First, discounted, be it previous year model or seasonal clearance sale. Second, local(-ish) - shipping and often import tax of which you are not aware untill the very last moment can equate to whole tier difference in groupset. Additionally, look at even cheaper options and keep in mind I will definetely would want to swap the wheels rather soon if not immediately.
Recently bought a bike on 1500 budget. Decided to go new but wanted better components than claris or sora. Went with savadeck 105 with t800 carbon for 1400. Bought online with warranty. So far I'm very happy with it
Used, well taken care preferable sold via cycling forum. Bikes history, condition (try it before buying) and receipts are important e.g. how many previous owners, did they race with the bike etc. For the frame correct size is the most important maybe 2nd thing is the geometry, relaxed/endurance geometry is always better for beginners. Bought my first road bike using these principles around 1200€ - Cube Attain (carbon frame, disc brake ultegra setup 2×11 mechanic). Later on upgraded it with better fitting saddle, power meter pedals (new) and carbon wheelset (also used).
A word about bike shops (in Enland). My adult son snapped a shifter cable on his town bike, and took it to the big bike chain shop he bought it from to get it fixed. They quoted 100 quid for parts and labour. Total rip off. All the cable routing is external! He went down the road to a smaller local shop, which did the job for 15 quid - a fiver for the cable and a tenner for the work.
See, this is why I do all my own maintenance. A new cable will probably set you back about £5. You might even get it cheaper if you looked on eBay or somewhere. £100 is extortion and they shouldn’t be allowed to charge that much.
There you go. External cable stuff isn't very complex. There's loads of tutorials on RUclips. Some are shite, some are good. Everyone can find one they can follow. Even I can do it using instruction. You only need a few tools. Once you have that knowledge, it provides a really good feeling. You know stuff.
@@lesflynn4455 Spot on. And my kid knows how to do it. He just didn't have a spare cable at home to do the job, hence the visit to the bike shop to buy one. He was riding a Deliveroo shift and time is money, so he figured he'd ask what it would cost for the shop to fit the cable. 100 quid! No thanks. I have a bundle of cables in my spares box, so I'll be giving him a bunch to take home next time he visits. And, once he has spares, Murphy's law says he won't ever break a cable again!
@@PP-cm4re Agreed on all points. And I have plenty of spare cables, by my son didn't. He'd used up a jagwire kit building up another bike so he was out of luck. 100 quid is extortion. Especially since he'd bought the bike for 400 quid (discounted from 600) at the same shop.
As someone fortunate enough to live in the UK with a reasonably decent wage then the money saved on cycle scheme with the large saving and interest free payments this gives, makes me lean much more towards new bikes. Every used bike I buy I end up spending a lot of money getting it to the point I'm totally happy with it.
For a new rider, I would recommend buying their first bike from a proper bike store. This way, you will not have to spend any money right away on maintenance and consumerable components. Plus, many if not most bike stores will also throw a few servicings for free. For a new rider, having to spend hundreds more, right after splashing out on a used bike, might put them off riding. If I had a budget of £1,000 for a new bike, I'd look for a quality rim brake frame sporting a Shimano Sora or Tiagra groupset. I might have some money left over for my pedals and other accessories.
That's a really great point! Getting some tips and help from your local shop can be a great starting point for many new riders 🙌 Having a friendly face to take the bike back to can go a long way!
Well said, my sentiments exactly. Experienced riders can maximize their dollars in the used marketplace because they are familiar with the bikes and maintenance and parts and upgrades. Plus, as with Alex, there is a delight in finding an old bike which was a teen dream, like that Trek in Postal colors. And it really is breathtaking how much bikes have changed. The other day I pretty much read cover-to-cover an excellent maintenance manual with fantastic cut-away graphics from 2017, not that long ago. Yet, it was all rim-brake road bikes on its pages, with disc-brake mountain bikes, of course. And there was a mention that some road bikes come with discs, but only a mention, not like it would be today, all-disc with maybe a chapter on rim road bikes.
I agree. Buying used can potentially get you a better deal, but only if you know what to look for. As a new rider, it’s best to play it safe and buy brand new. There are some really good entry level bikes out there.
@lexobargestill very good. I got the 500 full sora (not chain and cassette), mechanical brakes for 700€. The bike is impressive at that price; I only need new wheels and tires to be happy with; maybe hybrid brakes…
@@kalijasin it is the 11 speed mechanical 105 with mechanical actuated hydraulic disc brakes. The wheels are bad, worth upgrading even with a mavic aksium. It is carbon fork. I don’t know about your questions on the frame. Mine is the same with sora and mechanical brakes. The frame is very good and simple in a good way for maintenance for exemple. I love it, I will put new wheels and tires, and probably a sram axs 1x in the long run.
@@kalijasinlots of people do. Good rim brakes are better than cheap mechanical discs in most cases. Disc comes into its own mid range upwards, but cheap discs are heavy junk.
i dont think theres anything wrong with mechanical discs or rim brakes for people on a budget that arent racing etc, when i started cycling i ran mechanical disc brakes on my first bike after a while riding and working on my own bike i learned how to adjust and set the brakes up to perform more efficiently (single side tektro) granted the Trp spyre twin sided would be better, i think mechanical disc/rim brakes are so easy to work on and maintain they are underrated in the beginner category 👍🏼
I'm currently building up a Trek Domane SLR (ex demo frame from a LBS), SRAM Force AXS (unused when the owner replaced the groupset with SRAM Red AXS), and it's coming out at just over £2k. Chain, tyres (GP5000 with TPU tubes), rotors, and bar tape are all brand new.
