I have three titanium road bikes. And one 2k Carbon road frame. Carbon is stiffer and lighter and ti is more flexy. Keep an eye out for Planet X ti frames for a good price and avoid anything bespoke as its not worth it unless you want a bike for life and know what you prefer. 105 and rival are the sweet spots for value. I use di2 but it's not come down in price enough yet as a starter option. Decent wheels make a difference so you could build up a bike from the frame. Canyon do some great deals for carbon but you may be on a waiting list.
My son in law has his own shop in Pock, he has had some issues with carbon frames cracking, but that was general from high use riders. http://www.cyclelane-ltd.co.uk/CycleLaneLimited/Home.html
This is bang on correct, as I found out before I realised I detested cycling after 5 years of training - I was more comfortable and faster on a £800 bike than the £1900 one I bought. Bespoke are obviously best, but to spend £3k plus on a bike, probably nearer 5k with all the trimmings, you don't want to give up after a year as you'll struggle to sell the bike... ESSEX GULL
I have a set of Chris King R45 Hubs and Aerohead rims, they are pretty light for what I need. I'm not convinced by battery operated mechs just yet, mechanical fit and forget are my preferred route. I have built up loads of fairly top end mountain bikes, so I'm more than competent enough to build a bike, it's mainly the sizing which seems up and down. Groupset, I'd normally be straight in for the best I could get, but I'm really not keen on di2 and there seems very little difference now between Ultegra and 105. please log in to view this image This is basically what I have at present, with different components and Chris King parts on. Steel Pistola with an Alpha Carbon fork. Showing signs of age now though and titanium is a great material due to it not corroding.
As I prefer bikes with engines this may come across as a bit daft to the cycling purists, but is a bike of say 2000 so much better than one of 200 quid? For sure you want one the right size that you are comfortable on, but as its the rider doing the peddling is it so much easier on a bike of say 5kg to one of 10kg? This is of course aimed at leisure / pleasure riders and not real racers.
I've had that discussion with some looking at bikes. They were contemplating spending a lot of money to shave a bit of weight of the bike, but were overweight themselves. Several hundred pounds to save less than a good dump or a pasty, seems over the top for most IMHO. Especially as the more expensive bits have a tendency to be less durable and more expensive to repair. Comfort and feel are the key factors. Having said all of that, having had a go on some expensive bikes, you can feel the difference, I'm just not convinced it's enough to justify the expense for most of us.
Cycling is an odd one. There are loads of different reasons people do it, but a large one is that it's a pleasant form of exercise. Which to me is fine, but why spend a fortune to make it easier? The ones that want to go faster, seem to substitute cash for effort. They may end up increasing their average a bit, but if they go back to their old bike, it's likely they've improved very little in themselves. To each their own, and I can certainly see the attraction in the top class bikes, but it's a balance[sic]. The extra expense often brings diminishing returns. Ultimately, if people can afford it, and it gets more people cycling, good luck to them.
I love my Felt. £400 in the sale 2 years ago and I love it. I got newest Giant on the c2ws and first ride out I got blue lighted to HRI after a spectacular crash. downloaded my Strava when I got home and I'd got loads of pbs before the crash. I even got a qotm down Bev road as I'd forgot to stop it as I was busy strapped to a stretcher with a collar on.
Cycle to work schemes are pretty good. One of my mates buys a bike regularly through the C2WS- you save the VAT don't you?
They take the money off you before you get taxed etc so think I'm saving a few hundred quid again. Did it a few years ago when I got my Trek.
I was down in London about 6 weeks ago heading North through Fulham when a car indicated and turned into a side road collided with a cyclist on a designated cycle path. It was a female on a full carbon bike which shot about 3 metres up in the air before landing in a crumpled heap. All you could hear was 'Silly **** what did you do that for, you've ruined my bike' I laughed, she had no thought for her own well being and the rider was more concerned about her bike!!
