What would you do...

TinyExplosions

with a budget of 2500 - 2750 if you wanted a new road bike.

No rules - off the peg, or frame/ components thrown together to an awesome ride -it just has to include shipping/delivery to Ireland (totally groupset agnostic too, go for what you'd like)

Interested to see what folks come up with...

triggermortis

I would buy a Rose. Saving for one now and can't decide exactly which one to get

Brad768

Rose Xeon CRS-5000
http://www.rosebikes.com/article/rose-xeon-crs-5000/aid:607912

Plastik

I'd buy a Storck. Not sure which from the range fall into that budget. The Scenero does, and maybe the Fenomalist. Alternatively I'd get a super-spec Caad10 or lesser spec SuperSix.

I've gone off Rose. Great spec for the price, but for the price a bit of visual flair with the paint schemes wouldn't go amiss.

Lumen

Are you going to look at it or ride it?

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

Are you going to look at it or ride it?

Ride it, definitely.

Lumen

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Ride it, definitely.

Gentle or hard?

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

Gentle or hard?

Every which way... slow and heavy

Lumen

What size frame?

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

What size frame?

56/58ish

Lumen

Inspired by AstraMonti's recent ramblings, something like this, but with mechanical Chorus and perhaps fewer weightweenie parts.

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=112176&start=0

colm_gti

Lumen wrote: »

Inspired by AstraMonti's recent ramblings, something like this, but with mechanical Chorus and perhaps fewer weightweenie parts.

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=112176&start=0

Call me a snob, but if I was spending near enough to 3k on a bike, I'd like a recognisable branding covering the frame

EDIT: That FM066 is very very nice though....

TinyExplosions

colm_gti wrote: »

Call me a snob, but if I was spending near enough to 3k on a bike, I'd like a recognisable branding covering the frame

EDIT: That FM066 is very very nice though....

You're a snob :-)

The FM066 is on the short list actually, so is a Giant TCR Composite and a Scott Hightoad frame... So much choice!

AstraMonti

I would agree with Lumen.

FM066 or the new FM069.
Wheelsfar 38mm carbon clinchers (really awesome for the price)
Campag Chorus
and the finishing kit off ebay, I have saved some really nice parts with a great price/weight ratio.
The good thing is that you have multiple ways you can go with it, starting from totally stealth to a vibrant multicoloured one.

TinyExplosions

AstraMonti wrote: »

I would agree with Lumen.

FM066 or the new FM069.
Wheelsfar 38mm carbon clinchers (really awesome for the price)
Campag Chorus
and the finishing kit off ebay, I have saved some really nice parts with a great price/weight ratio.
The good thing is that you have multiple ways you can go with it, starting from totally stealth to a vibrant multicoloured one.

Sounds interesting... Only thing holding me back on that is being a fatty on carbon wheels ;-)

AstraMonti

I think the limit for their cyclocross wheels (which are actually nice and wide) are 110kgs, but we can verify that if you decide.

Brian?

Ribble r872 with Campag Super Record 11sp.

letape

colm_gti wrote: »

Call me a snob, but if I was spending near enough to 3k on a bike, I'd like a recognisable branding covering the frame

EDIT: That FM066 is very very nice though....

I agree - I wouldn't be buying a Kung fu, King Kong frame. I'd either buy a second hand frame or maybe try a discounted prior year model frame from an online retailer - westbrookcycles often have Scott or Trek frames from the prior year at very affordable prices.

Groupset wise, I too would go for mechanical chorus and maybe a zonda wheelset.

Ole Rodrigo

Condor Paris with customised colour ( green and cream ? )

Athena alloy group.
Campag Neutron wheels.
San Marco regal saddle ( or B17 for an extra 40 quid )
Continental 4 season tyres.
Nitto alloy stem and seat post.

2497 sterling



..or the same on the Classico frameset..100 quid cheaper.



or a Canyon CF with chorus at 2599 euro

letape

Brian? wrote: »

Ribble r872 with Campag Super Record 11sp.

If that's the same frame that Dirkvoodoo has on his latest build, I agree it looks like a very good option.

biomed32

Partial to this
http://wilierbikes.co.uk/2013/product.php/63/1/granturismo_athena_11s__2999_00/2a248f6133e1b3d4d253e3f608794051

bcmf

Hong Fu's FM 039 F&F in Matt finish wth Tiny Explosions in gloss black decals
Pro Lite Gavia deep sections (maybe the ones with alu brake surface)
with Pro Lite finishing kit
and the balance really on the highest spec 11 Campy gruppo it allows.

Cookie_Monster

what I just did...

Canyon Ultimate CF 9
Gloworm x2 front light
Knog Blinder rear
new bottle holders and seat bag
new bike bag so I could safely ship it from Irl to NZ

TinyExplosions

Lots of love for Campagnolo I see, now it's making me think that I should give it a go instead of sticking with the beloved SRAM...

The Wilier is nice, but at £2999 is quite a bit over budget!

petethedrummer

For racing, I'd buy some heavily discounted carbon frame and stick ultegra with half decent wheels on it.

For non racing I'd buy something like this de rosa frame and try to get the rest under budget. Slowly start to creep over budget but never add up the individual bits and live in denial.

