Road Cycling - Which road bike for £1500 (= $2500)?

Trying to choose between Giant TCR 1 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/uk/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2004&bikesection=8811&range=127&model=9979) Specialized Allez Comp (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=5967&JServSessionIdroot=4neh3n4qt4.j27003)
Trek 2300 (http://www.trekbike.co.uk/bikes/2004/road/performance/2300.php) Cannondale R1000 (http://www.cannondale.com/bikes/04/ce/model-4RR1D.html) Lemond Buenos Aires (http://www.lemondbikes.com/bikes/2004/buenosaires.html)Any suggestions?

I've spent 30 minutes on both the Trek and the Lemond. The Trek was extremely raw and harsh, but felt a really responsive racing machine. The Lemond was much more forgiving, but I find the idea of a steel-carbon hybrid just a little weird (probably unjustifiably).

Whilst I've set a limit of about £1500, I'm prepared to go a little higher if it would make a particularly great bike available. I can find the Giant TCR Composite 2 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/uk/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2004&bikesection=8811&range=127&model=9977) and Trek 5200 (http://www.trekbike.co.uk/bikes/2004/road/high_performance/5200.php) for under £2000 - would a full carbon frame make much difference to someone who's fit but no Lance Armstrong?

Do compact frames make much difference? I'm 6'2" (= 188 cm), if it matters.

I have a 5200 and while some will tell you that it has a "dead" feel I love it. Like yourself I am no LA but this is the most comfortable road bike I have ever ridden. Now whether its worth an extra 500 pounds is something for you to decide. Of the bikes on your list I would go with the Lemond having heard nothing but good things about it. With its steel/CF construction it should give a very nice ride.
The fun part will be trying them all.

I believe the TCR Composte2 is about $2000 (1182.51 GBP). You might want to give it a try. And then there is always the 5200 at $2500. I'd try them and decide based on that.

I like the cannondale, its like a rocketship

Roland,

Ever thought about finding a frame builder to build you a custom frame? Are you in UK? Seems to be the trend now to buy an off-the-peg Cannondale, Trek, Giant, etc - probably beacause there aren't many builders around that are going to be able to build you a alu/carbon frame, or even an alu one for that matter. If it's an alu frame you're looking for there are custom frame builders who can make these and make them well. If it's steel you're after then there are plenty of frame builders around. I always went for off-the-peg frames then went to a custom builder who measured me up on a jig etc. He built me a frame perfect for my body frame. You even get to choose the spray job exactly how you want it like i did. Also it's more fun to buy all the parts and build the bike yourself. Ok, I bought my last bike 4 years ago and things have changed alot since then but it has been the best frame i have had. I was in Ribble Cycles not too long ago (www.ribblecycles.co.uk) and they buy in ready made frames (they used to make them themselves) . They have all the current trendy tubing materials by dedacciai etc and the frames look ok. If you're looking to spend £1500 you could get one of the top of the range frames, a top grouppo like dura-ace/record, a decent set of wheels and all the trimmings for about that. But if you want to look like Cipollini or Lance you stick with the Treks, Giants, Cannondales etc. Dunno if you buy Cycling Weekly or not but there's usually plenty of ads in there to peruse.

Laters,

Cabledonut.

You're a big guy - depending on whether that's mostly your legs, or your upper torso, the fit might be considerably different with the different frame geometry of different brand bikes.

Before spending that kind of money, be sure to test ride them all to see what's truly comfortable for you.

That said, unless the import costs or exchange rates are really unfavorable, you should be able to get the Buenos Aires for 10-20% less than your max target. I just bought an '04 BA because the frame fit was best for me.

Thanks for the replies so far - please keep them coming! I ask as I'm not really familiar with the bikes in this range having never owned one that cost more than about half the price I've set.

Yes, the Lemond BA seems very popular. I had fun during the test ride, but couldn't help but feel it was shielding me from the road in a way the Trek 2200 didn't. Rather uneasy about the kooky hybrid design too, although appreciate probably I have no grounds to be.

A TCR Composite 2 for £1200? We have sales tax @ 17.5%, bringing a $2000 unit to just under £1400. I've been quoted £1800. Am I being ripped off, or are Giants just plain more expensive here in the UK?

