Road Cycling

[Junglist]

I'm far from an expert and others that no more will be along soon I'm sure, but from my research, there's different brackets really. I think £2k is fine to start things off, I think you'll be looking in the upper end of that bracket. If you want to go to digital gears then you move up a bracket and are perhaps looking around £4k.

£4k is definitely too rich for my blood! My partner already, half serious and I think/hope half joking, said that if I'm going to spend £2k on a bicycle then she better be getting something sparkly for her as well. I think my head would be on a spike if I spent that much! Plus if I get into road cycling as much as I think it will it gives me something to aspire to!

In my research I was told that actually you get a lot of bike for your money with Canyon as it's sold online, so smaller mark-up than perhaps ones you buy in a shop.

I hope that is true as I really, really like the look of it compared to other bikes in my price range. Shame they're not available until October though. On one hand that's good as gives me a chance to get my payrise in but on the otherhand it means I miss all the great weather

 

[Trifid]

£4k is definitely too rich for my blood! My partner already, half serious and I think/hope half joking, said that if I'm going to spend £2k on a bicycle then she better be getting something sparkly for her as well. I think my head would be on a spike if I spent that much! Plus if I get into road cycling as much as I think it will it gives me something to aspire to!




I hope that is true as I really, really like the look of it compared to other bikes in my price range. Shame they're not available until October though. On one hand that's good as gives me a chance to get my payrise in but on the otherhand it means I miss all the great weather

Canyon were excellent value for money a couple of years back and still find them relatively good value despite the problems with the bike supply chain. I found a lot of similiary priced bikes are advertised as Ultegra but have 105 parts on it too.

 

[Junglist]

I doubt I'd be able to tell the difference between a 105 or Ultegra even if I tried to anyway! From my basic understanding, ultegra is just lighter and a bit more robust? At my level I can't see myself noticing a few hundred grams

The delay is a bit disappointing though.

 

[bainbridge]

I'm after a road bike too, but really around the 1k mark, £1200 max. Is it still true around this price range that aluminium frames are better than bottom end carbon?

 

[gpuerrilla]

I'm after a road bike too, but really around the 1k mark, £1200 max. Is it still true around this price range that aluminium frames are better than bottom end carbon?

Yep, although all metals used for high end bike frames will be good if they are decent grade (steel, titanium). The rider will find a quality they prefer over the others so if possible trial them out.

 

[AndyCr15]

around the 1k mark, £1200 max

I think I'd be looking at the Boardman range at that price.

 

[bainbridge]

I think I'd be looking at the Boardman range at that price.

I had a specialised allez elite 10 years ago, aluminium frame, carbon fork, 105 groupset. It was a good bike but I sold it because I wasn't using it. Specialised are still selling this bike at £1250, though I don't know the specs. Would you put this bike above a Boardman?

 

[bainbridge]

Yep, although all metals used for high end bike frames will be good if they are decent grade (steel, titanium). The rider will find a quality they prefer over the others so if possible trial them out.

Cheers

 

[blairw]

As someone who hasn't ever ridden a road bike before, would i even notice the difference between a 105 or Ultegra? I can't imagine I would so I'd have thought sticking with 105 or equivalent would be the sensible option to save a few pennies?

Any way you can leverage cycle2work schemes? Potentially big tax saving on offer!

 

[Junglist]

Any way you can leverage cycle2work schemes? Potentially big tax saving on offer!

I hopefully will be taking advantage of a C2W scheme. My current place offers them and it would be fine but I'm not 100% how much longer I will want to remain there before moving on so may just be easier to buy directly.

 

[Lethal`]

I doubt I'd be able to tell the difference between a 105 or Ultegra even if I tried to anyway! From my basic understanding, ultegra is just lighter and a bit more robust? At my level I can't see myself noticing a few hundred grams

You won't notice a difference. It's not really even robustness. Pretty much just weight differences due to some different materials in use and some parts are hollow compared to 105. I've essentially downgraded to 105 over the years as I've replaced parts and baulked at some of the Ultegra prices for little gain. The weight difference will be negated by some extra water...

 

[Junglist]

You won't notice a difference. It's not really even robustness. Pretty much just weight differences due to some different materials in use and some parts are hollow compared to 105. I've essentially downgraded to 105 over the years as I've replaced parts and baulked at some of the Ultegra prices for little gain. The weight difference will be negated by some extra water...

Or my gut

 

[Trifid]

I doubt I'd be able to tell the difference between a 105 or Ultegra even if I tried to anyway! From my basic understanding, ultegra is just lighter and a bit more robust? At my level I can't see myself noticing a few hundred grams

No, but was a example to look out for. 105 is a excellent groupset and would definitely be worth reaching for if it is close to your budget.

Or my gut

Always make sure you unnecesary weight from your gut before a cycle.

 

[SoliD]

Woohoo, Stages repaired and on it's way back to me.

 

[AndyCr15]

I had a specialised allez elite 10 years ago, aluminium frame, carbon fork, 105 groupset. It was a good bike but I sold it because I wasn't using it. Specialised are still selling this bike at £1250, though I don't know the specs. Would you put this bike above a Boardman?

I don't know the bikes well enough to say tbh... again, just me research suggested the Boardmans were good value and can be found around £1,000.

 

[Shoeyuk]

I ended up getting an cannondale synapse tiagra for my first bike for £999 although everywhere else was selling them for £1100, I was looking at the canyons but the long shipping queue got me to look else where.

 

[Jonny69]

Anyone been following LaVita on IG and thinking of blowing £1500 on one of their gravel bikes might want to read this: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/365225/

 

[doodah]

Under 9kg, all carbon for <£1,500 - what's the catch!?

 

[Jonny69]

Under 9kg, all carbon for <£1,500 - what's the catch!?

Page 6 onward, but this post in particular if tldr;

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/16064940/

 

[Lethal`]

Never heard of those Shimano alternative groupsets mentioned in that thread. At least availability can't really be worse.