I picked up my Ribble r872 for £600, full carbon / 105 / hydraulic disc brakes... the bike was a year old and ridden a handful of times. The same bike can still be bought new for £2k albeit now its 12 speed not my 11 speed. Spent the other £400 on a helmet / shoes / pedals / kit. @@gcntech
As a complete novice with no understanding of brands and bike models or components, second hand is a minefield. I bought a rim brake Claris Allez on C2WS and love it. Fellow beginners - don’t let seasoned bike enthusiasts confuse you! Buy what you like after trying it in person.
1. Don’t ignore a previous year’s bike. There are some good deals out there. 2. Bias selection towards the frame. Opens door for gear upgrades when group set etc. wears out. 3. Avoid carbon wheels and rim brakes. 4. Don’t get hung up on group sets. The efficiency delta is very, very low even though subjective aspects like feel might be there. 5. If you get a killer deal on sale, consider a tire upgrade right away. 6. Win on tune. Keeping a bike clean, chain lubed, brakes adjusted, tires properly inflated and indexing perfect costs nothing for a DIY. All these things save watts and can make the difference between a slow fast bike and a fast slow bike.
For short people looking to buy used, there's a group on a certain social media platform that is a gathering of shorties selling bikes for short people. When you ride a 49 ish cm bike, finding used in budget can be quite difficult. I ended up buying my main bike new. I looked for about 6 more months and finally found a budget friendly used back up bike in my size. So, to all my fellow shorties -- don't give up hope on finding a good used bike in your size! They're out there, but they do require more work to find.
we here in irish land have a cycle to work incentive which is €1000 euro of which you only pay back half thru tax in your wages over a year, so feels like its free!! Also you can get €1500 toward an electric bike,some use it to get new good wheels on their bike etc, you are entitled to this every 3 years!! So a €1000 bike is pretty popular here! Take care, Slante!!
If disc brakes and wide fork that can fit gravel tires, then the Giant Contend AR4 has excellent geometry and shimano Claris - for newbies I'd consider this as a better option than anything with caliper brakes and narrow forks
there was also way to much plant matter between the paving stones to supernice ollies bike photo. just saying ( still a bit peeved for the rating of my peugot in ep.262 ;) thx for the videos!
I got a Giant TCR Advanced (2021) with SRAM Rival Etap AXS for €2000 on buycycle. Carbon wheels, hydraulic disc brakes and carbon wheels. Absolute bargain if you ask me.
Everybody should at least "look" at a PREVIOUSLY RACED PRO BIKE. They are out there, maybe not $1000, but still not breaking the bank. Just picked up a mint 2023 TREK BOONE 6, di2 Ultegra, carbon everything with Paradigm training wheels and new rubber - $2500.
Currently I would go buy new.. and I did, I just bought a bike on canyon sale and I bought it cheaper than it was offered as used for couple of years (out of warranty) on buycycle or FB marketplace. It is great time to buy a bikes
Build an up and coming Chinese brand such as an elves. Maybe with used wheels and group set. Built my elves for under $2500aud (£1500) with ultegra based group set and lightweight used wheels weighing under 8kg.
I tend to think you •can• get more for your money on the used market but that’s •if• the seller is realistic about their asking price. I’ve seen way too many bikes being offered at delusional asking prices, particularly bikes that were bought during the peak of the pandemic when new prices were out of control. They understandably want to not lose their ass on the sale but when you’re selling a used bike that’s barely under what I can get at retail, I’d just rather pay a little more and have a warranty.
So you both say at a budget of ~£1000 you would go used. I'm curious at what level of budget upwards would this opinion pivot and you would be more inclined to go new? $2k? 3k? 5k?
Slight correction in your Sales Tax calculation, yes UK sales tax is 20% however it is not a straight 80:20 of the ticket price shown. The calculation is actually (pre-tax price) + 20% = Sales price ie. an item selling for £1200 is £1000 pre tax + £200 tax So in the case of £1000 bike would be +/- £833 pre tax + £167 tax😉
During Covid time I spent about $1000 to buy a secondhand carbon bike with a 10 speed 105 mechanical group set, unused carbon wheels and tyres, rimbrake pads therefor. It’s an old setup, but I’m totally satisfied with the purchase. Since this bike is from a minor brand (Masi) and no longer available in my country, I feel rather special!
#askgcntech What is the weight differential between Schimano 105 mechanical and Claris? On an entry-level bike, are you truly focused on weight? Thanks.
Just the groupsets themselves probably not too much, but models that would have claris tend to have heavier/cheaper items all over, so bars, seat stay, saddle, frame. So total weight could easily be 1,5kg heavier than a 105 specd bike
Im a sucker for the wavey design on wheels and Ive ordered a set of the Drive Helix D's. Also, they are a 60t ratchet system so they are going to be some rudebois in a group ride.
Family hatchback Ferraris are called Lancia and Alfa Romeo. Ollie should know as an owner of such. But as a colorblind he can't tell if the helmet is eggnog on the rear.
For £1000< you can get a fully carbon frame, Tiagra/105 grupos and sometimes a hydraulic brakeset maybe a carbon wheelset sometimes in my word its better to look for bikes with good specs rather than a bike from a big brand sure bikes from big brands can be more durable or lighter but lets face it even if its from a small Chinese brand itll last 5 or maybe 10 years if taken care off and a frame 2 kilos lighter is just a small daily jog
Most high end bikes also get parts stripped and sold separately- a high end frame will likely be registered with insurers and authorities, so it would be far to easy for them to identify and for the culprits to be caught. The components, unless custom, will be much easier to sell immediately so those frames will either be stored for years (beyond the legal statute of limitations) before recirculating, sent abroad for sale where there is less traceability, or disposed of and destroyed for convenience.
