Sportive Campag for under 1K

[pwh91]

Hi All,

I'm looking for a sportive-ready bike, but being an awkward git, I have a couple of "necessities" that cut my options down.

- Under a grand (well maybe a couple of quid more if pushed)
- Carbon frame ideally, for purely image reasons
- Campag (to keep consistency with my existing Ribble bike) compact gears, ideally with the option to choose a hill-climbing range e.g. 13-29. Yes I know I should get a triple, but that's another thread...
- Something with a big head-tube, shortish top-tube since I'm 5'10'' but with 34"" inside leg

Am I just speccing myself another Ribble special e.g Nero Corsa, or is there an alternative out there?

Ideas welcome, cheers!

 

[GrahamG]

I'm the same with the short TT - although I've even got short arms to exacerbate things. I reckon the only OTP bike that would work for me is Specialized Allez/Roubaix or the Giant Defy range, neither of which come equipped with Campag!

 

[punkypossum]

I had the same problem, tall with long legs...tried the defy and it actually felt really long...I would have ended up needing a medium frame despite being 6 foot, which put me in a very bum up head down position. Ended up with a trek 1.7 instead, short in the toptube, fairly high at the front. This won't help the op unfortunately, as it's neither carbon nor campaq...

 

[pwh91]

Thanks for the ideas on the off-the-peg options like Trek and Specialized Allez, looks like if I go that way I'll need to sacrifice something e.g. groupset, in which case I'll go for a triple instead of the 13-29 Campag.

One more option is to buy a separate frame and componentry, but I don't have the time....

The advantage with the Ribble setup is I can order up custom stem length, freewheel, bar width etc. I'm surprised there aren't more companies offering the same build process - again if anyone knows of a reasonably priced build-up shop I'd appreciate it.

 

[monnet]

I'm pretty sure if you ask nicely the shop would switch stem lengths, bars etc for you. I know when I bought my Specialized Allez, I specified bar width and crank length (and possibly the stem). I also have a mate who had the reverse of your situation - he wanted a Wilier but it came specced with Campag and he wanted Shimano. He had a chat with his LBS (who he was buying from) and for the cost of labour they switched it round for him.

 

[monnet]

I should caveat that that in both cases were local shops, it would probably be different if you go to Evans or somesuch.