Best Bike under £800

faarn

I am about to buy a bike on the cyclescheme and want peoples opinions on what to get. I realise that I should ride them and see what I prefer but as no shop near me has all the options I would need to whittle the choice down.

Choices are:

Giant Defy 0 2015 £749.99
Cannondale Synapse AL 105 £729.99
Focus Cayo Al 105 £799.00

I want an endurance/sportive set up so that probably rules out the Focus. I am not fussed about Carbon and would rather have a good Alu frame I could up upgrade in the future and still have a good bike.

Any other suggestions welcome.

iga

B'TWIN Ultra 700 AF from Decathlon? It's predecessor was budget bike of the year and this has the same frame with 11 speed Shimano 105, lifetime warranty on the frame for £750.

faarn

Unfortunately there isn't a decathlon near me. Of the top 2, would part ultegra ne better than all 105 or do the disc brakes outweigh this. As I cant give either a proper test ride, which frame is regarded as better?

kajjal

105 works well and either bike would be fine. If you are commuting disc brakes have better braking especially in the wet. My new road bike has disc brakes and i much prefer them but others are happy with rim brakes.

Key thing is to get the right size bike and setup it up right for you.

faarn

Will be for fair weather riding. I already have a Giant SCR that I have upgraded but will turn it into my foul weather ride.

I am happy to build my own bike having done this with my current bike. How would a planet X frame (rt-58 or rt-80) compare? I realise the latter is carbon and I mentioned Alu but that is mainly as i want al least 105 groupset.

Matthewfalle

Planet X pro carbon?

faarn

Have had a look at that (and seen the other thread running on this). Not sure how to interpret frame geometry, have only ever ridden sportive bikes, how would this compare?

I also have 2 sets of wheels already and a spare saddle so could build a Carbon pro with Ultegra and Mavik Aksiums for about £650, or with 105 for £550.

JesseD

Felt Z75, I've got one with full 105 on it and its a great bike. Alu frame and carbon forks, and does everything I want to a degree.

I even raced on it this year although its not best suited for crit racing so I will be buying a racebike and using this as my winter/wet weather bike, I rate it.

before I bought my bike it was between that and the Giant Defy 1, to be honest there was not much between them, but I got a better deal on the Felt which is why I went for it.

Not ridden the Cannondale or Focus though

JesseD

Planet X Pro carbon is like riding a wet noodle, when I tested one I wasn't impressed, felt a bit dead to me and flexed too much around the BB, but that said its only my opinion.

Like the orange though!

diamonddog

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19766187#p19766187]Matthewfalle[/url] wrote:

Planet X pro carbon?

^^This, flex is a non issue IME and is no more noticable than on my Canyon.

Matthewfalle

Loads of people I know have them and I've built up more than a couple.

Flex is not a problem at all - it's never been mentioned by those I know who have them. I personally think that there may be a problem with the frame to brand snobbery ratio issue going on.

They are fairly relaxed geometry wise - the last two I built up were for people who do long sportive so and they find them comfy as (and they aren't out and out cyclists, if you know what I mean). I've also built up a couple of race bikes and they are competed no problem.

Build quality is good, warranty service is good, get a full Ultegra or Force job on C2W for your budget or get a frame and build up what you want in the Jan sales.

Recommended.

Matthewfalle

Boardman Road Team carbon is on a deal at the mo' at £750.

faarn

Boardman is tiagra shifters and 105 components otherwise I would have had a look at that!

alex222

I'd buy this Rose. Within budget and comes in at 8.2kg. Suggested it to a mate whose been very happy with it.

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-sl-1000-bike-now-856002/aid:856004

faarn

I am going to forget the cyclescheme as it really doesn't save that much money. Am looking at a self build now and am being swayed by the PX Pro Carbon. From what I have read, some people report flex in the front end but I am not that strong a cyclist that I would achieve this and suggestions are that a stiffer fork reduces this. Still open to any other frame suggestions under about £350. Also where are the best places to buy frames? I have tried the usual, PX, Wiggle, Ribble etc...

diamonddog

I have a Pro Carbon and so does a friend who is 85kg+ and front end flex is not noticable or an issue for me or him.
My Pro Carbon has been nothing but good to own and ride, in fact it is ridden as much as the Canyon.

diamonddog

Pro Carbon frame set is in the sale at £249.99, various colours and sizes.

Matthewfalle

Flex is utterly negligible, to the point of not existing.

In fact it doesn't exist unless you have brand snobbery/envy.

faarn

[url][/url]Right, about to buy. With various discounts and no wheels, £580 for a Pro Carbon 105 Build (there are 2 frame options, both say the same but one is £10 cheaper?). As a further question, is the RT-80 any better as would only cost £100 more for the build?

Also are the size guided accurate. I'm 6ft with 33" inside leg, would the large be the best bet?

diamonddog

Much as I like my Pro Carbon the RT80 would sway me, a newly designed and lighter frame for a £100 more.

faarn

The problem is I can't find any reviews on the RT-80 Frame so no idea if it would be worth the extra money.

faarn

Decided to go for the RT-80 frame (I preferred the look). All in about £780. Bit more than I intended on sending (upgraditis) but still under budget and a great price for a carbon bike with full 105 groupset.

A Merry Christmas (present) to me! and wishing you all a Merry Christmas too.

rickeverett

I have an RT90 Comp with Force. For what it's worth (and I know they are slightly different frames) the RT90 had been a joy to ride. Very light climber, efficient and quick off the mark, compliant and comfy. I really love it.

The 80 frame is a different carbon layoup designed to be a bit more forgiving when it comes to vertical stiffness. But they are essentially the same.

You must watch out for brand snobbery. Yeah they are open moulded Chinese frames but they are built to suit the customer (planet x- who try and test them anyway) and have there own development process and a lot of frames are developed.first and a brand comes.along to choose and stick labels in them.

To put it another way... A review of the Viner (old school Italian brand bought by planet x) highly praised the bike and the frame.... The same frame a another review of the RT90 said felt flat.... Same frame and carbon.. Different wheels.. Same review site. Re reviewer failed to realise he was also riding a bike with massive own brand aero wheels (rt90 race) compared to lightweight 23mm rim wheels in the Viner . So no wonder there was a difference in acceleration! One got 5 star the other got 3.5.

You have to go with other people's experiences and check bikes out yourself. At the end if the day they are all relatively the same so its more about what you can get for the money, design etc. Than brand names that are all painted in China anyway.

diamonddog

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19767419#p19767419]faarn[/url] wrote:

Decided to go for the RT-80 frame (I preferred the look). All in about £780. Bit more than I intended on sending (upgraditis) but still under budget and a great price for a carbon bike with full 105 groupset.

A Merry Christmas (present) to me! and wishing you all a Merry Christmas too.

Good choice, enjoy your riding.