I recently bought a new car, spending £5,000 on a 2nd hand Toyota Carolla (40,000 miles). This is the first time in my life I have a car worth more than my bikes. Hopefully the car will last several years, but after making such a big outlay on a car I want to redress the balance and get a new bike. If I can spend £5,000 on a new car – what bike would I be able to buy?
These are some of the best top of the range road bikes. As I would be using it for hill climbs I would want a lightweight bike. Must be under 7.0kg. But, at this price range they all should be the lowest weight.
Time VXRS UL Team
Time VXRS
This looks beautiful and I’ve seen some excellent reviews praising its ride quality as amongst the best on the market.
The Frameset weight including stem and translink (extended saddle tube) is just 1.6Kg.
Includes lots of carbon goodies like carbon bottom bracket shell, Carbon wishbone caps and bolts, carbon tubes and Pilot full carbon fork. Comes with Campagnolo Record groupset.
Used by Bouygues Telecom and Cofidis in 2007 Tour de France.
Only £4,464 – probably because it is 2008 model. But, I always think buying last years model gives you a good saving.
This is what I would buy if I could find a bank manager to lend me £5,000 for the investment of a new road bike.
Time Bikes at Wiggle
Trek Madone 6.9
Trek Madone 6.9
The Trek Madone 6.9 is the top of the range Trek Bike. Trek make a point of saying that pros use off the peg road bikes just like the bikes on sale. With Trek’s large economies of scale this offers good value for the state of the art pro road bike.
Comes with
OCLV Red Carbon Frame and XXX light Carbon fork and steerer, Shimano Dura Ace 10 speed groupset and Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 race light wheels.
Weight – Trek Madone 6.9 weighs 6.9kg which is 600grams lighter than the mid range Trek 5.2. However, half this difference comes from the lighter wheels. The frame gives same ride quality, so it’s a big difference in price for a small saving of weight. I could buy a trek Madone 5.2 and use my own wheels. Then my desire may actually be realistic…
Well, I’d be happy to ride this pro level bike.
Review of Trek Madone 6.9 Project One
Focus Cayo Lightweight
Focus Cayo Lightweight
Although Focus is a new entrant in the market and doesn’t have a presence in the pro peleton (though they are sponsoring Nicole Cooke’s team this year)
It is only 6.6Kg and costs £4,499 from wiggle – Focus Road Bikes
It comes with 10 speed Shimano Dura Ace and Focus Light UD Carbon Frame and Carbon Forks. I haven’t seen any reviews for it. But, I assume it would be a good price.
Other bikes I have in mind
- Cannondale Super Six Dura Race – £4,699
- Trek 6.5 only £3,000
Road Bikes at Evans cycles
van nicholas, the best on the planet and awsome value. Nothing else needed
Amazing models, it must be a real privilege having one of those.
If I was spending that sport of money, I’d have to get something with a bit of predigree. The Milani N107 or something from Bianchi or Pinarello. A £5000 bike isn’t going to make me that much quicker than a £2000 bike so I’ll have to look good for the price.
Actually Focus do have a presence in the pro peloton now, they are sponsering Milram this year.
Oh to have £5k to spend on a bike, that would really be something.
There are loads of really nice bikes out there now, I am sure any of your selections will be fantastic.
A friend of mine has a Kuota KOM that he bought as a frame set from a local bike shop, Echelon, http://www.echelon-cycles.co.uk/index.html
It’s awesome uphills, and weighs next to nothing.