My first carbon, £1500 budget, help

[User6179]

Cube agree gtc sl, £1500 with full ultegra and Easton kit.

 

[Dusty Bin]

I find my Allez is great, but I'm looking for something that will be good for long days in the saddle.

The Allez is already good for long days in the saddle. What are you expecting your new bike to be able to do that your Allez can't?

 

[Edge705]

I noticed this the other day and thought its pretty good spec for the money I've seen it at a couple of places but at this place they do 6 months interest free - If you can stretch to 2k again with 6 months interest free option then the Canondale synapse Hi Mod is a 3k bike for 1999 its got the save system incorporated which is designed for longer days in the saddle, carbon crankset, ksyrium elite wheelset, and full ultegra

 

[SteveBM]

Ashcycles may be worth a visit if looking at Giant http://www.ashcycles.com/site/ , or if you work in / go into London, Giant have opened a store near St Paul's

Will definitely pay a visit to the St Paul's store

 

[SteveBM]

The Allez is already good for long days in the saddle. What are you expecting your new bike to be able to do that your Allez can't?

A good question. I'm expecting smoother changes from the better gears, improved "roll ability" from the wheels and more responsiveness up the hills from the carbon frame. Oh, and admiring glances from my fellow cyclists! Are these reasonable expectations?

 

[SteveBM]

I noticed this the other day and thought its pretty good spec for the money I've seen it at a couple of places but at this place they do 6 months interest free - If you can stretch to 2k again with 6 months interest free option then the Canondale synapse Hi Mod is a 3k bike for 1999 its got the save system incorporated which is designed for longer days in the saddle, carbon crankset, ksyrium elite wheelset, and full ultegra

That Giant looks very very good. Not sure I can get up to to 2 grand without some serious opposition from SWMBO!

 

[Dusty Bin]

A good question. I'm expecting smoother changes from the better gears, improved "roll ability" from the wheels and more responsiveness up the hills from the carbon frame. Oh, and admiring glances from my fellow cyclists! Are these reasonable expectations?

Yes and no. There's nothing to stop you buying a carbon framed bike if that's what you want. But there's no guarantee that it will give you the improvements you listed above. In fact, you could probably achieve all of those things (directly or indirectly) by making improvements to your Allez.

The Allez frame is one of the best aluminium frames out there, certainly as good and as capable as many of the carbon frames available. A carbon framed bike might well have a frame which is lighter than the Allez frame, but depending on what is fitted to it, it may well end up weighing the same, or more. But, like I say, it depends on what you are really after.

 

[musa]

Thanks for the offer. I'd prefer to buy new though if possible

It is new theres 20% off it now so 1200£ tarmac sport

 

[vickster]

Admiring glances, get something unusual, not a specialized

 

[musa]

In that case a trek madone

 

[vickster]

Or a nice Pearson, whichever replaced the pave

 

[SteveBM]

In that case a trek madone

Like this? http://www.evanscycles.com/products...=mkwid__pcrid_19178803256_kword__match__plid_

 

[musa]

Yes or a 3.1

 

[musa]

Or a 4.5 if u want. Got a 56

 

[SteveBM]

Thanks all. This is getting a bit overwhelming now. I'm worried I'm going to end up with a list and I won't be able to differentiate between all the various options!

Thanks all for the advice. I'm going to check these out in my local bike shops.