[Closed] 1k road bike

Ribble Sportive upgrade to 105 for 1, 100

just picked up a giant defy 1 for under a grand with 105 kit very happy with it

Thanks both

Just checking out ribble now

No idea about road bikes but this looks nice for the cash and upgrade to 105 brings it to 1,180

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbd/road-track-bike/ribble-r872?part=BB13RIBR872&sub=conf_BBRC&bike=1

Do you have a link to the one you mention Hora or is the R872 a better frame?

I don't think you can get ribble on c2w. I have just got a defy1 and I love it.

It's a cliche, but better to get a good Ally bike (such as Giant Defy, Spesh Allez, Trek 2 series, Merida Race Lite 904 etc.) than a cheap flexy carbon frame that is only marginally lighter, but not very good quality. Good Carbon frames do exist on bikes for not much more money, but the difference between a Ribble or Planet X carbon frame, and a Spesh/Trek/Giant/Merida etc. frame on a bike only a few hundred £'s more is incredible!

I'd MUCH rather ride a £1k ally bike with full 105 and a good set of wheels than a bike with cheap carbon frame and compromised spec and heavy wheels for the same money.

Dolan mythos

Tiagra for 918 or 105 for 1075

Just built a mythos frame up wtih ultegra and light wheels for the mrs - 17.5lbs frames heavier than her old alu frame but much stiffer. Twas an expensive triple butted easton scandium job and was stiff on the road but flexy under power.

I got a Canondale CAAD 8 on CTW last year it cost £950. It has tiagra FSA concept components. It has seen the winter with no problems. I don't think you can add any money to upgrade.

Cube Peloton Race is £1079, full 105 groupset and Easton Aero wheelset. It was bang on a grand when I bought one a year or so ago. Quality ally frame. Bit hefty by some standards at 8.9kg.

Why is the 12k/other carbon junk at that price yet alu from mass manufacturers in Chinese factories better?

You'd want to upgrade that alu frame later anyway unless you'll run it as a winter/2nd bike.

At 1k bikes should at least come with a full groupset not rear/front mech and shifters.

Get the best overall build the swap out the frame later if you get into it IMO

I'd suspect it's in the R&D Hora.

I'd wager a top end Alu frame from a big manufacturer will have had it's design honed to within an nth of a a degree, whereas a cheap carbon frames main selling point is the material it's been made from rather than the way it's been carefully laid up and constructed?

I've always been of the opposite opinion - go for the frame first and regard the components as dispensable wearing parts that can be upgraded later.

But road parts last waaay longer than mtb parts so wear rate isnt a factor??

I know where you are coming from but as a newbie there isnt a right or wrong answer ultimatrly? Ride feel preference?

Twas an expensive triple butted easton scandium job and was stiff on the road but flexy under power.

An unenviable set of traits my Allez matches, flexy and uncomfortable!

Admittedly my Allez is a few years old (2009), but I think it's horrible. I'd have a cheap carbon frame all day long. You can (and almost certainly will) change wheels and groupset very easily, but you're pretty well stuck with the frame.

fwiw ive ridden alot of bikes from cheap to race only exotica

and the days of cheap carbon being flexy are for the most part firmly stuck in last decade when they were using largely glassfibre in cheap frames.

if anything todays cheap frames are TOO stiff especially if your coming from a light alloy/steel frame something that the higher end frames manage to design out and make em have some movement in the right direction.

i wouldnt have preferance for either carbon or alu , id take the one that fits the best and had the best wheels. everything else is consumable.

Go for the Ribble R872 like I did and then upgrade the groupset etc when you can.

I have had mine since the week before Christmas and done over 1000 miles on it so far and love the thing. I still have an Orbea Aqua that I could use but just love the Ribble and dont be put off about this talk of cheap carbon frames as they are all very similar now. Unless you are a serious professional I doubt you could tell the diffrence between frames. Groupsets etc are noticable but these are almost a consumable item not and can be replaced as and when.

Go for the best frame and upgrade as you can.

Jeff

Boardman.
</thread> 😉

My choice would be http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/secteur-sport-disc-compact-2013-road-bike-ec042263 looks mint in the flesh could nearly turn me to the dark side (road bikes) in fact 😀

If you go through halfords you can pretty much get whatever you want (as long as its under £1000).

That specialized looks good. I'd be buying a crosser though, i always felt like I was just abusing my road bike.

Why is the 12k/other carbon junk at that price yet alu from mass manufacturers in Chinese factories better

I've just built up a cheap chinese carbon frame for a mate. For £300 it's lovely, rides very very nicely. I built it up with stuff I had in the garage (cheap campag, fulcrum 7's) and it came in at 17lbs. All in it cost him £550.

