Your thoughts on the matter?

colm_gti

Qualify for c2w this week, going to pick up a new roadie but torn between 4...

Giant TCR Composite 3 (Tiagra)
Scott Speedster 20 (105)
Specialized Allez Elite (Tiagra)
Cannondale Caad8 (Tiagra)

Mostly racing the track this year, so tiagra is more than capable of the commute and one long spin or road race a week, anything more would be a bonus.

I guess the giant has the best frame, but aesthetically the entry level TCR isn't the most pleasing this year (White/Black/Yellow).

Ideally want to keep it as close to the £1000 as possible, and my employer uses cyclescheme, which means no canyon/rose/ribble unfortunately.

There's also the PX Pro Carbon Ultegra, but at 80kgs I worry about the reported front end flex...

Your thoughts please!

Briando

80kg.. wow.. leave those donuts alone fatboy.

I've never owned a Cannondale.. but I do lust after one. It gets my vote.

pprendeville

Where exactly is the flex in the PX. You could always go and get a different fork or even an aluminium one which may help. Hard to say no to Ultegra in fairness. Bulletproof from my experience. The hassle you would get from Tiagra in the long term (although I've never used it) would put me off.

rollingscone

I've never experienced nor heard of hassle with 10spd Tiagra.

Ole Rodrigo

Cannondale

Harrybelafonte

Scott

Tiagra may suffice but you'll feel a need to upgrade at some point. Stiff frame and 105 on the Scott might put that off longer than the rest. You'll be road racing again soon let than you'd wager I think?

Plus 80kg is nothing.

Brian?

Where have you heard about front end flex in the Planet X?

I know a couple of people who have them with no complaints.

Lusk_Doyle

pprendeville wrote: »

Where exactly is the flex in the PX. You could always go and get a different fork or even an aluminium one which may help. Hard to say no to Ultegra in fairness. Bulletproof from my experience. The hassle you would get from Tiagra in the long term (although I've never used it) would put me off.

Have you been shot at whilst on the bike? Ultegra is a good groupset though in fairness.

Lumen

Buy the bike that suits your current needs so that when your needs change you can buy a different one.

mossym

don;t own a cannondale roadie(have a slice tri bike) but seen a few of the caads up close, including one which is used for racing a3, and they have seriously impressed me

Plastik

The Planet X isn't full Ultegra. It has older 10speed Ultegra 6700 shifters and mechs. Was the shifting on these not meant to be a little bit pants? Were these the first version that were wrapped under the bar tape? It doesn't come with an Ultegra chainset, nor Ultegra brakes.

This is a little out of budget, but you might be able to find it somewhere locally to you that might make it a runner with some haggling e5 Allez. Frame is supposed to be great. It would take absolutely any upgrade you might put on it down the line.

There is plenty of flex with the Planet X but you just need a bit of a firm hand with the front end. I don't think it would be a deal breaker but it might be a shock to the system after racing the CR1 last year.

daragh_

You'll probably rip the PX to shreds with your new track legs.

I would go for the Scott. Firmer ride and a bit closer to what you are used to.

lennymc

Lumen wrote: »

Buy the bike that suits your current needs so that when your needs change you can buy a different one in about 2 weeks

This is Colm we are talking about after all.....

does it have to be one of those four?

Lusk_Doyle

I have a specialized allez elite. It was my first road bike that I bought about 5 years ago. I road it yesterday. They last!

omri

Not sure which frame is best but if you look at parts and want to keep to the budget - I'd say go 105 - I used to have an older 105 and cant really fault it. This was the only one I got to use so far. And every year according to the legend the lower groupset is in fact the higher groupset from previous season/model year - but maybe someone can confirm that.

In the end of the day it depends on which tax band you're on if I'm correct - so you can get either 26% or bigger discount on the first €1000 (or whatever the C2W is today) - in that case if you don't mind spending bit more - go with ultegra. Although you may never get a reason to upgrade it

I had an entry level aluminium frame/fork and then switched to carbon (nothing too fancy either) - at 75kg I felt no difference between these two. Now I'm 90kg and I will suck on climbs big time - and thats my only worry regarding my bike/my weight ratio

manwithaplan

daragh_ wrote: »

You'll probably rip the PX to shreds with your new track legs.

