The best bike (any style, type or discipline) for £1000

[GrumpyGregry]

Spring has sprung and the not-so-young man's thoughts turn to a new machine on cycle to work.

But forget the rules and regs of that for a minute and fantasise....

A generous fairy-godmother has given you a thousand pounds; it comes with only these conditions, that you spend it on a complete bicycle, you cannot spend a penny more than one thousand pounds, and you may not keep any change. It can be a road bike, a cargo bike, an mtb, a fixed, a folder, an ordinary, a e-bike/pedelec; whatever the heck kind of bike you fancy so long as it has two-wheels (and no ic engine.) You only get one choice, and you decide how often, or not, you will ride it. Assume you have saddle and pedals lying spare in your shed/garage at home to suit your new steed.

What would you buy and why that particular bike?

 

[jowwy]

this would be my choice - flat bar road bike, compact chainset, can take upto 28mm tyres and guards - also has rack mounts too
and weighs in at 8.8kg

 

[VamP]

no use just fantasizing about a wheelset then?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

no use just fantasizing about a wheelset then?

get yer own thread.... it would be a good one I'm sure.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Specialized Allez Elite.. Great bike with a quality well put together feel to it

 

[themosquitoking]

Did exactly that 4 weeks ago, this was my choice.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

C'mon peeps. Let's have a few suggestions.... Fairy Godmother is hassling me for a decision.

 

[vickster]

A Whyte Stirling? I really like my Cambridge, extremely comfortable and this is the next model up and at budget http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/whyte-stirling-13

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

A Whyte Stirling? I really like my Cambridge, extremely comfortable and this is the next model up and at budget http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/whyte-stirling-13

Thanks for posting that Vickster it looks just what I am after but slightly above budget.

http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/giant-escape-rx-disc-any-alternatives.130211/#post-2451187

I mentioned it in the above thread and somebody else also mentioned Whyte bikes but I never looked. The gearing on that is the same as what I currently have so it fits the bill perfectly. The Cambridge looks good too, but I like the look of the brakes better on the Stirling and the gears. A bit over budget but certainly worth paying more by the looks of it

 

[vickster]

When I was looking for alternatives to the Cambridge, I really struggled to find flat bars, carbon fork and disc brakes - there was a Ridgeback http://www.tweekscycles.com/bikes/hybrids-city-bikes/ridgeback-flight-02-2013-flat-bar-road-bike. Nothing from Specialized or Trek (probably due to fork paranoia)

I too had a thread http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/rigid-fork-fast-flat-bar-bikes-with-disc-brakes.122927/

I got my barely ridden 2011 Cambridge from eBay for £450, very happy with it, probably more comfortable on rough potholed roads than my carbon roadbike

The Sterling is a fine bike http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/gear/category/bikes/hybrid/product/review-whyte-stirling-13-46925

If you have a hunt through Google, you may find a 2012 model for a good price

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

When I was looking for alternatives to the Cambridge, I really struggled to find flat bars, carbon fork and disc brakes - there was a Ridgeback http://www.tweekscycles.com/bikes/hybrids-city-bikes/ridgeback-flight-02-2013-flat-bar-road-bike. Nothing from Specialized or Trek (probably due to fork paranoia)

I too had a thread http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/rigid-fork-fast-flat-bar-bikes-with-disc-brakes.122927/

I got my barely ridden 2011 Cambridge from eBay for £450, very happy with it, probably more comfortable on rough potholed roads than my carbon roadbike

The Sterling is a fine bike http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/gear/category/bikes/hybrid/product/review-whyte-stirling-13-46925

If you have a hunt through Google, you may find a 2012 model for a good price

Cheers Vickster

 

[vickster]

Go and ride one - they do have a slightly odd frame design, although cool - it is possible to catch heels on the struts at the back (I think that's what they are called). Also, the geometry - the Whyte site has a good table

My Cambridge weighs 10kg, more now I have stuck a rack on it

This retailer has 2011/2012/2013 Cambridge and 2013 Sterling photos http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co....ID=333&CSS_ID=0&P_MIN=0&P_MAX=10000&MF_ID=231

Cyclesurgery have the 2013 Cambridge Varsity which is a rather groovy colour and on sale

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueProductKey.ice?ProductID=CWHY0137BB

 

[Cletus Van Damme]

Thanks Vickster, yes that Varsity is very nice.

 

[jifdave]

https://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3073 for me...... they do a huge frame

full 105 for under £900

 

[GrumpyGregry]

https://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3073 for me...... they do a huge frame

full 105 for under £900

I could never buy a Canyon road bike. My Canyon FS mtb has ruined me for other mtb's.