Best value for money carbon road bike

[Jamie Bassett]

Hi all,

I am about to take on a big charity bike ride. I am looking to purchase a new bike for the ride, however I could do with some advice.

What are the best value carbon road bikes out there?

Thanks
Jamie

 

[outlash]

TBH, it's your budget that's more important as you can find value at any price point. Cheap carbon regularly gets trumped by Aluminum at the cheaper end of the spectrum.

 

[fossyant]

Take a look at Planet X and Ribble, amongst many.

 

[Jamie Bassett]

Budget would be around £1000. Thanks both for the replies

 

[outlash]

Cheaper carbon - As Fossyant mentions, Planet X, Ribble, Dolan etc etc or keep an eye out for end of year (2016) bargains, they're starting to bring out next year's models so it's a good time to look out for end of line bargains.

Aluminium frames at the price tend to be better quality - Cannondale, Trek, Giant, a lot of the bigger brands' frames tend to be pretty decent at around a grand.

 

[Spiderweb]

As others have said Planet X offer great bikes and fantastic VFM. Two of my cycling friends ride their Pro Carbon models and love them. £799 gets you a fantastic bike.
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPRIV22/planet-x-pro-carbon-sram-rival-11-road-bike

 

[Racing roadkill]

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mach-740-carbon-road-bike-athena-id_8339672.html

This, takes some beating.

Planet X, Canyon et. al. have had some problems. Broken seat stays are never a good thing. Shop around, try before you buy ( if possible).

 

[midlife]

How about buying the carbon frame, something like a HongFu, and building it up?

Shaun

 

[Spiderweb]

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mach-740-carbon-road-bike-athena-id_8339672.html

This, takes some beating.

Planet X, Canyon et. al. have had some problems. Broken seat stays are never a good thing. Shop around, try before you buy ( if possible).

Lengthy waiting times for the Canyon but never heard of broken seat stays on either Planet X or Canyon.

 

[Tin Pot]

Hi all,

I am about to take on a big charity bike ride. I am looking to purchase a new bike for the ride, however I could do with some advice.

What are the best value carbon road bikes out there?

Thanks
Jamie

Why is carbon the single most important factor in your purchase?

 

[User269]

Cheap carbon? All frames and frame components come from the same few places. Cheap is paying less for the same frame as your Pinarello, Colnago (made by Giant) and so on.
Ever heard of Ridley? High end, respected Belgian frame manufacturer (ie; assembler). Get a Merlin, it's a Ridley frame, at less price. From Merlin it's even got the same finishing kit as the Ridley.
Carbon and Titanium are the best frame materials imnsho*, no matter the price point, any ride quality variations being due to the frame geometry mainly.

*Im My Not So Humble Opinion

 

[Racing roadkill]

Lengthy waiting times for the Canyon but never heard of broken seat stays on either Planet X or Canyon.

Canyon in particular had the seat stay failure issue earlier in the year.

 

[outlash]

Cheap carbon? All frames and frame components come from the same few places. Cheap is paying less for the same frame as your Pinarello, Colnago (made by Giant) and so on.
Ever heard of Ridley? High end, respected Belgian frame manufacturer (ie; assembler). Get a Merlin, it's a Ridley frame, at less price. From Merlin it's even got the same finishing kit as the Ridley.
Carbon and Titanium are the best frame materials imnsho*, no matter the price point, any ride quality variations being due to the frame geometry mainly.

*Im My Not So Humble Opinion

Whilst saying frames & components do "come from the same few places" (although it's more than you think), they're all built to the specs demanded by the companies that order them. Ridley may (or may not) get their frames made by Merida, but they're made to Ridley's design and spec. It's people like Planet X & Ribble who get open mould frames. Don't confuse the two.

 

[RoubaixCube]

I think the Cube Attain SL deservers a VERY worthy mention. Yes its not carbon but at 8.6kg its as light as a 'midrange' carbon bike that costs £1500 at full RRP.

Its an exceptional bike and you are getting a hell of a lot of bike for your money. Full 11 speed 105 setup with enough gears to keep you spinning up all but the steepest of hills

There are a few pics floating around in the Show-us-your-cube thread

 

[Globalti]

For long-distance comfort you can't beat a Roubaix SL4. Any Specialized dealer will sell you this one for £1000, you're getting the same superb frame as with the higher-spec models and you can upgrade it all later as funds allow, which is exactly what I did:

https://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/road/roubaix-sl4/106478