I've been looking around at roadbikes (again) and I've set a budget of £1k.
My favourite so far is the Focus Cayo 105.
I also have a soft spot for the Trek 1.7, Spesh Allez Elite and the Bianchi Nirone 7.
I will be commuting 1-2 times per week on the bike and also using it for fitness during the summer. Am I missing any other bikes and which would you pick from my shortlist.
Thanks
Andy
[url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Battaglin_Stealth_Rival_2009/5360042852/ ] How about some Italian bling?[/url]
Boardman Team Carbon
Looks ok. Never heard of them though. Any reviews?
Houns. Not in stock anywhere are they?
They are in stock in places, i forget when the next load are coming in, we're getting more stock in all the time - Longest wait if sold will be 6 weeks
you'll get something decent from planet x for that as its just on the cyclescheme limit, but if it were my money it would be a bianchi in that lovely green (which not all bianchi bikes seem to be available in anymore which is a grave grave oversight on their part).
that lovely green
Celeste. It's changed in shade somewhat over the years. Used to be bluer.
I'm fairly meh about Bianchis, but only because they're as good as any other road bike in that range - beyond fit, AndyH, they're all prettyy much of a mushness - but Celeste is still a colour that makes my heart sing.
Got chatting to an Italian chap on the ferry on Lake Como when on the way back from a day's riding. He had also been out, on a beautiful and fully restored 1973 Specialissima - the finest Bianchi of its day. It had been his fathers when he was a pro....
I was in the same dilema a few months ago and not knowing much about the dark side. Spent lots of time driving to shops too far away, tried Specialized, Trek, Boardman and Bianchi - I found them all fairly similiar to ride so ended up buying an Orbea Gavia from my LBS. He's 5 miles away, service is good and bike is like the others I tried! I'm happy and doing 12 miles each way to work 3 times a week
A lot of the bikes mentioned are nice bikes but they aren't what I would suggest for "training" on or commuting, they are race bikes.You would be better of looking at a specific trainer/audax/light touring bike. I am not saying some of these aren't nice bikes but buying one and then commuting on it is like buying a 6" Full suss and then just riding canal towpaths and fire roads.
Trek 1.7 (or 1.9 if on sale) lifetime warranty and ride great.
Allez-very nice and upgradable too.
Focus-well you get good parts but make sure you check it fits-crucial on a road bike for comfort.
Celeste. It's changed in shade somewhat over the years. Used to be bluer.p
i reckon these days it's about a pantone 3248c. any advance on that?
edit - apparently it's a pantone 333. i reckon that's too bright. maybe it's just my monitor...
Allez. Or lower end tarmac? Theyre about £1200 I think...?
I have a Cato 105 and I am very happy with it. It's used for a commute, but on a route which you might actually choose to ride for pleasure and doing it on a "race" bike just increases the fun for me
Ive just got one of [url= http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/roubaix-rc-2009-road-bike-ec018086 ]These[/url] and am very pleased. I had to go with either evans or halfords. I was looking at the focus bikes on the wiggle site but when i contacted focus they said they no longer have an account with halfords. Merlin do a road bike for under a £1000 that may be worth a look.
There is a review for the fuji 08 [url= http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/road/product/roubaix-rc-08-31604 ]here[/url].
Thanks for the recommendations.
What scheme will you be getting it through?
sorry no scheme 😳
I'm actually waiting for Wiggle to get their finger out and deliver my new Focus Cayo 105. Been waiting since last Thursday and the order status is still awaiting processing :evil:.
It gets lots of good reviews, maybe a bit on the racey side, very stiff apparently. I'm going to use it for exactly the same things as you, maybe not the ideal commuter but I've got an old rigid Giant setup as a commuter as well if I fancy a more comfy (and slower) ride.
No C2W at mine so will be buying outright.
Houns, talk to me about the Boardman Team Carbon, we have C2W through Halfords and am looking at a new Darkside steed, are they as good as i have heard tell me more mate..
To OP sorry bout the hijack
You might to want a look at [url= http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/SpecialEditionBikes.asp ]Ribble[/url]
have you got a lidl near you,
not to hot on road bike specs but it looks good value.
http://www.lidl.co.uk/uk/home.nsf/pages/c.o.20090622.p.Road_Racing_Bike.ar1
I've just been on the ribble website scott. I've had a ribble before and quite liked it. You seem to get a lot of bang for your buck.
