New road bike - £1000

AndyJ88

Hi,

I have spent the last year riding this guy http://www.rutlandcycling.com/159261/products/genesis-volant-00-2013-road-bike.aspx, gradually building up a ravenous appetite for road cycling.

The time has come (March), to join the cycle to week scheme, and buy a new road bike under the magic £1000. The main purpose of the road bike, is to ride fast, and take as many Strava segments from my cycling friends as possible. So far, I have been comparing the bikes below:

-Ribble R872 http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbd/road-track-bike/ribble-r872?part=BB15RIBR872&sub=conf_BB_ALL&bike=1
-B'TWIN Ultra 720 AF - Ultegra https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-720-af-road-bike-ultegra-id_8331274.html
-Giant Defy 0 http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/defy.0/19187/77293/

Let me know your thoughts?

nicklong

I's go with the Btwin for the spec, although the Mach 720 in the sale (Athena, Khamsins, carbon frame) looks an even better bet - great wheels and groupset for the price. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mach-740-carbon-road-bike-athena-id_8311384.html

I really like the service and warranty approach from Decathlon, pretty much no-questions-asked.

andy9964

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19780834#p19780834]AndyJ88[/url] wrote:

Hi,

I have spent the last year riding this guy ................... Let me know your thoughts?

You got the wrong website mate

AndyJ88

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19780905#p19780905]nicklong[/url] wrote:

I's go with the Btwin for the spec, although the Mach 720 in the sale (Athena, Khamsins, carbon frame) looks an even better bet - great wheels and groupset for the price. http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mach-740-carbon-road-bike-athena-id_8311384.html

I really like the service and warranty approach from Decathlon, pretty much no-questions-asked.

This bike looks great, definitely a contender. Unfortunately my company only provides entry to the cycle to work scheme twice a year, the nearest entry point being March! Will have to see if it is still on sale.

I saw planet-x has a great carbon available http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPRIV11/new-planet-x-pro-carbon-sram-rival-11-road-bike however the geometry of this ride looks more relaxed

MikeBrew

All of the bikes you've mentioned here have nice-ish paint jobs/components and mediocre frames. You're better off buying a bike with a quality frameset
and upgrading components over time, rather than the other way around. It's a fairly recent and slightly cunning sales paradigm, that I like to think of as " never mind the quality - look at the shiny shiny".



I think the PX are among the worst for this with the "New" Pro Carbon apparently having nothing new about it bar the colour scheme.

AndyJ88

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19780995#p19780995]MikeBrew[/url] wrote:

All of the bikes you've mentioned here have nice-ish paint jobs/components and mediocre frames. You're better off buying a bike with a quality frameset
and upgrading components over time, rather than the other way around. It's a fairly recent and slightly cunning sales paradigm, that I like to think of as " never mind the quality - look at the shiny shiny".



I think the PX are among the worst for this with the "New" Pro Carbon apparently having nothing new about it bar the colour scheme.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the feedback. Do you have any good examples of bikes with good frames and lesser components within the budget? One thing to point out is I am still quite new to cycling (<1 year). I am not sure how likely it is that I will upgrade for example, the wheels!

MikeBrew

Hi Andy, http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/ Have 105 Cannondale Supersix Evos for £999 with full 105 5800, (except crankset which is FSA as shimano don't make a BB30 crankset).

105 5800 is functionally equivalent to Ultegra but with a small weight penalty. Evans cylces for the same price have the same bike in their own unique(mostly black) colourway .http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/super-six-evo-105-2015-road-bike-ec116408

dj58

I would not describe the BTwin 720 AF or the Defy O as mediocre Aluminium frames. The BTwin is triple butted and comes with full Ultegra and Cosmic wheels for £1050. Upgrades, saddle if not suitable, the bar tape if not liked and tyres if 25/28c are required.

The Defy 0 SL grade double butted and would only need an upgrade to 6800 brake calipers and eventually wheels/tyres. The OP is looking at endurance geometry so there is this http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p6601/CANNONDALE-Synapse-Disc-105-5-2016

hucko003

I'm going to be a bit different and suggest this to you - http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/teammachine-alr01-105-2016-road-bike-ec116693 - BMC's aluminium framed version of the SLR series. Very racy, you'll go very fast on it and you get a lot of bike for your money at this price. There's also scope for you to upgrade in the future but the frame itself is fantastic. What I also like about it is the external cabling (much easier mechanically) and a creak-free threaded BB. For £30 though, I would try and upgrade the brakes if you can as they're unbranded Shimano - stick some 105's on there and you have a brilliant bike!

You will also find some good carbon bikes for the money, but I just think you'll get a lot more with aluminium and the carbon frame won't be the same grade used in better models. Plus if you do splash out on a carbon bike, this would make an excellent, fast Winter bike too!

N0bodyOfTheGoat

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/dolomite-5-2016-road-bike-ec122230

Or if you fit a large frame, maybe http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/sportif-11-le-2015-road-bike-ec108532

grenw

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19781105#p19781105]DJ58[/url] wrote:

The Defy 0 SL grade double butted and would only need an upgrade to 6800 brake calipers and eventually wheels/tyres.

Exactly what I did to my Defy 0 when I got it on the work scheme last year. £70 for a pair of brakes and the same for a pair of GP4000s and again for a saddle. Still on the original wheels but they'll do until the summer.

Nice comfy bike, although it's my first road bike so nothing really to compare it to. Did a 100 miler on my 4th ride and no discomfort at all.

MikeBrew

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19781105#p19781105]DJ58[/url] wrote:

I would not describe the BTwin 720 AF or the Defy O as mediocre Aluminium frames. The BTwin is triple butted and comes with full Ultegra and Cosmic wheels for £1050. Upgrades, saddle if not suitable, the bar tape if not liked and tyres if 25/28c are required.

The Defy 0 SL grade double butted and would only need an upgrade to 6800 brake calipers and eventually wheels/tyres. The OP is looking at endurance geometry so there is this http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p6601/CANNONDALE-Synapse-Disc-105-5-2016

I'm not sure where the defy 0 was described as mediocre (or mentioned at all). I'm guessing maybe you own one? Couldn't see where the OP said he liked endurance geometry either ...
Nothing wrong with ali bikes at all. Evans have 2015 full 105 5800 CAAD10's for £850 but only in a few sizes, probably the best proven Ali bike you get !...

AndyJ88

Thanks for the fantastic suggestions, some of the bikes e.g the BMC look ace. After the posts its apparent you can pick up a really good deal in the sales, hopefully there will still be some sales March time?

Regarding the comment about endurance geometry, I'm not really aiming for a relaxed geometry, my main aim is to travel at speed!

dj58

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19780995#p19780995]MikeBrew[/url] wrote:

All of the bikes you've mentioned here have nice-ish paint jobs/components and mediocre frames. You're better off buying a bike with a quality frameset
and upgrading components over time, rather than the other way around. It's a fairly recent and slightly cunning sales paradigm, that I like to think of as " never mind the quality - look at the shiny shiny".



I think the PX are among the worst for this with the "New" Pro Carbon apparently having nothing new about it bar the colour scheme.

I assumed you were replying to the OP's question regarding the three bikes he linked to.

Yes I have a Defy 0 and am happy with it's mediocre frame thanks. Not sure why the OP included the Defy 0 in his three choices if he doesn't want endurance geometry, in which case he maybe better with a carbon TCR or a Caad8/10 or SuperSix EVO. Other brands are available.