Another bike recommendation thread. Bowman?

craigus89

I really can't shake a hankering for a new bike.

Currently I have my first bike as a winter bike (Giant Defy 5, bloody heavy but solid) and a 'nice' bike which is a carbon Cube with 10sp Di2 - bought before I really understood what it is I wanted, quite relaxed geometry, not that stiff and not that light.

I have a budget of about £2,000 maybe a few hundred more could be found if needed.

The trouble I'm having is that I'm not of the means to be able to chuck £5K at a dream bike as much as I might like to. But I am really struggling to find something that does it for me. I've looked at Ribble, Rose etc, but the carbon frames within this kind of budget just don't do it for me, I'm not sure why but I just don't find them attractive. Also hate that you can't usually chose the wheels.

- I want something that I just want to ride everytime I look at it, this is a subjective wish so may be hard for others to help with, I know it when I see it. For instance, Dolan - ugly as sin (to me, please don't get offended)
- Terrain around where I live is very up and down so would like it to be fairly light 7 - 7.5kg if possible.
- I'm in no doubt that I'm not good enough to race, but I want a 'racy' bike. Not bothered about massive tyre clearance or mudguards etc.
- Not bothered about Di2, I'll take it or leave it over good mechanical.
- No discs, ta.

I'm leaning towards a Bowman Palace:R and build it myself at the moment, but I'm concerned that a custom build will run away with money. Frame, Wheels and Groupset I can calculate the cost of, but I'm a bit concerned about contact points and sundries (cables etc) all adding up and the cost running away from me.

Thoughts? Self-build or Rose et al? Frame suggestions? Doesn't have to be 'not carbon' but it needs to look good. No garish decals, I know it's vein but it's almost as important as the frame performance as this is hopefully going to last me a good few years.

kingrollo

Craigus89 wrote:

I really can't shake a hankering for a new bike.

Currently I have my first bike as a winter bike (Giant Defy 5, bloody heavy but solid) and a 'nice' bike which is a carbon Cube with 10sp Di2 - bought before I really understood what it is I wanted, quite relaxed geometry, not that stiff and not that light.

I have a budget of about £2,000 maybe a few hundred more could be found if needed.

The trouble I'm having is that I'm not of the means to be able to chuck £5K at a dream bike as much as I might like to. But I am really struggling to find something that does it for me. I've looked at Ribble, Rose etc, but the carbon frames within this kind of budget just don't do it for me, I'm not sure why but I just don't find them attractive. Also hate that you can't usually chose the wheels.

- I want something that I just want to ride everytime I look at it, this is a subjective wish so may be hard for others to help with, I know it when I see it. For instance, Dolan - ugly as sin (to me, please don't get offended)
- Terrain around where I live is very up and down so would like it to be fairly light 7 - 7.5kg if possible.
- I'm in no doubt that I'm not good enough to race, but I want a 'racy' bike. Not bothered about massive tyre clearance or mudguards etc.
- Not bothered about Di2, I'll take it or leave it over good mechanical.

I'm leaning towards a Bowman Palace:R and build it myself at the moment, but I'm concerned that a custom build will run away with money. Frame, Wheels and Groupset I can calculate the cost of, but I'm a bit concerned about contact points and sundries (cables etc) all adding up and the cost running away from me.

Thoughts? Self-build or Rose et al? Frame suggestions? Doesn't have to be 'not carbon' but it needs to look good. No garish decals, I know it's vein but it's almost as important as the frame performance as this is hopefully going to last me a good few years.

Try sensa bikes from merlin cycles or kuota bikes.

I know what u mean though - all the bikes with looks to die for - either have very aggressive geo - or a £5k price tag.

trek_dan

For £2000 CAAD12 and a wheel upgrade would be my choice.

poptart242

I was there recently, although disc was a requirement the rest was all similar. Ended up considering, CAAD12, Bowman Pilgrims, and a Mason (but they're all disc, as far as I know).

If I were you I'd be looking at the Bowman Palace - there's a really good write up of a reader's ride over on CyclingTips.

On the pricing, I worked out that I could build a Pilgrims for around £1400, if I scavenged the shifters, mechs and finishing kit from my race bike. Should be able to bring in a pretty good build under £2k if you're smart with where you spend the money - lightweight alu wheels will save you money for elsewhere in the build.

Alternatively, buy my Foil...

craigus89

Put off the CAAD by the Hollowgram cranks and BB30 nonsense to be honest. Hollowgram cranks are fugly and don't want the hassle of adaptors.

mrb123

Some great prices on Genesis Zero framesets at the moment, including in the team colours, e.g.
http://www.londonbicycleworkshop.com/95 ... meset.aspx

You could base a cracking build around one of them, Ultegra, decent wheels and finishing kit should come in around 2k.

Excellent warranty and a frame that is the same that the pro team have used.

sloppyschleckonds

Craigus89 wrote:

Put off the CAAD by the Hollowgram cranks and BB30 nonsense to be honest. Hollowgram cranks are fugly and don't want the hassle of adaptors.

Jesus christ

DeVlaeminck

You can get decent alloy finishing kit pretty cheap, bars, stem, seatpost needn't cost much. Depends what saddle you prefer but then it's what, tape and cables?

