Geared road bike on cycle scheme

I'm about to get a geared road bike as I'm getting into longer rides, which will start with a 340km ride through France which will probably be too much for me on my fixed gear.

I have the option to get the cycle scheme through work, but I can only buy a bike at Evans. I'd like to spend as little as possible, but have resigned to the fact that I need to spend a bit to get something decent. I've been eyeing the Fuji Roubaix Pro 2009 ( http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/roubaix-pro-2009-road-bike-ec018087 ) Due to it's Ultegra and 105 components, but at £824 but was hoping to spend less, around £150-200 less.

I'm splitting hairs a bit as £200 extra before tax over a year is £notmuch but can anyone recommend any other bikes from evans around that price point? I'd rather have better components than a carbon frame...

If you're looking to spend less cash, lesser components are the easiest way to do it, because they're the easiest thing to upgrade, plus you notice a better frame more than you notice lighter weight groupset. Tiagra still shifts pretty well. (I'd avoid Sora). A bad frame is always a bad frame!

If you're buying a bike to do longer distances, the key thing is that it fits, and that you've got a bit of cash spare that you can burn on some decent shorts and saddle, and possible handlebars that suit. And tyres. This will make all the world of difference!

That said, the Fuji looks a really nice package (possibly the best deal at Evans around that price), nice frame, decent spec. In the price range £600-100 what you get a lot per extra pound spent, so something like that represents excellent value. Otherwise, the Bianchi Nirone is a nice frame (I have a friend with one, also considered buying one myself), different geometry, but available with different components at lower price points.

"I'd rather have better components than a carbon frame"

Why? The frame is more important than the replaceable shit hanging off it.

"the key thing is that it fits" as Courant says, doesn't give a shit what price-point shifters you use.

Well, the idea was to get good quality derailleurs as every geared bike i've had, they're the first to malfunction. So the thinking was pay for an alu frame with better components rather than a carbon frame which would probably compromise components at my price point.

Deraillers only "malfunction" due to being damaged (crash, etc) or poor adjustment (most gimps don't know how to adjust gears). On the ToI I was amazed at the quality of the cyclists and also amazed at how many rode with clicking, out of adjustment gears. I'm fucking lazy with my bike maintenance and my machine shifted like 'buttah' even without cleaning/lubing for 5 days riding through all weather.

Fit fit fit! Test ride everything.

I was just reading on the LCC website that you don't just have buy your bike from the already aproved stores. Find the bike you like in any shop and then get the store aproved by the scheme and your away.
Read for yourself. . . .http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=310

Oh, planet-x have a sale on their C18 carbon bikes. Something stupid like £1300 with full DA.

Well, the idea was to get good quality derailleurs as every geared bike i've had, they're the first to malfunction. So the thinking was pay for an alu frame with better components rather than a carbon frame which would probably compromise components at my price point.

In addition to seconding Hippy's points, it's also worth understanding that carbon is not necessarily better than aluminium at the lower end of the market. I'd take a decent Alu frame over a cheap carbon any day. And indeed have - I recently dropped over £500 on a decent Alu frame to be my "fast" bike.

Stick with alu, and get the best you can (subject to fit, of course). Best in terms of frame means it might be one or more of: lighter; stiffer in the right places (and thus better handling); more comfortable. Not all aluminium frames are equal, far from it! Once you've settled on the frame, match the components to your budget.

PS Actually, it's worth noting that Aluminium frames are the frames of choice for racers on a budget, pro or amateur. Cheap, stiff, either cheap to replace or robust in a crash, light. The Cannondale CAAD is just one example of an Alu frame (at Evans, a little over your budget) with a strong race pedigree. Of course, if you're doing longer rides, you want your frame to emphasise comfort, but I make the point simply to illustrate that carbon is not the holy grail of bike frames (if you consider cost).

Couple of mates who are into MTBs have both bought road bikes from Evans on C2W scheme.

One bought a Scott S40, which is pretty nice, though you can see where they skimped with the Truvativ chainset and some ordinary wheels.The other bought the Bianchi (which is what I'd probably choose). That Pinnacle looks pretty good though.

340km ride through France - leisurely 5 day trip with lots of stops, or audax/sportif type race? If the former, go and have a look at a Dawes Galaxy.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ and check out the bike builder. Also, ~£450 buys a Ribble winter bike off ebay with full Ultegra. It's been a great bike of mine for a few years now. Used bikes FTW! :)

It sound like your looking for a bike which is laterally stiff yet vertically compliant.

PS Actually, it's worth noting that Aluminium frames are the frames of choice for racers on a budget, pro or amateur. Cheap, stiff, either cheap to replace or robust in a crash, light. The Cannondale CAAD is just one example of an Alu frame (at Evans, a little over your budget) with a strong race pedigree. Of course, if you're doing longer rides, you want your frame to emphasise comfort, but I make the point simply to illustrate that carbon is not the holy grail of bike frames (if you consider cost).

This man speaks the truth, and a perfect example of this is the bike I ride, the Cervelo S1. Not sure what your budget is because is exactly, but thats the most road bike you can get for the money. It cuts corners nowhere. Full Ultegra SL drivetrain, carbon in all the right places, great saddle, a slew of 3t parts. Not to mention the frame fast and stiff.

Here's a tonne of information on it, so i'm not going to get into it. Read for yourself. I spent 4 months looking at bikes, and this came out on top, closely followed by a Cannondale (blah). I still don't know why the bike isn't more money.
http://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=S12009

this is all assuming the bike fits you.

The website says that thing is £900 for frameset only.

i was being hasty and i wasn't sure what the range was. I just saw the words carbon and ultegra in the thead an assumed i was in the right range. I see now it's 2 times the price range.

sorry for the whack post everyone

This man speaks the truth, and a perfect example of this is the bike I ride, the Cervelo S1. Not sure what your budget is because is exactly, but thats the most road bike you can get for the money. It cuts corners nowhere. Full Ultegra SL drivetrain, carbon in all the right places, great saddle, a slew of 3t parts. Not to mention the frame fast and stiff.

No, this is the most road bike you can get for the money
http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/specs.html?b=821

plus discount if you've got a license (and crash replacement)

i was being hasty and i wasn't sure what the range was. I just saw the words carbon and ultegra in the thead an assumed i was in the right range. I see now it's 2 times the price range.

sorry for the whack post everyone

I claim your bicycle as compensation. Its bloody nice.

The website says that thing is £900 for frameset only.

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread21212.html

get measured up, road test everything, then go with http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/

shimano 105 or champagnolo centaur minimum groupset..
350km ride converts to 1200km training in my book..
any hills? go with a compact chainset 50/34..

i've sold my condor italia 96 recently, which conquered the alps in 2007..