The Cannondales look promising, but they seem pricey for aluminium frames. Do their frames justify the high-end components? Apparently the company isn't much fun when it comes to repairs and spares - is this fair?

A custom bike? I knocked together one from Ribble's (as you suggested) website and even with Dura Ace it came to under £1500. Having not heard of half the stuff I chose, I didn't really know what kinda quality it was though. Is it really possible to undercut the big manufacturers? Can one build a road bike via Ribble that is both better and cheaper?

Most of my size results from long legs: I'm only around 158 pounds (= 72 kg). Are compact frames suitable for someone this size? I guess I need a 58/60 cm frame (standard) - I appreciate the tube measurements aren't directly comparable to compacts though.

I do not know prices in the U.K., but here on the other side of the big pond, the Trek 5200 is $2500, or, at current exchange rates, about 1475 GBP. You can get a Lemond Zurich for the same price, and a Cannondale R2000 - a bump up from the 1000 - is a tad bit less, somewhere around 1300GBP. But, when you add in pedals, that would put on another 100GBP or so.

Bottom line is do you want comfort, speed, climbing power, or a combination of two or all three? An excellent compromise, the Trek is the one, with the Lemond a very close second, if not tied. The Cannondale is, like temp1 said, a rocketship.

Ride them all, check out the service after sale at the LBS and research the customer service of the various companies.

Then buy the Trek! or the LeMond! Or the Cannondale!
(I am in that quandry where I can't make up my mind. I am looking at these three bikes and sometimes I want the Trek, sometimes the Cannondale......Tough choices.)

TrekRider, you posted just before I did! We have sales tax @ 17.5% bringing prices up somewhat, but it does appear from what you say that it's simply more expensive here. According to Trek UK's website, the RRP for a 5200 is a penny under £2000. Although having said that, according to their US site it's $2750 (= £1900 with VAT).

Speed, then comfort, then climbing ability. There aren't many mountains in the south of England :)

Had a blast on both the Specialized Allez Comp (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=5967&JServSessionIdroot=4neh3n4qt4.j27003) and Giant TCR 1 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/uk/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2004&bikesection=8811&range=127&model=9979) this afternoon. Absolutely sold on their aluminium compact frames. Loved both to bits. Both felt lighter than the Trek and Lemond, and both handled the road really well. Slightly cheaper than the others too, and both with full Ultegra components (I think).

Looking at the specifications of both (to which I've linked in this post), are there any obvious weaknesses in either? Does one look noticeably better on paper? I know the Giant has a triple front derailleur compared to the double on the Specialized.

TrekRider, you posted just before I did! We have sales tax @ 17.5% bringing prices up somewhat, but it does appear from what you say that it's simply more expensive here. According to Trek UK's website, the RRP for a 5200 is a penny under £2000. Although having said that, according to their US site it's $2750 (= £1900 with VAT).

Speed, then comfort, then climbing ability. There aren't many mountains in the south of England :)

Just as soon as I signed off, it hit me VAT! I remember being in England on business a few years ago and was remined to get a VAT exclusion paper on anything I bought so I could get a refund when I left the country.

On the prices, while the "suggested" retail for the 5200 is as you stated, it usually sells for about $2500. My LBS has it for $2495.

Had a blast on both the Specialized Allez Comp (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=5967&JServSessionIdroot=4neh3n4qt4.j27003) and Giant TCR 1 (http://www.giant-bicycles.com/uk/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?dealerid=&dealercountry=&lYear=2004&bikesection=8811&range=127&model=9979) this afternoon. Absolutely sold on their aluminium compact frames. Loved both to bits. Both felt lighter than the Trek and Lemond, and both handled the road really well. Slightly cheaper than the others too, and both with full Ultegra components (I think).

Looking at the specifications of both (to which I've linked in this post), are there any obvious weaknesses in either? Does one look noticeably better on paper? I know the Giant has a triple front derailleur compared to the double on the Specialized.

Of the two, I would go with the Specialized, but that's just me. I can't explain it, but I just have an aversion to Giants. Don't know why..just do.

