€1200 commuter bike

bogmanfan

As it says in the title, what would be the best road bike at €1200? Main use would be my commute to work 35km round trip on decent roads. I've read that carbon isn't ideal for commuting, so Planet X is out. I can get a Trek 2.1 or an Orbea in budget. Both 105 groupsets. Any other contenders?

Eamonnator

Planet X do an aluminium bike, with clearance for mudguards, that might suit you.

Russman

Can you use the Bike to Work scheme ? It will make a big difference to your budget/outlay.

FWIW I got a Felt Z85 for €1,050 recently, mostly 105 group (apart from crankset i think), alu frame. Really like it.

bogmanfan

Eamonnator wrote: »

Planet X do an aluminium bike, with clearance for mudguards, that might suit you.

Cheers mate. From looking online, the Trek 2.1 has fender mounts, which would be ideal. I use a backpack, so no need for rack mount

Yeah, going through bike to work

irishmotorist

bogmanfan wrote: »

I've read that carbon isn't ideal for commuting...

I'd disagree with that straight off. If you had €300 to spend, that would rule carbon out. However, with your budget and description, I'd be heading straight for a carbon road bike. I've got a Focus Cayo and do a 50km round trip 4 times a week now. If it's raining much, I'll stick on a seatpost mounted mudguard on the back and that does me.

Lemag

For that kind of money I'd go for the Planet X Pro Carbon Rival for £999 but if you really have an aversion to carbon then have a look at the Canyon Roadlite 7.0 which comes in bang on budget at €1199 but will cost about €50 to have it delivered to your door as it's only available directly from Canyon.

Tonyandthewhale

Nothing wrong with carbon for commuting, it's just that most carbon bikes won't have mounts for fenders and racks so you can't mount proper mudguards or panniers. Also, a lot people like to keep the good carbon bike for good because they tend to come with fancy components and if you're commuting in the rain every day then a steed singlespeed for example will be easier and cheaper to maintain than a Dura Ace equipped Carbon road bike.

I commute on my carbon steed during the summer when it's nice and because I can bring it inside with me to get to work. I don't ride it to work every day because I hate cleaning it and because obviously when I'm in uni I don't feel comfortable locking it up around campus.

bogmanfan

Lemag wrote: »

For that kind of money I'd go for the Planet X Pro Carbon Rival for £999 but if you really have an aversion to carbon then have a look at the Canyon Roadlite 7.0 which comes in bang on budget at €1199 but will cost about €50 to have it delivered to your door as it's only available directly from Canyon.

Cheers mate. I have no aversion to carbon, but whenever I say I want a bike for commuting, I hear that carbon is a bad idea. Why is this? I should say that the bike is locked in a secure area at work, and stored in the house at home, so theft won't be an issue.

Lemag

bogmanfan wrote: »

Cheers mate. I have no aversion to carbon, but whenever I say I want a bike for commuting, I hear that carbon is a bad idea. Why is this? I should say that the bike is locked in a secure area at work, and stored in the house at home, so theft won't be an issue.

Nothing wrong with carbon for the commuter. However, most carbon bike owners would have another bike which they would probably use as their commuter instead. A bike which they can be a little less precious about and which, as Tonyandthewhale, might be more accommodating for panniers, mudguards, etc. If one was to be travelling through the city and having to stop regularly at light then clipless pedals might be a needless PITA.