Introduction
There really is a step up in the quality of bike you can get as you reach the £3000 mark. There’s a noticeable increase in speed and overall quality of the bike compared to cheaper models. As bikes become more expensive they may become more suited to more experienced riders, due to the spec and more advanced features. Here are 3 of the top road bikes for under £3000.
Rose Xeon Team GF-3100 – £1707.83
The GF-3100 has an aluminium frame, a slightly elongated wheelbase, for a stable and comfortable ride, and an outstanding spec for the money. As a whole the GF lives up to its sportive/endurance bike billing.
Rose are entering the endurance bike market with the GF-3100 making it ideally suited to longer days on the bike. Its Conti GP4000S tyres offer a smooth ride and seem to glide effortlessly over the tarmac. The Ritchey WCS bars reduce vibrations from the road transmitted to your hands and balance the bike out nicely.
Roses’ direct to consumer sales model means you get unbeatable value for money; the GF-3100 comes with a full Ultegra Di2 6800 groupset (11-speed), Ritchey WCS finishing kit and DT Swiss R23 Spline wheels. For a bike costing below £1800 this certainly is a steal. When buying online there are also plenty of customisation options for certain component, giving you a chance to really make the bike fit to your riding style.
Overall, the Rose GF-3100 is an impressive addition to the endurance bike market.
Want to buy this? Click here to visit the retailer.Scott Foil 10 – £2499
Scott’s Foil 10 bike was designed to eliminate the compromises that are usually involved with aero road bikes; they started with their Addict bike as a guide and aimed to improve its aerodynamics without compromising the weight and stiffness. Their solution: ‘virtual airfoil’, the result, a frame that weighs 1,030g (58cm bike) and which Scott says saves you 20 watts at 45kph over the Addict.
The Foil 10 comes with a complete Shimano Grey groupset and there are two gearing options available, both 20-speed. The wheels are entry level Mavic Cosmic Elites with slightly deeper rims, at 30mm, and have a basic aero profile that fits with the aim of the frame.
The ride on the Foil 10 is fast! With its stiff frame from front to back the Foil gives an encouraging feeling of rigidity that really persuades you to put in all your effort. The tyres may be a slight hindrance as their weight is noticeable when climbing, so a wheel upgrade is something worth looking into if you like routes with lots of climbs.
With an aerodynamic design, this bike definitely focuses its emphasis on speed and will help you cut minutes from long rides however comfort levels are not great, making this bike more suited for attacking short and middle-distance races.
Want to buy this? Click here to visit the retailer.Canyon Ultimate CF SL 9.0 – £2122.09 (was £2299)
The Canyon Ultimate CF SL 9.0 is a high-end race bike and offers excellent value for money. Its low weight, stiffness, fast acceleration and sharp handling make it a light, stiff, fast and comfortable race bike at a superb price.
The CF SL has a lot of the same features as its older, more expensive, sibling the CF SLX. The main difference can be found in the weight, the CF SL weight more at 780g, however a weight below 1kg is still incredibly light.
It gives a solid and fast ride and really excels when climbing. The low weight of the frame beneath you swings from side to side getting rid of the feeling of having to lug a bike uphill with you; making climbs a doddle. The CF SL is also an impressively smooth ride; it deals with big bumps well and the rear end does a great job at reducing the impact of potholes or cracks in the road.
Specced with a full SCRAM Force 22 groupset, Mavic Ksyrium SLS wheels shod, Mavic Yksion Pro tyres, Ritchey handlebar and stem, and Fizik Antares saddle, you really getting great value for money here. You’re pretty much getting a professional-level race bike for a price that hard to beat.
Canyon have managed to strike the fine balance of a bike that has a low weight, rigid frame, and a smooth ride.
Want to buy this? Click here to visit the retailer.Summary
Road bike can get expensive, very expensive. Here we look at bikes under £3000, which is still nothing to be sneezed at but for this amount of money you really get quality. All three bikes here are fantastic and hopefully one of them is right for you. Take your time though, we are at a price point here that is pretty high.
*All prices are correct at the time of writing. They may however change if the retailer modifies their prices.