I'm looking at buying a new bike but am a bit lost and would much appreciate some advice/ experiences/ opinions
I'm after a road bike around the £2k mark that:
Has hydralic disc brakes
Has st least 105 groupset
Is able to manage tyres up to 35mm
Has a relaxed/ comfortable endurance/ ride all day geometry frame
Anything considered with the above criteria.
Many thanks in advance
Giant Defy Advanced 2 2021 Carbon
Try find a 2019 Trek Domane Disc (for 2020 the Domane frame is heavy)
I’d opt for Giant(rim brake) likely second hand as they are almost all disc now. The weight of disc brake road bike still puts me off !! Unless your throwing £5k plus
Giant Defy Advanced 2 2021 Carbon
^^This^^
The difficult entry on your wishlist is 35mm tyre clearance (because clearance isn't always published, and it's on the large side).
The rest of the list is basically now what many brands promote as their main model.
So accept smaller clearance (plenty now come with 30mm or 32mm) or focus on figuring out who satisfies your need for 35mm...
Genesis Volare sounds like it might fit the bill? Steel, sexy, comfy. Might not quite get the clearance though.
I have the giant defy advanced 2 2020 model. Great bike. I'd consider budgeting an extra 300 quid for lighter tyres/wheels as the ones that come as standard will be like boat anchors.
I dropped over a kilo by replacing the pr2 time and fondo tyres with some gp4000s and prime wheels. The stock wheels are very very heavy!
Its a great bike though, I ride it more than my much more expensive tcr.
Giant Defy Advanced 2 2021 Carbon or Canyon Endurace CF SL Disc 7.0 are at the top of the list so far. Does anyone own either? Canyon spec looks miles better...not sure why at the same price.
Please keep the recommendations/ comments/ opinions coming, they're all much appreciated.
I'm thinking 28-32mm tyres depending on weather conditions
With the usual 'recommend what you've got' the Giant Defy ticked the same boxes for me a few years ago at that price point.
I've only got 28mm on mine but the link above says it comes with 32 and is good for up to 35 now.
Wheels look like they're probably similar to mine - Giant rims and hubs with DT internals. Front has needing a bit of tensioning (and I added a bit of thread lock that has stopped the spokes coming loose). There are a few non-standard parts which are only an issue if you plan to swap stuff. The seat post is D shaped and the steerer is 1-1/4 "overdrive" so if you wanted to change the stem you'd need to get another Giant.
Mine was meant to have some compatible fenders but they seemed to withdraw them before they were ever available. looks like they've got a new design for the 2021 but sounds like not without issues. https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/speedshield-defy---contend-disc-fender
Boardman SLR 9.2 Isn’t too bad either.
Spa cycles ti elan? Will take 37mm tyres I think.
Anything should be comfy by the time you put 35mm tyres on it.
Well, I went through all this recently, and ended up with a Cube Attain because it was in stock. It has Ultegra mechs and cranks and it was only 2000€ from bike-discount.de
It would probably take 32c, but the mudguards made for it can only take 28c. I was concerned about 28c but the rims are wide, the tyres come up big, and I really can't imagine putting any more on it for road use. The tyre are fine even on the very worst bit of road in my area.
This could be a double post so sorry if it is - minor hiccup with the page reloading...
Bowman Weald for me. Thing of beauty.
I’ve got a Domane and it’s a comfy bike without doubt, but it’s also a tad bland.
The Volare as mentioned is a good call but don’t think it can take 32mm tyres.
The Bownan is a beautiful looking bike, friend picks his up in Feb. Jammy sod!!
ag.
https://www.devercycles.co.uk/bikes/road-bikes/2020-merida-silex-6000-gravel-bike-in-blue__50575?
Ignore store, no nothing of them but the bike looks really nice. Close to mountain bike geometry on a road frame...
Spesh Roubaix
Scott Addict - comes with 30mm tyres but space for more
I have the canyon. All I can say about it is I don’t normally ride road but it was comfortable enough for me to to ride 300 miles across Europe in three days. Including crossing the Pyrenees.
Anything you can find in stock. Good luck!
Yep, it will depend more on what you can find in stock that fits your criteria rather than just finding all the bikes that fit the criteria but won't be available for a year or more.
Why wouldn’t a road bike be comfy?
And why the want for such wide tyres?
Ribble endurance SL in blue, saw one at the weekend. Gorgeous.
Spesh Roubaix
Unfortunately the cheapest Roubaix, the Sport with 105, is now £2900. That would be my choice though, I really like the future shock.
Scott Addict
Cervelo C3 is the endurance/ more relaxed range and can fit big tyres. I have one and its exactly that. I think its called the Caledonia now. Probably slightly above the 2k mark but if you find one spec'd with 105 it should get close. And easily under budget if you go Used.
Cube Attain because it was in stock. It has Ultegra
K's Cube is nice.
For the sort of use most of us put road bikes to - ie a bit of training and leisure riding rather than racing - there's not much to choose between them IMO. Geometry really doesn't change much between brands, there might be some small weight differences (theres a few hundred grams between the Giant and Canyon) but not that are going to make any difference in use (and for bashing around on I'd avoid really super light road frames as they are really thin).
buy one you like the look of....