Jump to content

Getting back into the bike; what bike should I buy?


Half Wheeler
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hello all,

I have recently decided to get "serious" about the bike again and this means buying a new road bike. However, I see that the world of bikes has moved on greatly in the last 20 years and I am frankly baffled by the range and number of bikes out there. I am looking to spend between £1000-£1300 for something I could ride road races/tt's and sportives on.

If anyone has any recommendations, then I'd be very grateful.

Son

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello and welcome :grin:

That's a good budget for the bike so you could look at Ribble.

They've brought out some nice frames recently and you can have a go at their bike builder online, changing parts as you go along and see how far your money will go.

Speak to Dooleys and Q Bikes in Paisley to see what they can do.

Do you have clothing etc? Quite a bit to get for winter if that's coming out the budget.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dear All,

hope you are all enjoying this mild weather; hopefully not the calm before the blizzard(s). I have had a good look at the Boardman range and it seems that the bikes have a great spec for the money, although I have read that Halfords can be "difficult" to deal with. In any case, by the time I make my mind up I might be in good enough shape not to embarrass myself on it!

Anyway, thanks again.

Son

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought a Boardman Team Carbon in April 2010. I have clocked up several thousand miles without any problem. Unfortunately, gear spec has changed from SRAM to Shimano. I like the SRAM single lever system.

The guy at Halford's Paisley set up the bike perfectly and I have never had to touch the gears.

It is very light (8 kg without pedals). I have never ridden any other carbon bike so cannot say how it compares. I love it and it is sorely missed now that I am on my winter bike (Specialised Alloy).

 

Alternative similar spec for your price range is Planet X.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Scott CR1 comp from Hargroves. Much cheapness at £1179 and 0% finance over t'interweb! No smalls left though.

I love mine cos it's very comfy and light. Can't wait to wheel it out next spring.

Paste this into your browser.(I'm not clever enough to do links)

 

 

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/produc ... 4QodQ2ov4g

 

Len

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some of the 'super brands' are making bike in that price range nowadays

 

 

Colnago

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/col ... e-ec025631

 

Pinarello

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... e-ec025862

 

and i am sure i've seen De Rosa and Litespeed at that price too, alloy framed of course, dunno what they are like to ride, but nice to look at...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hargroves are out of Large CR1 Comps now as well.

 

Be careful with cyclescheme as the rules have changed and will change again in February when tax will be payable on your payments (or something like that)

 

I got nearly £1000 worth of stuff and when it came to the end of my payment term found that my employer 'handed over' the final sale of the bike back to Cyclecheme and that the rules had changed.

 

Instead of paying a small amout to keep the bike (and equipment) because I had spent over £500 I had to pay quite a bit more.

 

I had 3 choices;

 

1. hand the bike and gear back

2. pay a % of fair market value, which in my case was about £230

3. extend the hire period for another 3 years without atually making any more payments and at the end pay a smaller % of market value.

 

I chose the third option, albeit the bike is now not officially mine for another 3 years, and I shouldn't sell it.

 

Had I paid the £230 the savings I had made would have been all but wiped out .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello all,

Hope you are all braving the winds and enjoying the sea breezes at Largs this weekend; very good for the complexion :-P

I have been looking Cannondales' Caad8 and 10 with 105 on them and also at the Planet-x bikes; they seem to offer a fantastic spec for the cash, especially the aluminium bikes. Is there anyone in Scotland stocking these at the moment?

Also, everyone might be interested to know that Evans is planning to open a shop in Edinburgh early next year and they have some insanely discounted bikes on their web site-there goes my Xmas bonus.(for what it's worth :angryfire )

Thanks again.

P.S The Kilmaurs area via Moscow has much to recommend it this time of year.........

Son

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello all,

Hope you are all braving the winds and enjoying the sea breezes at Largs this weekend; very good for the complexion :-P

I have been looking Cannondales' Caad8 and 10 with 105 on them and also at the Planet-x bikes; they seem to offer a fantastic spec for the cash, especially the aluminium bikes. Is there anyone in Scotland stocking these at the moment?

Also, everyone might be interested to know that Evans is planning to open a shop in Edinburgh early next year and they have some insanely discounted bikes on their web site-there goes my Xmas bonus.(for what it's worth :angryfire )

Thanks again.

P.S The Kilmaurs area via Moscow has much to recommend it this time of year.........

Son

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...