Best bike for quality

3SportGman

Hi all,

I've been riding for a few years on high spec hand-me-down bikes from my Dad (i'm 24). I currently ride an oldschool Litespeed titanium frame with Chris King headset, Look carbon forks, Campag Record groupset and wheels etc. My dad was crazy into his bikes but unfortunately has passed away. i've had the luxury of riding them, but now i want to understand what he did about bikes and get something awesome for myself.

The time has come for me to buy a bike that really belongs to me:

-I spend my time between Devon and Yorkshire, so hills are everywhere

-I'm really a leisure rider but would like to do a bit of competing in the near future.

-I love the old school brands (campag) and would love to and would love to keep the traditions alive.I want to keep it classy

-I really want something that is going to last a long time. a bike built with love.

-Mid range budget, lets say £2000. But i'm most interested in just learning more.

-The bike needs to feel good. something a little special. titanium maybe?

So im trying to find a bike that matches this quality, mainly in component quality and ride quality (i imagine they tend to go hand in hand)

I don't have the knowledge in order to find a bike that matches the quality of the bikes ive been riding. Can anyone help?

Any pointers or links to other resources would be much appreciated

shortfall

How much do you have to spend?

3SportGman

Shortfall wrote:

How much do you have to spend?

Lets say 2,000

sniper68

Have a word with:-
Universal Cycle Centre
They'll build you a Titanium bike but not sure £2k will cover it.

Camcycle1974

New, 2k, titanium. Good luck with that! The only options I can think of new are Planet x or a Chinese import. You could get a frameset for 2k and build it up yourself. Try Westbrook Cycles where I got my Enigma Evade from. Edit, they no longer appear to be Enigma dealers, shame as I got a great deal from them.

shortfall

Titanium frames and Campagnolo components tend to be at a premium price point. You could get a Planet X ti frame for £699 and something like a Veloce groupset for around £400 leaving you £900 for a wheelset and finishing kit. If you want something to race on at that sort of money a CAAD would probably be a better bet.

mamil314

If you want to learn and put work and love in, buy a frame, like second hand or ex demo Lynskey and a groupset and get stuck in. Really liked mine with Chorus and budget Zondas.

You could also talk to Justin Burls, he does offer Campag with his frames, or maybe even steel could be in your future.

The Spiderman

You could get a nice carbon bike for around £2k. I bought an end of season Canondale Supersix Evo for £1250. I will add some better wheel in due course and still be under £2k.
Not so much choice if you are looking for a bike with Campag though.
If you wait a few weeks more there’s likely to be some good deals on end of line 2018 bikes.
Often with the more esoteric stuff , you are buying with your heart (which I get) but these days the more mainstream stuff from Trek, Specialized, Giant etc rides as well if not better as they have access to bigger development budgets.
Some of the Canyon bikes offer amazing VFM , ride well and can offer Campag builds.
Might not be as sexy as a nice to bike but worthy of your consideration.

3SportGman

mamil314 wrote:

If you want to learn and put work and love in, buy a frame and get stuck in.

This is what I'm talking about. Any tips for getting stuck in?

Camcycle1974

3SportGman wrote:

mamil314 wrote:

If you want to learn and put work and love in, buy a frame and get stuck in.

This is what I'm talking about. Any tips for getting stuck in?

Youtube!

Camcycle1974

There was an enigma Esprit frameset on Ebay earlier for £895. Leaves you 1200 for components etc. Why don't you consider taking the record group of an old bike and swapping it over? Otherwise probably Veloce is your best bet. Top end Campag would use your entire budget. The best group on a Ti frame however is DA 7900. The aesthetics just work. Shame I could only afford 105 when I was building mine!

mamil314

Cam is, probably, right. For my first bike build I bought Lenard Zinn's book, but nowadays you can just go online. Even venerable sources like Sheldon Brown's and vast Park Tools manuals are getting superseded by handy bites on YouTube.

slowmart

@OP

it seems from your narrative you want a strong emotional connection to your next bike?

You need to consider making your own steel frame.

https://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/art ... rse-36448/

Some providers below.

https://www.reillycycleworks.com/pages/frame-school

https://www.bicycles-by-design.co.uk/fr ... g-courses/

Building your own bike frame will give you everything you've asked for and more.

If you go this route, please share the story with the forum as don't know a cyclist who wouldn't be checking the build on a daily basis, wishing you well whilst being slightly envious, or booking a course and doing it themselves.

helterskelter

Fully built carbon Bianchi with mid level campag kit on it for under 2k. Classic brand and good reviews on this model.
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/bianchi- ... frame-53cm

Range of Planet X titanium offerings from fully built to frame set. Putting it together is fairly straightforward with the help of YouTube. It’s a great way to learn about how bikes work and maintenance. You can always take it to a bike mechanic to fine tune the gears once assembled if you aren’t confident on that.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/titanium-bikes

3SportGman

The Spiderman wrote:

Often with the more esoteric stuff , you are buying with your heart (which I get) but these days the more mainstream stuff from Trek, Specialized, Giant etc rides as well if not better as they have access to bigger development budgets.

