Bike for Christmas - budget €1200

Wavehopper

Hi all, was looking for some advise on new purchase for Christmas. Was going to buy a new bike through the bike-to-work scheme and willing to put a bit more along with the max allowed so budget is €1200. However, I'm finding it very hard to find anything with 105 groupset within that price range.
I have to go through Bikes4work since that's the agency my company deal with, otherwise I'd buy Canyon Roadlite 6.0 that so many have recommended on here....but can't unfortunately.

I have looked through the previous related threads and have found many of the recommended bikes across the shops that Bikes4work deal with for €999 (Giant Defy 2, Focus Variado 3.0, Felt F85, KTM Strada 1000). Most of these have carbon forks and seat posts along with Tiagra groupset.

I liked the look of Scott Speedster S30 but it's €100 more expensive than the others above with similar spec.
http://www.2wheels.ie/road-bikes/gents-bikes/scott-speedster-30-2013.html
I was wondering if there are any opinions on here about Scott bikes and this one in particular?

Then Looking at bikes with 105, I have found the following:
Ridley Tempo Race 105 €1099
http://www.buckleycycles.ie/ridley%20compact%20spec.html

Giant Defy 1 €1199
http://www.dbcycles.ie/products?Type=road-bikes&Product=giant-defy-1

Felt Z85 2012 €1199
http://www.wheelworx.ie/bikes/road-bikes/road-bikes-men/Z85-2012

Any opinions on these - any of these worth the extra money over the Tiagra bikes above.
I haven't taken any for a spin yet but I like the look of the Felt Z85 over the others but thought it get opinions on here first.

I'll be cycling 20 mile round trip to work every day along with some weekend trips with a group of lads from work...so I probably won't notice the difference between the €999 bikes but thought I'd try to buy the best bike I could starting off.

Thanks.

Seaneh

Planet X SL Pro Carbon APEX, €1150 from Planet X Ireland in Athlone.

http://planetxireland.com/


Not on their site yet, only started building them about 2 weeks ago. But the phone number is on the site, give them a call and they will let you know if they can get you the beike before xmass.

You really won't get a better bike for the money.

Wavehopper

Thanks Seaneh but PlanetX aren't one of the listed suppliers with that bikes4work agency that I have to go through...so can't go for that one unfortunately

Seaneh

Wavehopper wrote: »

Thanks Seaneh but PlanetX aren't one of the listed suppliers with that bikes4work agency that I have to go through...so can't go for that one unfortunately

Aaaaahh thats pants. Buckly's are really good to deal with if that helps at all. That ridley is lovely looking. The trek aplha 1.whatever 105 should be in budget too. They are very nice alu bikes. Same geomotey as the Madone. Buckleys are trek dealers.

easygoing39

What frame size do you require??As at this time of year most of the popular sizes are sold out.

Wavehopper

Hi easygoing39, I tried out a 56cm today and it felt comfortable.
I'm finding that some of the bikes I looked at are not available in my size
Will try out a few more of the ones that I listed as well as Trek recommended by Seaneh
Thanks

easygoing39

@ Wavehopper,you'll find most of the popular bikes won't be available in 54/56 or 58cm.And I would'nt ride a trek,the brand is tainted by LA for ever!!

Seaneh

easygoing39 wrote: »

I would'nt ride a trek,the brand is tainted by LA for ever!!

That's just silly.

MB Lacey

I bought a Scott speedster (with 105 groupset) a couple of months ago and love it.
When you're thinking budget, in the long run will €100 really make any difference?

secman

Wavehopepr,

don't forget the "bike to Work Scheme" - save yourself at worst a couple of hundred euro, dpends on your level of income. But now is a good time to do it, just at end of tax year.

Secman

Wavehopper

Have looked around a bit more and found the following bikes on special offer in one shop so wondering if anyone has any of these or know anything about them?

