Cheapish Crit Bike Options

Tarmac8

Hi all,

Looking to upgrade my old ~ £400 bike i purchased about a year ago when I got into cycling.

Have made significant upgrades to my legs since then, so I am now looking to upgrade my bike and get into crit racing and was looking for some advice on what to go for - something suitable for crits and fast group rides.

Ideally I am looking to spend under £1500 on the bike (if a stock bike then im assuming upgrades to the wheels will be needed?). It would be good to somehow spend a bit less as I am looking at a power meter too...

So essentially looking for suggestions on options to do this. I know used frames would be the easiest way to do so, but i would like a new frame if possible... just because I like nice new things.

Options I've looked at so far:

Cannondale CAAD 12 - 105: £1100
Specialised Allez DSW Sprint - 105/Ultegra: £1100
Btwin Ultra 720 AF - Ultegra: £1000
Merida Reacto 500 - Ultegra: £1000

I assume most of these would need stock wheel upgrades however? So then I have also considered buying a frame and building up with a 105 groupset (£350) and wheels (£400-500).

Frames:

Bowman Palace: R: £695
Planet X EC - 130: £500

But then I have the issue of wheels, and this is where I come stuck, as it looks like any under £500 i have heard will not offer significant performance benefits! Does anyone have any good suggestions on cheap wheels that are ideal for crit racing?

Any help from people on possible options would be great!

singleton

CAAD12 105 with something like Hunt race aero wide wheels running tubeless tyre and sell the stock wheels.
Should come in around £1350 - £1400 depending what you get for the stock wheels.

w00dster

Agreed with singleton. CAAD12 105. The Bowman could also be a good option if you can get all of the componentsit into budget.

The Hunt wheels won't be an issue for Crits. Unless you are pinging of the front for 45 minutes? Now that being said I do Race on 40 and 50 mm deep wheels but that's just because I'm a weak minded poser! I've also always been advised a power meter is more beneficial than wheel upgrade providing you are training correctly (power based training).

Is second hand an option to help bring costs down? I'd be looking at the CAAD second hand, then decent wheels and a single sided crank based power meter could be closer to the budget? Or even frame only and look at the FSA Powerbox? Not sure how compatible this would be with a CAAD though.

reme-luke

Caad12 is what I'd be going fantastic frame and 105 is more than adequate.

luv2ride

reme-luke wrote:

Caad12 is what I'd be going fantastic frame and 105 is more than adequate.

Hold the front page! Caad12 105 for £850 https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/cannonda ... mbit%20LTD
...and don't they also say don't race what you can't replace? No sense in going to top of budget, just in case...

Matthewfalle

Bowman with 105 or Ultegra in the current sales or CAAD.

Grab a load of Ritchey WCS finishing kit in the sales as well - ali, nice and light, looks cool.

Both are excellent frames so you can upgrade bits as you go along.

w00dster

That cycle surgery CAAD 12 is £765 when you checkout, if only I was taller, not in my size. Surely that's bargain of the year?!

w00dster

Had a quick scout round, I think I would be tempted with the CAAD at £765, plus a set of Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon Exalith 2018, £774 at Tredz.
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Mavic-Cosmic-P ... _98701.htm
Then add the save125 code.

supermurph09

w00dster wrote:

That cycle surgery CAAD 12 is £765 when you checkout, if only I was taller, not in my size. Surely that's bargain of the year?!

Agreed, monster deal.

ayank

Without a doubt more Crit races have been won on CAAD 12 than any other bike.

I have a CAAD 12 and its an awesome bike in general but especially for crit races.

w00dster wrote:

Had a quick scout round, I think I would be tempted with the CAAD at £765, plus a set of Mavic Cosmic Pro Carbon Exalith 2018, £774 at Tredz.
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Mavic-Cosmic-P ... _98701.htm
Then add the save125 code.

pippi_langsamer-2

Can't go wrong with that CAAD deal, but otherwise I love those Bowman frames. Shop around for second hand. There's a lot of practically new stuff knocking about if you're patient enough...

Matthewfalle

If you want brilliant at crits, cheap, loads available second hand, then Planet X Team Superlight Ali thing.

I have one as a crit bike with EC90 SLX forks, Chinarello deep rims, full D/A and everything else Ritchey WCS and it's utterly brilliant: source everything suitably and you'll have a top bike for less than a grand.

frankcannondale

https://www.drakescycles.co.uk/m1b0s6p5 ... 2_105_2017

MisterMuncher

There's still plenty of CAAD10s knocking around in good nick, and you'd be hard pushed to do better. A 12 is a newer bike, surely, but a 10 would give you more crank options (BB30 is easier/cheaper to adapt than BB30A, for one thing) and doesn't take a weird seatpost.

To answer a point above, CAADs 10 and 12 will take a powerbox with an adapter that costs maybe a tenner. I've had one on my 10 since they first were released and it hasn't missed a beat. In retrospect, though, I should have waited for the Power2Max NGEco instead. Whilst they are basically identical in features and electronics, and there's not much between them at RRP, the FSA only takes FSA's weird 4-bolt chainrings.

milese

CAAD12 for sure, but you can win a crit on anything so dont worry about it too much if you find something else you love more.

