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Unexpectedly in the market for a new road bike (after mine was written off in an RTC last night).
Previous was a Specialized Roubaix Comp and it suited my riding. Regular short (90 minute) training rides, 50 mile plus weekend rides, the odd Sportive, a handful of rides in France each year with some bigger hills. I'm not racing and often on social rides where comfort is more important than outright speed.
I wasn't planning on replacing it any time soon so hadn't been looking. Current shortlist is below - what should I be adding to it? Any bargains about (I need a frame over 60cm which narrows down the selection)?
Budget is £2-2500. 105 Groupset is fine. I only usually ride road in the dry so discs feel essential but it's an option at this sort of price (are the Shimano BR785 up to snuff? [url= http://www.cyclist.co.uk/cannondale/synapse-carbon-105/1227/cannondale-synapse-carbon-105-disc-review ]This review[/url] complains of them overheating
[b]Specialzed Roubaix [/b]would have been the obvious choice but I can't find any 2016 models in my size and not keen on the complexity of the 2017 model. Diverge might be the alternative.
[b]Cannondale Synapse [/b]Carbon 105 some 2016's around at a decent discount. Reviews criticise the wheels but could upgrade them from new.
[b]Canyon[/b] seemed an obvious place to check but the cheapest Endurance Disc is £3k
Anything to really avoid at the moment (push fit BB's seem to be hard to get away from)
Defy Advanced Pro 1 with Ultegra di2 and carbon wheels for £100 over budget?
Giant Defy, Trek Domane from the main brands.
Ribble Endurance or PX RTD if you want to go online.
Defy Advanced Pro 1 with Ultegra di2 and carbon wheels
I'd stretch to that but the biggest size is 56cm and I need at least a 61cm frame
Pauls have the Pro 2 for £1800 though. hmmm
Focus Paralane is well worth looking at. Diverge also, as previously mentioned.
56cm is XL in the Defy I believe, because of the compact frame shape (sloping top tube).
Might be worth looking into the geometry anyway?
56cm is XL in the Defy I believe, because of the compact frame shape (sloping top tube).
Thank's for that - you're right. Other sites were just listing XL and so was the size chart i'd seen.
I love my Synapse. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.
I have a Roubaix SL4 which is comfortable enough for the same kind of riding but not so rewarding for short hooligan rides. I test-rode a Synapse courtesy of Cyclist magazine at the Olympic road track and was disappointed; it felt sluggish but that may have been due to the tyres. I won't want a new Roubaix with all that shock absorbing stuff, which is fine in dry California but will clog with grit in wet England, same as my USE supension post did.
So like you I'm going to be a bit stuck when it comes to replacing the Roubaix. I will want disc brakes though.
Mason Definition? I think that is more or less on budget.
Ah....just spotted the >60cm thing. Kinesis T5 Disc?
£2K? Synapse? How about the Ultegra - http://www.drakescycles.co.uk/m1b100s6p5216/CANNONDALE_Synapse_SM_Ultegra_CRB_2016
(Number of times I've hovered over the buy button on that site!)
Damn -biggest is 58cm. Sorry 🙁
Wheelies have the 61cm
http://www.wheelies.co.uk/p83210/Cannondale-Synapse-SM-Carbon-Disc-Ultegra-3-2017-Road-Bike.aspx
Wheelies have the 61cm
but undiscounted 2017 model. I'm going to see if i can pick up an end of line first.
I, too, am avoiding the press fit bottom bracket scenario - other people's experience with these do vary, but I really don't want to take the chance.
Also still unsure about the fragility of carbon frames (maybe paranoid, but it's my money) and wanted to go with flat mount calipers, so the choices suddenly get narrowed somewhat.
Kona roadhouse is nice, but tricky to get in frameset only.
Genesis Equilibrium Disc almost had it, but is flat mount frame and post mount fork.
Finally discovered the Kinesis Racelight 4s disc frameset. The only slight niggle is that it doesn't have the internally routed fork of other Kinesis frames.
May not suit your requirements, but you can make that decision yourself.
I prefer an external BB myself on principle, but TBF teh press-fit ones I've had on road bikes have been utterly faultless. Sram and Shimano.
I suppose they don't get the caked in shit/submerged in water treatment that mtb bb's do. My old road bike external BB had lasted 8 years or so and I think it was probably a ridiculous trip across a muddy field followed by a dip in a canal was probably what finished it off.
