Presenter Challenge: What’s the best bike we can buy for under £2,000?

If you were given £2,000 to spend on a bike - what would you go for? Something brand new or would you be savvy and look for a second-hand bargain?

When that question was posed to our presenters Si Richardson, Alex Paton and guest presenter Mark Threlfall from Global Triathlon Network, they were all in agreement that a second-hand bike was the only option. With the aid of Buycyle, a dedicated online marketplace for buying and selling bikes we found three beauties that fell within budget and were up for the challenge.

In this video we see how they got on, but first let’s check out the bikes and the challenge ahead.

Alex Paton: Cannondale SuperSix Evo – £1,765

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Alex Paton's Cannondale SuperSix Evo weighed an impressive 6.9kg

Alex went for this striking blue Cannondale SuperSix Evo. It has a carbon frame, top spec ENVE wheels, a Shimano Ultegra groupset and premium parts throughout. Safe to say he was pretty chuffed with his purchase that came in well below budget – although he did think the colour was a little more lurid than the image he saw online.

Year: 2019

Model: SuperSix Evo

Manufacturer: Cannondale

Front Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra

Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra 11s

Cassette: Dura-Ace 11-30

Crankset: FSA SL-Light (50/34, 175mm)

Handlebars: Cannondale-Lenker

Saddle: SQ-lab 611 Sattel

Wheels: ENVE carbon

Tyres: Continental 5000

Tyre Width: 25mm

Si Richardson: Trek Émonda SL6 –£1,940

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The others said his choice was 'too safe' but Si believes he's picked the best weapon for the job

Si went for the safer, some might say 'more boring' option of this Trek Émonda. It's a neat bike with wider tyres, newer tech and is an all round more practical choice. How will it fair in the the challenges though?

Year: 2022

Model: Émonda SL6

Manufacturer: Trek

Groupset: Shimano Ultegra 11s

Crankset: 52-36

Mark Threlfall: Vitus Chrono TT – £1,325

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GTN's Mark Threlfall has made the smart choice with this Vitus Chrono TT. Or has he?

Mark went against the grain a little, although true to his triathlon heritage, as he opted for this TT bike from Vitus. It should undoubtedly be fast but how will it hold up against the others in the other challenges we have in store?

Year: 2020

Model: Chrono TT

Manufacturer: Vitus

Rear Derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace 2x11 speed

Brakes: KCNC

Wheels: Profile Design 58 twentyfour

The challenge

So those are the bikes. What about the challenges the guys will be undertaking? Speed will be of the essence as they will start off by facing a mass start (well, a start of three) race up the iconic Cheddar Gorge climb in the South West of England, followed by a 7km time trial. To round things off they'll have a posing competition outside of a cafe and find out what people think of the bikes.

Who do you think will win? Watch the video at the top of the page now to find out.

For more challenge features be sure to check out our dedicated section on the GCN Website. And don't forget to let us know what you think of the bikes in the comments below this article.

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Making use of the unsurpassed insulation properties of Polartec Alpha — developed for the US Army —this gilet is ideal as an extra layer of protection from wind and light rain. The lining is compact and packable, as confirmed by the riders of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, who have been using it for their cold weather riding. Product Features: The Polartec Alpha Direct is a premium material that has a high insulation value and a sweat-wicking open structure whilst being highly packable. WNDPRF-X99 outer material used in the front of the jacket is windproof and water-repellent. DWR stretch back and sleeve insert provide extra comfort and breathability. Silicone grips on the bottom hem help keep the vest in place. For that extra bit of warmth you might need on wintery rides. 3 year warranty available on this product, find out more information here. Alex wears size medium, Dan wears size large.