Road bike recommendations

I am extremely pleased with the Genesis Equilibrium I bought I couple of months ago. Not the lightest of road bikes but you get a decent steel frame, carbon fork, mostly 105 groupset, mudguard braze-ons (important for some, not for others), and it looks fucking lovely IMO. Nothing to compare it to, really, as I went from crappy hybrid to homemade fixed, then to this. But I've done lots of very comfortable 20+ mile rides and had lots of admiring looks, which are obviously the two most important things. They missed a trick not including eyelets for a rack - it would then have been the perfect fast light touring bike.

^ you see I think it looks well nice too

Not sure about white stems. But still looks a shite load nicer than that Trek monstrosity.

The new Madone (6.9) is easily the best looking. The one above isn't that bad IMO

Frame is a bargain - £230 without forks....hmmmmmm

Steel is also real.

Never forget that...

Frame is a bargain - £230 without forks....hmmmmmm

If your considering buying bit by bit. Then this looks like a fantastic deal.

Titanium frame;
Ritchey WCS carbon fork;
Ritchey WCS headset;
Ritchey WCS Alu seatpost; and
Fizik Arione saddle.
£900
http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=J0051

The titanium is alloyed with less 'real' than in steel frames though.

The new Madone (6.9) is easily the best looking. The one above isn't that bad IMO

Black, red, and sliver groupset.
Black, and red and white and blue and gold frameset.
white saddle, post, stem and spokes.

Its a fecked up mess (yet has black bar tape LOL'Z).

Frame is a bargain - £230 without forks....hmmmmmm

I thought about building one up from a frame as I really wanted a 105 triple groupset, open pros etc but once I'd priced it all up it was virtually the same cost. Yes, you would get a slightly better spec'd bike for the same money, but personally I didn't have the time or the inclination to do it myself. If you already have parts and the time, it might be a different story...

^ I've just done the same quickly using Google and come to the same conclusion!

Cervelo Soloist S1

little out of your price point, but it's the best bike for the money.

aye bit too rich but looks a lovely frameset

If you're a 50cm

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/giant-defy-advanced-4-road-bike-id45038.html

or some classy 2009 aluminium.



http://www.evanscycles.com/products/lapierre/r-lite-500-2009-road-bike-ec017833
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/colnago/primavera-105-2009-road-bike-ec017300
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/streetfire-ssx-2009-road-bike-ec020518

To be honest. At the end of the day, I reckon you'll be well happy with the Genesis ;)

You clearly know nothing about road bikes. If you did you'd know that the CAAD9 consistently outperforms cheap carbon frames and is probably the best aluminium frame available today. For the money it offers excellent value.

As for SRAM being better than Campag, wouldn't it be better for Eightball to pick the groupset that he likes best, based on the shift levers, rather than come out with childish statements like the above? All three manufacturers offer very good kit for decent prices.

From what i've read/ridden the CAAD9 outperforms very little.
The Treks and Boardmans won. I even preferred the Alu Team Boardman, thats why i bought one.
BikeRadar prefer the Boardman too.

I prefer SRAM and Shimano, i dislike Campag. Eightball, you decide what you prefer, read up on longevity too.

now stop whining like a bitch andyp itz da internetz, people are allowed to make fleeting statements.

the bmc is a really good option for an 09 bike

From what i've read/ridden the CAAD9 outperforms very little.

Never actually ridden one then?

I'll keep whining 'like a bitch' then.

get a fit done and then chose

make the decision on something that matters, not the fucking logo on the groupset or the colour of the bar tape

as such someone here may suggest the right bike, others may not

be informed when you make your purchase, not confused by a load of internet aesthetes

i lie, buy the red one, cos we all know red is fastest

any of the bikes suggested would be great if they fit, terrible if they dont

have you yet got the hint as to what will affect your cycling the most?

Colour of frame?

no, its about the frame that best coordinates with its finishing kit, there is a measurement, the annodising colour match factor that must be taken into account

We can get Dolan's for a grand, with ultegra.

I got the planet x with ultegra when it was £999. Damn damn damn good deal. I wish i get to ride it more.

I prefer SRAM and Shimano, i dislike Campag. Eightball, you decide what you prefer, read up on longevity too.

In my haste to insult you I missed this choice gem. Are you suggesting that Campag is worse for longevity than the other two? Fuck me, we've a live one here.

SRAM has been in the road market how long exactly? 5 years at the most? They might be great on longevity but there hasn't really had a chance to test them out yet. Shimano are well known for not offering spares so if you're eye wateringly expensive STI levers go wrong then they are about as much use as a chocolate teapot. Meanwhile I can still order spare parts for my near 15 year old Chorus Ergo levers.

Hmm, that longevity issue is a tough one.

@Eightball,
no self-respecting bike snob would be seen dead on an Orbea, sorry.

Yes they fucking would.

And 105 is the best groupset in the world ... love it never let me down. I have bikes that have 10+years 105 groppos which have little or no maintenence, still work acceptably well after all those years.

Lucas mate, come back when you understand humour o.k?
let me break it down for you,
"self respecting snob" I am saying that with my tongue in cheek,
dont really care what people do, ride or otherwise, in the real world.ffs.