[Closed] Recommend me a carbon road bike, budget £1000-1500

Dolan Le Etape . £1k's worth , save the rest.

Trek Madone 3.5 C H2 2013. Mostly Ultegra, little bit of 105. Beautiful bike.
£1300 and 10% deposit, 12 months interest free if you're near to or can get to Manchester.
Can't be posted, needs to be collected from the shop.
Chuck an email over if you're interested.

Of the three you list, I'd take the Giant as it has the best frame. The Trek is also a fine bike. Nothing wrong with UK brands per se, which offer a different balance of cheaper frame and better components. But I would buy the best frame you can at your price point. Wheels will be the weakest link, whatever you buy. Tiagra, 105 and Ultegra are all good groupsets, and the difference in weight between Tiagra and Dura Ace is only 300g (half a water bottle). In fact Tiagra shifting is lighter than Ultegra.

I've just bought a Tiagra equiped defy composite 3 as a winter bike and am loving it. It really is a lot of bike for the money (got 2014 for £970)with huge upgrade potential.

Chinese frame, ultegra 10 speed groupo, chinese bars, seatpost and stem can be had for around a grand. That leaves £500 for a bloody good set of wheels and the satisfaction of a self build.

Cannondale CAAD10.

Not carbon but much better than those.

Define "better". Whilst the CAAD10 is a superb frame (BB30 bottom bracket aside), it's carbon content is pretty low 😉 . A fine race bike - probably the best at this price point, with a low front end and good geometry, I'd pick a carbon defy over it for smooth riding. (We have a CAAD8 with the same geometry and a defy).

Cannondale CAAD10.

Not carbon but much better than those.

+1, still loving my CAAD4 10 years on!

If it has to be £1500 and carbon though...

Chinese frame £400 (never ridden one, but you asked for 'carbon' rather than 'nice')
ULtegra 11s groupset £600
Ritchey WCS kit £120
Novatech hubs off ebay, stans alpha rims, 28/24 DT spokes £250
Schwalbe Ultremo tyres £45
Headset £30
S.clamp £10
bar tape £10
Only leaves £20 for a saddle and pedals though, so either stretch the budget or use your old ones.

+1, still loving my CAAD4 10 years on!

Me too 🙂

I test rode a full carbon 2014 Cannondale last week (which was ~£1600) and it just wasn't better enough to sway me. It was a bit better in several ways, but it wasnt sooo much better in the way I was hoping for

Friends of mine have just opened Beacon Bikes in Whalley, Lancs. The bikes are quite striking looking and they are ex GB track team mechanics and currently mechanic for Rapha Condor, so you are going to get spot on advice on sizing etc. Worth a look if you want something a bit different from the norm.

I have a Planet X RT-57, not the Pro Carbon. I know friends that have a Pro C as a winter bike and they are very happy with them.

People will tell you these are "Cheap chinese catalogue" frames. Not true. Yes, they are manufactured in china (like all the big names" but to a design and spec from Planet X.

Also, you don't always get the full group set on them. My bike is the SRAM Rival variant(love the double tap shifters, btw!) but the brakes are Tektro, and the chain set is FSA.

Would I recommend one? Yes.

I've owned a Planet X Pro carbon for over 4 years now and every time i get on it it puts a smile on my face and has been trouble free and i wouldn't hesitate to reccomend it.

Giant TCR Composite comes in at 1600 list and is full 11spd Ultegra.

Beacon Bikes look like painted up HongFus to me - true?

[not that there's anything wrong with this.... just saying...]

Have never ridden the three on your list but for what it's worth I bought a specialized tarmac reduced from 1500 to 1200 A few weeks back and I'm loving it. Use the other three hundred quid to upgrade your wheels and you will be flying.

Monksie - wish I'd known this before I bought a Giant TCR! 😉 Ah well.

Trek Madone 3.5 for 1300 - That would be where my money would go for sure.