My next bike....

[Maylian]

So planning on buying a new bike, probably not for another year but researching it ahead of time and would like people with experience of the brands to let me know what they think.

I'm looking at spending a max of around £2000 - 2500 and was looking at going full carbon with preferably internal cabling. Now my brands of choice are mainly based on looks and also because on the rough streets of Southampton I don't see them as often as many others.

1. Willier
2. Bianchi
3. Colnago
4. De Rosa

When I bought my first race bike (Giant Defy) the shop steered me away from getting a Cube which I wanted because they said it would be too aggressive a ride position for me. I do love my Giant and wouldn't be opposed to getting a TCR or Defy Advanced if the others would not be a good fit.

So are these brands ok for someone 6'4" with about a 33" inner leg? Obviously I know I'd have to take them for test rides and spending that much would look to do that closer to the time but any feedback on the brands, riding position, quality etc would be really appreciated. Or are there other brands that I'm ruling out of turn? Eddy Merckx or Ribble?

 

[baldycyclist]

obviously the Merckx!

 

[StuAff]

Look, Time, Storck.....
If you can stretch to £2k for the frameset then you could have an Italian made to measure carbon frame from Legend.

 

[vickster]

Ridley an option too - unlikely this deal will be around in a year though (time to warm up the credit card perhaps )

http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/store/content/106/Ridley-Excalibur/

Support a nice British company...
Pearson own
Condor
Dolan?

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I would personally take the 'Colnago' as they are lovely frame sets, they have lovely finish and quality feel about them.
I personally can't tell the difference between a Bianchi which costs £1000 or £10000 without looking at components, the traditional Celeste colour scheme makes one model blend into another and I don't want to be the same as everyone else (Marmite Bikes) - Although someone on this forum has a really cool dark blue one, which drastically changes the look of the bike.
I would forget the Willer as I think they lack in many area's, are not as good as you would hope they would be and the support from the manufacturer has a lot to be desired imho
DeRosa I really liked their older bikes and they feel well put together, but one of the later frame sets looks the same/similar to a PlanetX frame set and for the money they cost I would not desire this.

Big fan of the Eddy Merckx bikes myself, they have a great build quality and respond really well. The person who had my old Dogma has moved onto a Merckx now and its a really great bike.

 

[tiswas-steve]

May I just throw Cube into the mix ? You can get Ui2 for that kinda dosh. Also think Canyon are worth a look.

 

[Maylian]

May I just throw Cube into the mix ? You can get Ui2 for that kinda dosh. Also think Canyon are worth a look.

I did always want a cube, love the shape and quality. My hybrid is a Cube but after they said the riding position is too aggressive for me, I don't know if this changes after getting used to riding a road bike?

 

[BSRU]

Go for a made to measure titanium

 

[tiswas-steve]

I did always want a cube, love the shape and quality. My hybrid is a Cube but after they said the riding position is too aggressive for me, I don't know if this changes after getting used to riding a road bike?

Obviously the riding position is different on a road bike but after 20 years out of the saddle I didn't find it too hard to adapt. I suppose nothing tried, nothing gained
Good luck with whatever you decide.