Road Cycling Essentials

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Right, I fancy a new road bike. My trusty cyclocross bike is nice for when I'm pottering around in Suffolk but I never really use it for off road and I fancy getting something more road orientated for longer weekend rides.

Budget wise - £1500-2000. I'd rather stick to Shimano (I've got 105 on the cross bike) and I'd prefer something red/black/white because I can't have miss-matched kit can I? I'm mainly concerned by the frame/groupset, I've got some decent wheels on my cross bike that I can swap over.

So far, after a good look around and I've come down to the following options:
1) A well known brand 2012 bike on sale with 105, possibly Ultegra if I'm lucky towards the top end of my budget. Wiggle have a Binachi Sempre Ultegra on sale for £1600 with a 55cm size frame in which according to the size guide should fit me (176cm/78cm inside leg) but obviously it's difficult to tell.
2) Boardman - Team Carbon will probably do everything I need and is well within budget, but budget isn't that big a deal. The Pro Carbon seems superb for the money but I really, really don't like that colour
3) Ribble & Dolan - value for money seems to be superb. Can't find much info on Dolan bikes although a lot of the pros like them. Ribble seem popular, I can spec up the R872 (used to be stealth) with Ultegra gearing for under £1500 which seems superb for the money. Both have tons of options though which makes chosing a bit of a nightmare

I also randomly found this:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/coppi-heron-dura-ace/

Err, anyone know what the catch is? Seems ridiculous value given the components but I can't find much info on the manufacturer
 
Murf said:
Did my first ever TT yesterday evening. 10miles, well, 9.86miles due to road works. I was praying for anything sub 30 mins. Got round the course in 25:34.
Click to expand...

Impressive! :)

I'm just aiming to do a 20mph 10 mile average on my own. Done it couple of times on a 19mph average. If i can do that then i 'may' be able to average 25mph in a group apparently..... :)

Need a wrist watch with a stop watch so i can see my time and how i'm doing.
 
oli collett said:
Right, I fancy a new road bike.
3) Ribble & Dolan - value for money seems to be superb. Can't find much info on Dolan bikes although a lot of the pros like them. Ribble seem popular, I can spec up the R872 (used to be stealth) with Ultegra gearing for under £1500 which seems superb for the money. Both have tons of options though which makes chosing a bit of a nightmare
Click to expand...

Have you looked at Planet X if you've looked at Ribble?
 
oli collett said:
Right, I fancy a new road bike. My trusty cyclocross bike is nice for when I'm pottering around in Suffolk but I never really use it for off road and I fancy getting something more road orientated for longer weekend rides.

Budget wise - £1500-2000. I'd rather stick to Shimano (I've got 105 on the cross bike) and I'd prefer something red/black/white because I can't have miss-matched kit can I? I'm mainly concerned by the frame/groupset, I've got some decent wheels on my cross bike that I can swap over.

So far, after a good look around and I've come down to the following options:
1) A well known brand 2012 bike on sale with 105, possibly Ultegra if I'm lucky towards the top end of my budget. Wiggle have a Binachi Sempre Ultegra on sale for £1600 with a 55cm size frame in which according to the size guide should fit me (176cm/78cm inside leg) but obviously it's difficult to tell.
2) Boardman - Team Carbon will probably do everything I need and is well within budget, but budget isn't that big a deal. The Pro Carbon seems superb for the money but I really, really don't like that colour
3) Ribble & Dolan - value for money seems to be superb. Can't find much info on Dolan bikes although a lot of the pros like them. Ribble seem popular, I can spec up the R872 (used to be stealth) with Ultegra gearing for under £1500 which seems superb for the money. Both have tons of options though which makes chosing a bit of a nightmare

I also randomly found this:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/coppi-heron-dura-ace/

Err, anyone know what the catch is? Seems ridiculous value given the components but I can't find much info on the manufacturer
Click to expand...

Check out Canyon.com
 
I'll just have to see you Strava guys out on the road when I come pedaling past. I'll be the guy in the rolled up jeans ;)

oli collett said:
3) Ribble & Dolan - value for money seems to be superb. Can't find much info on Dolan bikes although a lot of the pros like them. Ribble seem popular, I can spec up the R872 (used to be stealth) with Ultegra gearing for under £1500 which seems superb for the money. Both have tons of options though which makes chosing a bit of a nightmare
Click to expand...
I only know Dolan for track bikes. Pretty sure they make the Team GB track bikes but have had to cover up their logo for the games due to sponsorship rights or some rubbish like that.
 
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Woo, neighbour has said he'll sell me his Carrera TDF for £190, including SPD pedals and shoes. Really doubt I'm going to get anything close to that on ebay, so think I'll be going for that.
 
If any londoners are bored on saturday i think im going to head up to hertford and back 50 miles round journey, nice and easy.
 
Jonny69 said:
I'll just have to see you Strava guys out on the road when I come pedaling past. I'll be the guy in the rolled up jeans ;)


I only know Dolan for track bikes. Pretty sure they make the Team GB track bikes but have had to cover up their logo for the games due to sponsorship rights or some rubbish like that.
Click to expand...

David Millar speaks highly of Dolan in his book, certainly a good sign

You guys are selling Canyon to me though - am I better off holding off a bit longer for 2012 bike sales? I'm not in a great rush to buy
 
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