Road bike recommendations

Ffs.

Hi all,

Ok so I have around £750 to spend on a new road bike to replace my Fuji Feather 2012. I need something I can commute to work with and to participate in some rides around London and its surrounding counties. Therefore I have opted for a road bike over another fixed gear.

I currently have my eye on the Ribble Winter Trainer and the Felt F95. I’ve read that the Ribble is excellent value for money in terms of the parts used, plus it is a fantastic looking bike. In fact I prefer the aesthetics of the Ribble over the Felt.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these bikes?

I realise 750 pounds isn’t going to get me much but are there any other bikes in this price range I should consider looking at?

Thanks!

For your money, I don't reckon you'll find better than this

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-bikes/ridley-road-bikes/ridley-brontes-road-bike.html

What a massive PITA. I'd be moving into refund mode...

Ffs.

If only it was that simple.

3 emails and 4 phone calls and still no closer to sorting it out.

If only it was that simple.

3 emails and 4 phone calls and still no closer to sorting it out.

This is so shit! What a weird problem.

I quite fancy getting shot of my Orbea Onix road bike (as I hardly ever use it, and the intention to start doing sportives etc never really materialised) and getting something a little more 'classic' - probably steel - and a bit more 'do it all' - for commute/the odd long ride/general and 'fun'

recommendations? Genesis? All City?

Moda also do a steel frame, Condor and Pearson as well, but depend on your price bracket thought.

ooh condor good call Ed - anymore? Equilbrium? Pricey

I'm quite partal to the Equilbrium as the geometry is great for audax and sportif as well for light touring on.

Price seemed fair, just don't forget the fork isn't included (optional extra).

What a massive PITA. I'd be moving into refund mode...

This

Planet x are going to collect the frame tomorrow. Once they have it and have inspected it they will process my refund, this won't include the £20 I spent to post the last frame back. No offers of a different model or anything else, shoddy doesn't quite cut.
Back to square one.

Well, I won't be shopping with them again. Hope you have a better experience wherever you go next.

Me too.

Isn't there someone who works for PlanetX on here?

http://www.lfgss.com/member587.html

I quite fancy getting shot of my Orbea Onix road bike (as I hardly ever use it, and the intention to start doing sportives etc never really materialised) and getting something a little more 'classic' - probably steel - and a bit more 'do it all' - for commute/the odd long ride/general and 'fun'

recommendations? Genesis? All City?

For a steel road bike, The Kona Haole looks nice.

http://www.hibike.de/shop/product/p6b75d5057b7630a8cd09ad5191c13752/s/KONA-Haole-frame-kit-blue-2010.html

Personally, if I was only interested in tarmac use, I look to get a nice audax bike. Rouke 853 comes to mind.

The steerer on my Litespeed fork is too short. Any recommendations? Thank you.

One that's a little longer.

Hello Tim, that was the idea. You should be more concerned about Uvex helmets?

For your money, I don't reckon you'll find better than this

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/bikes/road-bikes/ridley-road-bikes/ridley-brontes-road-bike.html

OK, so presumably cheapest bike with a 105 groupset around. But does anyone have an opinion on Forza wheels?
More to the point, how do they compare to the wheels of typical £1000 bikes from the chain stores, such as Cannondale with Shimano hubs + rims or Boardman with Mavic Aksium?

My friend is picking up a Ridley with 4ZA wheels tomorrow. I'll get his impressions. Can't see them being much worse than other factory wheels built down to a price.

^ How can a bike costing a grand have wheels worth only £100? I have those wheels and while they aren't of bad quality, they certainly aren't a performance item.

Yeah, are we onto something here? I suspect the typical cycle-to-work 1000 quid bike might be specced disproportionately in favour of gears – letting the brand recognition of gear manufacturers do the selling.
But would suck to find myself having to shop for new wheels a year after buying the OTP.

Actually, what is the first thing people usually replace on an OTP road bike?

Tyres

OK, apart from the rubbery bits.