£2,000… What would you recommend?

Daveyraveygravey wrote:

Jamin78 wrote:

Daveyraveygravey wrote:

Have you got an Evans near you? If so, go and try a Cannondale Super Six and a Synapse, and maybe a CAAD. All great bikes, good value, and you’ve got one of the best “race” bikes and one of the best “sportive” bikes, and a one of the best ally bikes if you try the CAAD. Then do some research and see if there’s anything else out there that will give you more of a buzz, whether it’s slightly better wheels, or kit, or 50 quid less, or a nicer paint job, or some frame detail you prefer. I had about 2k to spend two years ago, did 6 months of research, and bought a Giant Propel because spec wise it was bang on the money, and to me it looked WAY better than anything else I could afford. Haven’t ridden it since Thursday and I’m itching to get back on it.

Are you following me? I was down at Evans at the NCC today, getting them to request a synapse and supersix in my size, to help me decide whether I want racy or endurance. I was knocked over by how helpful they were, and knowledge, even with me being pretty blunt about just doing some initial research. Top advice, Evans is a great place to start.

I’m really not convinced this sportive/racy geometry has any meaning, at least for most of us.  If you’re an unusual size or shape or have a back problem it might make sense, but I doubt any of us can tell the difference between half a degree angle here, 5 mm longer there, even half a kilo more or less.  The Propel is meant to be an aero bike so you probably wouldn’t want to go on a long ride on it, but I did a 27 hour Everesting on mine.

I think you’ve maybe disqualified yourself from being in the majority by viture of having done an Everesting in 27 hours! That makes you an above average cyclist for certain, even if you don’t think so.

Well done by the way!

Hi matthewn5 I would stick

Hi matthewn5 I would stick with old dolan and buy me a bike,ha,ha.

Jamin78 wrote:

Jamin78 wrote:

Daveyraveygravey wrote:

Have you got an Evans near you? If so, go and try a Cannondale Super Six and a Synapse, and maybe a CAAD. All great bikes, good value, and you’ve got one of the best “race” bikes and one of the best “sportive” bikes, and a one of the best ally bikes if you try the CAAD. Then do some research and see if there’s anything else out there that will give you more of a buzz, whether it’s slightly better wheels, or kit, or 50 quid less, or a nicer paint job, or some frame detail you prefer. I had about 2k to spend two years ago, did 6 months of research, and bought a Giant Propel because spec wise it was bang on the money, and to me it looked WAY better than anything else I could afford. Haven’t ridden it since Thursday and I’m itching to get back on it.

Are you following me? I was down at Evans at the NCC today, getting them to request a synapse and supersix in my size, to help me decide whether I want racy or endurance. I was knocked over by how helpful they were, and knowledge, even with me being pretty blunt about just doing some initial research. Top advice, Evans is a great place to start.

I don’t know why they don’t offer it as a paid for service, along the lines of give us fifty quid and we’ll set you up on three bikes and you can ride them for half an hour each.  I’m sure it would help a lot of folks resolve some of the issues we all have when looking for a new bike.

I’m really not convinced this sportive/racy geometry has any meaning, at least for most of us.  If you’re an unusual size or shape or have a back problem it might make sense, but I doubt any of us can tell the difference between half a degree angle here, 5 mm longer there, even half a kilo more or less.  The Propel is meant to be an aero bike so you probably wouldn’t want to go on a long ride on it, but I did a 27 hour Everesting on mine.

If you fancy something

If you fancy something British built and you’re in/near South London then have a look at this bargain:

http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/p/49993/Orro-Gold-Ultegra-Di2-Racing-3-Road-Bike

Not ridden one myself but the reviews seem very positive. 

Lots of advice here which

Lots of advice here which could be spot on but you don’t tell us what type of riding you want to do and this should be the biggest influencing factor in the replies.

For example, if you want an out and out sprinting bike (stiff, great for transmitting power under duress) a specialised venge or cannondale caad are both in budget.  If you wanted an endurance/long range bike, neither would be ideal and a roubaix or synapse would be good calls.

As for canyon, great bikes but delivery times appear a bit “flexible” and  think about after care, i.e. who will sort out any problems (which will come), you or someone locally.

Is there a nearby LBS/dealer able to service/repair your chosen bike ? I would lean towards them if so.

For me, ultegra is as much groupset as I need (the “marginal gains” of the superior groupsets aren’t worth the outlay for the cycling i do).

Controversial I know but what type of weather are you going to be riding in ? If it is year round UK, discs should be considered for the money saved on not grinding your wheels away/braking consistency in crap weather. You have clearly racked up a few miles in short order and riding rim brakes through winter with decent mileage will see them ground down over a season or two.

For your budget, I would recommend my commuter which is an aluminium  cannondale CAAD12 with hydraulic discs. Why ? It is a lot of bang for buck, racy and responsive but it is  not something to go for really long rides on for me due to its more aggressive geometry. Granted it is not carbon but it doesn’t flex as much when you put the power down. 

Anyway, if hou have specific riding plans/usage, let the forum know as this could change everything !

If you shop around, there are

If you shop around, there are still some very good bargains on circa £2.5k 2016 models. At this price it is difficult to buy a bad bike, and blindfold, models from the major manufacturers are probably indistinguishable. How about a Scott Addict Ultegra, list price 2.5k, available for 1.8. Similarly Focus Cayo or Cube Attain. And don’t believe that the advertised, discounted price is the end of the story. With two grand in your pocket, you have a lot of bargaining power.

Have you got an Evans near
Have you got an Evans near you? If so, go and try a Cannondale Super Six and a Synapse, and maybe a CAAD. All great bikes, good value, and you’ve got one of the best “race” bikes and one of the best “sportive” bikes, and a one of the best ally bikes if you try the CAAD.
Then do some research and see if there’s anything else out there that will give you more of a buzz, whether it’s slightly better wheels, or kit, or 50 quid less, or a nicer paint job, or some frame detail you prefer.
I had about 2k to spend two years ago, did 6 months of research, and bought a Giant Propel because spec wise it was bang on the money, and to me it looked WAY better than anything else I could afford. Haven’t ridden it since Thursday and I’m itching to get back on it.