Cannondale frames are the lightest of the big names ime, that would be the main factor for me
Can much be salvaged from the old bike? (groupset, wheels?) May be able to get something nice as frame only with a few extra bits.
Can much be salvaged from the old bike? (groupset, wheels?) May be able to get something nice as frame only with a few extra bits.
Not really - both shifters completely bent out of shape. Wheels were cheap OEM shimano.
Just had a look at the Specialized Diverge. Geometry and frame tech is basically the same as the old Roubaix but will take even wider tyres. N+1 bikes as always.
Wondering if a gravel-y bike might be a sensible buy. 2kg ish weight penalty but abilty to carry luggage, take off road, proper/better mudguards.
i have a 2015 Disc SL4 Roubaix and whilst it is a comfortable bike, it's difficult to describe, but it is really soul-less, it does do anything badly, it just doesn't excite in any way. Upgraded over time to full hydro brakes and ultegra and Stans wheels, but still doesn't do it.
I'd am looking at the disc Synapse as potentially next bike.
With regards to the bottom bracket. Just take out whatever rubbish OEM BB30 it comes fitted with and fit a Praxis one, so much better, mine lasted 8000 miles including 2 winters and Paris Roubaix fine.
Mason do a 60cm, if you're in the south, maybe worth asking them for a quick try on one? I've a definition and it really is a very, very good bike. I can't fathom how Dom Mason has produced such a comfy, stable bike that has as much get up and go as it does. Very much recommended.
Pauls knocked another £150 off the Defy Pro 2 was looking at which settled it. Should arrive tomorrow. Full Ultegra, Discs, their own DT Swiss based wheelset all for £1650.
Genesis Datum is my current lust bike in a bid to consolidate all road bikes into one. Comfort biased road bike capable of guards and bigger rubber.
Synapse is nice but supersix is pretty comfy and rides nicer IMHO. Decent deals on them too.
You won't be disappointed with the Advanced Pro 2, I've had mine since May and it's a great bike. I did have a few warranty issues, but all sorted in jig time by LBS who is a Giant Dealer.
Warranty issues? What failed?
Lack of guard mounts seems to be the one obvious downside of the Dety.
now, I know we're all slagging off PX at the moment, but they've just brought out a stainless steel [url= http://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/road-bikes/holdsworth-strada ]bike[/url]. Bloody lovely.
Slightly over budget, but give it a couple of weeks it'll be well under.
Not disc, but proper BB. Only 7.6kg for a steel bike, that'll never rust, and you'll not see another.
and being steel you'll be able ride it all day
[i]but they've just brought out a stainless steel bike. Bloody lovely.[/i]
It does look lovely. Except for one tiny detail: Not disc brake.
In the STW tradition of recommending stuff I own or have owned and liked:
1, KTM Revelator - Great bike. Recommended by mboy from here and I'm not sorry I bought it. Climbs well, goes quick on the flat and downhill. It's a bit neon but it's growing on me. Merlin doing an ultegra disc or an ultegra DI2 for your budget but the DI2 is the largest and only goes to a 59.
2, CAAD 10/12 disc - Considered to be "harsh" but I can't say I've experienced that. Quick bike and good spec for the money as it's an alu frame
3, Synapse - Had one, loved it, broke it, bought #1 as a replacement.
now, I know we're all slagging off PX at the moment, but they've just brought out a stainless steel bike. Bloody lovely.
For £2k?! I'd be giving Brian Rourke a call...
They're more expensive than a Rourke at the moment, but bearing in mind they've got to have a sale on them at some point...
They're more expensive than a Rourke at the moment, but bearing in mind they've got to have a sale on them at some point...
Even allowing for a sale, you're well into custom territory. With the added bonus of not having to deal with Planet X.
Even allowing for a sale, you're well into custom territory. With the added bonus of not having to deal with Planet X.
It'll be in their Fibnonaci-blackfriday-fireworks-xmas-itsadayendinginay sale soon for £8.99 so just hold off...........
simons_nicolai-uk - Member
Warranty issues? What failed?
The first frame was slightly out of tolerance on the seatstays, wheel offset a couple of mm - I didn't notice it for a month or so, but took it back, shop agreed and Giant actually replaced the whole bike, as it was less workshop time, due internal routing etc - shop just swopped over my tyres, cages etc.
Then about a month ago I noticed a small depression on the fork :
[url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/dent-in-carbon-road-fork ]this thread[/url]
which was replaced without any issue.