Best Road Alu Road bike (For commuting) in £1000 Range. ?

[outlash]

Reliable and not too expensive - Fits the purpose.

TBH, you won't notice the difference between 105 & Tiagra. Especially as 'new' Tiagra is 105 from 2 years ago. My point is that your budget is compromised by sticking to 105, there's a lot of ideal bikes with great frames with Tiagra that are ideal for commuting for £1k. I'd also go with @cyberknight's suggestion, I'd rather have decent discs on a commuter than 105 over Tiagra.

 

[Drago]

Sorry what do you mean by 'How will you be carrying your gear?'

Rucksack or bag/planners? In its rucksack you're laughing. You can bridge a rack onto a roadie with any luck using P clips etc, otherwise a Sportive, CX or tourer might be better.

Will you be buying lights, luggage etc from your budget?

 

[Wafer]

Looks like there are some options with 105 and reasonable disc brakes, but yeah, I'd do the same, in fact I have... Opens up more options, though sometimes that's not a good thing

 

[steveindenmark]

Carbon can stand bike sheds. It doesnt melt.

Look at Planet X bikes.

 

[MichaelW2]

Even if you prefer a backpack, having the option of rack eyelets makes your bike far more versatile. A lightweight, training grade roadbike with chainstay disk mounts, F/R mudguard eyelets and rear rack eyelets is an ideal do-it-all machine. Make sure you have adequate tyre clearance for winter.
I had a look at Kinesis , their basic CX machine may work.

Many commuter builds save money on key bearings. You need a durable bottom bracket and well sealed hubs.

 

[MichaelW2]

Carbon can stand bike sheds. It doesnt melt.

Look at Planet X bikes.

How do carbon frames stand up to horrible, rough galvanised steel Sheffield stands, or people with junk bikes who drop them against your pride and joy. Surface toughness is not one of the attributes of carbon.

 

[Kestevan]

Planet x London Road would be on my list.

 

[mattobrien]

Planet x London Road would be on my list.

Having seen one in the flesh, it quickly fell off my wish list.

For the OP have you considered a Cannondale CAAD12, they do a rim or disc braked version. Checking prices, the 105 rim brake starts at £1300, so possibly a touch over budget.

 

[Darren Gregory]

How about the 2016 Pinnacle Dolomite 5?

Gets you 105 which is what you want, hydraulic disc brakes, and can take full guards and rack:

http://road.cc/content/review/172986-pinnacle-dolomite-5

I have the 2015 Arkose 3 which is a little bit beefier (think adventure bike rather than sole road bike) and I really like it.

 

[ianrauk]

How about the 2016 Pinnacle Dolomite 5?

Gets you 105 which is what you want, hydraulic disc brakes, and can take full guards and rack:

Post # 13

 

[Darren Gregory]

Post # 13

Whoops! Totally missed that. Sorry

 

[ELL]

I have just ordered a Trek Domane 2.3 for my commuter. It ticked all the boxes for me with 105 and pannier bolt holes etc. Also bang on ya money.

 

[Kbrook]

https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-pro-sl-2000-bike-now-855927/aid:855966

 

[I like Skol]

Take a look at a Grade, I have a carbon that rides nice, not tried the Alu. Bang on your Budget quite a bit more for the Carbon 105 though @ £1999

http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-gt-grade-alloy-105-15-48994/

This just rocks my boat!!!

I have been hankering after the carbon Grade 105 since it was launched and the Ali version seems great at the price except it doesn't have the full Shimano hydraulic brakes which kind of breaks the deal for me

@Andrew_P Please don't tell me how fantastic your carbon Grade is because I just don't want to know, especially as the new C2W season is approaching and I might be able to do a deal with my LBS to allow a cash top-up.

I have to admit, my GT Traffic 1.0 commuter machine is just so good at commuting in all conditions with little maintenance using only lower spec Deore components that I already believe the Grade would be equally as capable with it's 105 parts.

 

[OskarTennisChampion]

Check out the Pinnacle range from Evans. Quality bikes for their prices.

I ride one on my commute (Pinnacle Pyrolite). Aluminium has come a long way in recent years in the build and comfort stakes.

For example.
Pinnacle Dolomite (2015) 105 spec for £712.
Two caveats though. Only available in L & XL... and the colour.

Pinnacle Dolomite 5 (2016) 105/FSA mix spec for £1000

These are very smart,and my smart money would go on one of these