Wilier, Focus, Giant or Ribble.....

fireblade001

Guys,
I've been out of the game for a while, just getting over an knee injury and getting a bike soon.

What’s the best bike versus price here? Prices are in pounds as I’ll be buying up North or from UK.

I can get a Wilier Izoard XP Zenon for £1350, normally retails for £1499. 10% Discount through work, at my LBS. It’s a really beautiful bike but kitted out with a cheap entry-level groupo that is now discontinued. Arguable the best frame here, it retails for something like £1,000. Only one set of wheels. Compact chainset so would have to change for racing.

Focus Cayo 105 for £999, but can then spend up to £350 on a set of “Sunday best” wheels. So I can train on the standard wheels and use them in the winter on my hacker. This to me seems the best deal. Thou probably the least “sexy” bike, IMHO. Others might love it. But a fine fine bike none the less. Also a compact so with need a new chainset for racing.

Giant TCR Advanced 3 for £1300, comes with 105 groupo, Dura Ace b/b and Mavic Aksium wheels. This is speaks sense to me. 53/39

OR

A Ribble Sportive Racing with 105 groupo with Aksium wheels for about £1200, or Ultegra for £1500. There’s something really sexy about this bike, I know some people have issues with Ribble Customer Service. Very similar to the Wilier. 53/39

With the exception of the Giant I'd have to buy a second pair of wheels just for racing. Thou the Giant I'd probably buy a set of cheaper training wheels.

Lumen

Wilier. Run it until the groupset gets tired and then upgrade to 11sp. Buy some bling wheels whenever.

Compact really isn't a big problem for racing.

ednwireland

bought the cayo in 09 cant fault it really

happygoose

Aren't the Sportive and the Izoard actually the same frame, paintwork aside?

Lumen

happygoose wrote: »

Aren't the Sportive and the Izoard actually the same frame, paintwork aside?

No. Look at the shape of the tubes around the junction below the seatpost. The forks are different too.

fireblade001

I've seen on various forums that the Ribble is the same frame as the Planet X, Condor and some other brand that slips my mind at the mo. I don't go along with Wilier and Ribble being the same, but they do look very similar.

BTW: Those wheels look really nice, and for £399.... CSM Superleggra XL50, but I can't see them listed anywhere else, except Ribble. I believe they are a rebranded wheel made by Superstar. Thou they weigh in at 1900g, wheel weight isn't a big problem until you start climbing.

DirkVoodoo

That Ribble frame looks absolutely nothing like the Planet X SL Pro Carbon. Anyone who thinks that needs their eyes checked, sounds like more "online retailer buying cheap frame from the far east" hysteria.

I would buy the TCR.

Chips Lovell

TCR

billy.fish

MMmmmmm Willier look sweeeeet.

Think BikeHub had a second hand one going cheap over the weekend.

NickDrake

Anywhere in Dublin selling the Focus Cayo 105?? Using bike to work and have to purchase in a shop.

So looking at something around the €1300 range.

mfdc

Eurocycles do Focus bikes, but the Cayo doesn't seem to be on their site. Can't hurt to give them a call though.

tippx

i reckon the giant is your bet they had great reviwes all last year esp the defy failing that check out specialized 2010 models the alles is similar to the ribble but better spec,d