another 'first bike' thread - any advice appreciated

£1k very well spent

Black beauty!

Amazing price well done! Pic!!

Congrats and welcome to the Supersix experience!

I've read a lot about this dreaded BB30 creaking, a real downer to such a beautiful bike. My personal fave has to be the one in team colours

Gorgeous bike!

I have had my Supersix 105 but the grey one for 2.5 months and so far i changed the PF30 for a Praxis converter as it developed a terrible creaking and clanking, and shimano 105 crankset, i also developed a clicking from handlebar stem area and couldn't get rid of it, but have flipped the stem and put spacers above the stem, only done 1 ride like this so not sure i have cured it, also replaced the brakes for 105's and there better, time will tell whether it stays or goes.

If you've tried it and you like it, get it!

Agree, the Supersix is said to be terrific. Go for it!

Go for it, it's a beauty!

Glad to hear you like the supersix, stunning bike. I saw they had some kind of team paint going on (green/white) which looked nice but I think it was dearer. Did they have anything else for you to ride/compare to?

OP: keen to hear your thoughts on that SuperSix, didn't realise that was full carbon, very good value for money; I may be tempted myself!! I did have a weakness for a Domane; I got a discount code through via email (domane100) from Rutland...

http://www.citrusimage.co.uk/gsr/2014/122/default.html?utm_campaign=Extr...

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/102528/products/trek-domane-4-0-compact-20...

perhaps give that a try, looks are fab and they say the ISO decoupler works a treat.

As said check the geometry - especially stack and reach - and then pick the one that feels right. Or in fact, I'd recommend picking the one that feels just on the 'stretched' side of right, because as you get into it your body will get used to the position (a bit).

The Supersix 105 is an awesome bike for the money and I'd have no hesitation recommending a Cannondale; I'd also suggest test riding a CAAD10 105 (aluminium) as they are supposed to be awesome: no weight penalty and as comfortable as the supersix.

I'm not sure that the differences in geometry between a race bike and a sportive/endurance bike are that great, or make one more rideable than another for most of us. You're talking 10-20 mm, or half a degree here or there in a lot of cases. If you have back problems, or you have got a bike the wrong size, then that's different.
Having said that, I ride an ally bike from the 90's when there wasn't a choice, so what do I know!

I like the look of that Cannondale too. I'm hoping to spend around £1200 - £1500 on a new bike at some point, and I'm fairly sure the Cannondale is the best value of the ones you can try. If I could I'd pop over to Koblenz and try a Canyon, but that is tricky to do, so it looks like a Cdale for me.

OP, see if you can talk Evans or the other shops into letting you try a couple of bikes out on the road for 10 mins. Some of the bigger retailers let you try for 30 days and then you can change. A mate bought a Cannondale MTB, rode it off road a couple of times and wasn't keen. Went back to Evans, and ok, he almost doubled his initial spend, but came out with a different bike he was much more happy with. That's the key at the end of the day, the one you are happiest with is the best, regardless of frameset/geometry/groupset/value for money. If you haven't been on it for a couple of days and you are itching to get out there, rather than thinking, Meh I'll not bother to day, pick that one!

As I usually say on this topic, buyers are spoilt for choice, all the groupsets work brilliantly, you're splitting hairs between the spec levels at a given price band. Carbon vs alu is not night and day, the real-world difference is smaller than people would have you believe.

Definitely would recommend you look around, get a feel for the bikes and each shop's customer service.

The best bike is the one that fits you correctly and you like it the most.

Re Canyon and Rose - if I was in funds my choice of new bike would be Canyon, I agree. However I have gone through the experience of buying a bike I thought would fit then selling it because it didn't.

So I am now at the point that I am fairly confident that the Canyon I want would fit me based on experience of a real rather than virtual bike. The OP is on his first bike and therefore my suggestion was that he get some real world experience before going down the bought unseen route.

Or being devil's advocate, go for it blind, gives you an excuse to upgrade later if you're unlucky with the fit. If you can afford it of course.

Frame materials - the Supersix Evo is a blindingly good frame (see review on here) so good carbon really is available in the budget given. Not so good it won't stop your back hurting if it doesn't fit you though...