Edit: Link fixed

Edit2: Just look at it.

Lumen

Ah, but Tiny has a Mercian already, I think. It seems to pass in and out of his possession.

Chips Lovell

That bike is crying out for a carbon fork.

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

Ah, but Tiny has a Mercian already, I think. It seems to pass in and out of his possession.

It only passed out of my possession when it was stolen, and then returned. It's not going anywhere! (it's also my fixie about town, and I'm looking for a roadbike for the countryside)

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

That bike is crying out for a carbon fork.

The Mercian, or the Condor!?

colm_gti

petethedrummer wrote: »

For racing, I'd buy some heavily discounted carbon frame and stick ultegra with half decent wheels on it.

This is exactly what I'd do.

High end past season frameset, shimano ultegra, ksyrium sl's, zipp finishing kit...yum!

Brian?

Another alternative would be buying this frame, not sure about shipping.

http://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?page=8&description=C1R+Frameset+2012&vendorCode=LITESPED&major=1

It's an amazing looking frame in the flesh. Would leave you enough for an Ultegra/Force/centaur build I reckon.

Chips Lovell

TinyExplosions wrote: »

The Mercian, or the Condor!?

De De Rosa

ROK ON

Tiny

Why not stick with Mercian.
You would pick up a high end lightish steel frame for £1K leaving you with the bones of €1300 for wheels, groupset, bars etc.

I have come to the conclusion that many carbon bikes are fugly - not all but many.
Despite flexy issues with my Ti frame I simply love how it looks.
Narrow tubes ftw.

TinyExplosions

ROK ON wrote: »

Tiny

Why not stick with Mercian.
You would pick up a high end lightish steel frame for £1K leaving you with the bones of €1300 for wheels, groupset, bars etc.

I have come to the conclusion that many carbon bikes are fugly - not all but many.
Despite flexy issues with my Ti frame I simply love how it looks.
Narrow tubes ftw.

This is true, though I'm still not sold on the looks of a 'modern' groupset on a steel frame, but it is worth considering

AstraMonti

It can be done tastefully if you choose the right parts. But since you already have a steel beauty, get something more 2013

TinyExplosions

AstraMonti wrote: »

It can be done tastefully if you choose the right parts. But since you already have a steel beauty, get something more 2013

...and less pink

nak

Lumen wrote: »

Inspired by AstraMonti's recent ramblings, something like this, but with mechanical Chorus and perhaps fewer weightweenie parts.

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=112176&start=0

The frame looks very similar to the HongFu my husband has, built with 11 speed Chorus and Yishun rims (the wide tubular ones). It's a lovely bike. The wheels were fine for cyclocross. I am going to get some myself.

AstraMonti

A lovely deal on Chorus btw.. http://www.velo-motion.com/Race-Components/Groupsets/Campagnolo-CHORUS-groupset-11-Speed-2011::311.html

MickeyTake

http://velo29.com/en/basso-laguna-shimano-double-10-speed-custom-build.html

DirkVoodoo

Canyon with Di2.

Ole Rodrigo

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Canyon with Di2.

Agree, it is nicer than the CF.

TinyExplosions

AstraMonti wrote: »

A lovely deal on Chorus btw.. http://www.velo-motion.com/Race-Components/Groupsets/Campagnolo-CHORUS-groupset-11-Speed-2011::311.html

That's a ridiculously good price for the groupset, it may be one part of the decision made!

TinyExplosions

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Canyon with Di2.

The Aeroad with Di2 is 3k, so over budget

The Aeroad CF 7.0 SL with force at 2699 is bloody nice
As is the Ultimate CF 9.0 Pro with Chorus...

Lumen

Aero frames are for losers.

TinyExplosions

Lumen wrote: »

Aero frames are for losers.

But they look pretty!

Raam

TinyExplosions wrote: »

But they look pretty!

No they don't.

petethedrummer

ROK ON wrote: »

I have come to the conclusion that many carbon bikes are fugly - not all but many.

I pretty much agree. My race bike is (finally) built from a frame and fork I really like the look of. I've done my best to pretty it up but I can't say it's gorgeous.

Steel and Ti though, I do like. I wonder what sort of bike kevin McCloud would ride.

2 Wheels Good

Try and see as many as you can in the flesh. (If this includes a trip to a bike show even better!)
Carbon frames with all their curves can look very different up close. I was close to buying a Wilier Izoard 2010 until I saw it up close vs the 2011 version, the curved crossbar didn't look as appealing as I thought it would be.

DrChristianTroy

Now for something out of left field.....

For a little over budget with SRAM red
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/facet-7-black-road-bike-id_8236057.html

Raam

DrChristianTroy wrote: »

Now for something out of left field.....

For a little over budget with SRAM red
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/facet-7-black-road-bike-id_8236057.html

Uhm, maybe leave that one over in left field.

Lumen

^^ It's like they made a frameset out of ugly sticks. :pac:

TinyExplosions

Ok, so it's down to the following:

DengFu FM066 w SRAM Force
Giant TCR Composite w Ultegra
Planet X with SRAM RED
Ribble Yoke with Chorus 11

Which one to go for!