New Road Bike - £1k Budget - Recommendations.

[tudor_77]

Hi Guys!!

I am currently looking to buy a road bike to allow me to do some longer distance riding and possibly do a few sportives such as the upcoming Liverpool-Chester sportive. My current bike is a Giant Roam which is great for general riding but not really an 'all day' type of machine. I should point out that I have had a couple of road bikes in the past. A Boardman Road race which I loved and a Giant Defy which I really didn't get on with at all.

I have had my eye on this:

http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/boardman-road-team-carbon-limited-edition

I love Boardman Road bikes and love the colour scheme on this although unsure about the Sram groupset , having only used Shimano before.

Does anyone have any recommendations in my price range?? Does not have to be a carbon frame at all but would prefer a relaxed 'sportive' geometry for long distance riding.

Do you guys know of anything better specced for the money than the Boardman Road Team Carbon that I should consider?? Any recommendations in my price bracket are most welcome!

I am going to be putting in my order on Monday so for now I am just considering positive alternatives

 

[SeanM]

I bought one of these recently, but i don't know enough to say whether it's comparable, beyond the price.

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p6158/SCOTT-SOLACE-30-COMPACT-2014

 

[midlife]

I was looking in a shop window the other day and there was a Genesis Volare in a very nice shade of blue. And it was steel. Not sure you should buy a bike because of the colour though

Shaun

 

[vickster]

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXRT58ALRIV22/planet-x-rt-58-alloy-sram-rival-22-road-bike

This is half your budget and a v nice ride for £500

Personally I far prefer SRAM and the rival 22 is v smooth

If you decide on the Boardman, join British cycling for £34, legal cover, 3rd party indemnity and added bonus of 10% off at halfords

 

[Jenkins]

Planet X Pro-Carbon with SRAM Rival 22 for £900?

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPRIV22/planet-x-pro-carbon-sram-rival-22-road-bike

Alternatively they have the same bike with Apex for £800 or Force 2 for £1K

 

[vickster]

Rival 22 is definitely worth the extra over 10 speèd apex. Indeed, I bought the PX for the groupset which is being switched for apex on my carbon bike

 

[Cyclist33]

Rival 22 is definitely worth the extra over 10 speèd apex. Indeed, I bought the PX for the groupset which is being switched for apex on my carbon bike

Why?

 

[Specialeyes]

+1 on Planet X or a Ribble, if you have the patience! I've always thought their Gran Fondo to be a lovely wee bike, and can be had with Rival 22 and decent wheels for the same money.

 

[Twotter]

£999 buys you a Cube Peloton SL with a mix of 105/Ultegra and Aksium wheels.

Mine is a shiny red one & my first sportive is booked for September

 

[vickster]

Why?

Why what?

 

[Thomk]

Why what?

Why why what?
Edit - sorry.....wine...

 

[Cyclist33]

Why what?

Why is rival worth the extra over apex?

 

[vickster]

It's lighter, shifts smoother, looks better, get 2 more gears

 

[Jenkins]

Why is rival worth the extra over apex?

Because it goes up to 22!

I have Apex & Rival on different bikes and find that the Rival shift is slightly quicker and needs less of a sweep of the lever to change up than the Apex - but that may just be down to the way they were set up. I can't feel any difference between the quality of the two, but a pro may be able to. Don't know what the current Rival levers are made from, but the older (20 speed) version as fitted to my Boardman were made from carbon fibre.

 

[vickster]

I find the apex clunkier than Rival 20 and 22. I now have all three