You'll invariably get lots of nods towards the various online options; Planet X, Ribble, Canyon, etc, and I don't disagree that *some* of them offer decent value for money. However, for a first road bike purchase I'd recommend going to your LBS and taking their advice as to the geometry and frame sizing that will best suit you based on test-riding different bikes, rather than simply buying "blind" online and finding the bike isn't right for you.

None of the bikes you've mentioned are so obscure though as to not be available at your average bike shop, so you shouldn't have too much difficulty in tracking them down for test rides, particularly if you've got a few different stores nearby.

As has been mentioned already, don't be swayed by a particular bike simply because it's on a good sale price either, unless you know it is definitely the right bike for you. That Supersix price at Evans is extremely tempting, but I know it's too aggressive a set up for me for instance. If they had the equivalent Synapse at that price though...

As for the carbon v aluminium debate, there really is no answer, it's all down to personal preference. Ultimately, a carbon frame on a bike that originally cost £1000 new is unlikely to be any "better" than a similarly-priced aluminium frame. As has also been mentioned above, you generally pick two from good frame, good components or good price. You *very* rarely get all three...

Good luck with the search!

Looking at your budget there is only two brands I will recommend.
Canyon
Rose
Next you need to find out if you want relaxed or racy geometry. Makes a big difference.
Then choose your model based on that. Your friends is correct go for the max you can afford and will save you money in the long run.
However, if you choose the wrong bike then you are not going to be better off.
Since you can't try Canyon or Rose you should try out several LBS on several geometries and see which one suites you best and then use that knowledge and choose the Canyon or the Rose.

If your budget is £1200 I'd stick to alloy frames and get the best groupset and wheels you can.

There are plenty of great alloy frames out there now. Canyon, Cannondale, Kinesis, Bowman, etc. See if you can try one out, that's my other suggestion.

4 of the bikes listed are carbon. None of them are bad bikes and personally I think the Cannondale is a bargain but I'm biased. How the bike fits will define your experience though, not what its made of.

The Cannondale, Boardman and Neil Pryde Alize are all race oriented geometry with relatively low front ends and longer top tubes - I don't know about the others but even Bianchi's 'endurance' bikes have quite a 'racy' fit compared to some of their peers.

You need a point of reference. If the Madone was one you've ridden, how did it feel in terms of fit? Balanced in the saddle? Bars close/not too close, able to reach down into the drops and stay there for a while reasonably comfortably - or not?

Once you have that clear in your mind you can start to look at different models and compare their geometry reach and stack figures. More reach = bars further away, more stack = bars higher. Bear in mind that you will probably find it easier to get down to the drops over time but only by 2-3 cm. Then you will be able to draw up a shortlist based on how well it is likely to fit you rather than what's on special offer.

Then try them (you wouldn't buy a car you hadn't driven would you?) - and try a size down too, people often get a bike that's too big as a first bike.

Good luck!

Hi
You are right to be thinking of going for the higher end of your budget if you think you will be cycling long term. Usually better levels of equipment.
The frames you list above all have a pretty much race geometry (not sure about the Merida) as is the Madone.
I had a Madone 3.1 as a training bike and I could not fault it.

I think you need to look at what kind of riding you think you will be doing, if it is purely for training rides for fitness then a race geometry will be fine, if you think you may be doing long touring rides then you may want to consider something more comfortable. You also need to consider if you will want to fit 'proper' mudguards
I have always ridden race geometry bikes even for long distance and always managed OK, but I recently built a winter bike based on a Dolan Dual Carbon.
I have to say t is the most comfortable ride i ave ever had, takes full mudguards and is certainly no slouch and could be raced quite adequately.
It is at t top end of your budget but worth a look. Personaly I would get it with Shmano 105 groupset and nothing of a lower level
http://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-dual-carbon-road-bike.html

If you've ridden the Madone perhaps consider one of those - if you liked it?

Which bike is fairly personal, but perhaps worth trying one or two in a shop and have a think about it...

You've listed more "endurance" bikes above which are set up a little bit more comfy than the Madone which is a "race" road bike. Good groupset, good frame, good price, pick two really! Your friend is right about buying a better bike, so perhaps go for a better frame and if required replace the groupset as bits wear out - the frame will be difficult to change. Perhaps you can get carbon for the money if you look hard enough?