Merlin seem to be doing Ultegra for under £400 at the moment, 800 for some Fulcrum Quattro Carbon wheels, that Genesis frame or an equivalent another £750.

I think I prefer a bike like that, specced for a purpose rather than posing, to some of the exotica costing 3 times as much.

steveatbath

I just built up a PalaceR for almost exactly that budget. I looked at a few other options but liked the build for 2 reasons.. the need to hunt down parts and the fact that it’s fairly unique in the grand scheme of things.

I have Campagnolo potenza 11 groupset (which comes with all cables etc), hunt race aero wheels and a fizik finishing kit. I’ll probably do some upgrades in the future but I love it as it currently stands.

craigus89

DeVlaeminck wrote:

You can get decent alloy finishing kit pretty cheap, bars, stem, seatpost needn't cost much. Depends what saddle you prefer but then it's what, tape and cables?

Merlin seem to be doing Ultegra for under £400 at the moment, 800 for some Fulcrum Quattro Carbon wheels, that Genesis frame or an equivalent another £750.

I think I prefer a bike like that, specced for a purpose rather than posing, to some of the exotica costing 3 times as much.

Yeah after some more research this evening I'm leaning toward a build. I guess I was concerned stuff would go wrong or I'd need new tools etc and it would all add up but I think it'll be fine.

steveatbath wrote:

I just built up a PalaceR for almost exactly that budget. I looked at a few other options but liked the build for 2 reasons.. the need to hunt down parts and the fact that it’s fairly unique in the grand scheme of things.

I have Campagnolo potenza 11 groupset (which comes with all cables etc), hunt race aero wheels and a fizik finishing kit. I’ll probably do some upgrades in the future but I love it as it currently stands.

Nice! Would love to get some Campy on there instead, how,do you find the Potenza in general? Any pics?

Matthewfalle

bowman
groupset of your choice
carbonzone or farsport tubs - hunts are well over priced and wasted budget.

craigus89

Matthewfalle wrote:

bowman
groupset of your choice
carbonzone or farsport tubs - hunts are well over priced and wasted budget.

This is exactly what I'm thinking at the moment. Not 100% sure on the frameset yet but I think building myself is the way to go. Just need to source everything, but not needing this till next spring gives me plenty of time to wait for sales etc.

pippi_langsamer-2

As it's getting a bit late in the year, why don't you buy the Bowman frame now, and take your time over the winter angling for components on the classifieds? I've done this in the past, and snagged some very, very good top-end components almost as-new. Don't rush- I spent months slowly building up a couple of bikes this way, and by Spring next year, you should have a shiny bike at a very reasonable build-cost.

Matthewfalle

Pippi Langsamer wrote:

As it's getting a bit late in the year, why don't you buy the Bowman frame now, and take your time over the winter angling for components on the classifieds? I've done this in the past, and snagged some very, very good top-end components almost as-new. Don't rush- I spent months slowly building up a couple of bikes this way, and by Spring next year, you should have a shiny bike at a very reasonable build-cost.

exactly this - MF stockpiles stuff for when its needed - he has two £400 chainsets that he got for £60 each sitting in his garage waiting. Same with a couple of spare full Ultegra groupsets and some saddles.

Get a huge pile of boxes together and a nice weekend of bike building.

Anyone who says it is remotely difficult is lying, trying to make money out of you or incompetent.

Matthewfalle

Craigus89 wrote:

Matthewfalle wrote:

bowman
groupset of your choice
carbonzone or farsport tubs - hunts are well over priced and wasted budget.

This is exactly what I'm thinking at the moment. Not 100% sure on the frameset yet but I think building myself is the way to go. Just need to source everything, but not needing this till next spring gives me plenty of time to wait for sales etc.

don't just wait for sales - bargains come up all the time: just browse.

throw on some deda super zero bits, nice saddle and bar tape and you are sorted.

i think the black on the bowman is matt so the super zero will work perfect.

black chainset, black chain rings (SRAM Apex are lovely and deep black) black cages, sorted and it will look gorgeous.

really nice thin saddle - SLR will look lovely.

tubs only. no clincher/tubeless rubbish.

Camcycle1974

Why the love affair with tubs? Is it because they are pro?

Matthewfalle

easy to fit
quicker to fit than clinchers + tubes
feel nice
lighter
safer
just as much purchasing choice
easier to change if you puncture on the road
just as easy to fill with gloop/foam if you puncture
same cost as decent clinchers + tubes
have been used for commuting training racing posing sportiving with no problems for years
more variance in pressures you can run them at
last longer before cracking
Boonen uses them
PRO

mf only uses clinchers on his cx bike and mtbs - everything else is tubs.

Camcycle1974

I guess it depends on what you are used to. I've only ever met one person who uses them. He was an old school racer who had never used anything else. The fact that he carried about a spare tyre tucked under his seat put me off! Happy with tubeless personally.

Matthewfalle

yet to see the benefits of that option.

will stick with what i know works and is best for dudes budget.

Matthewfalle

i should add the above list:

far easier to fit than tubeless
no need to fill with gloop that explodes everywhere when first fitting
far wider wheel choice at all costs
cleaner to change than tubeless
no need to worry about funny rim tape/valves
no rim sealing issues