My commute is from Sunny south Manchester to Wilmslow. Just over 10 miles door to door.
How about some thing like this [url] http://www.marin.co.uk/2009/bikedetail.php?ModNo=3963-1F [/url] I'm currently using on older Marin Highway One commuting twice a week 17miles each way and am finding it superb. It's not as full on a true racer (I did the same commute on a Bianchi reparto corsa bike) but brilliant for this and getting fit.
Just a thought..
How about Corratec? The Dolomiti at 899 with 105 looks nice, different prices for dealer and online as well to encourage you to go local
depends on where you are though
what about a wilier triestina mirage?
Nice bit of italian goodness:
[url= http://www.cyclesurgery.com/1027742/Wilier-La-Triestina-Mirage.html ]Wilier Triestina[/url]
As a serious point, if you're planning on using it year round, get something that will take full 'guards. You'll be thankful come winter....
Might be worth looking at the Giant Defy range - some of their range take guards, which are probably essential for a winter commute.
Otherwise you should be deciding whether you want a racier geometry (Focus, Fuji) or a more relaxed compact geometry (Bianchi, Giant).
If you've never had a road bike before you really should only consider buying something that you've had a test ride on and found out whether it fits you. When I was looking I found a few models too stretched out, and ended up with a more relaxed Bianchi C2C Via Nirone.
As some of the 2010 models are supposedly about to be launched there may be a few discounts around on some 2009 models. In Bristol there's a couple of shops still trying to shift 2008 models at greatly reduced prices.
Might be worth looking at the Giant Defy range - some of their range take guards, which are probably essential for a winter commute.
Otherwise you should be deciding whether you want a racier geometry (Focus, Fuji) or a more relaxed compact geometry (Bianchi, Giant).
If you've never had a road bike before you really should only consider buying something that you've had a test ride on and found out whether it fits you. When I was looking I found a few models too stretched out, and ended up with a more relaxed Bianchi C2C Via Nirone.
As some of the 2010 models are supposedly about to be launched there may be a few discounts around on some 2009 models. In Bristol there's a couple of shops still trying to shift 2008 models at greatly reduced prices.
The Wilier Triestina above looks great value and is pretty well specced, and much more exclusive than the Giants, Specializeds etc that you see everywhere.
A heads up for you lot - the Willier is a lovely bike in that mirage spec for a grand, with Carbon back end.
But Willier ran out of Mirage at some point. I have no idea how many, or where the rest ended up, but there are a batch of the Mirage spec La Triestinas that have been built with pretty much full Veloce groupset.
That makes it an awesome buy...
Ive got a Bianchi Nirone 7 & its a nice comfy bike - mine came with Campo 10 spd & its sweeeettt.... 
The new Kiron is out in Wiggle. Well worth a look, at £800.
another vote for Focus Cayo 105 here. Ordered mine last Wednesday and it was delivered on Monday (well they tried to, I was away and i picked it up on Tuesday).
From last nights set up session (didn't take long) and a quick two laps round the block it was lovely!!! Will be ridden in anger later, and will report back. I went XL (58cm) as i'm a nats over 6ft and have 34inch inside leg. Wiggle let you try it for a week, and if its the wrong size or you don't like it, you send it back for a refund or different size.
A big up for wiggle - I have been very impressed with their service. all i had to do was stick the pedals and bars on (and remove all manor of packing!!). even the seat was a perfect height (maybe that was fluke).
stumpyjon - I had an email off wiggle which stated my card had been declined - i phoned cc company, they put me onto anti fraud, and it was sorted. emailed wiggle back, and the bike was despacthed that day... maybe something similar has happened to you - check junk mail etc...
Put the grand in your pocket and find a quality roadie shop, get measured, discuss your needs have them point out a few bikes, ride them a bit, choose the ones that feel the best and if you still have a choice to make get the red one, it'll be faster.
I was looking into this, as a new bike on the C2W scheme.
I was thinking of even going for a cross bike, as then i could do a bit of off road and it would cope with the winter a bit better. I still haven't decided.
The new 2010 Specialized Allez comp looks good, slightly down spec'd wheels, but thought use them for winter and then next summer get some nice wheels for it
I've been thinking about something similar and have a hankering for a Cannondale CAAD9. Alu frame but apparently a dream ride and recent test I saw of the Six (not SystemSix) said to save the cash and get a CAAD9 instead as it was lighter and had a better ride.
