#standard question - which bike - budget £1,000 absolute max

grecianite

Choosing a new bike for me is a minefield! Carbon, hydraulic brakes, groupsets and brands - I really am in a spin, so thought I'd ask here for some help!

I'll be cycling 30 miles a day for 4 days a week. It'll mainly be a commute, but I do like canal paths too, so it needs to cope with rocks/stone and small holes. Budget is £900.

Bikes I have seen include (but very open to recommendation of others):

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Specialized Secteur Elite Disc - 2014

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.u ... /14secteur

Costs £699 - Carbon fork with Tiagra groupset

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Merida Speeder 300

http://www.merida-bikes.com/en_gb/bikes ... -3498.html

Costs £749 - Hydraulic brakes - Mixed shimano parts

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On-One Dirty Disco

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDTIA ... #customise

£899 Fully carbon and Tiagra Groupset

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Boardman CX team bike 2014

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/r ... -bike-2014

Price £899 - but I've head Halfords can do good deals from time to time like 25% off Boardman and then you can get 10% for joining British Cycling.

It's mixed components, but I've been told it's a good bike and better than the Specialized and worth the money

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Any help greatly received! Thanks

stevie63

If it was me looking at a CX bike under a grand I would go for one of the CAADX but I have always had a bit of a soft spot for 'Dales

alihisgreat

The Secteur is a road bike so perhaps not the best if you want something versatile

Others to look at (should all be below £1k if my memory serves me correctly):

GT Grade
Specialized Diverge
Planet X London Road
Giant Revolt[-ing]
Giant Anyroad

dombhoy

I would look at the planet x london road as it seems to be getting great reviews and versitile fast on and off road

luv2ride

dombhoy wrote:

I would look at the planet x london road as it seems to be getting great reviews and versitile fast on and off road

+1 for the London Road from Planet X: http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV ... -road-bike
At 799 is looks to be a bit of a bargain. I use a Kinesis Pro 6 disc for the same riding you describe, and I think the London Road is very similar but far cheaper.

grecianite

Thanks for your replies so far....

So rather than going for the all carbon Dirty Disco - Shimano Tiagra @ £899

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDTIA/ ... a-commuter

It would be better spending £100 less and go for the Aluminum London Road SRAM?

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV ... -road-bike

Thanks and sorry for being annoying! I just always thought carbon was good?!

KonkyWonky

Carbon fibre is only a material. If the frame design isn't great then building it out of carbon won't rectify the flawed design.

Personally I wouldn't buy carbon at your price point unless you were getting a great deal on a heavily reduced bike. My preference would be for a top end AL bike over low end carbon.

alihisgreat

grecianite wrote:

Thanks for your replies so far....

So rather than going for the all carbon Dirty Disco - Shimano Tiagra @ £899

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDTIA/ ... a-commuter

It would be better spending £100 less and go for the Aluminum London Road SRAM?

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV ... -road-bike

Thanks and sorry for being annoying! I just always thought carbon was good?!

Its not just the material, but how the material is used.

High end aluminium bikes can feel more lively and involving than low end carbon bikes because aluminium generally transfers a bit more feedback than the cheaper carbon used in low end frames... its a different story with high end carbon frames though.

grecianite

Top advice so far - you're all really helping!

I think it is down to two:

The Specialized Secteur Elite Disc (£1,200 down to £699)

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.u ... /14secteur

or the what seems to be highly recommended London Road @ £799

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV ... -road-bike

banditvic

Bought a Planet X pickenflick recently with Rival 22 hydraulic brakes and the Braking is phenomenal gear changing is also top notch.

lakesluddite

banditvic wrote:

Bought a Planet X pickenflick recently with Rival 22 hydraulic brakes and the Braking is phenomenal gear changing is also top notch.

It looks excellent on the PX website - but the lesser of the two models is £1600, way out of the OP's budget.

Just beware OP, not all of these frames will take mudguards if that is a problem for you. I am in a similar boat at the moment, wanting to change my commuter/winter bike for something with disc brakes, but having the ability to fit mudguards is a necessity for me, which rules out some of those I've been looking at (eg Planet X XLS cross bike).
So far I've got a long list that includes the Cannondale CAADX 105, Planet X London Road, Boardman CX Team - so will be keeping half an eye on this thread to pick up tips.

mpatts

I have a boardman CX team, and I love it. Bought it after combining a few discounts, great bike and good deal.

alan_sherman

The Whyte range is interesting too. Dorset is £1k, TRP HyRd brakes
http://whyte.bike/gb/models/commuterroa ... sc/dorset/

Have you looked at the Pinnacle Arkose range from Evans?
Or a steel Jamis? http://www.evanscycles.com/products/jam ... e-ec072111


I've been looking in this space for a cycle to work commuter / winter trainer / tourer with disks and rack mounts. The TRP HyRd brakes look to be a real plus. I am a shimano man so will stick to their STIs. The front hub would probably be replaced with a dynamo for my use. The Whyte Suffolk is probably the bike for me but it is over the cycle to work budget and I can't really justify the money TBH.

I'll probably wait until September and see what comes out with the new Shimano Tiagra groupset.

arlowood

Pushing your budget I know but another candidate could be the 2015 Genesis Equilibrium Disc. Nice Chromoly steel frame just to add another dimension to the argument.

This will definitely allow mudguards and also a rack if you need them:-

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Genesis-Equilib ... CQXHw_wcB#

The 2014 model (in 54cm) is available within your budget but that has the steel rather than carbon forks and no rack mounts. Predominantly !05 5700 10-speed and wheelset with Archetype rims/Shimano Deore hubs so a well specced package

http://www.sprocketscycles.com/demo-equ ... TURtSFVhBd

grecianite

LakesLuddite wrote:

banditvic wrote:

Bought a Planet X pickenflick recently with Rival 22 hydraulic brakes and the Braking is phenomenal gear changing is also top notch.

It looks excellent on the PX website - but the lesser of the two models is £1600, way out of the OP's budget.

Just beware OP, not all of these frames will take mudguards if that is a problem for you. I am in a similar boat at the moment, wanting to change my commuter/winter bike for something with disc brakes, but having the ability to fit mudguards is a necessity for me, which rules out some of those I've been looking at (eg Planet X XLS cross bike).
So far I've got a long list that includes the Cannondale CAADX 105, Planet X London Road, Boardman CX Team - so will be keeping half an eye on this thread to pick up tips.

I'm severely tempted by the London Road, as it's probably the best value for money I can find (and interest free). I am keeping an open mind and will look at all suggestions - if you let me know the bike you're going for, we could buy at the same time and try and get a discount if you were up for it?!