storck listed in the same magazine that accompanies the tests, sasme model as tested £2074, test for 1-2 thousand pounds, who makes these rules, then changes them?

Interesting how the bikes that came top were all at/near the top of the price range...

According to Storck website pricing for 105 model is £2119.00 ...

http://www.velorefined.co.uk/Storck_Bikes_Pricing.htm

I've just been looking at pricing as well. Surely the award should be withdrawn? Submitting a bike in the under £2000 category and then putting the price up when you win seems a bit naughty!

Is this a joke? 105 on a £2K bike? Really?

What a rip off.

Yes, please, withdraw the award from Storck!!! Please, you have my support!

It is hard to see how the award could be withdrawn because of a price rise subsequent to the magazine going to press.

Aren't chassis and wheel quality far more important than the groupset?

£1000 to £2000 and the winners are all at the top of the price point...how unpredictable !!!!!

As Johnny said, spend your money on the quality frame/forks and to a slightly lesser degree wheels, don't worry about the stuff that wears out anyway!

The question really is whether the price rise was known about/deliberate. Hard to imagine they'd be cynical enough to do it on purpose, at least that's what I'd like to think...?

Velorefined are incredibly expensive when you use their builds. Just have a look how much they charge for a 105 build on a frame!! :0

Here's the official word from Storck UK

The new 2011 Storck Scenero was actually supplied to magazine before the VAT increase etc. and was priced at £1999.00 at the time of the test, although all Storck dealers have agreed to continue supplying the bicycle as tested at £1999.00 for the duration of the 'Bike Of The Year' issue. Based on the current VAT figure the price should be £2119.00 (Not £2199.00), so please let me know which dealers you have contacted and I will make sure you receive the price as tested.

The reason for the increased price is that the bicycle its self actually has a value (sum of its parts) of over £2500.00 leaving little margin for cost fluctuations at the reduced price of £1999.00 so we have to constantly monitor these figures. Storck are a relatively small manufacturer and are not able to fix prices on huge volume orders with suppliers etc. So while the frame price of £1254.00 will remain fixed for this season, the cost of the components can fluctuate. The biggest issue we have right now is that everything is selling out and are now waiting on new shipments of frames to arrive.

I will add a note to our new Storck UK website (www.storck-bicycle.co.uk ) in the news section stating that all 105 equipped Scenero's as tested in Cycling Plus ordered between March 1st and April 1st are priced at £1999.00.

Please contact me directly on 01622 762055 if you would like any further help or information

Hope that clears things up

johnnyv111 -"Aren't chassis and wheel quality far more important than the groupset?"

I would say they are of equal importance to myself. I can't understand why many £1000+ bike come with a FSA gossemer rather than the crankset that matches the rest of the groupset or why people seem happy to settle for less.

Good to see raleigh in there though.

Given the budget I would far rather have the superior frame with functional kit like 105 and then replace it with Dura Ace or boutique parts as it wears out. If you are planning to keep the bike "as is" then perhaps the cog weight and crisp shifting might be more important, but if you wanted to upgrade the frame later you'd be turning out your pockets.

A riddle...if I have been riding a Raleigh Professional all winter then why has nobody paid me yet?

You know, knowing how good the new 5700 series 105 is meant to be, I wouldn't mind having it over Ultegra and Dura Ace if the frame/wheelset combo was good enough. So would you complain about a '£3k bike with only 105' if the bike in question was a Boardman Air/TT? I'd have to ride the bikes myself to give a definitive judgement, but the Raleigh seems to be the best value.

And oh you little mongeese: of course it's more likely that the more expensive bikes come higher than the other ones! It's just that The onus is on those who buy the bikes to just pick the best in their budget! Wouldn't it be odd if the more expensive bikes were WORSE than their cheaper siblings? I could complain about Storck but I can't complain about this. Actually, Storck's come clean: I still feel cheated and hurt but I can't really complain about this either.

Most of the bikes were at the top of the price range because the difference in frame materials, components and wheels can be vast between a bike costing £1000 and one costing close to £2000. Generally, and i say generally, the more you spend on the bike and its componenets (upto a point until you are just paying for outright kudos) then the more comfort you get when using the bike, the differences however can be subtle and it all depends on how much you can or are are willing to spend v's if these subtle riding characteristics really matter to you. A bike is made up of 3 things really, frame, gears and wheels. The more expensive frames give you full carbon providing a more comfortable ride over aluminium, more expensive gears give crisper shifting with lesser error, and more expensive wheels give you reliability and ease for climbing.

I have a Storck and the ride is second to none, ive had de rosa, bianchi, colnago etc and it is by far the best. It feels rock solid, totally reliable but also forgiving with a suppleness to it which makes it ultra comfy over distance. I think this storck is overpriced at £1999 with shimano 105...

...But if you are willing to spend £2000, then chuck an extra £100-200 and get the group upgraded? or look elsewhere.

Dammit...my Cannondale Six isn't bike of the year anymore :(

Magazine reviews are worthless.

Sorry Geronamid I don't agree and I suspect.... neither do you! I find these reviews critical in selecting a new bike. not always to buy the winner, often too expensive, but to ensure that what you buy within the range they tested is good value for money.

I went through several reviews to decide which of the bikes I wanted to buy, egthe ones I liked in the top 10 and then went round the dealers to get the best deal across these....

Also these reviews ( n.b.in France where I live the cycling press also produce highly technical assessments) push the manufacturers to produce good quality performance product. I am not after glitz on a bike (marketing) but want to ensure the frame is rigid enough and the bike steers well, something you cannot pick up without these reviews. However I do agree with the comments further up..., it would be good to take the Top 5 from the initial selection and ride them for10,000kms to then rerview the final selection.

My view are these reviews push the innovative quality manufacturers to seee the annual sales benefit of trying harder. Manufacturers that don't push themselves fall by the wayside. Net result; better bikes and better value for all! Thanks Cycling Plus for taking the effort to do this impartially, instead of simply taking manufacturers advertising to prop up sales revenue! I guess the manufacturers also respect you for this.

To follow though, I liked the Felt F3 that did so well in the 2010 review. I read and heard feedback from users that the FELT F3 for 2011 was even better ( I guess that was difficult). So I plumped for a deal on this one at the end of the 2011 season. Rides like a dream,and drives!... and I guess I would have been equally happy with any of the top 10 of the winners in the GBP2,000 bracket this year!

Only negative has been already mentioned by Cycling Plus editor last year.....yes,....white handlebar tape!