@@Lamby1010the seller often won’t match the bike, either. If a sketty looking chav is selling a pinarello that’s obviously not their size you know full well it’s stolen.
With all this content on budget-friendly bikes lately, I'd love to see GCN do a comparison test between different levels of the same product line. The Giant online shop currently has these new bikes available for order: 2022 TCR Advanced Disc 2 Pro Compact - $1950 (Sale price) - Shimano 105 mechanical 2025 TCR Advanced 2 PC - $3,200 - Shimano 105 mechanical 2025 TCR Advanced SL 0 DA - $12,500 - Shimano Dura Ace Di2 First I'd like to see if a 2025 with 105 is appreciably faster that a 2022 model with 105. Then I'd compare the 2025 trim levels. Is the Dura Ace Di2 version significantly faster than the 105 version? Fast enough to justify costly 4 times as much as the 105 version?
Ferrari does make a family hatch back. Porsche also makes a family hatch back. What I don't get is these disk brake stuff is a lot more heavier. Rim brakes if you adjust them they can be as good if not better than disk brake.
that is SO egg nog on the back of that helmet--in fact, 'Egg Nog' would be the perfect name for that helmet as it protects your noggin and it's 'natural white'
anyone else noticing the exceptionally high correlation between ebike owners and those people who brag about how chatgpt does most of their job for them ?
VAT of 20% does not mean £200 of a £1000 gross price is tax, so a £1000 bike is not £800 net. Otherwise that would be 25% VAT. The true net price is £833.33 On a £1200 (gross) bike, the tax would indeed be £200. It's still a hefty chunk of change though, and when you factor in things like Business Rates, Employer's NI and the like, not to mention PAYE and tax on any profits, the actual taxation is more like 35%
I really don’t get the negativity toward cable-op discs. They deliver easily 90% of the functionality of discs - wet performance, access to decent braking with carbon rims, and wide tires etc etc - just lacking that mythical “modulation”.
I still don't understand. Rim brakes will easily send you over the bars, even in the rain. Carbon rim brakes (depending on your pads) will also send you over the bars, albeit less easily. What's the issue?
A year ago I bought an ex-Welsh team bike. It was a 2021 Dolan Rebus, ultegra 8000 Durace shifters. Rotor 53 39 crankset with inspider powermeter, Alpina 35 ml deep section wheels and a selle italia san marco short fit saddle. It cost me £387.50 on an auction site. I have ridden it every week since it's awesome. I'll upload a pic to the bike vault if I can work out how 😂
Ribble currently have the R872 full carbon fibre bike on sale from £1599, with 10 speed Tiagra groupset down to £999, looks a great bike for the money (Teal only, Anthracite grey is still full price).
I'm glad to see the Marvel 50V show up in this video, I just received my 60V and set them up tubeless yesterday. I'm just waiting for a couple days of rain to clear the salt of the asphalt before my maiden ride
@@EdwardHarrisYeah yeah, sorry. Was rather going to point it out to the GCN crew. But it's definetely a very nice frameset with plenty of upgrade potential
Its really not like green on my Tv but then again you could have told Ollie he was wearing his hat half way up his head for the whole show. New fashion trend or is he joining the smurfs 😂😂😂
My entry into road biking in 2009 was an $1100 bike with Shimano 105. The shifters and front derailleur from that bike are still going strong on a different bike today. Thanks Kate, I didnt express my gratitude enough back then.
Suggestion for a €1000 do-it-all bike: Cube Nuroad FE. Fully Equipped for commuting gravel bike: dynamo, mounted front and back light, stand, mudguards, minimalist bike rack for panniers, carbon fork, mech. disk, tiagra group and 40mm schwalbe g-one tires. Bit heavy, true, but has everything you need if you're on a budget and can only have one practical yet sporty bike .
Just bought a new bike from AlterCycles, Reflex 500. Al frame w/ Carbon fork, Tiagra 2 x 10, hyd disc brakes, and 38mm tires. It is flat bar bike and the price had been marked down to $1100. Now I am just waiting for the weather to cooperate. But in my heart I agree with you guys that there are great deals in used bikes. But since I already own 6 older bikes, I thought that a new one might be fun.
I started cycling last year and my budget was 1k. I went 2nd hand and bought a 18 month old full carbon TCR/105 /discs and love it you get so much more value than buying new.
People looking for the 1000$ range should always focus on the POTENCIAL FOR UPGRADES rather than whatever the bike bring from factory. If you're so tight on budget it doesn't matter if you have Claris or 105. It's completely irrelevant. My personal advice is to buy the cheapest disk carbon frame possible who already is prepared for electronic shifting if you wish so in the future. For around 1200 you'll be able to find options and it will allow you to upgrade it at will for the next decade. Most people spend 1000 on a entry level bike and then are on the market for a new better one 2 years after while dooming this bike to dust collector status. 1000 to the trash bin in reality. Even if you sell it for half the price it's still 500 wasted before spending over 2k to get a real upgrade on a new bike. In other words, INVEST ON THE FRAME. The rest don't matter in the entry level world.
I think Ollie's new bike looks better in the still shot for the bike vault than it did in the live shots from the other video - something about the texture of the carbon comes through better in a still shot. Is it me? and what's with the Pirelli "PROTOTYPE" tyres? Is Ollie a beta tester? And only one bottle cage affixed? Don't you need two?
