3 Grand. Bike of a lifetime

[BSRU]

A custom made steel bike is always going to be a timeless classic.
My Shand Skinnymalinky is a thing of beauty.

 

[Rustybucket]

A few random thoughts:
Given a budget of £3,000 a good spec Specialised or Giant or Trek would seem like a good choice, as you will get the benefit of multi-million pound R&D, development by some of the finest cyclists in the world with some of the finest teams.
However:
This may be of some use if you are going to ride it competitively, and need the extra fractions of a second. I guess that you don't fit into that category, and my thoughts are that style and individuality should therefore probably count for a bit more than marginal gains.
Hence:
De Rosa, Bianchi, Pinarello, Musseeuw, Rose bikes would be some of my first choices. Or Boardman/Genesis for flying the British flag (yes, I know they aren't built here).
Or alternatively some Titanium bling or Stainless Steel would look great.

I agree!
this one is also on my shortlist: http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/zero/zero-i
I have the Genesis CDF 931 and absolute love it!

 

[SteCenturion]

My opinion FWIW... (if I had a miracle £3k)

1st would be a 2015 Scott Addict 15 (the colours, the colours) & I have matching parts to put on it...

it's also a very light frame & Di2 specced, the wheels would get sold though.

Joint 1st - & for something seriously interesting...

A Swallow, Feather or Rourke race modern geometry custom steel frame in 853 or 953, custom painted.

Still interesting & alone in 2nd place is
a Starley bikes (Altrincham, Gtr Mcr) JKS AR, again custom painted (they have their own Custom paint guy who is very, very good).

3rd & way beyond budget would be an M.Cippolini in burn your retinas out dayglo yellow.

4th jointly, any high end Canyon (CF SLX) Nerve or something lesser spotted.

But Definitely, Definitely, NO -
Pinny-Rolo's.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I agree!
this one is also on my shortlist: http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/zero/zero-i
I have the Genesis CDF 931 and absolute love it!

Can't help thginking that if spending 3K I would expect better wheels than Fulcrum 5s, better tyres too.

 

[I like Skol]

and my thoughts are that style and individuality should therefore probably count for a bit more than marginal gains.

A bike for life, not following the crowd and under budget. This thread can stop now

http://www.gtbicycles.com/usa_en/2015/bikes/road/grade-carbon-ultegra
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/...duct/review-gt-grade-carbon-ultegra-15-48943/

I may have a thing for GT bikes but my experience has shown that they are well built bikes that perform and last the distance. My GT MTB was bought in 1994 and after a recent rebuild is now ready for another 20yrs and is still kicking ass in the dirty stuff (ask any of the forum members that have ridden with me) My GT hybrid was bought at the end of 2010 and despite having covered over 10,000 miles it is still riding as a new bike and I can foresee no reason why it will need changing before I retire (That's a very long way off!). My GT roadbike is 'only' the Tiagra version from 2011 and while it hasn't seen the action the other bikes have suffered in my opinion it is still a spot-on bike and the least modified of the 3 bikes as the standard set-up is just so right. Again, the road bike will reasonably be expected to be my leisure bike for a long, long time to come (if I can keep it out of the hands of my 2 fast growing sons!).

The GT brand is massively overlooked and I just don't get it. They are well built, perform at least as good as the rest, well spec'd and competitively priced (IMO). Why are they so unpopular? This is no bad thing though because it does give them a sort of exclusivity that normally costs 2-3 times the price

Oh, and thanks very much Winnershsaint. Now I have found the above bike I have woken the N+1 beast as that is, IMO one hell of a bike.

 

[e-rider]

British made custom carbon frame £2583

http://www.craddockcycles.co.uk

some of the design features are quite shocking though - nylock nuts on bonded bolts for bottle cages WTF!

 

[e-rider]

shame you didn't have £3K for a bike 10 years ago - you really would have got a nice bike then. These days £3K is very average for a complete bike. I guess at least the overall quality of engineering and tech will be still higher today though.

 

[jugglingphil]

A lot of people are down on the big brands.
At 3k the bike is going to be fairly unique, so what if the person riding their Spec allez next to you has the same logo?

It's all about how it rides and how it makes you feel. Don't discount anything. Ride as many as you can, enjoy the process. You have said yourself this is a 1 time purchase, so no need to rush.

 

[lesley_x]

I would buy a Wilier, have always wanted one

Or DeRosa or Canyon, nice looking bikes too. Ultimately though it comes down to fit. My Specialized has been a great, durable bike, fits me beautifully, comfortable and I'm yet to see another one on the road?? I would struggle not to buy another specialized with the same geometry because I know it works really well for me.

 

[Fab Foodie]

How is your Rourke build going FF ?

Not spent much time on the thread lately so may have missed it.

Thanks for asking - still waiting, it was always a December completion anyhow. Just waiting for the call to take all the other bits up!
Getting mildly nervous/excited!

 

[vickster]

A lot of people are down on the big brands.
At 3k the bike is going to be fairly unique, so what if the person riding their Spec allez next to you has the same logo?

It's all about how it rides and how it makes you feel. Don't discount anything. Ride as many as you can, enjoy the process. You have said yourself this is a 1 time purchase, so no need to rush.

A 3k Giant, Specialized, Trek is not that unique amongst the Mamils in Richmond Park nor in the Surrey Hills!

I don't want a bike with the same logo as every other one on the road, nor the same black paint job, but that's my personal preference. The OP did say he likes something that stands out from the crowd, A 3k Tarmac will look to my eyes, almost the same as a £500 Allez from any sort of distance!

 

[Fab Foodie]

A lot of people are down on the big brands.
At 3k the bike is going to be fairly unique, so what if the person riding their Spec allez next to you has the same logo?

It's all about how it rides and how it makes you feel. Don't discount anything. Ride as many as you can, enjoy the process. You have said yourself this is a 1 time purchase, so no need to rush.

I'm not certain about a downer on the big brands per se, 3k will by an amazing bike from any of the big names, no doubt. They are the tech and manufacturing leaders. BUT, that kind of money also takes you into the bespoke bicycle arena where you can have another kind of 'special' which most will only dream about. I think a bespoke cycle will have a lifespan beyond today's lightest race-rocket.

There something nice about having something hand crafted by a man whose hand you've shaken and chatted with over a cuppa.

 

[I like Skol]

There something nice about having something hand crafted by a man whose hand you've shaken and chatted with over a cuppa.

You romantic old fool!

 

[Rob3rt]

I'm not certain about a downer on the big brands per se, 3k will by an amazing bike from any of the big names, no doubt. They are the tech and manufacturing leaders. BUT, that kind of money also takes you into the bespoke bicycle arena where you can have another kind of 'special' which most will only dream about. I think a bespoke cycle will have a lifespan beyond today's lightest race-rocket.

There something nice about having something hand crafted by a man whose hand you've shaken and chatted with over a cuppa.

It might do, but then the latest race-rocket will probably have a lifespan well beyond that of the average cyclists needs anyway.

 

[vickster]

You mean a bike doesn't need to be replaced or at least upgraded every 6-12 months