Road & Touring

I’m looking around for a ‘budget’ road bike and noticed that this model won Best Budget Road Bike recently and also came top of a Cycling Plus group test. Seems to have a similar spec (most Shimano Sora) when compared to a bike in the same price range (Trek 1000), but the Guess has a carbon fork instead of an alloy one. Anyone out there ridden or got one?

How much is your budget ?

Probably not more that £500 max.

they look smart and as you say c+ have been impressed, never seen one close up though.

The Guess looks like reasonable value.

However, compare it with the Carrera Vanquish if you can. They are knocking them out for £489 now and for the money they are very good quality machines. Especially the frame which is triple butted 7005 and the wheels are very strong and lighter than Ksyrium Elite's. I would bet that the Guess is a tad heavier and less stiff then the Carrera.

Having spent the last 6 months racing on a Virago, if I needed another bike with a budget of <£500, I would go for the Vanquish.

Cycling Plus say that next month they will have a test of 'entry level racers' starting from under £500. I think their judgement seems pretty good & it might be worth waiting.

If you are not in a hurry wait until the sales in the autumn and you could get an £800 bike for £500 or less.

Yeah, I noticed that as I’ve got the latest edition of C+. They also did a quick test of a Quest bike costing around £799 and they mentioned the Guess as being better value. I’d more or less made my mind up on the Guess, don’t know if I can wait for the next issue of C+!