I picked up a Look 675 light with ultegra di2 and Zipp wheels and absolutely love it. Weight about 7.4kg, some aero nods and super comfortable. Much better than a 105 equipped new alloy bike that will be 1-2kg heavier, less aero, no electronic shifting and less cool looking
30:12 These are paving stones from my parking lot, I didn't have anything else on hand... Read this with Schwanzenegger's voice in your head: I will be back
A works cycle to work scheme has just allowed me to purchase a new gravel bike , the Orange RX9 Pro reduced from £2700 down to £1695 then reduced further for the scheme to £980 with all the kit I would need - deals still available through most company’s who participate in the old cycle to work type schemes 😄
I was patient while looking for a used bike, and grabbed a hardly used bargain 2019 Merida Scultura Rim 400 6 months ago for $150 AUD. That's 8.7kg Aluminium 11 speed 105 mechanical, I serviced it, changed the stem, bar tape, and saddle, and have put 3000km on it without issue. Even now on marketplace while looking for a carbon wheelset I see bargain Giants, Specialized, and Cannondales popping up often. Question about carbon wheels for rim brakes though, people don't speak highly of them, but for someone who does mostly fair weather riding and almost all of it on paved bike paths, would I really notice any poor performance?
First time buyers should get 2 year old 2nd hand bike rrp around £1k for £400 basically never been used cause someone bought it in lockdown. if you’re still obsessed after a year or two, think about selling and spend £2k. 2nd hand that’ll get you a decent group set, carbon frame, carbon rims. Then just keep it
I think "used" for a 1000 USD/£/etc. also requires a fair knowledge of what you personally need and can amount to a lot of time spent on market research. To avoid that, "new" at your trusted shop might give you a hassle free entry bike... Actually just went through the process for a 2-2.5k bike... Did all the market research, still ended up buying "new" 😂. Just couldn't find THE bargain on used platforms... 🤷🏻♂️
The GTC lusso is a family hatchback for some… Bought a 2013 Defy 1 with 105 parts for less than 500. Feels almost new as now many miles has been out on it. It costed over 1k new. Run brake will live on even if they die off completely on new bikes. Shimano still ships consumable parts for Ultegra 6700.
What would you look for in a $1000 bike? 💵🕵
high quality aluminum frame and good tires and i would expect everything else to be kinda basic and that is also how i would want it to be.
First, discounted, be it previous year model or seasonal clearance sale. Second, local(-ish) - shipping and often import tax of which you are not aware untill the very last moment can equate to whole tier difference in groupset. Additionally, look at even cheaper options and keep in mind I will definetely would want to swap the wheels rather soon if not immediately.
Recently bought a bike on 1500 budget. Decided to go new but wanted better components than claris or sora. Went with savadeck 105 with t800 carbon for 1400. Bought online with warranty. So far I'm very happy with it
A decent aluminium frame, a full Shimano Sora or Tiagra groupset and a well-built and solid wheelset.
Used, well taken care preferable sold via cycling forum. Bikes history, condition (try it before buying) and receipts are important e.g. how many previous owners, did they race with the bike etc.
For the frame correct size is the most important maybe 2nd thing is the geometry, relaxed/endurance geometry is always better for beginners.
Bought my first road bike using these principles around 1200€ - Cube Attain (carbon frame, disc brake ultegra setup 2×11 mechanic). Later on upgraded it with better fitting saddle, power meter pedals (new) and carbon wheelset (also used).
A word about bike shops (in Enland).
My adult son snapped a shifter cable on his town bike, and took it to the big bike chain shop he bought it from to get it fixed. They quoted 100 quid for parts and labour.
Total rip off. All the cable routing is external!
He went down the road to a smaller local shop, which did the job for 15 quid - a fiver for the cable and a tenner for the work.
LBS FTW!!
See, this is why I do all my own maintenance. A new cable will probably set you back about £5. You might even get it cheaper if you looked on eBay or somewhere. £100 is extortion and they shouldn’t be allowed to charge that much.
There you go. External cable stuff isn't very complex. There's loads of tutorials on RUclips. Some are shite, some are good. Everyone can find one they can follow. Even I can do it using instruction. You only need a few tools. Once you have that knowledge, it provides a really good feeling. You know stuff.
@@lesflynn4455 Spot on. And my kid knows how to do it. He just didn't have a spare cable at home to do the job, hence the visit to the bike shop to buy one.
He was riding a Deliveroo shift and time is money, so he figured he'd ask what it would cost for the shop to fit the cable. 100 quid! No thanks.
I have a bundle of cables in my spares box, so I'll be giving him a bunch to take home next time he visits.
And, once he has spares, Murphy's law says he won't ever break a cable again!
@@PP-cm4re Agreed on all points. And I have plenty of spare cables, by my son didn't. He'd used up a jagwire kit building up another bike so he was out of luck.
100 quid is extortion. Especially since he'd bought the bike for 400 quid (discounted from 600) at the same shop.
Week 1 of asking for GCN to organise a community ride for charity.
Gaza Sunbirds?
As someone fortunate enough to live in the UK with a reasonably decent wage then the money saved on cycle scheme with the large saving and interest free payments this gives, makes me lean much more towards new bikes. Every used bike I buy I end up spending a lot of money getting it to the point I'm totally happy with it.
Same, I saved quite a bit on my Vitus.
For a new rider, I would recommend buying their first bike from a proper bike store. This way, you will not have to spend any money right away on maintenance and consumerable components. Plus, many if not most bike stores will also throw a few servicings for free.
For a new rider, having to spend hundreds more, right after splashing out on a used bike, might put them off riding.
If I had a budget of £1,000 for a new bike, I'd look for a quality rim brake frame sporting a Shimano Sora or Tiagra groupset. I might have some money left over for my pedals and other accessories.
