£6k bike advice

Shadowness

Shadowness

Shadowness

Soldato
Joined
17 Sep 2006
Posts
4,226
Location
Gloucestershire
Howdy chaps,

I've not been on here for a while, but I was after a bit of advice on some bikes, and various components I might spec.

Unfortunately my pride and joy Boardman was stolen at the weekend (while we were in the house to add insult to injury!), but luckily the insurance is covering it.
I've got to deal with wheelies.co.uk, so for a start, if anyone has any experience with these guys that would be great!
I've sent photos and the specs of my bike to them, so I'm waiting to hear back with a valuation, which I've calculated to be around the £6k mark, I'm hoping they reach the same value!

Although they don't stock Boardman bikes, I was told that Halfords have recently taken over the company, and they own Boardman, so the guy on the phone was quite optimistic about getting a frame, and then specing the same parts to make the same bike. But if I fancy a change, my options seen to be:

Specialized Venge ViAS:

95791_2_Zoom.jpg


Pros
Nothing but rave reviews
Dura Ace

Cons
No electronic shifting
Not quite sure on the effectiveness of the rim brakes



Specialized Venge ViAS Disc:

Specialized-Venge-ViAS-Pro-Disc-UDi2-700c-2017-Road-Bike-96757-Zoom.jpg


Pros
Based on same bike above
Ultegra Di2
Disc brakes
Can swap wheels/parts with my winter bike with discs
Shimano, so can buy stages power meter and use on other bike too
Looks epic!

Cons
Disc brakes (I have the same discs on my winter bike with no complaints)
Don't think disc brakes are really needed on 'summer' bike


Felt AR1:

Felt-AR1-eTap-2017-Road-Bike-94574-Zoom.jpg


Pros
Already has eTap
Zipp wheels

Cons
I know nothing about Felts
Seen better looking bikes (being fussy here!)


Ideally, I'd like the rim brake Venge with eTap. Whether they would allow me to take all the Shimano bits off and replace with SRAM I have no idea.....

Or anything else I cant think of. I'm sure they can get hold of other bits, so I'm open to suggestions. But has anyone ridden/heard anything about these bikes?
 
Shadowness said:
Howdy chaps,

I've not been on here for a while, but I was after a bit of advice on some bikes, and various components I might spec.

Unfortunately my pride and joy Boardman was stolen at the weekend (while we were in the house to add insult to injury!), but luckily the insurance is covering it.
I've got to deal with wheelies.co.uk, so for a start, if anyone has any experience with these guys that would be great!
I've sent photos and the specs of my bike to them, so I'm waiting to hear back with a valuation, which I've calculated to be around the £6k mark, I'm hoping they reach the same value!

Although they don't stock Boardman bikes, I was told that Halfords have recently taken over the company, and they own Boardman, so the guy on the phone was quite optimistic about getting a frame, and then specing the same parts to make the same bike. But if I fancy a change, my options seen to be:

Specialized Venge ViAS:


Pros
Nothing but rave reviews
Dura Ace

Cons
No electronic shifting
Not quite sure on the effectiveness of the rim brakes



Specialized Venge ViAS Disc:


Pros
Based on same bike above
Ultegra Di2
Disc brakes
Can swap wheels/parts with my winter bike with discs
Shimano, so can buy stages power meter and use on other bike too
Looks epic!

Cons
Disc brakes (I have the same discs on my winter bike with no complaints)
Don't think disc brakes are really needed on 'summer' bike


Felt AR1:



Pros
Already has eTap
Zipp wheels

Cons
I know nothing about Felts
Seen better looking bikes (being fussy here!)


Ideally, I'd like the rim brake Venge with eTap. Whether they would allow me to take all the Shimano bits off and replace with SRAM I have no idea.....

Or anything else I cant think of. I'm sure they can get hold of other bits, so I'm open to suggestions. But has anyone ridden/heard anything about these bikes?
Click to expand...



Buy the one that fits the best. You can clearly afford to change componentry later, you can't make the frame a different shape.
 
Out of interest what is the bike being used for?
If I was to buy a high end Specialized it would not be one of these Aero sprinters bikes ,I would be looking at the Tarmac S-Works. I know its not quite as Aero but its allot more compliant which will make it better to ride.
 
Shadowness said:
I've got to deal with wheelies.co.uk, so for a start, if anyone has any experience with these guys that would be great!
Click to expand...

I bought my Orange Crush S off them back in April. They were tidy in fairness - couple of courtesy calls to discuss potential upgrades on certain components but they weren't pushy. I'd use them again.
 
Amps said:
Out of interest what is the bike being used for?
Click to expand...

