Spec me a road bike up to £1000

Ben Cole · 15 Apr 2016 at 21:15

Buying a road bike on the cycle to work scheme. Went into Hargroves Winchester and the chap suggested a Canondale or a Cube.

Both looked nice but I don't know anything about road bikes. At the moment I use my brother's old Claud Butler which is around 15 years old so I'm sure anything would be a nice improvement in comfort. Don't do any more than about 35 miles on a regular basis but I suppose that might increase if the bike is comfortable enough.

Any suggestions?

Ben Cole · 15 Apr 2016 at 21:44

In terms of what scheme it is, I don't really know what you mean. All I know is that it's salary sacrifice so I save a big chunk.

In terms of retailers I'd rather stick to Hargroves for convenience.

I will be using it for exercise basically, for longer distance than I'd use my hybrid for.

Vonhelmet said:
In any case, a grand will get you a carbon fibre frame and 105 kit, which is pretty solid.

I seem to remember the two he showed me were aluminium frame with carbon forks.

Ben Cole · 15 Apr 2016 at 23:17

Wow. Thanks guys, really appreciate the effort to post.

Certainly don't want a race bike. Really I'm after a compromise between comfort and efficiency.

I think it was the synapse AL105 that was suggested at the shop and the description sounds about right.

Not sure about the whole cyclocross thing. I'm m thinking its suitability would be a bit too close to my present usage of my hybrid ?

Ben Cole · 16 Apr 2016 at 12:39

Thanks again all.

I've got plenty to go on here. I'll get my application in and go from there. If approved I'll try them out and decide which one to go for. Hargroves said I can change my mind as long as the voucher value is the same, I did this last time around with them.

Ben Cole · 16 Apr 2016 at 18:47

Well the cycle scheme only allows £1000.

So that's what I've gone for. If I get a bike less than a grand I'll get accessories to make up the rest.

Ben Cole · 16 Apr 2016 at 20:05

Vonhelmet said:
You could get a cannondale caad8. The Caad frames are very well regarded. £800 gets you a Caad 8 with tiagra which is very respectable, and leaves a bit of money for accessories.

I'll have a look at them next time I'm in the shop. The more I think about cyclocross the more I fancy them. I'll still probably get a genuine road bike though.

Ben Cole · 16 Apr 2016 at 21:42

alexisonfire said:
While the cost of accessories can't be underestimated (you could quite easily spend £200 without even trying) i would still rather put the money into the bike. £999 will get you a caadx with discs, carbon forks and full 105.

Indeed. There's nothing I really need, I would just use it to buy new versions of things I already have.

Ben Cole · 17 Apr 2016 at 12:56

PermaBanned said:
What do you already have, out of curiosity?

Bikes or kit?

Got helmets,lights, shoes etc.

Bikes wise I have a Scott Metrix hybrid and a Specialized Rockhopper Expert Evo 650b MTB. I tend to just wear my running kit or likewise when I'm on my bikes.

Ben Cole · 17 Apr 2016 at 22:53

When you say "clipless pedals" do you mean the tiny little pedals that the shoes clip on to?

If so, my plan was to take the existing ones off the Claude Butler and put them on the new bike. Though I suppose it might be nice to get brand new stuff for a brand new bike. I would also like shoes that you can walk on paved areas without sounding like I'm wearing rugby boots too.

I already have some decent shorts with a padded "gooch saver" area :-)