That's a really great point! Getting some tips and help from your local shop can be a great starting point for many new riders 🙌 Having a friendly face to take the bike back to can go a long way!
Well said, my sentiments exactly. Experienced riders can maximize their dollars in the used marketplace because they are familiar with the bikes and maintenance and parts and upgrades. Plus, as with Alex, there is a delight in finding an old bike which was a teen dream, like that Trek in Postal colors. And it really is breathtaking how much bikes have changed. The other day I pretty much read cover-to-cover an excellent maintenance manual with fantastic cut-away graphics from 2017, not that long ago. Yet, it was all rim-brake road bikes on its pages, with disc-brake mountain bikes, of course. And there was a mention that some road bikes come with discs, but only a mention, not like it would be today, all-disc with maybe a chapter on rim road bikes.
"Consumerable"? Who's he when he's at home?
I did that.fantastic
I agree. Buying used can potentially get you a better deal, but only if you know what to look for. As a new rider, it’s best to play it safe and buy brand new. There are some really good entry level bikes out there.
Triban 520 has 105 with hybrid hydraulic cable operated disc brake £900
@lexobargestill very good. I got the 500 full sora (not chain and cassette), mechanical brakes for 700€. The bike is impressive at that price; I only need new wheels and tires to be happy with; maybe hybrid brakes…
Got a link?
Is the 105 the di 2 version? Are the wheels double-walled aluminum 700C? is the frame thick walled aluminum? Are the front forks carbon?
@@kalijasin it is the 11 speed mechanical 105 with mechanical actuated hydraulic disc brakes. The wheels are bad, worth upgrading even with a mavic aksium. It is carbon fork. I don’t know about your questions on the frame.
Mine is the same with sora and mechanical brakes.
The frame is very good and simple in a good way for maintenance for exemple.
I love it, I will put new wheels and tires, and probably a sram axs 1x in the long run.
A caution on older and rim brake bikes…tire size may be limited so that you may miss out on some comfort or potentially rolling resistance
23 and 25 mm are just fine
Still using rim brakes in 2024? 🤦♀
@@kalijasin Will use rim brakes also in 2054.
@kalijasin nothing wrong with rim brakes. Don't be a gatekeeper.
@@kalijasinlots of people do. Good rim brakes are better than cheap mechanical discs in most cases. Disc comes into its own mid range upwards, but cheap discs are heavy junk.
"That is horrific... should we buy one?" 😂
i dont think theres anything wrong with mechanical discs or rim brakes for people on a budget that arent racing etc, when i started cycling i ran mechanical disc brakes on my first bike after a while riding and working on my own bike i learned how to adjust and set the brakes up to perform more efficiently (single side tektro) granted the Trp spyre twin sided would be better, i think mechanical disc/rim brakes are so easy to work on and maintain they are underrated in the beginner category 👍🏼
I'm currently building up a Trek Domane SLR (ex demo frame from a LBS), SRAM Force AXS (unused when the owner replaced the groupset with SRAM Red AXS), and it's coming out at just over £2k. Chain, tyres (GP5000 with TPU tubes), rotors, and bar tape are all brand new.
These days, what isn’t too expensive? 😢 Food, fuel, electricity, oxygen, sunlight,etc,etc.
For £1000 u can get a second-hand full carbon frame, hydraulic disc brakes, shimano 105, or ultegra group set in good condition bicycle
What brands should people be looking for?
I picked up my Ribble r872 for £600, full carbon / 105 / hydraulic disc brakes... the bike was a year old and ridden a handful of times. The same bike can still be bought new for £2k albeit now its 12 speed not my 11 speed. Spent the other £400 on a helmet / shoes / pedals / kit. @@gcntech
Send the link lol
Week 55 of asking for a “the UCI has no jurisdiction here” T-shirt
Hang in there buddy!
See you again next week 😂
“Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament!…”
As a complete novice with no understanding of brands and bike models or components, second hand is a minefield. I bought a rim brake Claris Allez on C2WS and love it. Fellow beginners - don’t let seasoned bike enthusiasts confuse you! Buy what you like after trying it in person.
i found this overwhelming and drawn out-not helpful :(
1. Don’t ignore a previous year’s bike. There are some good deals out there.
2. Bias selection towards the frame. Opens door for gear upgrades when group set etc. wears out.
3. Avoid carbon wheels and rim brakes.
4. Don’t get hung up on group sets. The efficiency delta is very, very low even though subjective aspects like feel might be there.
5. If you get a killer deal on sale, consider a tire upgrade right away.
6. Win on tune. Keeping a bike clean, chain lubed, brakes adjusted, tires properly inflated and indexing perfect costs nothing for a DIY. All these things save watts and can make the difference between a slow fast bike and a fast slow bike.
Nailed it
Smart!
For reference 1000 British pounds is $1710 CDN. Big difference from trying to buy a bike for $1000 CDN.
For short people looking to buy used, there's a group on a certain social media platform that is a gathering of shorties selling bikes for short people. When you ride a 49 ish cm bike, finding used in budget can be quite difficult. I ended up buying my main bike new. I looked for about 6 more months and finally found a budget friendly used back up bike in my size.
So, to all my fellow shorties -- don't give up hope on finding a good used bike in your size! They're out there, but they do require more work to find.
we here in irish land have a cycle to work incentive which is €1000 euro of which you only pay back half thru tax in your wages over a year, so feels like its free!! Also you can get €1500 toward an electric bike,some use it to get new good wheels on their bike etc, you are entitled to this every 3 years!! So a €1000 bike is pretty popular here! Take care, Slante!!
Rim brakes do work. I have aluminium wheels. I have never ridden a bike with disk brakes. Old new stock would be my preference.