£500 on crit wheels is rubbish. Upgrade yes, but just need something a bit lighter really, lots of options if you are sticking to rim brakes.

I had a CAAD9 which I won a few crits on, equally I won on my sram red BMC team machine SLR01.

Swapped the CAAD9 for a CAAD12 disc and the 12 seems much heavier, so its worth thinking about swapping out stem, bars, post to save a few hundred grams on the cheap. The CAAD9 is probably racier, but the 12 feels better because it (was) brand new and I like the disc brakes, but its only been a commuter / trainer so far.

ayank

Milese wrote:

The CAAD9 is probably racier, but the 12 feels better because it (was) brand new and I like the disc brakes, but its only been a commuter / trainer so far.

You use a $2000 bike on a commute on the trainer. Rich b&s^$@d!

Matthewfalle

AYank wrote:

Milese wrote:

The CAAD9 is probably racier, but the 12 feels better because it (was) brand new and I like the disc brakes, but its only been a commuter / trainer so far.

You use a $2000 bike on a commute on the trainer. Rich b&s^$@d!

lifes too short to ride shiitt bikes and drink cheap wine.

I commute on a Madone, partly because I can but mostly because its a Trek so I don't care if it gets smashed up or stolen .....

milese

AYank wrote:

Milese wrote:

The CAAD9 is probably racier, but the 12 feels better because it (was) brand new and I like the disc brakes, but its only been a commuter / trainer so far.

You use a $2000 bike on a commute on the trainer. Rich b&s^$@d!

I usually do something like 7 or 8000 miles a year, probably with around 5 or 6000 of them on my training bike. So why would I want to spend that long riding something shite?

I paid about £1200 for it, on the cycle to work scheme so it will hardly cost me anything.

I always wonder about people who ride their best bike in winter with deep rim carbon wheels in the rain. I think my bike is quite a sensible option.

kirkee

Matthewfalle wrote:

AYank wrote:

Milese wrote:

The CAAD9 is probably racier, but the 12 feels better because it (was) brand new and I like the disc brakes, but its only been a commuter / trainer so far.

You use a $2000 bike on a commute on the trainer. Rich b&s^$@d!

lifes too short to ride shiitt bikes and drink cheap wine.

I commute on a Madone, partly because I can but mostly because its a Trek so I don't care if it gets smashed up or stolen .....

Mmnn so you dont shop at Aldi or Planet X then! Of course, all things that cost a lot must be be better right?

trivial_poursuivant

From your list, I’d go for the Allez Sprint. It was designed for Crit racing.

Matthewfalle

kirkee wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

AYank wrote:

Milese wrote:

The CAAD9 is probably racier, but the 12 feels better because it (was) brand new and I like the disc brakes, but its only been a commuter / trainer so far.

You use a $2000 bike on a commute on the trainer. Rich b&s^$@d!

lifes too short to ride shiitt bikes and drink cheap wine.

I commute on a Madone, partly because I can but mostly because its a Trek so I don't care if it gets smashed up or stolen .....

Mmnn so you dont shop at Aldi or Planet X then! Of course, all things that cost a lot must be be better right?

actually I do and my crit bike is a P/X Team Superlight that I have extolled the virtues of many atime - they are brilliant value for money.

i've also heartily recommended their carbon frames and built a view.

I just work hard for my money and don't go massively on the beer, down the bookies or spend loads on clothes.

As I've said before, lifes is too short to drink cheap wine or ride Treks. Never pay full retail either.

but you're also right that things that are nice generally cost a couple of quid. why ride a Trek as your good bike when you can ride something nice?

Matthewfalle

you're right though that I don't go to Aldi - why should I when I can go to Edwyns?

you've got to be a right mug to go anywhere else (Aldi, Waitrose, whatever) when you can go to Edwyns.

bondurant

kirkee wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

AYank wrote:

Milese wrote:

The CAAD9 is probably racier, but the 12 feels better because it (was) brand new and I like the disc brakes, but its only been a commuter / trainer so far.

You use a $2000 bike on a commute on the trainer. Rich b&s^$@d!

lifes too short to ride shiitt bikes and drink cheap wine.

I commute on a Madone, partly because I can but mostly because its a Trek so I don't care if it gets smashed up or stolen .....

Mmnn so you dont shop at Aldi or Planet X then! Of course, all things that cost a lot must be be better right?

No. They're just less boring.

Matthewfalle

Bondurant wrote:

kirkee wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

AYank wrote:

Milese wrote:

The CAAD9 is probably racier, but the 12 feels better because it (was) brand new and I like the disc brakes, but its only been a commuter / trainer so far.

You use a $2000 bike on a commute on the trainer. Rich b&s^$@d!

lifes too short to ride shiitt bikes and drink cheap wine.

I commute on a Madone, partly because I can but mostly because its a Trek so I don't care if it gets smashed up or stolen .....

Mmnn so you dont shop at Aldi or Planet X then! Of course, all things that cost a lot must be be better right?

No. They're just less boring.

at the same time though, there can't be much that is more boring than a Trek. Now that is boring.

kirkee

Why go 'cheapish' when you can go 'really cheap'?plus theres the chance of added satisfaction of being faster than other riders on super £ bikes. If your slower than the riders on the expensive bikes you wont feel as bad. Win win.