This would be a nice day bike in addition to a proper winterproof commuter.
In what way would a CAAD9 be a proper winterproof commuter?
a friend of mine has the trek 1.7 - i've got a trek 5000, and also a 1.5 i think. i really like the feel of the 5000 - the lower spec one is my commuter and winter training bike, and it doesn't feel as nice to ride.
Cheers CP.
Now distinctly unimpressed, and not for the first time with Wiggle. Couldn't find a phone number anywhere and they are saying they will get back to me in 6 - 8 working hours by email :evil:.
Not sure I'll be recommending the Cayo much longer, doesn't matter how good the bike is if they don't deliver.
stumpyjon, they generally answered my enquiries within an hour or so. i did a few sample purchases from them to see if they were any good or not, and they impressed me - in that i had no problems - with 3 orders, so decided they'd get my cash rather than halfords (boardman carbon jobbie, about a grand). the boardmans are nice, but in the end i just couldn't give halfords that much money!
Thanks for all the advice guys. I'm not likely to ride it through winter and I have a co car for the crappy days.
on the wiggle front, i ordered some bits this am at half 10... got an email at half 11 saying they were packed and ready to go 🙂
Hmm Wiggle have redeemed themselves a bit. Emailed them and got the stock reply back saying they would get back to me in 6 -8 hours but 20 minutes later I got an email saying it was being processed there and then with a sort of apology. This was followed by an automated email a few minutes later saying it had been processed and now my order is showing as processed. So fairly good once fingers were removed from backsides but it was shame I had to kick them first.
Not the first time I've had problems, seems as soon as you can get the attention of a person they are very good, just their systems let them down a bit sometimes (mind you can't really moan, spent all morning on the shop floor debugging systems I'd written 😳 ).
Sorry Ed2001, poorly phrased sentence done in a hurry.
The CAAD9 would be a nice day bike[,] in addition to [my other bike] a proper winterproof commuter.
Although, saying that, I've seen a very smart winterisation of one using some cut down SKS guards with a few P-clips and zip ties, probably a tighter and less rattly setup than the SKS guards on my current winter bike.
New developments today. My boss is willing to do the cycle to work scheme if I sort it out!! Woo!! So me and a colleague are going to order bikes.
Down to the focus cayo a Ribble (sportive or nero). Can't decide. Ribble charge £50 admin fee the robbing swines.
Does the focus come with Pedals out of interest?
Without, mine finally arrived today (at work in a very large box). Looks the business, haven't had a chance to properly unwrap it yet. I got a set of XT pedals for it, couldn't justify buying yet another set of shoes and cleats, just need a bottle cage and little tool bag & tube etc. You get a free multi tool and pedal spanner as well although that probably won't sway your choice.
Post up some pics?
Here's my 208 Cayo....
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/3506575621/ ]
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Being a 2008 model, I got Ultegra for £999. A couple of minor changes - bar/stem, saddle/seatpost and recently some GP4000S's and I absolutely love it. Done a couple of sportives this year and no problems after 100 miles.
druidh. That's noice. Better than the 2009 imo
I've done two rides on mine now- an hour fine set up and 3 hours 'cruise' that turned into a mortaring session!!!! The bike just screams 'go faster'... Much more so than a 2000 dale I rode and a custom but ultimtely rubbish dave hinde.
Really really impressed. And the gf approves of the colours 🙂
1 week report on the Cayo - FAB!!!!! i've tweaked saddle and bar position slightly and it's even more grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr now! I love it!
gears and brakes came set up perfectly, and are still working perfectly.
Just about the Boardman carbon - one of the guys here has one and it's great - I've ridden it a couple of times and it really is a bargin for the money - especially through bike to work - very light, good kit and the ride is spot on - confident downhill but not slow elsewhere.
I got a Bianchi through B2W a year ago but it's one with B4P geometry rather than the rather ugly looking C2C ones (with the bent top tube) and it's great through not a bargin in the way that the Boardman is.
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Check out the Dolan Mythos, carbon frame full 105 groupset and mavic wheel set. I got in on Halfords C2W scheme.
Boardman from Halfords...unbeatable value. Trust me.