I have rim brakes on both ally and carbon rims. They are fine on ally, but less effective on carbon rims with a bassalt brake track.
I agree with the first bike you mentioned, the Specialized Allez, Shimano 105 or better. If you can't find a new one in your budget, go used
If disc brakes and wide fork that can fit gravel tires, then the Giant Contend AR4 has excellent geometry and shimano Claris - for newbies I'd consider this as a better option than anything with caliper brakes and narrow forks
Get the E-moped and challenge it to destruction!
Just make sure you charge it well outside the walls of GCN towers! 😳🔥
there was also way to much plant matter between the paving stones to supernice ollies bike photo. just saying ( still a bit peeved for the rating of my peugot in ep.262 ;) thx for the videos!
I got a Giant TCR Advanced (2021) with SRAM Rival Etap AXS for €2000 on buycycle. Carbon wheels, hydraulic disc brakes and carbon wheels. Absolute bargain if you ask me.
You guys keep talking down mech 105 like it isn't still an amazing groupset.
Everybody should at least "look" at a PREVIOUSLY RACED PRO BIKE. They are out there, maybe not $1000, but still not breaking the bank. Just picked up a mint 2023 TREK BOONE 6, di2 Ultegra, carbon everything with Paradigm training wheels and new rubber - $2500.
Id still go for disc, you got an addition option if you want to go gravel. Decathlon has good deals. And also aliexpress
Disc are pretty great aren't they?
@@gcntech pretty much, looks cool, has stronger braking, less expensive on the long run (New wheels vs new rotors). What more can you ask. 🔥🔥🔥
@@gcntech cane creek and few others make high-end rim brakes but for what they cost you can get hydraulic disc brakes so why bother?
@@gcntechdepends how cheap they are. Would you describe the eurobike disc brakes as good?
"That is the worst thing I have ever seen, we should buy one!"
Now ollie knows how it feels if he give our bikes a nice and is nit picking every little detail about a picture. 😂
Currently I would go buy new.. and I did, I just bought a bike on canyon sale and I bought it cheaper than it was offered as used for couple of years (out of warranty) on buycycle or FB marketplace. It is great time to buy a bikes
Build an up and coming Chinese brand such as an elves. Maybe with used wheels and group set. Built my elves for under $2500aud (£1500) with ultegra based group set and lightweight used wheels weighing under 8kg.
I tend to think you •can• get more for your money on the used market but that’s •if• the seller is realistic about their asking price. I’ve seen way too many bikes being offered at delusional asking prices, particularly bikes that were bought during the peak of the pandemic when new prices were out of control. They understandably want to not lose their ass on the sale but when you’re selling a used bike that’s barely under what I can get at retail, I’d just rather pay a little more and have a warranty.
1000 pounds incl VAT its 833,33 Net
Why are you wearing a knit cap indoors?
I went new, but a had a budget twice as big. I’m pretty happy with her
So you both say at a budget of ~£1000 you would go used. I'm curious at what level of budget upwards would this opinion pivot and you would be more inclined to go new? $2k? 3k? 5k?
Slight correction in your Sales Tax calculation, yes UK sales tax is 20% however it is not a straight 80:20 of the ticket price shown.
The calculation is actually (pre-tax price) + 20% = Sales price
ie. an item selling for £1200 is £1000 pre tax + £200 tax
So in the case of £1000 bike would be +/- £833 pre tax + £167 tax😉
Yeah, they need to divide by 1.2 to remove vat, and multiply by 1.2 to add vat!
20% sales tax?! Jesus tap dancing christ!
During Covid time I spent about $1000 to buy a secondhand carbon bike with a 10 speed 105 mechanical group set, unused carbon wheels and tyres, rimbrake pads therefor. It’s an old setup, but I’m totally satisfied with the purchase. Since this bike is from a minor brand (Masi) and no longer available in my country, I feel rather special!
#askgcntech What is the weight differential between Schimano 105 mechanical and Claris? On an entry-level bike, are you truly focused on weight? Thanks.
Just the groupsets themselves probably not too much, but models that would have claris tend to have heavier/cheaper items all over, so bars, seat stay, saddle, frame. So total weight could easily be 1,5kg heavier than a 105 specd bike
For a total newbie to cycling going new for a $1K makes more sense than used. As a newbie wouldn't nesscerally know a good value bike vs a crap one.
Im a sucker for the wavey design on wheels and Ive ordered a set of the Drive Helix D's.
Also, they are a 60t ratchet system so they are going to be some rudebois in a group ride.
Family hatchback Ferraris are called Lancia and Alfa Romeo. Ollie should know as an owner of such. But as a colorblind he can't tell if the helmet is eggnog on the rear.
Any thoughts on an electric pump for the saddle bag? Worth it? Or waste of money?
For £1000< you can get a fully carbon frame, Tiagra/105 grupos and sometimes a hydraulic brakeset maybe a carbon wheelset sometimes in my word its better to look for bikes with good specs rather than a bike from a big brand sure bikes from big brands can be more durable or lighter but lets face it even if its from a small Chinese brand itll last 5 or maybe 10 years if taken care off and a frame 2 kilos lighter is just a small daily jog
Ferrari makes a very sensible-looking family hatchback, the GTC4Lusso 2:58
So agree with Alex. Just a Nice.
I’d be too worried about stolen bikes on the used market.
If it’s stolen they will give it away for next to nothing
Most high end bikes also get parts stripped and sold separately- a high end frame will likely be registered with insurers and authorities, so it would be far to easy for them to identify and for the culprits to be caught. The components, unless custom, will be much easier to sell immediately so those frames will either be stored for years (beyond the legal statute of limitations) before recirculating, sent abroad for sale where there is less traceability, or disposed of and destroyed for convenience.
