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I’m curious as to where the rim brake aficionados sit re. Di2
Never tried it but it looks good!
ditto 11 speed…
More gears are good, but whilst my alu gravel bike is 11speed with discs my road bike is 9 speed, carbon and rim brakes, I still like riding it, although I do use the gravel bike as a winter road bike.
Discs on a pure road bike are nice but not a deal breaker for me. I am a bit bemused by the op never having had a road bike but having so many must haves. Carbon or Alu, not any real difference tbh, disc or non disc is less of an issue than say a good fit.
I'd have disks before carbon frame and far before di2.
It's nice.... But offers me nothing cables don't. Unlike disks which offer consistent braking.
Did I mention disks yet ?
Try sticking a 28c gp4000 in an r8000 ...... It will fit - I wouldn't fancy riding it. Seen more clearance on a yeti dh9 rocker bearing seat.
Unless you’re bothered about saving a few grams of weight then I really see no issues with disk brakes
I'm exceedingly guilty of derailling any disc-ish thread with my stock arguments against discs, so I'll just jeep it brief, there are numerous issues with discs that perhaps don't matter to everyone but exist nonetheless.
Cost, lack of adjustability, noise in wet conditions. Lets just say for a lot less money (and yes, weight) I have a fleet of rim braked bikes that I will happily and safely ride in all conditions, discs add literally nothing to my riding experience except squeeling and occasional unpredictable rubbing.
Anyway, I need to step away, I had promised myself I'd stop arguing about disc brakes on STW 😀
Anyway, I need to step away, I had promised myself I’d stop arguing about disc brakes on STW 😀
Well I wont bite then as I have stock answers to all of your stock arguments....
Old enough to remember the same arguements about v brakes for xc racers...... Weight reliability etc etc.
Even at dry races these days (even lower level privateers/amateurs)..... Don't see many v brakes these days if at all.
I have v brakes on my fixie because it's an ancient singlecross. They work. But they remind me why we don't use them on the xc bike anymore every time I ride it.
If you already have a CX/Gravel bike, I'd get a road bike with racey geometry to give you a different riding experience. My 'racey' bike is no less comfortable over long distances than my 'endurance' style bike, and is far more fun to ride.
I'd be looking at TCR's and Supersix's rather than Defys and Synapses.
I'd say go aero, there were some cracking deals out there on Propel Disc 2s (~£1400 IIRC) before lockdown, but you won't fit anything like 32mm tyres on a Propel!
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/YBCL1917173/planet-x-pro-carbon-evo-disc-sram-force-22-road-bike-small-gloss-black-white might fit for £1700.
Rim brake aficionado here. I won’t be swapping. I do like my alloy rims though. Even with carbon fairings on my fastest wheels.
Even at dry races these days (even lower level privateers/amateurs)….. Don’t see many v brakes these days if at all.
The difference on the road is that until recently disc brakes were banned in races, so there is not a lot of swapping. In a bunch race there is no real advantage of a disk brake under normal race conditions. Carbon rims? That’s different in the wet. But I’ve never been scared racing my 60mm Giant pslr carbon. Even in the wet.
If you must have disc, giant defy to budget is always my first/beginner choice. The Roubaix has a sky high head tube by comparison. If you are between sizes, size down.
There’s actually very little difference in handling between a defy and a propel. The aero of the propel is faster. And I have tested both in circuit and road races. I’ve also ridden both over 100 miles at a time.
For purity and a one race bike to do it all, i’d probably go TCR though. Giant offer amazing value for money. It would be quite a difference to a gravel bike.
I’m curious as to where the rim brake aficionados sit re. Di2 (or in fact combined brake/gear shifters 😉) considering that they also add weight, complexity and aren’t strictly necessary… ditto 11 speed…
TBH I'd rather upgrade my rim braked bike to di2 than buy a whole new disc braked one ;)...
I wasn't shouting at the moon, I did acknowledge that discs (hydraulic) are the better option if you can afford them, 2nd hand buyers will be looking 2nd hand mainly for budgetary reasons.
But the OP has stated discs and big tyres are mandatory, that should really be an end to derailing this thread with more disc debate.
I like the synapse (cos I rode one), its been about long enough to be available 2nd hand, there are some nice touches like hidden guard bosses, I know 2018(+) models should clear 32s. But I would be thinking about a pressfit adapter if I got one.
But then I have to say by the time I'm ready to join the modern age of road bikes with rotors I could be more tempted by a Rourk 853 disc which probably shakes out similarly price wise, depending on what you bolt to it...