Purchasing a new bicycle, would appreciate some well-informed advice.

Pompous

My budget is €1000 and I am using the cycle to work scheme. I will be cycling 100km per week minimum (20km daily commute). I do not care much about components as they can be upgraded over time. For example I would not pay €1000 for a €500 bicycle just because it has a Shimano Ultegra groupset.

I have been cycling for many years and I have always wanted a full carbon bike. I am willing to go over budget to get a carbon bike, but not by much. After a quick look around I decided this might be worth buying. I could upgrade the wheels which, according to the review, are the only major drawback.

If you could give your opinion on this bike, or suggest a better one, I would be very grateful. Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

BoardsMember

The boardman does get good reviews, and at 1199 it's not too over budget.

Or maybe this: http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FBPXSLPSRAM/planet-x-pro-carbon-sram-limited-edition-road-bike

I'm not sure I qualify as well informed beyond having become almost infatuated with researching in advance of buying my first road bike. I'm a bit unlike you though, I decided to go for a good alu frame with good components, rather than a low end carbon frame with lower spec components.

magicbastarder

does your employer have a limited list of bike shops you can use?

Pompous

magicbastarder wrote: »

does your employer have a limited list of bike shops you can use?

No. I don't think it works that way.

RoboRat

I'm in the same boat and I want to get something nice that I can upgrade as time goes by, looking at either of these, both slightly over but seem to be nice:

http://www.shopgiant-bicycles.co.uk/3679/products/2014-giant-defy-composite-3-road-bike.aspx

or

http://www.harrysbikes.ie/bikes/bikes-road-racer/2014-giant-tcr-composite-3.html

Might get the handlebars on the TCR elevated at the shop for a comfier ride.

Pompous

RoboRat wrote: »

I'm in the same boat and I want to get something nice that I can upgrade as time goes by, looking at either of these, both slightly over but seem to be nice:

http://www.shopgiant-bicycles.co.uk/3679/products/2014-giant-defy-composite-3-road-bike.aspx

or

http://www.harrysbikes.ie/bikes/bikes-road-racer/2014-giant-tcr-composite-3.html

Might get the handlebars on the TCR elevated at the shop for a comfier ride.

What's composite? Aluminium or carbon?

Zen0

When people use the word composite to refer to bikes, they normally mean carbon fibre. Strictly speaking, composite means just that, something made of more than one substance. That normally means some form of plastic epoxy in which is embedded a fibre of some sort (glass or carbon fibre) to give the otherwise weak plastic structural strength.