@@Lamby1010the seller often won’t match the bike, either. If a sketty looking chav is selling a pinarello that’s obviously not their size you know full well it’s stolen.
Then you worry too much you soft sod.
I like the helmet! is the lime green in the back fluorescent ? that would make it cool!
With all this content on budget-friendly bikes lately, I'd love to see GCN do a comparison test between different levels of the same product line. The Giant online shop currently has these new bikes available for order:
2022 TCR Advanced Disc 2 Pro Compact - $1950 (Sale price) - Shimano 105 mechanical
2025 TCR Advanced 2 PC - $3,200 - Shimano 105 mechanical
2025 TCR Advanced SL 0 DA - $12,500 - Shimano Dura Ace Di2
First I'd like to see if a 2025 with 105 is appreciably faster that a 2022 model with 105. Then I'd compare the 2025 trim levels. Is the Dura Ace Di2 version significantly faster than the 105 version? Fast enough to justify costly 4 times as much as the 105 version?
Please buy the moped looking e-bike and race feather up a hill with it (full battery assist on)
just bought a factor ostro vam for $9000. Not bad considering its 12k canadian
I would buy $1000 worth of drugs.. and exchange them for a super bike worth over $10,000 😁
Ferrari does make a family hatch back. Porsche also makes a family hatch back. What I don't get is these disk brake stuff is a lot more heavier. Rim brakes if you adjust them they can be as good if not better than disk brake.
I agree
I disagree, those aren't family hatch backs like a yaris or mini they are mid sized OP SUV's.
With you on the brakes though.
Agreed 💯 Rim brakes are good to maintain too and doesn't get contaminated very easily unlike disc
Ollie complaining about e-bikes sounds like car drivers complaining about road cyclists. :D
that is SO egg nog on the back of that helmet--in fact, 'Egg Nog' would be the perfect name for that helmet as it protects your noggin and it's 'natural white'
anyone else noticing the exceptionally high correlation between ebike owners and those people who brag about how chatgpt does most of their job for them ?
Buy a used bike and ride happy.
It's that simple 🙌 Ollie can help make it easier too 👉 ruclips.net/video/W6jDWaruzZ0/видео.html
Where did the new microphones go?
I didn't like them tbh, I guess GCN decided they didn't like them either.
Wow suddenly they suggest rim brakes when sponsored by a rim brake wheel maker! Rim brakes have always been great.
VAT of 20% does not mean £200 of a £1000 gross price is tax, so a £1000 bike is not £800 net. Otherwise that would be 25% VAT. The true net price is £833.33 On a £1200 (gross) bike, the tax would indeed be £200.
It's still a hefty chunk of change though, and when you factor in things like Business Rates, Employer's NI and the like, not to mention PAYE and tax on any profits, the actual taxation is more like 35%
dr. Bridgewood. get that horrible thing off your head and let our eyes feast on that incredible hair
I really don’t get the negativity toward cable-op discs. They deliver easily 90% of the functionality of discs - wet performance, access to decent braking with carbon rims, and wide tires etc etc - just lacking that mythical “modulation”.
I still don't understand. Rim brakes will easily send you over the bars, even in the rain. Carbon rim brakes (depending on your pads) will also send you over the bars, albeit less easily. What's the issue?
Completely agree. There is also an argument for brakes that bite a little softer in conditions where traction is reduced.
£1000 including VAT is not £800 bike and £200 VAT !
A £1000 bike is £833.33 +20%=£1000.
Doh .
Please try to allow yourself to forgive us for this error😉, but as always i am happy to stand corrected. Cheers Rob
Cross Oli when his bike vault picture was mocked, properly made me chuckle. Thanks for that, you lovely people.
For $1,000 I got a 2015 full carbon Ultegra Scott.
Haha i want to see that moped ebike in action it looks ridiculous
Hurrah for the pity ring!
A year ago I bought an ex-Welsh team bike. It was a 2021 Dolan Rebus, ultegra 8000 Durace shifters. Rotor 53 39 crankset with inspider powermeter, Alpina 35 ml deep section wheels and a selle italia san marco short fit saddle. It cost me £387.50 on an auction site. I have ridden it every week since it's awesome. I'll upload a pic to the bike vault if I can work out how 😂
Went new but often wish I had gotten used instead.
Ribble currently have the R872 full carbon fibre bike on sale from £1599, with 10 speed Tiagra groupset down to £999, looks a great bike for the money (Teal only, Anthracite grey is still full price).
I got a 2012 specialized tarmac elite ultegra group set (rim brake) for £300. Rides like a dream
I'm glad to see the Marvel 50V show up in this video, I just received my 60V and set them up tubeless yesterday. I'm just waiting for a couple days of rain to clear the salt of the asphalt before my maiden ride
I got a full carbon, 105, rim brakes £900 bike on cycle to work scheme.
Slr 8.9 Boardman at halfords.
Its a helmet good protection is always cool.
Poor Ollie! He's getting so much smack over his beautiful new bike! That bike / photo is a 'super nice' all day long...
Canyon Endurace 7 Al Rim brake has been phenomenal. Full 105, under 8.5kg and able to take 28mm tyres 🎉
Perfect £1000 bike!
1299 Euros plus shipping. No thanks. Rose Pro is a sweeter deal on a near identical build.
@@feedbackzaloop I wasn’t saying it was compulsory sweet pea 😂
@@EdwardHarrisYeah yeah, sorry. Was rather going to point it out to the GCN crew. But it's definetely a very nice frameset with plenty of upgrade potential
Just curious, at a push, do you think your bike would take 30mm tires?
