Carbon and Shimano 105 for ~£1500

liriarte

Hi all,

I've been looking for bikes for a while and I still cannot decide (it is going to be my first road bike, which I am going to use for triathlon). My budget is around £1500, so there are a few options with Carbon and Shimano 105. I've made a selection that you can see below. I like Trek but they are a bit more expensive than the rest. Some people recommended me BMC as well.

So far I am between Mekk Potenza 3 C/Ultegra £1424 (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-potenza-3-ultegra-2015/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=remarketing&utm_campaign=dynamic-uk&utm_content=%7Cpcrid%7C56099424377%7Cpkw%7C%7Cpmt%7C%7C&sku=5360644293) and Specialized Tarmac C/105 £1500 (http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/tarmac-sport-2015-road-bike-ec071787).

I would appreciate any advice on the matter.

Many thanks!

Genesis Zero .2 C/105 £1500 http://mosquito-bikes.co.uk/product/genesis-zero-2/

Norco Valence C/Ultegra £1500 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/valence-ultegra-2015-road-bike-ec072602
Mekk Potenza 3 C/Ultegra £1424 (link above)

Specialized Tarmac C/105 £1500 (link above)

Cannondale Synapse C/105 £1500 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/synapse-105-6-2015-road-bike-ec071020

BMC Teammachine C/105 £1500 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/teammachine-slr03-105-2015-road-bike-ec071733

Fuji Transonic C/105 £1450 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/transonic-27-2015-road-bike-ec067765
Fuji Gran Fondo C/105 £1120 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/gran-fondo-25-2015-road-bike-ec069062

B'TWIN MACH 720 C/105 £1000 http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mach-720-carbon-road-bike-id_8311471.html

Trek Emonda S 5 C/105 £1500 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/emonda-s-5-2015-road-bike-ec068063
Trek Madone 2.5 A/Ultegra £1200 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/madone-25-2015-road-bike-ec072395

Omar Little

For triathlon presumably an aero frame would be good so how about a giant propel. I think the 105 model is about £1400, amongst the best value for money in that price range IMO

freezing77

Something like this well within budget.
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbd/road-track-bike/ribble-aero-883?part=BB15RIBAERO883&sub=conf_BB_CRB&bike=1

liriarte

I wouldn't go for an aero frame right now. Which one would you recommend among the ones above?

Is Mekk a good brand? It's the only one I've found with full carbon frame and Shimano Ultegra for that price.

mrb123

Get the Genesis. You're getting a pro level frame with an excellent guarantee. The 105 groupset is just as good as Ultegra, only a little heavier. The rest of the finishing kit is reasonable but leaves you with some scope to upgrade in due course.

I've got one so I'm obviously biased but they really are great bikes.

ai_1

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19621851#p19621851]liriarte[/url] wrote:

I wouldn't go for an aero frame right now. Which one would you recommend among the ones above?

Is Mekk a good brand? It's the only one I've found with full carbon frame and Shimano Ultegra for that price.

I think you're right not to go for an aero frame. I was in the same position last year. Wanted a bike for general riding, sportives, etc and also for triathlons and duathlons. My budget was about 30% higher than yours. I considered the Felt AR range, the Canyon Aeroad (old version), Cervelo S3 (too expensive), the Propel, and a few others. however in the end I decided an aero road bike was a big compromise anyway for non-draft legal triathlon (as compared with a purpose designed TT or Tri bike) and for draft legal and general riding a non-aero road bike would be fine and I'd get what i considered a better package for the money. I ended up buying a Canyon Ultimate CF SL 9.0. I'm very happy with it, great bike, great spec, no regrets.
I already had an old alloy bike which I then converted for triathlon position with tri-bars and a forward seatpost. I've ridden this quite a bit recently and having gotten used to the position and seen the benefits I'm now thinking of getting a proper tri-bike in the next year. An aero bike with extensions would have been a big compromise and too much hassle to convert back and forth. A good road bike will do the job and will save you money and weight which you can use later to get a tri bike if you so choose.... or you can just go for a higher spec. I'm not entirely unconvincwed by aero road bikes, I'm just not sure an aero frame is worth the extra cost at the moment.

If I was you I'd seriously consider this:

https://www.canyon.com/en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3589

Great frame, full 105, reasonable wheels.
It is however £99 over budget.

IrishMac

I'd go Genesis or Giant Propel tbh:) That Mekk is a sportive frame/geometry so keep that in mind if you buy it.
And don't get hung up on carbon, alu frames can perform just as well at that price point.

I'm going to bite me tongue here RE 'disadvantages of aero bikes,' but no one is comparing an aero bike to a TT bike. If you're buying a road bike to race in triathlons, then there is an advantage.
A TT position on a normal road bike is just as compromised as on a aero road bike.

bmxboy10

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cinelli-saetta-radical-105-2015/?lang=en&curr=GBP&dest=1&kpid=5360684471&sku=5360684471&ci_src=18615224&ci_sku=5360684471uk&utm_source=google&utm_term&utm_campaign=Bikes&utm_medium=base&utm_content=sF8sarCar_dc%7cpcrid%7c%7cpkw%7c%7cpmt%7c%7cprd%7c5360684471uk

ai_1

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19622240#p19622240]IrishMac[/url] wrote:

...I'm going to bite me tongue here RE 'disadvantages of aero bikes,' but no one is comparing an aero bike to a TT bike. If you're buying a road bike to race in triathlons, then there is an advantage.
A TT position on a normal road bike is just as compromised as on a aero road bike.

My point was that the advantages of an aero road bike are pretty minor and IF the idea is to have a one for all bike I would be wary of thinking the aero qualities of an aero road bike in any way equate to a proper tri-bike. I'd seriously consider a non-aero road bike unless I was planning to be reasonably serious about non-draft legal triathlons in which case I'd go for a proper tri bike.

liriarte

I tried a few and I ended up buying the Specialized Tarmac. It felt lighter than the rest and I liked the color and frame shape.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/tarmac-sport-2015-road-bike-ec071787

So far I am happy with it.

Thank you all for your advice.

ai_1

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19638335#p19638335]liriarte[/url] wrote:

I tried a few and I ended up buying the Specialized Tarmac. It felt lighter than the rest and I liked the color and frame shape.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/tarmac-sport-2015-road-bike-ec071787

So far I am happy with it.

Thank you all for your advice.

Very nice, hope you enjoy it!