Spec me a road bike for £1k

fred_easey · 7 Jun 2007 at 15:58

Hi,

I have £1k available through the Ride2Work scheme to get a new bike from Evans Cycles (has to be evans for this scheme).

Main use will be commuting. Currently doing 24 mile a day round trip from Blackheath in SE London to Hammersmith in West London.

Want something that is fast and light, but won't fall apart being ridden for 2 hours a day 5 days a week on the bumpy roads in London.

Would prefer full carbon frame, but unlikely I'll get it at that price range.

Size wise I am 6'1" and inside leg is about 33".

Anyone got any suggestions?

Fred

PhilthyPhil · 7 Jun 2007 at 16:35

fred_easey said:
Want something that is fast and light, but won't fall apart being ridden for 2 hours a day 5 days a week on the bumpy roads in London.

As Keith Bontrager said "Strong, light, cheap. Pick two." I'm afraid you are going to struggle to meet those criteria at that price point. That's not to say you can't get a decent bike, just don't expect it to be super light or super stiff. I don't think that any full carbon framed bike at that price would be worth having to be honest. The best thing to do would be to go down to Evans and see what you like the look of then take it for a test ride

fred_easey · 7 Jun 2007 at 17:26

Damn I was afraid of that.

Ok I'll pop down to my local Evans in Fulham and do a few test rides.

Quite like the look of the Cannondale Badboy:

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60322

£100 over budget.

I've heard disc brakes are a bit of a pain to look after, is this the case? (Have only had to change pads on V-Brake style brakes for the past few years)

tom_nieto · 7 Jun 2007 at 19:23

For that sort of distance, why are you even considering something with suspension? IMO you should definitely get a 100% road bike.

squiffy · 7 Jun 2007 at 19:28

tom_nieto said:
For that sort of distance, why are you even considering something with suspension? IMO you should definitely get a 100% road bike.

or no need disc brakes. £1000 will get you great road bike.

I would look at something like a Kona Smoke, tough bike, steel frame and forks, and can use panniers. Included with mudguards, which'll want. Unless you want to turn up at work with filthy soaking back and face.

You must be mad to spend £1000 on a work bike..it'll be nicked in the first week.

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60237

Or if you want something speedier there are hybrids with thinner tyres (700x38) or you could get proper roadie, or maybe a tourer.

Checkout Kona Dew (not the deluxe) or Giant FCR range.

Do you want flats or drops? Types of tyres 700 or 26"? Fittings for panniers/mudguards?

tom_nieto · 7 Jun 2007 at 19:43

I actually didn't get a road bike (in 2 minds as to whether I should have or not), but I'm not riding anywhere near that far!

I have a Genesis (Ridgeback) Day 01, and I think it's brilliant. It could definitely be faster, but for weaving through traffic it's great. It's got 25mm wide wheels so it's much much faster than a mountain bike, and easier to cruise on. I would highly recommend one if you don't fancy drop handlebars. Specialised Cirrus are quite good too, similar to ride to the Genesis, but slightly different in price ranges.

As far as the thing getting stolen, I don't think the area around CX hospital is too bad in the day.

EDIT: http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70423 that one.

fred_easey · 8 Jun 2007 at 08:58

tom_nieto said:
For that sort of distance, why are you even considering something with suspension? IMO you should definitely get a 100% road bike.

Yeah I agree with that. Really want to get the fastest bike available for the price bracket that won't fall to pieces doing that sort of mileage.

squiffy said:
or no need disc brakes. £1000 will get you great road bike.
You must be mad to spend £1000 on a work bike..it'll be nicked in the first week.

We have a secure underground car park at work, so the bike would never ever be left out on the street. I could then use my current bike (4 yr old Specialized Sirrus) for situations where I need to leave my bike outside for extended periods of time (eg going to the cinema).

squiffy said:
Do you want flats or drops? Types of tyres 700 or 26"? Fittings for panniers/mudguards?

Would prefer flats, but for a £1k road bike from Evans drops are unavoidable.

Tyres would be 700s.

fred_easey · 8 Jun 2007 at 09:01

Have been recommended these on another forum:

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5922 (Lemond Zurich 2005)
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=5920 (Lemond Buenos Aires 2005)
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60679 (Bianchi 1885 2006)
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60685 (Bianchi 928 2006)

squiffy · 8 Jun 2007 at 10:02

I would look at flat bar roadie or normal roadie, definietly get one with mudguard clearences. You're going to ride to work in the wet, so you'll need them. If you're not bothered with brand Giant offer good value for money, Bianci, Trek and Kona are usually couple of hundred quid more for same specced Giant bike. Checkout these forums

http://www.cyclingplus.co.uk/forum/

I ride a Giant OCR-1 (Campag Mirage)
http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/UAN/384/v/2/sp/

I've heard bad things about Evans. Ribble have a few road bikes with guards (go to the shop, shopping on line is terrible)

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/list2.asp?D=X&Cat=RIBBLE

fred_easey · 8 Jun 2007 at 10:08

Has to be Evans as it is through the Ride2Work scheme at my work.