I got a 2021 Specialized Tarmac SL6 zero miles of marketplace for $1300. Tiagra hydraulic groupset.
Ollie's Pinarello, NICE! It's missing a second bottle cage.
🤣
for normal use, rim brake bikes are totally fine for most of situation. And I quite like the judgement on Ollie's new bike 😅
Its really not like green on my Tv but then again you could have told Ollie he was wearing his hat half way up his head for the whole show. New fashion trend or is he joining the smurfs 😂😂😂
My entry into road biking in 2009 was an $1100 bike with Shimano 105. The shifters and front derailleur from that bike are still going strong on a different bike today. Thanks Kate, I didnt express my gratitude enough back then.
[Ollie's impassioned defense ends]
"It's a 'nice' for me"
🤣
Suggestion for a €1000 do-it-all bike: Cube Nuroad FE. Fully Equipped for commuting gravel bike: dynamo, mounted front and back light, stand, mudguards, minimalist bike rack for panniers, carbon fork, mech. disk, tiagra group and 40mm schwalbe g-one tires. Bit heavy, true, but has everything you need if you're on a budget and can only have one practical yet sporty bike .
Just bought a new bike from AlterCycles, Reflex 500. Al frame w/ Carbon fork, Tiagra 2 x 10, hyd disc brakes, and 38mm tires. It is flat bar bike and the price had been marked down to $1100.
Now I am just waiting for the weather to cooperate.
But in my heart I agree with you guys that there are great deals in used bikes.
But since I already own 6 older bikes, I thought that a new one might be fun.
I started cycling last year and my budget was 1k. I went 2nd hand and bought a 18 month old full carbon TCR/105 /discs and love it you get so much more value than buying new.
People looking for the 1000$ range should always focus on the POTENCIAL FOR UPGRADES rather than whatever the bike bring from factory. If you're so tight on budget it doesn't matter if you have Claris or 105. It's completely irrelevant. My personal advice is to buy the cheapest disk carbon frame possible who already is prepared for electronic shifting if you wish so in the future. For around 1200 you'll be able to find options and it will allow you to upgrade it at will for the next decade. Most people spend 1000 on a entry level bike and then are on the market for a new better one 2 years after while dooming this bike to dust collector status. 1000 to the trash bin in reality. Even if you sell it for half the price it's still 500 wasted before spending over 2k to get a real upgrade on a new bike. In other words, INVEST ON THE FRAME. The rest don't matter in the entry level world.
If you don't have to pedal, how is it an ebike?
My first road bike was an alloy rim brake 105. Solid as a rock and just about right on $1000.
I have an possibility to buy Cannondale Endurace 6 al on full Shimano 105 and Mavic Rims for 700$. Should I go for it?
I think Ollie's new bike looks better in the still shot for the bike vault than it did in the live shots from the other video - something about the texture of the carbon comes through better in a still shot. Is it me? and what's with the Pirelli "PROTOTYPE" tyres? Is Ollie a beta tester? And only one bottle cage affixed? Don't you need two?
The GCN Global Cabal Illuminati graphic is 🔥🔥🔥
I picked up a Look 675 light with ultegra di2 and Zipp wheels and absolutely love it. Weight about 7.4kg, some aero nods and super comfortable. Much better than a 105 equipped new alloy bike that will be 1-2kg heavier, less aero, no electronic shifting and less cool looking
For $1000? 😮
@@kalijasin £1000
That’s nuts. Good for you!
I have a Look 695 RS with mechanical ultegra and kyseriums gp5000 rim brake 7.6kg 2017 bought it for £1095 off cycle exchange london great bike.
30:12 These are paving stones from my parking lot, I didn't have anything else on hand...
Read this with Schwanzenegger's voice in your head: I will be back
A works cycle to work scheme has just allowed me to purchase a new gravel bike , the Orange RX9 Pro reduced from £2700 down to £1695 then reduced further for the scheme to £980 with all the kit I would need - deals still available through most company’s who participate in the old cycle to work type schemes 😄
I was patient while looking for a used bike, and grabbed a hardly used bargain 2019 Merida Scultura Rim 400 6 months ago for $150 AUD. That's 8.7kg Aluminium 11 speed 105 mechanical, I serviced it, changed the stem, bar tape, and saddle, and have put 3000km on it without issue. Even now on marketplace while looking for a carbon wheelset I see bargain Giants, Specialized, and Cannondales popping up often.
Question about carbon wheels for rim brakes though, people don't speak highly of them, but for someone who does mostly fair weather riding and almost all of it on paved bike paths, would I really notice any poor performance?
First time buyers should get 2 year old 2nd hand bike rrp around £1k for £400 basically never been used cause someone bought it in lockdown. if you’re still obsessed after a year or two, think about selling and spend £2k. 2nd hand that’ll get you a decent group set, carbon frame, carbon rims. Then just keep it
I think "used" for a 1000 USD/£/etc. also requires a fair knowledge of what you personally need and can amount to a lot of time spent on market research. To avoid that, "new" at your trusted shop might give you a hassle free entry bike... Actually just went through the process for a 2-2.5k bike... Did all the market research, still ended up buying "new" 😂. Just couldn't find THE bargain on used platforms... 🤷🏻♂️
Decathlon make good entry level bikes
Very much so.
The GTC lusso is a family hatchback for some…
Bought a 2013 Defy 1 with 105 parts for less than 500. Feels almost new as now many miles has been out on it. It costed over 1k new.
Run brake will live on even if they die off completely on new bikes. Shimano still ships consumable parts for Ultegra 6700.