I would go for the Scott. Firmer ride and a bit closer to what you are used to.

Agree with this. Comfort is for losers.

fortis

colm_gti wrote: »

, but at 80kgs I worry about the reported front end flex...

!

Who are these people who can flex a bike! :eek:

A lot of that kind of talk is bull I think and marketing hype.

tbh I think most bike frames these days are pretty good and you won't go too wrong with any of them (in that kind of price bracket, higher than that there is even less difference, cast aside what the "marketing" people say). Like buying a car then it become a matter of asethetics and price.

I have a CAAD10 that I built up with mostly older DA7800. It is fantastic. But I've had a few different bikes over the years and they have all been pretty good. I know a lot of guys who have Planet X bikes and they love them.

And I've always used Shimano and it's flawless and durable. Plus the parts are easy to get. Have not owned Tiagra but again know people who have and it's fine. Only real difference between the Shimano groupsets really is weight and aesthetics. Ultegra is great bang for buck, almost identical to DA, just a little heavier, mostly half the price.

80Kg isn't destroy stuff territory by any means

Harrybelafonte

fortis wrote: »

Who are these people who can flex a bike! :eek:

A lot of that kind of talk is bull I think and marketing hype.

Happens more than you think, especially forks.

fortis

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Happens more than you think, especially forks.

Well go for the Cannondale so, you won't experience any flex! But I've never experienced it on any bike (granted I'm 70Kg).

The fact that the bike industry hasn't developed any proper metric for measuring "flex" (what does it even really mean) means that it is largely based on perception I think. They do have metrics for fork deflection but that is a different thing (and largely to do with safety)

Flex can be attributed more to the wheels (and tyres and inflation pressure) as can what is often described as "harshness" more than to the frame/fork , but that is another discussion!

In summary for the original poster, I would say buy whatever bike you like the look of and that fits you! It will be fine! All the gear is good these days (wheels and hubs would be an exception, some of the cheaper wheels are just junk and won't last pis**ng time)

Plastik

Ribble R872 with full 105 5700 for £1,085.

Brian?

Plastik wrote: »

The Planet X isn't full Ultegra. It has older 10speed Ultegra 6700 shifters and mechs. Was the shifting on these not meant to be a little bit pants? Were these the first version that were wrapped under the bar tape? It doesn't come with an Ultegra chainset, nor Ultegra brakes.

I have Ultegra 6700 and the shift is immaculate. I know it doesn't come with Ultegra brakes, but Ultegra and Dura-Ace brakes aren't really worth the premium anyway.

This is a little out of budget, but you might be able to find it somewhere locally to you that might make it a runner with some haggling e5 Allez. Frame is supposed to be great. It would take absolutely any upgrade you might put on it down the line.

There is plenty of flex with the Planet X but you just need a bit of a firm hand with the front end. I don't think it would be a deal breaker but it might be a shock to the system after racing the CR1 last year.

Have you experienced the flex first hand? I'm genuinely curious about this.

Brian?

Plastik wrote: »

Ribble R872 with full 105 5700 for £1,085.

Smashing looking bike.

Cee-Jay-Cee

pprendeville wrote: »

Where exactly is the flex in the PX. You could always go and get a different fork or even an aluminium one which may help. Hard to say no to Ultegra in fairness. Bulletproof from my experience. The hassle you would get from Tiagra in the long term (although I've never used it) would put me off.

Your more likely to hassle with Ultegra than you are with Tiagra.

OP I'd go with the Cannondale CAAD8

Plastik

Brian? wrote: »

Have you experienced the flex first hand? I'm genuinely curious about this.

Yes, I've 20,000km and counting on an SL Pro carbon frame.

How to describe it, I'm not sure? How do you describe something like that. Some of you will think I'm talking out my :pac: regardless and that I've bought into the marketing perception. I found the front end particularly likely to have a massive wobble on the first and last corners around Mondello. I'm not a particularly burly rider either at 6 1 and 76kg.

