Time for a step up - advice please

[rugby bloke]

I bought my trusty Carerra Virtuoso when I signed up for RideLondon for what I assumed would be a one off. 4 years and many miles down the road it looks like I'm into road cycling for the long run and I'm looking to replace my bike with something a bit more upmarket.

My budget is around £1,000 - £1,500, my problem is that even a brief search of t'internet suggests a baffling range of options. I am want something that is going to be comfortable for up to 100 miles a day and comfort is a higher priority than speed.

The offerings from Giant certainly stand out, is there anything else in particular I should be looking at ? I plan to go to a LBS to discuss but I want to ensure I am going with a little knowledge !

 

[derrick]

There is plenty to choose from, just got to pick what you like the look of, then try to get a test ride, find what suits you.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/grouptest-bikes-for-under-1500-21836
https://roadcyclinguk.com/gear/buying-guides/price/fifteen-best-2017-road-bikes-1000-1500/

 

[Racing roadkill]

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-920-af-road-bike-red-blue-ultegra-id_8403061.html

A great bike right there

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-900-cf-carbon-road-bike-105-id_8390339.html

If you prefer Carbon Fiber.

 

[MichaelW2]

Do you need a pure competition race bike or an all weather road bike? Do you want light luggage capacity for touring and proper bolt-on mudguard capability.
Do you want disk brakes?

 

[rugby bloke]

Do you need a pure competition race bike or an all weather road bike? Do you want light luggage capacity for touring and proper bolt-on mudguard capability.
Do you want disk brakes?

Thanks for the note.
Summer riding only - I'll use the Carerra for the winter. Social riding only, no competing., the old sportive for fun and an annual supported multi day tour in Europe with a few big hills. No need for luggage capacity or mud guards.
I'm not sure about disc brakes, happy to be convinced.
One final point - it looks like that price point is the top of the aluminium ranges or the bottom of the carbon. Considering the extra weight, are there reasons to go for aluminium, I am thinking build quality, rigidity etc.

 

[vickster]

£1500 might also get you Ti. And of course, don't discount steel for all day comfort and touring....

 

[gbb]

Assuming you're more than happy with your Virtuoso, use the measurements from that to compare to and try one of Ribbles offerings, (or any of the other similar internet retailers).
The Ribble Sportive Racing Black for instance, full carbon, 105 group set, Mavic Krysium Elite wheelsets etc...just under £1500.
I have an older version of this bike and its been everything I hoped, comfortable, durable, light, responsive. Using your bike as a measurement example, look at the geometry charts on Ribbles site,(or others) you can take out a lot of the guess work.

 

[13 rider]

Giant ,trek or specialized all offer life time frame warrentry worth considering . I wouldn't look no further than the Giant Defy range . Go for disc if your not worried about looks . Better braking in the wet and you don't wear out your rims

 

[tom73]

Assuming you're more than happy with your Virtuoso, use the measurements from that to compare to and try one of Ribbles offerings, (or any of the other similar internet retailers).
The Ribble Sportive Racing Black for instance, full carbon, 105 group set, Mavic Krysium Elite wheelsets etc...just under £1500.
I have an older version of this bike and its been everything I hoped, comfortable, durable, light, responsive. Using your bike as a measurement example, look at the geometry charts on Ribbles site,(or others) you can take out a lot of the guess work.

Have the very said bike with said spec. ( but the racing green ed) Love every minute in the saddle , rides like a dream. Not know how your fixed but maybe worth trip to Birmingham and try one out. I did and well worth it great service all round.

 

[biggs682]

@rugby bloke with a £1k budget you can get some nice bikes for sure , wouldn't have a clue what i would go for myself but enjoy the looking and testing

 

[Johnno260]

Merida Scultura 400 is a nice bike, for a few £100 more you can get the disc brake variant.

I have the Ride 400, but the LBS owner has a Scultura and says it's the nicest bike he has owned.

But best advise I was given here, just test ride as many as possible and see what works for you.

 

[rugby bloke]

Merida Scultura 400 is a nice bike, for a few £100 more you can get the disc brake variant.

I have the Ride 400, but the LBS owner has a Scultura and says it's the nicest bike he has owned.

But best advise I was given here, just test ride as many as possible and see what works for you.

Interesting, my LBS stocks Merida bikes. Its not a brand I have come across so its interesting to get some feedback.

 

[vickster]

Interesting, my LBS stocks Merida bikes. Its not a brand I have come across so its interesting to get some feedback.

Pretty sure they (part) own Specialized

Yep 49% and make Specialized branded frames

 

[Johnno260]

Interesting, my LBS stocks Merida bikes. Its not a brand I have come across so its interesting to get some feedback.

All I can say is I love mine, but I took peoples advise and tested many many bikes, what's comfortable for me won't be for others.

The Ride series of bikes is getting superseded by the Scultura series, so if you like the Merida range you could get a good deal on a Ride series frame mine is a 105 spec but you could get an Ultegra spec'd bike for cheap.

The Scultura's are way better though, Ride/Scultura are more aimed at comfort and distance, they aero range is the Reacto but you said you wanted comfort over speed.

 

[vickster]

Bit of a deal if Discs might be of interest

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-gran-fondo-disc-tiagra/

Or no discs and Ultegra (if you're 5'6-5'9 or tall, 6'2+)

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-sportive-racing-ultegra-summer-sale/