It would be my 'summer' bike, so to speak. My Boardman was a very stiff aero bike, so I'm not too bothered about having a compliant comfortable bike.

booyaka said:
Surely at that price range Di2 is a must.
Click to expand...

or even better.....eTap ;) But I take your point, although Dura Ace mechanical is hardly something to pass on.

Shamrock said:
Canyon? Probably the best value specs around.

The Bianchi is lovely though!
Click to expand...

Indeed that is a stunner! I'm not sure if Wheelies can get hold of those, as I'm in their hands really.
For the above reason, I'm guessing Canyons are out of the question.
 
Wouldn't touch any of those with a long barge stick. The VIAS has terrible brakes and has just had recalls. A bike like that without di2 or etap is just ridiculous too. Discs just no, and the felt is nowhere near as stiff as it should be for that money.

For that much cash I'd be looking at the new Trek Madone, Cervelo S3/S5, Canyon Aeroad
 
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Oltre XR2 or XR4 if you can stretch. Absolutely stunning bikes.

Wheelies does Bianchi. I would not touch anything other than that from them, would have considered the ViaS prior but not now.

S5 or Aeroroad would be my other shouts but you can't get those from Wheelies.
 
Thomas. PLease. said:
Wouldn't touch any of those with a long barge stick. The VIAS has terrible brakes and has just had recalls. A bike like that without di2 or etap is just ridiculous too. Discs just no, and the felt is nowhere near as stiff as it should be for that money.

For that much cash I'd be looking at the new Trek Madone, Cervelo S3/S5, Canyon Aeroad
Click to expand...

What this bloke says, but limited by the shop to buy from. It would have to have di2 for me, proven tech now, etap still has unknowns and I didn't like the play around I had with it.
 
SoliD said:
What this bloke says, but limited by the shop to buy from. It would have to have di2 for me, proven tech now, etap still has unknowns and I didn't like the play around I had with it.
Click to expand...

What unknowns? I have both and both are very good systems, my only complaint about etap is that the shifts are very slightly slower than di2 but in real world usage, it makes no difference. Etap shifters are far more tactile and you cant mash the up instead of down button by mistake which is a pain with di2 when wearing full fingered gloves in the winter.

Personally I love both systems, but would like to give EPS a go
 
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This reply won't be helpful!!
However, without knowing your personal financial circumstances I have to ask what do you expect a £6k bike to do that a £3k won't. Personally I reckon you could bespoke a really nice build for much less. I'd then consider spending a balance on some coaching or a couple of biking holidays.

It really is marginal gains and snake oil above about £2.5k in my opinion. My latest bike cost about £2.3k to put together but it hasn't made me a tangibly better rider than the s/h £800 Wilier that I bought initially 5 years ago.

Sure its important that you love your bike but £6k ? Gulp
 
Calpol said:
This reply won't be helpful!!
However, without knowing your personal financial circumstances I have to ask what do you expect a £6k bike to do that a £3k won't. Personally I reckon you could bespoke a really nice build for much less. I'd then consider spending a balance on some coaching or a couple of biking holidays.

It really is marginal gains and snake oil above about £2.5k in my opinion. My latest bike cost about £2.3k to put together but it hasn't made me a tangibly better rider than the s/h £800 Wilier that I bought initially 5 years ago.

Sure its important that you love your bike but £6k ? Gulp
Click to expand...

Surely no one buys an expensive bike because they think it will make them faster? People buy expensive things because they like nice things, if people didn't like nice things then there wouldn't be a market for them and we would be all driving around in little ****** hatchbacks or wear casio watches and tescos basics jeans etc.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I've read mixed reviews of the braking on the rim brake ViAS so I'd have to ride one to see. I think there's a Specialized store in Brum somewhere you can test one at the moment.

eTap is incredible, I had that on the bike before it was nicked so I am confident with that.

Aeroad is an awesome bike, but as I said, I cant get that from Wheelies. Unless I take the cash settlement which is 20% less I think.

I'll have a look into the Bianchi more.

And as for why have a 6k bike.......why buy a Porsche, or Lambo? A car is a car at the end of the day.

Does anyone have any experience with the Scott Foil too?
 
Shadowness said:
Does anyone have any experience with the Scott Foil too?
Click to expand...

Know couple blokes with the previous Foil frame and I would 100% have one, super frame!

The new frame though, I have no idea, I have still never seen one. I would say they are heavily priced though and that's the one of the two things that puts me off, the other being it looks as horrific as the ViaS :p
 
Thanks.

I must admit I'm not too sure about the looks of the Venge. I've yet to see one in the flesh, definitely not a very common bike.

The Bianchi looks intriguing. I didn't know it had the CV anti-vibration technology in it. Useful for our roads!!
 
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