Road bike recommendations

I've had carbon, steel and alu (of varying degrees of quality). They are all bikes and I have enjoyed riding them all. Sometimes I am faster on the cheaper bikes, sometimes I am faster on the heavier bikes, sometimes I get dropped by people on shitter bikes.
I think on balance that frame materials make a lot less difference than people like to think.

I think the most important thing is (if you are not racing, in which case its a cost vs performance thing) that you like your bike and enjoy riding it.*Although, I do find that the less riding I do, the more I think about changing bikes or bike parts, when I'm riding a lot all I care about is how worn my tyres are and if the bike is clean.
If I catch myself thinking about a bike change it usually means I need a kick up the arse and to go out and ride more.

I'm getting an itch for a new road bike, I don't need one. Got a nice Caad9. But I think I deserve carbon ;)

Not sure if I'm here looking for advice on what to buy( Canyon aeroad,Cervelo s/r, Scott addict) or if I just need to be told my caad9 is fine..

The only reason I didn't regret selling it to you was that I replaced it with another CAAD9.

Carbon? Pfft. Use the CAAD9 for training and crits and get some Ti in your life for the Sunday best.

If I catch myself thinking about a bike change it usually means I need a kick up the arse and to go out and ride more.

This. This. This.

*Although, I do find that the less riding I do, the more I think about changing bikes or bike parts, when I'm riding a lot all I care about is how worn my tyres are and if the bike is clean.
If I catch myself thinking about a bike change it usually means I need a kick up the arse and to go out and ride more.

+1
Idol hands do the devils work shopping.

I'll be the first to admitt my BJ is a bit of a noodle. Even with stiffer lighter, wheels. Weird how that bothers me more when I'm not riding it though.

Drop the people on the blingers and give them a snide sideways glance as you go past.

Every. Single. Time.

Can't think why.

I've had carbon, steel and alu (of varying degrees of quality). They are all bikes and I have enjoyed riding them all. Sometimes I am faster on the cheaper bikes, sometimes I am faster on the heavier bikes, sometimes I get dropped by people on shitter bikes.
I think on balance that frame materials make a lot less difference than people like to think.

I think the most important thing is (if you are not racing, in which case its a cost vs performance thing) that you like your bike and enjoy riding it.*Although, I do find that the less riding I do, the more I think about changing bikes or bike parts, when I'm riding a lot all I care about is how worn my tyres are and if the bike is clean.
If I catch myself thinking about a bike change it usually means I need a kick up the arse and to go out and ride more.

Cannot spread rep at all, someone rep him for this.

I catch myself thinking about a bike change it usually means I need a kick up the arse and to go out and ride more.

amen.

Hi guys i'm pretty new here, just wanted to know anyone's thoughts/experiances of http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/corratec-dolomiti-105-limited-edition-road-bike-2013/rp-prod91544# , looks a great spec for the price, cannot seem to see any problems with it?

Brakes and tyres are shit, but otherwise seems a pretty decent deal. certainly better than what you'd get for 650 from a non-sale bike by any of the big boys (2300/sora) Is it a carbon fork?

I've had carbon, steel and alu (of varying degrees of quality). They are all bikes and I have enjoyed riding them all. Sometimes I am faster on the cheaper bikes, sometimes I am faster on the heavier bikes, sometimes I get dropped by people on shitter bikes.
I think on balance that frame materials make a lot less difference than people like to think.

I think the most important thing is (if you are not racing, in which case its a cost vs performance thing) that you like your bike and enjoy riding it.*Although, I do find that the less riding I do, the more I think about changing bikes or bike parts, when I'm riding a lot all I care about is how worn my tyres are and if the bike is clean.
If I catch myself thinking about a bike change it usually means I need a kick up the arse and to go out and ride more.

Embarrasingly enough my £300 beater steamroller is faster on my commute than my £1000 Cannondale roadie, i think it's down to the more aggressive riding position and not being able to cop out and coast along. I think unless youre racing it's all a much of a muchness. If I was buying a road bike again I'd definately go for decent alu and quality components that splashing out on carbon with a lesser groupset

All good advice guys. I had thought about just splashing out on some snazzy wheels..