However, not all carbon frames are made the same. The previous comment about not being able to tell the difference - you can, trust me. There's a noticeable difference between my Storck (£3k frame) and the Argon 18 (£1400 frame), both in stiffness and ride quality.

Good Carbon frames do exist on bikes for not much more money, but the difference between a Ribble or Planet X carbon frame, and a Spesh/Trek/Giant/Merida etc. frame on a bike only a few hundred £'s more is incredible!

What's the difference?

Ribble R872- confused bit it. It reads that its possibly too rigid? What does it feel like to ride? Stiff/no lateral but still all day comfy?

mboy has the right answer. CAAD8 or a Defy are the two stars of the Alloy world at the moment. We have one of each. I'd pick the Defy, personally, but my son chose otherwise. Tempted by the Sagan colour scheme 😉

If you can find either with 105 under £1000, buy it!

EDIT Eldest Son, the younger has a WSD Avail, which is really a baby Defy. The frame on the CAAD8 means business. But the Defy tubing is thinner.

If you can find either with 105 under £1000, buy it!

I did just that (caad8) in September. It was down to that and the defy but the cannondale just seemed a better buy at £850! No regrets here 8)

Saw that in my lbs today - sagan colour scheme - best left on sagans bike.

R872- actually for a heavier rider...

My c456 is the polar-opposite of bikeadvertisingradar's review

sagan colour scheme - best left on sagans bike

I take it you're not 15, then? 😀

And Paulscycles have the 105 CAAD8 sans Sagan finish for £839 in a 56. That's a great price if the bike fits.

Boardman, much better kit than you'll get on anything else in that price range. The number that are appearing on our club rides suggest that the old "eeuwww it's a Boardman" crew are dying off as they realise the quality and value it represents

Was looking at the Dolan Mythos and has a special offer on them to clear out as end of line. They didnt have the size I had, so had to sadly buy the Hercules from them and just finished the build tonight. Saldy would be over a grand for a bike , but with a Tiagra groupset is about £1100 , but a great chassis to build on and Tiagra isnt bad in 10 speed guise.

Boardman, much better kit than you'll get on anything else in that price range.

Not any more!

Merlin are doing Sensa Alu with Ultegra or Carbon with 105 for a shade over 1k.

jee20 - Member

Boardman, much better kit than you'll get on anything else in that price range.

Not any more!

105 shifters and mechs, Mavic Aksium wheelset? What other bike under a grand (that you can easily get on C2W) ticks those boxes?

Remember most shops won't break the rules and let you top up (some do), and if you're stuck with Halfords as the supplier you'll not get a Ribble or a Planet X.

105 shifters and mechs, Mavic Aksium wheelset? What other bike under a grand (that you can easily get on C2W) ticks those boxes?
Remember most shops won't break the rules and let you top up (some do), and if you're stuck with Halfords as the supplier you'll not get a Ribble or a Planet X.

The source is irrelevant, you said it's more kit than anything else at that price range. Not that it was the best bet via Halfords. When it was £1k for the carbon with the Force groupset I totally agree. Now... An alu frame, I don't see Aksiums as a selling point - they're cheap and nasty! As above, Merlin do a Sensa with 105 and a carbon frame. Planet X periodically do similar offers.

The original Boardman's with Ritchey finishing kit and wheels were a bargain three years ago. Well specced to gain early market share. Now they aren't so competitive. They are, however nice frames made my Merida (who build for Specialized) with Giant TCR geometry (who build for everyone else!). Son1 had one before the CAAD8, and I raced on it.

I'd still go Alloy, 105, Giant or Cannondale, depending on which frame strikes your fancy. Giant Defy's have rated highly in alloy and carbon in every test I've read.

cycle2work

Something with:
[list][*]rack mounts, so you can carry your lunch and stuff without getting your back sweaty;[/*]
[*]mudguards so your work clothes don't get wet and mucky.[/*][/list]

Giant Defy for me, got mine in 2010 done 5000mls a year, I've raced crits and TT on it...plus the usual club runs, sportives etc...all it needs from standard is a decent set of wheels...Eldest has a Scott Speedster which is worth a look. Plenty of good ally framed bikes about.

Both of the above have mudguard mounts, only the Giant has rack mounts (not a huge problem). Mudguards are essential for commuting. As the ride home will demonstrate.

What about a Charge Juicer? They have mudguards, because they are steel it will run great on the roads and not be as harsh as alu or carbon.