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forum
Best "upgradable bike"
Hi, I would appreciate your views. I have decided to splash out and buy a new bike. I currently have an old Giant Defy 4. I would like to buy a carbon frame bike. I have a budget of £2000. I would like to buy the best quality frame I possibly can with a view to upgrading the other components over time.
My cycling consists of a couple of 30 mile rides during the week and then a longer rude at the weekend. I would like to enter a few sportives but am not looking for a speed bike. I will obviously go and test ride a few but was just looking for a few opinions to start me off.
Thanks,
Ben
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29 comments
Wilier gtr veloce / centaur/105. good deals out there on 2014 bikes.these frames ride superbly in all conditions. period. imho. again, only an opinion based on personal experience and a definite bias to Italian bikes, pref with Italian kit .Like many people out there, I have owned and ridden different frameset/ groupset combinations and now know what works for me. we're all different
I'm going to offer up sacrilege in two ways: increase your price point to £2,250, and secondly, Trek Emonda.
The first reason is that at around £2,250 you'll get a sale bike with Ultegra, which is about all you need, but the wheelset will likely be something with aluminium rims and spokes of spaghetti, so your major upgrade being a great set of wheels - justifiable once you've spent the first few rides buckling the pasta wheels. Get yourself some Ksyeriums or Dura Ace and you'll be laughing.. Secondly, Emonda just won bike of the year. I own a Madone, which is a great bike (I hate Lance though).
The shout for Rose Xenon is a good one. A great bike.
Like someone else said, getting a ready made bike is cheaper, the manufacturer will probably sell on the group set, but skimp on the wheels, but you'll never get your bike cheaper for the set-up with a custom build.
Hi Ben,
If carbon is what you're after, the following might be worth looking:
1) C'dale Supersix EVO as mentioned
2) C'dale Synapse Carbon
2) Specialised Tarmac
3) Bianchi Intenso
4) BMC Team machine SLR02
5) BMC GF01 (2014)
6) Cinelli Saetta
7) De Rosa R838
Of course, some are more racy while others more comfort oriented (GF01, Synapse, Intenso).
Ogi
If the OP is set on the upgrade option - I can definitely recommend the BMC Team Machine and Cinelli Saetta. If I wanted an off the shelf bike today - I'd hands down get a super six. Go check em out.
In some cases the choice of buying a bike with a view to upgrading parts of it is not down to any desire to save money, rather to outmanoeuvre the spousal eye of disapproval by sleight of hand - buy a cheaper bike, then slowly acquire the upgrades that would never have got past the budget committee in the first place.
I know that's how my bike purchase worked last time out. As the standard components wore out, they got replaced (and upgraded). CFO none the wiser.
Sure it might have cost me a few quid more - but it sure is cheaper than a divorce
hahaha
budget committee, also known as the War Office when she finds N+1??
You know her then?
First - why do you want a carbon bike? Is it performance or 'Cus they look good? I've riden carbon bikes that are naff compared to quality steel or alu bikes. I really don't get the whole 'I must get a carbon bike mentality that is pervasive in the UK'.
I'm guessing you want comfort right? Carbon 'can' offer that. Steel or Ti can do it much much better too.
Isn't the R2 being mentioned simply as its a brilliant frame let down by it's kit? I'm not sure the value is really there. Cervélo frames deserve high end kit really... Too much to upgrade imo !
Surely the best thing would to be a custom build rather than upgrading. You WILL save cash, be able to tune every part of the bike to your needs and can be incredibly satisfying.
Really 2k buys a lot of bike... Ask yourself what you are upgrading too. 105/Rival/Veloce is all you need on a sportive bike, you are not racing so will not want lightweight/aero wheels that need much more love and attention.
Unless you are looking to race, perhaps consider buying the perfectly capable bikes around the £1500 mark and using your leftover cash to invest in quality clothing... Blah blah blah...
Wow, you know how to take the fun out of something don't you...
Thanks - I shan't bother expressing an opinion when the OP has asked for advice then.
Please feel free to express an opinion
I will too, and will put a little thing like this
afterwards to let you know that it's not meant to be taken too seriously.
Having spent the past few years doing this, my expereince indicates that this is incorrect. Almost invariably, you will get a better deal on a complete bike than you will get trying to put a bike together yourself. If you are willing to accept the compromises that a manufacturer makes when it puts together a complete bike (and those compromises rarely affect performance for a mere mortal) then you are - from an economic perspective - better off buying a complete bike.
You make a good point about saving some money for new kit though.
The £1500 to £1800 range is pretty competitive and full of good deals.
Sub 7kg, race ready 11 speed (Ultegra/Force) bike for £1500-£1800? With a wheelset around the 1450g mark? Please point me to one.
That custom build will have every part fit to your body if you know what you are doing.
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-rs-4400-669745/aid:669750
/rose-xeon-rs-4400-669745/aid:669750
Ultimate AL SLX 9.0 SL, Force 22 with Ksyrium SLS, claimed weight of 6.95kgs, £1799. Although if you aren't too fussed about a couple of hundred grams, I think the Canyon Endurace 9.0 PRO with Chorus 11s and Ritchey cockpit (7.15 claimed) for £1825 is possibly a better deal. If we have to keep to £1800 limit, the Ultimate CF SL 8.0 with Athena 11sp equipped (pretty much the Endurace but with a shorter top tube) also £1799. All the way down to the Ultimate AL SLX 9.0 (7.25kg claimed) with Ultegra 11sp for £1499.
Your turn - price list for a complete, sub-7kg custom bike excluding pedals but including build cost that comes in at £1800.
Cheers. My Aithein did with Force 22 and wheelsmiths.
Those sound top bikes you've listed above - no need to upgrade those actually.
Anyway, you win. You'll note the thread seemed to have moved on, and I was under the impression my suggestion of another route had been dismissed. I actually recommend some off the shelf bikes like the BMC and Cinelli to the OP based on my own experience.
Thanks very much for the comments/ideas. Definitely a good starting point.
Cheers
Ben
+1 for the Cervelo R2, fantastic frame..
I looked at the Genesis too, LBS steered me towards the Cervelo, very happy with my choice. Well developed frame from a firm established in carbon v first attempt from company with a proud steel heritage?
I'd suggest taking a look at the Genesis Zero range. The reason being that the frameset of the base model is the same (except for paint) as the top of the range team frame.
Now paint is worth more than you think (~100-200grams potentially) so I'd maybe look at the Zero 3 with 105 for £1700, as that is essentially a bare frame so the lightest.
That'd be my answer too, not many bikes uses the same frame across the entire range. You get a frame that is being used by pros even if you get the cheapest tiagra option, and when your drive train wears out you can upgrade it depending on our budget.
Cervelo R2 wold be my suggestion, stunning frame, big upgrade potential in the wheels, kit OK.
One of the bike bargains of the moment has to be the Canondale Supersix Evo - you could get one of those with 105 for £1200 recently and the frame is excellent. You'd have £800 left over for wheel etc. upgrades! Geo is quite racy though.
I'd seriously consider Canyon, too. They use the same frame across the range up to professional level. Generally, they are incredible value. The only issue is that the buying process can be a bit fraught, even if it works out in the end.
Canyon Ultimate CF SL 9.0 https://www.canyon.com/en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3587
Canyon Endurace CF 9.0 Pro https://www.canyon.com/en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3678
Theres a couple of excellent bikes within your budget