Might ignore it all if a good deal comes up though ;)

thanks for the help, yeah seems it is not a carbon fork, who rrp's a bike at £900 and leaves on the alu fork.
Narrowed it down to http://www.wiggle.co.uk/battaglin-s11-105-2013/ which seems a good spec but slightly heavy (and white!?)
and
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/felt/f85-2013-road-bike-ec046306 which is being price matched for the wiggle price of £640 which i think is a bit lighter but only with tiagra/less components, what are anyones thoughts on these two?
any help much appreciated!!

Personally, I think you should buy this bike.

reported for spam

Notwithstanding 6700 being on the way out this year, and the cheapish cranks (though still nicer than FSA in my opinion), I thought this looked like a very good deal:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXSLPULT2/planet_x_pro_carbon_shimano_ultegra_road_bike

For those looking to spend around £1k. I thought this looked a nice deal. Thats a lovely frame under the kona rebadging.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/no/en/kona-zing-supreme-road-bike-2012/rp-prod95410

Personally I like this. The wheels need the matchy matchy decals stripped. But its an awesome package.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/no/en/fuji-altamira-1-0-road-bike-dura-ace-di2-2012/rp-prod93917

The PX does look like really good value if you want new.

The Battaglin looks better spec'd than the Felt, but if the Felt is available at Evans then you'll have the advantage of being able to try it out, as well as after-sales service. Plus I'd imagine the Felt will have a better resale value.

At that price point new you're always going to have to compromise somewhere. I get that you're looking for the best bang for your buck, but you're better off just getting a bike and riding it to see what you like and want from a bike - the summer will be gone before you know it.

^^ I was going to say is the Kona the same as the Ribble GranFondo?

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbd/road-track-bike/ribble-gran-fondo?part=BB13RIBGRANFONDO&sub=conf_BBRC&bike=1

I think so. Different forks though. Its a great frame for a bike of that spec/price.

Recommended it to the brother-in-law. Partly because it offers max bag for buck, partly because his back is banjo'd, and he just getting into cycling. The Geo is pretty back friendly.

ARRRGH. Still torn about which bikes to try out. I want to narrow it down to three but the Fuji Altimara has added another contender. I'm looking around the £2000 mark. So far I have these:

Trek Madone 4.5
Scott Foil 40
Cannondale CAAD10
Norco Tactic 2
Fuji SST 2.1
and a Fuji Altimira.
Only criteria is that it must be available through Evans. Also, it makes no matter to me whether it is on sale. Anyone have any recommendations or reasons to avoid ^those^?

get a fit done and then work out which bike will fit you best

I don't have enough money to get a fit done and have a new bike. I understand where you are coming from, but according to yourself and others, flexibility is the best way to be comfortable on a bike. I'm still young and flexible. Surely it would make sense to gauge fit while ON the bike rather than looking at the numbers?

I was more asking in terms of componentry and the experience of others what they would go for, or at least which I should avoid.

Stop being boring James.

Buy the blingyest.

The Fuji Altimira I posted has a mad stiff frame, is Di2, has stiff Rotor cranks, carbon wheels (with alu braking), and carbon handle bars. So stiff in all the right places, with clever leccy shifting, solid braking, and a touch of comfort from post 'n' bars. Price match?

I would'nt get alu at £2k. Even if it is a caad.
Heavy spec. But the Scott foil is a nice frame.
On your list the SST 2.1 wins. Personal taste maybe. But I love the new aero frames, and a stiff ride*

(not a euph)
(maybe after a couple pimms)

Cant price match trade price sadly. I actually only have around 1200 to pay up, but staff discount yo.

I would'nt get alu at £2k. Even if it is a caad.

Also what I thought. I had a look a Norco that was one step down and have been slightly put off by the build quality.
I may have just narrowed down my list.
Two Fujis, the Trek and the Scott.

Cant price match trade price sadly. I actually only have around 1200 to pay up, but staff discount yo.

I would'nt worry about groupset.

Seems you've gone for 10 speed shimano. I would'nt let which variant of this the bike came with sway me.

This is a shitty price point for wheels. I'd try and get the cheapest spec wheels, something solid that I could train on, and look to get some bestest wheels. Leave more of the cost in the frame.

I'd test ride the Foil, and the SST. The Madone is also sweet bike. Treks just bore me, is all.