This one has 105 groupset
Forme Longcliffe 1.0 €999
http://www.damianharriscycles.co.uk/prod/rac_0004_fo/Forme/Lomgcliffe-1.0-2012

This is carbon frame but Tiagra groupset
Forme Axe Edge Sport €1199
http://www.bikestore.ie/forme-axe-edge-sport-2012.html

This is carbon frame with 105 groupset so worth paying the extra?
Forme Axe Edge Comp €1299
http://www.thebikeshopderby.co.uk/forme-axe-edge-comp-2012/

Thanks

Seaneh

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_777713_langId_-1_categoryId_212536#tab2

This is under your budget, has the spec you want (Apex and 105 are the same bracket, I'd take Apex over 105 though, but it's a personal thing) and you can buy from halfords with your agency.

Wavehopper

Thanks Seaneh, I'll take a look at that

easygoing39

Apex will never be as smooth as 105,its too "clunky" in application.

Seaneh

easygoing39 wrote: »

Apex will never be as smooth as 105,its too "clunky" in application.

I dont agree at all i found apex very smooth shifting. I also happen to prefer srams double tap system and egronomics. And its a lighter groupset than 105. Apex has been used by tour riders. Good enough for them, good enough for me.

sandleman1979

Felt Z85 2012 €1199
http://www.wheelworx.ie/bikes/road-bikes/road-bikes-men/Z85-2012



I had my name down for one of these with Wheelworx, they are out of stock of 56 and 58 frames, think there was a 54 when i was there two weeks ago. Looks like there will be no more stock in of the 2012 model, next bike Wheelwork had with the 105 groupset was 1400 i think.

I ended up with the Trek 1.5 2013, couldnt be happier......

Wavehopper

Went to Halfords today and pretty much decided to buy the Boardman Road Team. I thought that the 105 groupset, the Mavic Aksium wheels and the finish on the frame was better than anything else I had looked at.

However I also looked at the following Cube in another shop today and it's on a special offer at €1350 and the guy in the shop reckoned that it was worth every penny of the €150 above my budget.
http://road-bikes.findthebest.com/l/1103/2012-Cube-Peloton-SL-Compact

It has Ultegra groupset with 105 crank and the guy in the shop said the wheelset was also very good.

Anyone familiar with this bike and would they recommend it over the Boardman Road Team?

Thanks

velo.2010

@Wavehopper,

If you're going to up the budget to e1300 or so then the Canyon Roadlite AL 7 and Planet X Rival come into play.

Bearing in mind shipping etc. the Canyon comes with FULL ultegra, Aksium wheels, Ritchey WCS kit and so on.
http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3074#tab-reiter2

The Planet X has plenty of reviews on here. Carbon frame and Rival shifters and mechs.

Wavehopper

Hi velo.2010, unfortunately neither are options for me as I have to go through an agency that deal with certain Irish bikeshops

velo.2010

My bad for not checking back to your OP.:o

The cube does look good. Amazing how the Boardman has steadily increased in price. I picked one up for e800 a couple of years ago - same frame and better Ritchey bars/stem albeit with 9 speed Tiagra shifters and a 10 speed 105 rear mech!

Plastik

Wavehopper wrote: »

Went to Halfords today and pretty much decided to buy the Boardman Road Team. I thought that the 105 groupset, the Mavic Aksium wheels and the finish on the frame was better than anything else I had looked at.

However I also looked at the following Cube in another shop today and it's on a special offer at €1350 and the guy in the shop reckoned that it was worth every penny of the €150 above my budget.
http://road-bikes.findthebest.com/l/1103/2012-Cube-Peloton-SL-Compact

It has Ultegra groupset with 105 crank and the guy in the shop said the wheelset was also very good.

Anyone familiar with this bike and would they recommend it over the Boardman Road Team?

Thanks

The wheels on the Cube are lower spec than the Askiums on the Boardman, but they're similar bikes. The Cube has some higher spec components though and is lighter - 8.5kg vs 9.16kg.

If you're willing to spend the money the Cube is marginally better. There's little wrong with the Boardman either though. I bought a 2010 model Comp second-hand this year as a hack and it hasn't given me an ounce of trouble over 4,000km of commute and crap-weather riding.

Frazedame

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_832193_langId_-1_categoryId_212536
This is good value 105 group set carbon frame orth a look