£1200 Road bike - should it be fully carbon?

Just been having a look for alu frames with high specs but not really having much luck - as soon as you get out of the £900 range it swaps to full carbon frames.
Steel would be great but not in his price range ( I don't think?)

I second all the comments about alu being potentially better value in this price bracket. Potentially, it very much depends on the design of the (carbon or alu) frame.

For decent alu frames, look at thinks like Cannondale CAAD9, the Cervelo mentioned, anything Alu by the belgian outfits (e.g. Merckx, Ridley), Kinesis. Prices for a alu frame alone top out around the £1200 (inc forks) so there's plenty out there to suit!

Fuji CCR2. Full carbon, 105/Ultegra, £300 off at evans at the moment.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/ccr-2-2009-road-bike-ec018085?query=fuji

Pleas be advised that I know little about bicycles.

these bikes are very good value for money, but they're very boring to ride. the geomentry isn't very responsive i found

cervelo FTW.

i ride the S1 and i love it. it's the nicest geared bike that i've been on. including more expensive rides. it's fast fast fast fast fast.

just watched the vid. it's exactly as he describes. good vid.

so you'd say you're more racer than rider? I am pondering my first new fangled bike and its' definately cervelo just deciding S1 to R3.

so you'd say you're more racer than rider? I am pondering my first new fangled bike and its' definately cervelo just deciding S1 to R3.

for the same amount of wedge (or less) you could have a custom brian rourke in lightweight steel (and pink)
plus don't forget carbon bikes bend if you leave them in the sun too long.

is that true?

are you questioning mrSmyth's credentials?

is that true?

look at the price list on the brian rourke site.
a deda zero replica would be my choice.

I got a Cannondale SystemSix Team Si Ultegra for £1,200 with 20 miles on it, it's got carbon main tubes and an alloy rear end, which is a little strange as most do it the other way around.

Anyway, I love it- hugely stiff, great power transfer, there might still be some out there- I spotted one in Evans Waterloo Cut around a month ago.

is that true?

Yes.

One bike to commute, weekend rides, long ride so London-Paris.. it is hard to find one that the bill frankly.

I suggest he does not buy carbon frame / forks unless spending serious money. he should get the Tricross (geared) first, ride it for a couple of years, then upgrades later when he knows what he is doing..

peace..

look at the price list on the brian rourke site.
a deda zero replica would be my choice.

no, I meant do they really melt / warp in the sun?

i left mine leant up against the radiator and now it does left hand corners like it's on rails but i have difficulty on fast right hand turns.

I would not think that melting would be an issue, but the carbon may become brittle with overlong exposure to UV light- when I lived in the Med anything made of plastic that was left out in the sun would tend to explode into dust after approx three months- it made hanging out the washing with plastic pegs more interesting than normal.

i left mine leant up against the radiator and now it does left hand corners like it's on rails but i have difficulty on fast right hand turns.

:-)

you could use it on the track I suppose

you can buy uv protector for carbon bikes and apparently it's a good idea to use it. amusing that a bike needs sunscreen, but there you go.

Link?

stork carbo coat (though i've seen other cheaper products, too)

stork carbo coat (though i've seen other cheaper products, too)

I like the idea about my bike getting sun screen when i can't be arsed to buy it for own skin... ;)

i find that i tend to treat my bikes better than i treat my body though.

true.

i like to buff mine until it shines

I went into Mosquito asking about a getting a road bike, similar price range for me too, but I want something with light touring abilities (I'll get a super carbon racer next year.)

The reccomended the Kenisis Gran Fondo, and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get it. £1300, with Mavic wheelset and Campag groupset (medium quality).

http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/uan/3490

This is a bit of a hijack, so feel free to swerve around me...

I'm planning my Cyclescheme purchase at the moment. Road bike, too. Thing is, I don't want carbon, or aluminum. I want a steel frame, no carbon forks, seatpost or anything.

I can't find anything that fits the bill, and looks fun. Bianchi do a classic-type ride, which looks somehow wrong, Condor do the Classico, which is over my budget.

Nothing has floated my boat yet, anyone else know of anything?

what about the condor acciaio?

The Acciaio has carbon forks, but is a lovely machine. The Fratello's not bad either, but a bit heavier.

If it's not the Halford's scheme, it may be worth giving Shorter Rochford a ring to see what they could do?