you know the geometry you want and you're looking for a light, comfortable, well spec'd bike Canyon are a front-runner to my mind. I've been enjoying an Ultimate CF SL 9.0 since last May and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. There's plenty great bikes, but it seems to me there are relatively few sold as complete bikes with a well balanced set of components. Thus the prevalence of suggestions to get bike X and upgrade the wheels or similar. The Canyon bikes, in my opinion, are spec'd with a sensible, balanced set of components in each build option, with no need to upgrade the weak link. Unless you already have great wheels to go onto whatever new bike you'll buy, it's surely better not to buy poor wheels that you won't want in future. Rose offer a similar benefit as they too seem very well priced and you can select different components to suit your preferences. I couldn't find a whole lot of feedback about Rose frames early last year and saw some suggestions that they could be harsh but I've seen more discussion of them since and it all seems pretty favourable.

Both brands now do both more aggressive and more relaxed geometry bikes so there's a good chance you can find one to suit your requirements. If I was buying again I'd probably get the same bike.

However, do bear in mind that as others have said, your performance is unlikely to change noticeably as the result of a new bike unless you had a major fit issue. I do prefer climbing on my Ultimate CF SL as it feels better but the performance improvement is relatively small and probably only due to the 3kg or so drop in weight between my old and new bikes.

Mikeypoos

Hmm, thanks everyone for their replies. I think you have tempted me to not buy a new bike and stick it in the bank for now... The wife wants a new garden fence, how exciting! Anyone got any creosoting advice?

tlw1

Mikeypoos wrote:

Hmm, thanks everyone for their replies. I think you have tempted me to not buy a new bike and stick it in the bank for now... The wife wants a new garden fence, how exciting! Anyone got any creosoting advice?

won't make you feel as good!