It doesn't take from my enjoyment of the bike though. I have done many races on it and will likely do many more. It's not the front end that stops me winning.

colm_gti

Cheers for all the input folks, no not exactly tied to those few bikes, but they seem to be the best suited to what I want. (£1000 +/- £100, and relatively race focused geometry).

I have no issues with Tiagra. I have ridden bikes with Tiagra, 105, Ultegra and older Dura Ace, and the only difference between Tiagra and DA was that the shifters feel a bit more plasticy and don't look as nice. I certainly thought Tiagra was comparable in terms of shifter accuracy, probably to do with the external cabling. I have an Ultegra chainset and rear mech in my spares box that will most likely be swapped on anyway.

I've always been sceptical about frame flex, but I've heard enough about the PX to at least question it, though the spec is decent for £1000.

I'd love a CAAD8, and the 105 version is within range at £1099 but the 2014 colourscheme is a bit w4nk. Same for the Giant TCR comp 4....yeah I am that fickle.

The Trek Madone 2.1 is another option that comes with 105 shifters and mechs.

The R872 is definitely a front runner, hadn't realised that could be had with 105 for that money, and Ribble is covered by cyclescheme.

wanderer 22

That's the colm_gti we know and love...20+ posts and he's no closer to a decision :pac:

I'd go for the cannondale myself.

lennymc

colm18 wrote: »

That's the colm_gti we know and love...20+ posts and he's no closer to a decision :pac:

I'd go for the cannondale myself.

when it gets to 30 posts he will announce he has bought a unicycle.

FirstinLastout

What happened to your Scott? Shure ya only had that a wet week....

Ryath

Dolan perhaps
http://www.dolan-bikes.com/road/road-bikes/road-bike-carbon/dolan-l-etape-carbon-road-bike-builder.html

Carbon frame Sram Apex £950 Tiagra £920 105 £1079

or http://www.dolan-bikes.com/road/road-bikes/road-bike-aluminium/dolan-preffisio-aluminium-road-bike.html

Apex for £730 105 £875

See Evans, Merlin and Westbrook are all listed on cyclescheme might find something on sale you like.

Have a Planet x sl pro my self can feel no flex out of it very comfortable frame but never had any issue from the front end cornering. Thrown it around Mondello plenty of times with no issues and with out blowing my own trumpet I take the corners better than most I've seen there.

New planet x paint jobs are much nicer probably get slightly more for your money but the Dolan's are very good value.

Edit: Just to add of the bikes you listed Caad8 would be my preference. Got a cannondale synapse recently and I'm very impressed with it.

Can't find any carbon fiber unicycles suggest a trike?:D

Lusk_Doyle

fortis wrote: »

Who are these people who can flex a bike! :eek:

A lot of that kind of talk is bull I think and marketing hype.

tbh I think most bike frames these days are pretty good and you won't go too wrong with any of them (in that kind of price bracket, higher than that there is even less difference, cast aside what the "marketing" people say). Like buying a car then it become a matter of asethetics and price.

I have a CAAD10 that I built up with mostly older DA7800. It is fantastic. But I've had a few different bikes over the years and they have all been pretty good. I know a lot of guys who have Planet X bikes and they love them.

And I've always used Shimano and it's flawless and durable. Plus the parts are easy to get. Have not owned Tiagra but again know people who have and it's fine. Only real difference between the Shimano groupsets really is weight and aesthetics. Ultegra is great bang for buck, almost identical to DA, just a little heavier, mostly half the price.

80Kg isn't destroy stuff territory by any means

Raam did it. He flexed his bike right around a car park entrance barrier! He's way off 80kg though.

Lusk_Doyle

Stay away from the specialized. Out of protest against them, if for no other reason. My previous posts about how good the bike is notwithstanding.

colm_gti

Cheers for all the responses guys.

Fwiw I went and ordered a trek madone 2.1, reckon it offered the best mix of decent looks, weight and componentry, and is available at short notice from the shop across the road from my flat.

It'll be fine for what I need it for and more.