Road bike recommendations

Who fucking cares. You need to ride more, and nurture your vélo-empiricism, instead of talking hypothetical shit on here. It's embarrassing.

rep

How is this a road bike recommendation?

Balls.

They have the same part number all the way up to XTR:
Y41N98030 Steel Ball (3/32") 62 pcs.

If you just want to ride, the improvement above PD-A520/PD-M520 is nowhere near enough to justify the price. You might want posh pedals for aesthetic or weight weenie reasons, but functionally you'd be better off replacing cheap pedals more often.

Point taken

seemed an appropriate place to put it in.

I can't be arsed to read the whole thread, can someone just summarise what are the best value carbon-framed road bikes with Ultegra or similar...is it the Planet x Pro Carbon with Sram Red...or is there better....thanks.

something like this
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/focus-cayo-105-ltd-2011/
but they all do the same job, and you will get a better deal second hand. That's pretty much it.

something like this
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/focus-cayo-105-ltd-2011/
but they all do the same job, and you will get a better deal second hand. That's pretty much it.

nice Rollapaluza colour scheme, but 105 and not avialable in my size at that price..

what's your budget?

£1-1.5k

1.5k would have to be an "unmissable, amazing" deal though.

I think you'll have to find something on sale or second hand for carbon + ultegra new for under 1.5k
here's a list of some bikes under £2k that fit the description:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=71813
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=72869
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=68710
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/promachine-slc01-ultegra-2011-road-bike-ec026389
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/felt/ar4-2010-road-bike-ec021700
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/madone-35-c-h2-2012-road-bike-ec029960

These planet x bikes seem a good deal:
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/PBPXRT57SF/planet_x_rt_57_sram_force_road_bike
http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPRED/planet_x_pro_carbon_sram_red_road_bike

You can get ultegra with an alu frame for cheaper though.
eg:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=72874
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=75531

to be honest I would go for the new planet x frame with sram force if there's nothing better on bike radar classifieds or ebay.

Have you been keeping an eye on the ebay thread?

There have been a couple of crackers in there recently. £1k secondhand goes very far.

Have you been keeping an eye on the ebay thread?

There have been a couple of crackers in there recently. £1k secondhand goes very far.

agreed. £1k will get you a very nice second hand bike.

Oh and thanks for the shoe tips. How about pedals? Any views on vintage Campy?

Very good !

1.5k would have to be an "unmissable, amazing" deal though.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=2595

It's not exactly what you were asking for, just some food for thought.

I can't be arsed to read the whole thread, can someone just summarise what are the best value carbon-framed road bikes with Ultegra or similar...is it the Planet x Pro Carbon with Sram Red...or is there better....thanks.
Not very many options under £1.5k if Ultegra level is mandatory.

Ribble's bikebuilder can give you a carbon frame with ultegra for around £14-500 and all the parts are tweakable which is nice. Can't vouch for them personally but a friend of mine likes his.

£1-1.5k

Rosebikes offer good value. Their two main carbon road frames come with ultegra for around 1.5k. The RS is marketed as more race orientated, and the Pro-SL more comfort orientated. But IMHO, its all about which fits best.

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose-carbon-pro-rs-3000-compact-529233/aid:529235

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose-carbon-pro-sl-3000-compact-529368/aid:529394

those ribbles look like a great deal

Always like the look of those Rose bikes

^ this. Second nicest graphics after Ritte probably

Rose is in Germany, as am I.

Both bikes come with a nice wheelset. At the 1.5k budget point, most companys give you a decent frame, 105/ultegra (or equiv), and shite wheels.

I must have read a dosen good reviews too. I use Rosebikes for a fair wack of my parts buying, and they are great to deal with.

I want this....
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose-pro-dx-cross-3100-compact/aid:532502

+1 for appreciation of the ROSE bike graphics. Very tidy.

Buying from the uk requires a BACS transfer from ROSE. Which is a nuisance for small orders. They did send freebie own-brand science food though.