The Specialized it is. Am going to buy it tomorrow. As I'm an impoverished student, I'm going to try to extract the best price possible from my LBS. Have been led to believe profit-margin is something like 20-30% on average bicycles, possibly higher on pricier models. Is this generally true? Anyone know the trade price for an Allez Comp?

Bought the Specialized. Shop wouldn't budge much on price, but threw in Shimano PD-R600 pedals, R122 shoes, and a Specialized M1 helmet. (Saved about £200 I think. Could have done a little better maybe, but not bad.)

Will post a picture when it arrives!

Bought the Specialized. Shop wouldn't budge much on price, but threw in Shimano PD-R600 pedals, R122 shoes, and a Specialized M1 helmet. (Saved about £200 I think. Could have done a little better maybe, but not bad.)

Will post a picture when it arrives!

Damn! That is what I call a deal! I think a 200 pound deal is fantastic! Enjoy your new bike!

Sorry for the delay. FTP account problems :-(

My Specialized Allez Comp '04:

http://users.ox.ac.uk/~bras1323/03-11-21.jpg

I, dressed in Domina's '03 (apparently silly) strip doing a spot of karaoke:

http://users.ox.ac.uk/~bras1323/DSCF0013.jpg

Roland,

Being as tall as you are, you may end up with too small a frame. Most mfrs. stop at 62cm.

Check out Rivendell Bicycle Works and their Redwood bicycle (www.rivbike.com). Click on Romulus Bicycle. Redwood is the tall version of the Romulus.

I just bought a Romulus. It has a beautiful, lugged steel frame made by a small, custom frame shop in Osaka, Japan. The parts are all Japanese and carefully selected. The bike cost about $1,700 complete.

The best part is that the bike is sized correctly based on a simple methodology. I am 5 ft. 11 inches tall, and I ride a 61cm Romulus. The frame is large, though not as large as a 61cm sounds because it has a low bottom bracket. The web site explains it all.

The large frame allows the drop handlebars to be raised even with, or higher than, the saddle, resulting in a very comfortable bike. You can still ride with low bars if you want to, but at least you have a choice not to.

Oops! Sorry! Didn't read far enough on the previous page to see you'd already bought a bike.

The Specialized looks sharp. Congratulations and happy riding.

dude, i'm 6'2, and had a similar price range 2 years ago. went with the buenos aires and couldn't be happier. yes, i also noticed that the feel of the lemond is softer than the others i test rode. but also, for my frame, the geometry fit me better than any other bike. allows me to stretch out my upper body over the frame-using the drop bars feels very natural. comes with Ultegra components too(at least mine did). for the money, there was no other bike off the rack that i found that could give me such a nice frame with a carbon fork, entry-level racing wheels, and higher end components. made the choice pretty easy.
good luck
matt

[SIZE=1] :beer: [FONT=Arial] :D

Hey, greetings to all of you!!!
Just purchased a 2004 Lemond Zurich and put so far 500 miles on it!
I love it, compared to my old steel Bianchi, if you even can compare....
Super smooth ride, even on the worst surface, great acceleration, reasonable light components, any ideas for upgrades anybody?
You can't go wrong with the new Zurich!
OK, enough, I go for a ride now.

dude, i'm 6'2, and had a similar price range 2 years ago. went with the buenos aires and couldn't be happier. yes, i also noticed that the feel of the lemond is softer than the others i test rode. but also, for my frame, the geometry fit me better than any other bike. allows me to stretch out my upper body over the frame-using the drop bars feels very natural. comes with Ultegra components too(at least mine did). for the money, there was no other bike off the rack that i found that could give me such a nice frame with a carbon fork, entry-level racing wheels, and higher end components. made the choice pretty easy.
good luck
matt

I'm 6'3" and test rode a 61cm Zurich this morning. It was a fantastic ride. The geometry was almost perfect and it was very comfortable. I thought it was the best bike I had ever ridden. Well, it was, actually.

Then I hopped on a Trek 5200 and it was even better. The geometry was a bit off, but, then they didn't have a 62cm and I was on a 60cm. But it was absolutely fantastic.