Road bike recommendations

So, after getting very excited about putting this year's cycle2work grand towards a Wilier Mortirolo carbon monster, I am a bit gutted to discover that I cannot 'top up' the £1000 vouchers with cash, to buy a more expensive bike.

I am hoping that you lovely lot can help me decide what to buy? I am basically after a geared bike for doing longer weekend rides and possibly attempting Land's End to John O' Groats on next year. I am thinking about more of a 'race style' bike rather than a tourer, since the Le-Jog run would not need huge panniers of cooking kit etc.

I am at a bit of a loss when it comes to bikes with gears, seeing as the first 'nice' bike I have ever owned is my fixed. Previous to that I had a crappy Giant road bike and an even crappier Ridgeback hybrid.

Help?

PLanet X do a nice full-carbon race bike with ultegra for that money. It's supposed to be pretty good I hear, think they get a lot of orders through the scheme too.

cube bikes good value for money very good value
and the shop i work in is the only stockist in london

ribble?

Who told you that? Go back and ask to speak to the organ-grinder not some monkey. There was no problem when I did it last year. It makes absolutely no difference to anyone concerned, in fact the shop should be snatching your bloody hand off.

Lots of ways to go with that kind of spend. I spent ages just researching, test riding, and generally annoying various LBS. My cycleschemer pounds eventually went on one of these. Decent components for the money, super comfortable, looks nice. It's great for longer rides and for endless laps of Richmond Park. A coworker got one as well after having a go on mine. Nothing but good things to say about it.

maybe an audax bike? mercian?

Who said that you can't top up? I have done for all 3 bikes I've got through the scheme. Ours was Booost to start with and then Cyclescheme for the last two. Try Fat Birds Don't Fly for nice Ti and carbon bikes and a flexible approach to the scheme.

:)

Ok, you can now return to serious discussion

Was reading on bikeradar earlier that Planet x are going to do their carbon bike with DA shifters and mechs, truvativ carbon cranks (or something) and tektro brakes for £999 in the next coupld of days.

That's a friggin bargain!

Also Focus bikes from Wiggle get pretty excellent reviews all round. They do one that comes in at the £1k mark.

are you on cycle2work or cyclescheme. got my wilier mortirolo veloce from cyclesurgery via cyclescheme. i added my own £££ on top of the £1000 limit. im loving every km on that bike more and more

loads of online shops do cycle2work. planetx full carbon is ok, but id go with wiggle's focus cayo....cant be beaten in value. cycling+ mag rates it as best at that price.

Thanks for all the input so far guys - really helpful.

I have had from three sources that i can't top up the vouchers with cahs - CycleSurgery, Halfords Cycle2Work scheme organizers and the UK govt. desription of the scheme. I suppose that it comes down to the shop as to whether they will write out two receipts or not :-) An LBS would be a better ebt for that, rather than a chain shop...

I'll go an dlook at all the suggestions that come through here and see what gives me the horn makes a good match of requirements for cost.

asm

:)

Ok, you can now return to serious discussion

It's a fixed wheel, you idiot. Otherwise, nice....

benanza That's a friggin bargain!

Also Focus bikes from Wiggle get pretty excellent reviews all round. They do one that comes in at the £1k mark.

I think that this is the thread that is being referred to.

It looks like a total steal - I am now pretty damn tempted :-)

mashton [quote]asm

:)

Ok, you can now return to serious discussion

It's a fixed wheel, you idiot. Otherwise, nice....[/quote]No brakes!!! straight forks, arrospoks!! even the toddlers are cooler than me!!

hael [quote]mashton [quote]asm

:)

Ok, you can now return to serious discussion

It's a fixed wheel, you idiot. Otherwise, nice....[/quote]No brakes!!! straight forks, arrospoks!! even the toddlers are cooler than me!![/quote]

Has this ever been in doubt?

Also a massive handle, so you can give your friend a lift if he's feeling tired :)

another question - if I do get a full carbon jobby (because I am a technology slut and carbon fibre is made in SPACE by ROCKET scientists), whata re my options for carry a small amount of luggage on it?

I am thinking that a nice roomy saddle bag (like a Carradice) would be good for spare pants, tools, toothbrush and a couple of lycra shirts. Is there any problem with mounting a saddle bag on a carbon seat post arrangement?

I was going to offer getting a soma, lovely steel frame from mosquito who also do the cycle2work scheme, but you look like you've got your mind pretty much set on carbon. the other option is getting a titanium frame from condor, last time I looked you could get the moda? geared titanium bike for about 1600 depending on the groupset, and when I rode it, it was beautiful, and thus began my love affair with the magic metal...

Did you mention Titanium, corny? Really?

;-)

mentioned steel first, my first love, well my affordable love

Focus Cayo from Wiggle £1000…still have offers on small sizes 2007 models…
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.aspx?Cat=cycle&ProdID=5360032366&N=Focus%20Cayo%202008
Best bike under £1000...2006 in CyclingWeekly, 10/10 on long term winter test, many rewards in C+

For saddlebag…depends on the model…Specialized Pave for example would be ok since is used also on cross/trekking bikes but on the heavier side…some superlight models maybe more fragile…Key issue is the attachment collar on the saddlepost…try to put some tape or better a piece of an old tube so does not scratch/damage the carbon fibers of the post

mashton another question - if I do get a full carbon jobby (because I am a technology slut and carbon fibre is made in SPACE by ROCKET scientists), whata re my options for carry a small amount of luggage on it?

I am thinking that a nice roomy saddle bag (like a Carradice) would be good for spare pants, tools, toothbrush and a couple of lycra shirts. Is there any problem with mounting a saddle bag on a carbon seat post arrangement?

I would go for that big saddle bag. Your not that chunky anyway. If you are worried replace the seat post with an alu one for when you have luggage. Nelson long flap is something like 20 l so enough room if you are b&bing it easy.

EDIT: Super c 23 l MASSIVE

The scheme's a bugger when it comes to being applied - some companies let you top up over the £1,000; others won't. One suggested way to deal with the "can't top up" doctrine is to get the voucher from Halfords, take it direct to Condor and see what they can do for you - because they'll take the Halford's voucher direct, whereas most other companies will only build to your spec and then deliver to a Halfords store, you may be able to circumvent the £1,000 limit ... worth a try?