Road bike recommendation ~£1k.

[Hoove]

I've got ~£1000 to spend on a road bike, but could stretch a few hundred more if necessary. I'll use it for exercise and competing with myself on quiet local roads. I've been looking at a Specialised Roubaix. Can anyone recommend any other bikes that might suit me and are a good buy?

 

[simonali]

Focus Cayo?

 

[Eat MY Dust]

Focus Cayo?

+1

 

[cheadle hulme]

I've got a £1000 cycle to work voucher on the way. Can't use it with Wiggle for the Cayo, so looking at the Planet X carbon/dura ace build. I think it looks a bit ugly though, especialy around the headtube and with very compact geometry.

Very tempted by their £1600 Titanium offer though....

 

[kyuss]

I think I'm going off the Focus Cayo and the Planet X pro carbon. I'm sure they are fantastic value and great bikes but I'm a bit sick of hearing about them. The amount of times they are put forward as the bikes to have for £1000 suggests to me that by now everyone and there mum must have one. Like a BMW 3 series, they require almost no thought before buying. Dull, dull, dull. Be different.

I'm going to suggest the EBC Revolution Shadow. Scandium frame, Ultegra SL, much prettier than it looks in the picture, and the Revolution bikes I've had in the past have been brilliant.

 

[mickle]

Any fule know Focus, Planet X and EBC aren't proper. This is proper; http://www.awcycles.co.uk/brands/Bianchi/1885_Hydro_Carbon_-_Veloce,_2008/11903/index.aspx

 

[Eat MY Dust]

Any fule know Focus, Planet X and EBC aren't proper. This is proper; http://www.awcycles.co.uk/brands/Bianchi/1885_Hydro_Carbon_-_Veloce,_2008/11903/index.aspx

Mickle, have you been drinking?

 

[Eat MY Dust]

I think I'm going off the Focus Cayo and the Planet X pro carbon. I'm sure they are fantastic value and great bikes but I'm a bit sick of hearing about them. The amount of times they are put forward as the bikes to have for £1000 suggests to me that by now everyone and there mum must have one. Like a BMW 3 series, they require almost no thought before buying. Dull, dull, dull. Be different.

I'm going to suggest the EBC Revolution Shadow. Scandium frame, Ultegra SL, much prettier than it looks in the picture, and the Revolution bikes I've had in the past have been brilliant.

Well I've yet to see another Cayo out on the road and I do around 8k miles a year. I think if you want to compare bike models to BMW 3 series, you'd be better mentioning something like the Spez range. Go on a club run and every 2nd person's on one!!

 

[walker]

Planet X. nuff said

 

[Hoove]

Thanks

Thanks for all the advice. Would you recommend going for carbon or is it a bit of a gimmick? Does aluminium do as good a job? How does titanium compare? One more question: I've been reading a lot about Shimano kit; what's the pecking order of stuff in the £1k range? Is 105 better than Dura-ace or Ultegra? Excuse my ignorance if I've just asked the bleeding obvious!

 

[dodgy]

Hi Hoove,

Pecking order is 105 -> Ultegra -> Dura Ace.

My advice is to ride different frame materials, they all have their unique characteristics. My next bike will be a titanium, mainly as I'm planning to keep it for some time.

Dave.

 

[Big T]

Thanks for all the advice. Would you recommend going for carbon or is it a bit of a gimmick? Does aluminium do as good a job? How does titanium compare? One more question: I've been reading a lot about Shimano kit; what's the pecking order of stuff in the £1k range? Is 105 better than Dura-ace or Ultegra? Excuse my ignorance if I've just asked the bleeding obvious!

Dura-ace is the best, then Ultegra SL, then Ultegra, then 105, then Tiagra, then Sora.

You won't see many bikes in the £1000 price range with Dura-ace, which is why the Planet X is such a bargain. Being carbon, it's light too - so if you want something that's light, functional with a top of the range groupset, then go for the Planet X.

If however, you want to "pose" then go for a Pinarello is something similar, but you'll only get Tiagra or 105 at that price point.

 

[Hoove]

Thanks Big T, sounds like I might have to jump on the Planet X band waggon. Cute dog.

 

[mickle]

Planet Eks = Hyundai.
Pinarello = Maserati.

 

[Hoove]

Couldn't afford to run a Maserati!