Road bike recommendations

I think there may be a Specialized Allez Race frame and fork, 54cm, in the classifieds. Might be worth a look. Not that I'm trying to sell one. Honest!!!;-)

jontea, why did you not return the bicycle if you brought it on impluse?

If I was to get a pwer meter it would probably be the garmin vector, as I can get it at US trade price through a friend. I'd want to be able to change bikes and wheels fairly easily so the pedal based-ness of the garmin appeals.

It sounds like installing vectors is far from simple. You need precise torque. Yet, with no allen key end, you cant use a standard torque wrench.

Removing a shimano non-driveside crank arm is far easier IMHO.

Still you'd need to be running the same cranks. Plus once you have the right tool for Vectors it s aquestion of taking 15mins instead of 5mins. Which probably isnt important.

Where would people be putting £1500 at the moment.

It's for long fastish training rides, needs to be shimano compatible.

Any advance on the Planet X rt 58 ultegra?

Or should I stick with my beaten up ribble and get a power meter...?

FWIW I had an RT58 for a couple of months which I loved (till I broke it in half crashing into a plant pot). I'm just waiting for the insurance and will be getting another frame/fork.

Pretty light, so climbs well. Incredibly confidence-inspiring on descents - took things way faster than I thought I would in the Alps. The wheels on offer now are better than I got.
It's pretty 'dad fit', rather than outright race, but not as sit up and beg as some sportive frames.

this seems to be fairly good value for £1,500

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBPXTIPRIV/planet_x_ti_pro_road_sram_rival_road_bike

I thought that looked pretty good for the dosh, but what's with the (a) ugly saddle with the red bits that don't go with anything else on the bike, and (b) "performance geometry" combined with a compact chainset and 11-32 cassette?

I wouldn't go near planet X if they were free.

From everything I've read about their customer service after sale. It's basically, thanks for your money, now fuck off.

I thought that looked pretty good for the dosh, but what's with the (a) ugly saddle with the red bits that don't go with anything else on the bike, and (b) "performance geometry" combined with a compact chainset and 11-32 cassette?

I've been looking at a few 'aggresive' allbeit budget friendly bikes today, and loads of them combined a 50/34 with a 12-28 cassette.

"performance geometry" combined with a compact chainset and 11-32 cassette?

MAMILs.

MAMILs.

Exactly what percentage of the sales of £1500 - 2000 bikes is to out of shape MAMILs though (as opposed in nearly in shape MAMILS like me). I cant imagine wanting a 34:32 gear on a 'performance' road bike unless I lived at the bottom of Zoncolan.

My titanium Enigma out in Switzerland has a 34:32 bottom gear (Force WiFli). I like it as it means I can keep a high cadence on long climbs. It used to have a 34:28 bottom gear, and there's nothing I couldn't do then that I can do now - it just means my cadence is higher. I like it. But then I probably fall into the Fat MAMIL category anyway.

Exactly what percentage of the sales of £1500 - 2000 bikes is to out of shape MAMILs though (as opposed in nearly in shape MAMILS like me). I cant imagine wanting a 34:32 gear on a 'performance' road bike unless I lived at the bottom of Zoncolan.

Well, come to Surrey and you'd assume it is about 75% of the sales.

just buy a cannon or something

Well, come to Surrey and you'd assume it is about 75% of the sales go toward Cervelo.

ftfy.

mmmmm cervelo

As a reasonably in-shape MAMIL my 34/25 seems like a luxury compared to my YMIW days on 42/23. I can understand having MAMIL options if they're available, but on the customise options for the PX Ti, all you get is a choice of three lots of 11-32 SRAM cassettes at different price points. Madness, I tell ya.

It's probably because they've got a shed load of those cassettes and long cage mechs in for cheap.

My titanium Enigma out in Switzerland has a 34:32 bottom gear (Force WiFli). I like it as it means I can keep a high cadence on long climbs. It used to have a 34:28 bottom gear, and there's nothing I couldn't do then that I can do now - it just means my cadence is higher. I like it. But then I probably fall into the Fat MAMIL category anyway.

This. Ti is popular with bearded/audax riders.

If you're trying to get round a 200 or 400k audax swiftly then you'll be faster sitting down and keeping your heart rate low all day. There's no peloton to hold onto on these types of rides so actually evening out your effort over the whole ride makes sense (even if it's a little boring).

Millar rode WiFi so it must be true... or he was paid...

Forget the bit about Millar.

Alberto preferred Apex

was he a farmer?

#agricultural

Maybe because its more beefy?

^ we have a winner

was he a farmer?

#agricultural

Oh, I'm sorry uh-may, I didn't realise that you've used SRAM before?

Thats tiagra/sora equivalent in shimano, even being a 'shimano guy' I wouldnt go near that no matter how preachy scoble gets about claris ..

Have you used apex?