Mudguard wise I've been using the plasticy crud catcher ones for years and have found them fine for commuting. Also want to keep the weight down (plus they look a bit dowdy IMO

sorry I know that's a really vacuous atttitude to have, but there you go

)

squiffy · 8 Jun 2007 at 10:17

I would seriously consider guards. They look ok. My other bike has full length guards, I went out riding during a torrential thunderstorm. I arrived bone dry, with only a few splutters on my bike clothes..

Went out on the old bike with small guards and got soaked.

Because of the higher speed, and thinner tyres it means the wash from the bike tyre is like a pressure washer blast.

Also BB will be splashed with road debris, shortening the bikes life. Race blades are rubbish.

Condor bikes are nice.
http://www.condorcycles.com/

A road bike without guards is a bad choice for everyday ride to work bike...take this from a cyclist.

Also do you need panniers? (for a change of clothes)

fred_easey · 8 Jun 2007 at 10:41

I'll see about the guards. My head says yes but my heart says no

Yes I have also heard very good things about Condor (I used to work just round the corner from their and used to pop in to pick up bits and pieces from time to time. Definitely know their stuff).

Unfortunately I am constrained by the Ride2Work scheme to using Evans Cycles (it's basically a 50% discount and payments are spread over a year, so too good an offer to turn down).

Some of the Evans bikes are virtually half-price, so in theory I should be able to get a £1500 - £2000 bike for £500.

Am leaning towards a Bianci or Lemond at the moment, beautiful looking bikes and fairly fast and light to boot.

squiffy · 8 Jun 2007 at 10:58

If you're riding over a lot of bad roads (pot holes, cobblestones etc) I would look at a bike with wide tyres, 28-35cc. what about a cyclocross with road tyres? Canti brakes so you can fit guards...it's still a fast bike.

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60796

Speed wise there is probably 2mph difference between a roadbike and cyclocross/tourer

With 32tyres and derailers from MTB range it'll be a much tougher bike. You can buy a full carbon roadbike for grand (Focus bikes and planet-x)
Checkout Kona Jake and Jake the Snake

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70211
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70210

Cyclocross with brake levers on the flats (recommended when riding in traffic, road bikes will require you to ride on the hoods all the time whilst in traffic)

fred_easey · 8 Jun 2007 at 11:32

squiffy said:
If you're riding over a lot of bad roads (pot holes, cobblestones etc) I would look at a bike with wide tyres, 28-35cc. what about a cyclocross with road tyres? Canti brakes so you can fit guards...it's still a fast bike.

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=60796

Speed wise there is probably 2mph difference between a roadbike and cyclocross/tourer

With 32tyres and derailers from MTB range it'll be a much tougher bike. You can buy a full carbon roadbike for grand (Focus bikes and planet-x)
Checkout Kona Jake and Jake the Snake

http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70211
http://www.evanscycles.com/product.jsp?style=70210

Cyclocross with brake levers on the flats (recommended when riding in traffic, road bikes will require you to ride on the hoods all the time whilst in traffic)

I've been on 23tyres for the last 6 months or so and they have been fine (they're the armadillo ones reinforced with kevlar, so are semi-broken glass proof).

I know where all the pot holes are on my way in, so very rarely catch any of them (sods law I will catch a bad one and go flying next time I'm riding now that I've said that

)

The last bike I had (the one that was nicked) was a Kona courier bike (PHD) and that was pretty much perfect - light-weight, flat handlebars and fairly sturdy.

clv101 · 25 Jul 2007 at 18:39

fred_easey said:
Has to be Evans as it is through the Ride2Work scheme at my work.

It shouldn't have to be through Evans - phone the Ride2Work people, they should be able to source any bike.

Our scheme is run by Halfords :eek:

but I can get anything I want, they just do the paperwork.

MrGrumpy · 25 Jul 2007 at 21:10

Pity you chose Evans but this would be my choice for 1k Planet X

clv101 · 25 Jul 2007 at 21:13

MrGrumpy said:
Pity you chose Evans but this would be my choice for 1k Planet X

That's what I am getting on the Cycle2Work scheme - half price!

andywalsh · 26 Jul 2007 at 14:05

There are three things that I would recommend for longish commutes
1) Clipless pedals - mountain type for commuting
2) Full mudgaurds - you need appropriate clearence for these.
3) Specialized Armadillo tyres, virtually puncture proof.

The trouble is that the best sort of commuting bike is what is often called a winter training or audax bike and these are not often sold by the big manufaturers. Us bike geeks build our own. Mine is based on a Kinesis Racelight T frame and would come in within your buget.

http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/UAN/449/V/2/SP/

clv101 · 27 Jul 2007 at 15:31

Turns out Wiggle also supply through the Halfords Cycle2Work scheme so the Focus Cayo Triple is available for well under £1000 leaving some money for pedals and "safety equipment".

SDK^ · 27 Jul 2007 at 16:01

clv101 said:
Our scheme is run by Halfords but I can get anything I want, they just do the paperwork.

Ours is also run by Halfrauds - I obviously wanted a different bike to what they normally stock and my bike ended up coming from Leisure Lakes - a Halfrauds competitor!

Evans stock all of the top brands so you have loads of choice.