First road bike, budget £1500

[bigup]

Buy Defy 1 2013 for £845 from ashcycles. Then spend rest on buying kit, if any change left you will be laughing

 

[accountantpete]

For a fast but nice and relaxed ride with comfort get a road carbon frame with a relatively longer headtube (it raises the natural height of the bars).

Stick with the major names and you won't go too far wrong.

Also save a bit of money for a decent pair of wheels rather than the stock crap that most retailers fob off as being worthy of the frame.

 

[Leodis]

In the same boat, looking at ribble as you get far more than the usual brands for your money.

 

[SWSteve]

Why not get a Bianchi? They come in that lovely mint green, like you're cycling around on a packet of Softmints

 

[Cooper645]

excellent savings to be had

 

[buggi]

The Allez is basically an aluminium Tarmac.

The Roubaix and the Secteur are Specialized's 'relaxed' bikes.

oops my mistake. yea go for the roubaix if you don't want a crick neck LOL

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

The Tarmac does not give you a crick neck, it's possibly one of the most comfortable bikes I have ever ridden

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Why not get a Bianchi? They come in that lovely mint green, like you're cycling around on a packet of Softmints

How dare you! I have a Bianchi C2C Nirone and the colour is Celeste, I'll have you know, and not some random colour manufactured by Trebor!

Lovely beast and also worth considering if you're looking for a bike that gives you the urge to lick it all over last thing at night as well as ride!

 

[Cyclist33]

If I were spending that much, I'd want something different to the ubiquitous specialized, giant or trek

I would want the right bike whether or not it was "different"

 

[vickster]

There are ample options for that outside the American usuals. Just needs a bit more thought

 

[Cyclist33]

Yeah, only thing is, Giant aren't american and if "thought" leads to a big brand that isn't necessarily the wrong decision!

 

[adscrim]

What about this at £1399

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3239

105 equiped carbon on mavic wheels - looks to be a lot of bike for the money.

 

[green1]

Ribble R872, You can spec it yourself, mine cost 1528.


Edit:
Full Spec:

• Ribble R872 Carbon Road Frame 52.5cm C to top
• Ribble R872 Carbon Road Forks 1 1/8"-1 1/2 ITS 45x45
• Ribble R872 Headset 1 1/8" - 1 1/2" Hidden 45x45
• Campagnolo 2013 Centaur Black 10 Spd Triple Groupset
• Campagnolo Power Torque Outboard Cups (EPS Compatible) Eng
• Campagnolo Centaur Black Brakes Road
• Campagnolo 10Spd Centaur UD Cassette 12-25
• Campagnolo 10Spd Centaur Chain
• Campagnolo Centaur Black PT Triple 10Spd CSet 172.5 30/39/52
• Campagnolo Centaur Blk 10Spd Triple Front Gear Bz-on (max52T)
• Campagnolo Centaur Black 10 Speed Triple Rear Derailleur
• Campagnolo Powershift Ergopowers Triple Centaur Black Alloy 10 Speed
• Fulcrum Pair Wheels Racing 5 Black/White 9/10/11 Camp
• ITM Alutech 6061 (31.8) Bars Black 44 c to c
• Deda Zero 2 Stem Black 110mm
• ITM Headset Spacer Carbon 1 1/8" 10mm
• Selle Italia X1 Saddle (BIKE) Black
• CSN Carbon S.E. Seatpillar 31.6 400mm
• Schwalbe Lugano Folding Tyre Black 700x23mm
• Yaw Butyl Inner Tube 700x18/25 SV42mm
• ITM Cork Embossed Handlebar Tape Black
• Look Keo Easy Pedals Anth

 

[Leodis]

Also picked up a Ribble R872, campagnolo centaur black/red, camp Zonda wheelset with ITM finishing kit = £1600 couldnt get an off the peg with decent frame, wheelset and groupset for that kinda cash.

 

[JoeyB]

if that budget is "cash" rather than credit, i'd be looking to go a bit higher and barter the shop down. i got my £1800 Scott CR1 Pro road bike for £1400. all because i like the CR1 but wanted ultegra which came on the CR1 Pro, so asked them to swap the groupset over. The shop couldn't be arsed with the additional work... so knocked the additional cost off

I feel duped! I got the Scott CR1 Pro 2012 just as the 2013 models were released, for £1800....down from £2600. I thought that was a good deal!!