The perfect bike!

[bikingdad90]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for an N+1 bike that will last me a long time and inspire me to save each month so I can fund it.

I've never really owned an expensive bike (>£500) and the ones I do own I like but do not love, I feel something is missing, like the connection is not there.

I am looking for my perfect bike and my
budget will be around about £1000 for bike and accessories.

My requirements are as follows:

Comfort criteria
-Drop bars
-Min 700x 28c tyres
-Mudguard bosses (& mudguards fitted)
-Sportive/relaxed geometry
-Smooth and quiet ride

Commuting criteria
-Cross top (secondary brake levers)
-Disk brakes
-Rack bosses
-Hardwearing finish that is easy to clean

Aesthetic criteria
-Preferably internal routing or neat cable runs
-Not black
-Nice to look at paint job
-Smooth welding

Other preferences
- carbon fork and a light frame of any material (no steel)
-Shimano Tiagra (4800) or 105 groupset, any higher would be a waste as it would get trashed too quick as a commuter or
Sram apex upwards
-Cheap enough to able to afford a 2nd pair of wheels within the £1k so I can swap up to 32/35's in the winter.


Nothing so far has caught my eye. I sort of like the Planet X London Road bikes but the aesthetics let it down with the rough welding.

Any ideas on what bike I should get?

I will print it out and stick it on the fridge to remind me that its what I am saving towards.

 

[Fab Foodie]

That's quite a shopping list for £1000
Why no steel?

Look at Whyte bikes.

 

[raleighnut]

^^^^^+1
You describe every attribute of a steel bike (comfort, quietness and longevity) then say no steel.

 

[tyred]

It can't be the perfect bike if it's not made from steel

 

[Oldfentiger]

You can still buy a Raleigh RX Comp 2015 from

http://www.onyerbikeonline.com/m3b7s23p876/RALEIGH-RX-COMP-2015

£800 only.

Only 54cm left in stock though.
Ticks most of your boxes.

I have one and absolutely love it.

I have two sets of wheels for the purposes you describe.

 

[vickster]

My understanding is that disc brakes and cross top levers aren't compatible with STI levers

In your shoes, I'd have a Genesis equilibrium disc or a Whyte

Like others, why no steel? Have you tried them?

You are unlikely to get higher than 105/rival anyhow. How much of your budget is for the accessories

 

[derrick]

That's quite a shopping list for £1000
Why no steel?

Look at Whyte bikes.

Can you buy a nice steel bike for that money, and if so will it not be heavy?

 

[vickster]

Can you buy a nice steel bike for that money, and if so will it not be heavy?

10 or 11kg. No heavier than alu

I'm not sure the perfect bike exists for £1k, at least not new

 

[Fab Foodie]

Can you buy a nice steel bike for that money, and if so will it not be heavy?

You can just about, but yes it will be a bit heavier than an Aluminium equivalent, BUT it will have very nice ride qualities. And ... Weight is not everything ... In fact it's often over-rated. It depends what qualities you want.

 

[derrick]

So a light weight steel bike price wise you are looking at £2000.00.

 

[Fab Foodie]

It cost me just over 2k to build a near perfect bike and that was using drive train parts from a donor bike ... It's nearly there!

 

[derrick]

It cost me just over 2k to build a near perfect bike and that was using drive train parts from a donor bike ... It's nearly there!

Is that steel?

 

[Fab Foodie]

Lo

So a light weight steel bike price wise you are looking at £2000.00.

ok at Condor, Shand, Genesis for good steelies. Not super cheap, no, but worth it :-)

 

[vickster]

Steel just rides so much nicer than alu imo

 

[raleighnut]

So a light weight steel bike price wise you are looking at £2000.00.

With a new frame yep, however a reasonably light one could be found new for that price.
A top flight steel (853/953) would be £4,500-5,000 though.