You make a very good.point

3SportGman

Helterskelter wrote:

Fully built carbon Bianchi with mid level campag kit on it for under 2k. Classic brand and good reviews on this model.

If think you just made my day

matt_n-2

Helterskelter wrote:

Fully built carbon Bianchi with mid level campag kit on it for under 2k. Classic brand and good reviews on this model.
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/bianchi- ... frame-53cm

That's a good looking bike.

Camcycle1974

Helterskelter wrote:

Fully built carbon Bianchi with mid level campag kit on it for under 2k. Classic brand and good reviews on this model.
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/bianchi- ... frame-53cm

Range of Planet X titanium offerings from fully built to frame set. Putting it together is fairly straightforward with the help of YouTube. It’s a great way to learn about how bikes work and maintenance. You can always take it to a bike mechanic to fine tune the gears once assembled if you aren’t confident on that.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/titanium-bikes

Under 2k? £2250.

matt_n-2

How about something from Reilly?

They emailed me yesterday with a June special on their Motive Ti frame, £950.

https://www.reillycycleworks.com/products/motive-audax

Enve / 3T Fork £400 (could go less)
Campag Centaur Grouppo £400
Deda 100 finishing kit £120
Headset £50

Leaves £380 for some wheels, bar tape, cables etc.

matt_n-2

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Helterskelter wrote:

Fully built carbon Bianchi with mid level campag kit on it for under 2k. Classic brand and good reviews on this model.
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/bianchi- ... frame-53cm

Range of Planet X titanium offerings from fully built to frame set. Putting it together is fairly straightforward with the help of YouTube. It’s a great way to learn about how bikes work and maintenance. You can always take it to a bike mechanic to fine tune the gears once assembled if you aren’t confident on that.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/titanium-bikes

Under 2k? £2250.

10% budget creep is more than acceptable

joe_totale-2

Your current bike sounds lovely and I'm not sure that you'll get something much better in terms of feel for £2000. Is it worth spending the money on upgrades instead?

If you really want something for yourself then how about a bike from Condor? They've got a lovely look and a bike fit is part of the process of buying from them so you'll be on a bike that'll feel great.
£2000 would certainly get you something nice in terms of a complete bike from them such as the Italia RC if you want something quite racy or the Acciacio if you want something more relaxed:

https://www.condorcycles.com/

Beatmaker

There are some good deals on Lynskey frames at CRC. With Topcashback and BC discount, this is down to almost a grand: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lynskey-r370-titanium-road-frame-2017/rp-prod157041

Buy a sale bike, swap the bits over and sell the frame, forks and whatever bits don't fit.

Something like this would give you an Ultegra build for the Lynskey, and the frame and forks would sell for £500+ easily.

https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p7494/CANNONDALE-SUPERSIX-EVO-ULTEGRA-2017

You'd need to add a fork in too

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lynskey-pro-road-carbon-fork-1-2017/rp-prod115097

Camcycle1974

Matt_N wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Helterskelter wrote:

Fully built carbon Bianchi with mid level campag kit on it for under 2k. Classic brand and good reviews on this model.
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/bianchi- ... frame-53cm

Range of Planet X titanium offerings from fully built to frame set. Putting it together is fairly straightforward with the help of YouTube. It’s a great way to learn about how bikes work and maintenance. You can always take it to a bike mechanic to fine tune the gears once assembled if you aren’t confident on that.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/titanium-bikes

Under 2k? £2250.

10% budget creep is more than acceptable

50% is acceptable!

matt_n-2

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Matt_N wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Helterskelter wrote:

Fully built carbon Bianchi with mid level campag kit on it for under 2k. Classic brand and good reviews on this model.
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/bianchi- ... frame-53cm

Range of Planet X titanium offerings from fully built to frame set. Putting it together is fairly straightforward with the help of YouTube. It’s a great way to learn about how bikes work and maintenance. You can always take it to a bike mechanic to fine tune the gears once assembled if you aren’t confident on that.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/titanium-bikes

Under 2k? £2250.

10% budget creep is more than acceptable

50% is acceptable!

I like your style.

Tiesetrotter

I'd look at the CycleRepublic website for around the £2k mark you can pick up a Dedacci, Cinelli or a Tifosi for that with Centaur.

helterskelter

Matt_N wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Matt_N wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Helterskelter wrote:

Fully built carbon Bianchi with mid level campag kit on it for under 2k. Classic brand and good reviews on this model.
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/bianchi- ... frame-53cm

Range of Planet X titanium offerings from fully built to frame set. Putting it together is fairly straightforward with the help of YouTube. It’s a great way to learn about how bikes work and maintenance. You can always take it to a bike mechanic to fine tune the gears once assembled if you aren’t confident on that.
https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/titanium-bikes

Under 2k? £2250.

10% budget creep is more than acceptable

50% is acceptable!

I like your style.

In my defence it was under £2k last night. Must have been some time limited promotion!