First Road Bike – Help Narrowing Down

Whacked this on Bike Radar too so excuse the duplication.

This is my first road bike and am at a complete loss as what to be looking for and purchasing. I’m a keen mountain biker and but buying a road bike is a whole new world.
I went to a local bike shop yesterday and gave my style of riding to the salesman….comfy ride, not too racer, a few hours in the saddle at a time, good components to start with (as Id end upgrading like a fool anyway). Light as possible (would ideally like carbon) and budget around £1600 ish.
I liked the look of the Giant TCR’s but he said they were a little too race orientated and would stay clear for a first road bike….

So I have narrowed down a few that I liked the look of and a Canyon offering too, bit of a colour theme here! They are in no particular order. I would be interested in your thoughts and experiences with the bikes, characteristics, flaws or if Im missing a complete gem somewhere along the line?!

Cube Agree GTC Pro – £1500

Canyon Ultimate CF 9.0 – £1769

Giant Defy Composite 1 – £1750.00

Trek Madone 3.1 – £1500.00

Thanks in advance.

Test ride as many as you can as I wanted a Trek 4.5 but when I test rode it I didn’t like it, especially if its your first road bike.

I’d look at the Cannondale Synapse Carbon and PlanetX RT57 Red aswell.
Trek-very poor wheels (I’ve had a few)
Cube-seem freakishly short TT’s.
Canyon-can’t beat the spec…unsure about the rest.
Giant-Great frame and spec(although own brand, the wheels are VERY good)It’s where my money would go if I had’nt already got a winter bike….and it’d go nicely with my TCR Sl Isp 😀

I love my synapse, good ride, and meets your spec. I would agree with Kuco! Try em!

Yeah thats good advice but I aint really sure what Im looking for? Something that just clicks??

What didnt you like about the 4.5? And did you make a choice on something else?

Some nice bikes there. Not a massive fan of the Giants but that’s just personal choice.

Have you considered the Kuota Kharma at all ?

It was to relaxed geometry for me. I wanted something similar but I ended up with a Cannondale super six which has a lot more racier geometry but it just felt right when I test rode it and it hasn’t disappointed me on the few rides i’ve done on it so far.

Choose a groupset, 105 is a great start; this will narrow your choice down to a price, then choose the one you like most.

Bish bosh, job done.

Thanks for your thoughts..
Anyone tried the Giant TCR?

I’ve got a TCR advanced 1 and would highly recommend one, even as a 1st roadbike. I use an alu defy as a winter bike as well. Both are compact frames, ie sloping top tube. I’m 5’10” and ride a medium in both.

Canyons probably the best bike there. But road riding is completely different to mtbing, you could get a decent starter bike for less then £600, so it’s less of a waste of money if you don’t actually enjoy it, and you can always eventually get something else if you love it.

The Canyon looks horrid if that helps

….comfy ride, not too racer, a few hours in the saddle at a time, good components to start with (as Id end upgrading like a fool anyway). Light as possible (would ideally like carbon) and budget around £1600 ish.

Stevo – you really need to have a good look at the new Planet X RT-57.

Ridiculously good value, it fits your requirements perfectly (have a read of their description rather than me repeating it) and very nicely finished too. I have a Planet X Nanolight Hi Mod and it’s as good a road bike as I’ve ridden (S-Works Roubaix, Litespeed Ti before it…)

I’ve got a TCR advanced 1 and would highly recommend one, even as a 1st roadbike. I use an alu defy as a winter bike as well. Both are compact frames, ie sloping top tube. I’m 5’10” and ride a medium in both.

think Im definitely going to try this one with the rest.

But road riding is completely different to mtbing, you could get a decent starter bike for less then £600

Im sure I’ll love it, and if I do then I’d probably be wanting to upgrade. Best to do it right to start with.

The Canyon looks horrid if that helps

😆

Cubes got a triple on it, so thats out for a start :wink:.

Personally i’d get the Canyon, although they have a bit of a reputation for being pretty stiff so it might be a bit racy.

Stevo – you really need to have a good look at the new Planet X RT-57.

Looking in to it.

Cubes got a triple on it, so thats out for a start

Is that my first roadie school boy error 🙁

Get a bike fit done, and base your choice on that. I used Bike Science, and bought a Planet X Pro Carbon.

Like you, I have MTB’d a bit, but road bikes were new territory.

The bike fit will ensure that you get in to the right position, or will mean you buy the right bike, and slowly adjust the position to your optimum over time.

Not cheap, but cheaper than buying the wrong bike.

You can also get the Cubes in double.

You can also get the Cubes in double.

Phew 🙂

Get a bike fit done, and base your choice on that. I used Bike Science, and bought a Planet X Pro Carbon.

Yeah I think that is a good idea. The bike shop I was in recently said once the bike was purchased they then would set the bike up (bike fit me) then. Is that the wrong way round maybe?

In that range for me it would be a 2012 Trek Madone 3.5. They are £1600 at Evans right now – check the reviews on Cycling Plus/Bike Radar. I f I had the cash I would be having on for sure

Yeah I think that is a good idea. The bike shop I was in recently said once the bike was purchased they then would set the bike up (bike fit me) then. Is that the wrong way round maybe?

So long as the frame is the right size and shape, they can fit it to you by fiddling with stems, saddle position etc.

The Retul fit at Bike Science is much more scientific, and measures to millimetre precision. It really is an eye opener. And I was a big cynic.

On a road bike you’ll spend more time in a fixed position, whereas on the MTB you move around a bit more so while the fit is important, it’s a touch less critical.

I have a few injury issues, and since having the fit and getting the bike, I have had no bike related issues. I also got an alternative TT/Triathlon fit done, so I have the measurements to swap from road to TT/Tri easily.

I can’t recommend a proper Retul fit highly enough, especially if you have no roadie background.

+1 to the pro bike fit idea

I got a cannondale six 105 2010 because it was cycling plus bike of the year and have been very happy with it. Not 100% sure im on the right size though tbh

Potential for being flamed here, but bike fits are all well and good, but did you have one for your mountain bike? A decent bike shop should set you up well – as will the guys at Planet X. If you’re near Rotherham, they’ll spend quality time with you and if you check the specs on the website, most of their bikes have the option to custom tune stem length, bar width etc. When I was there last they spent a long time with me and a mate looking at new kit – and they seriously know their onions.

You’ll see that in very broad terms, carbon road bikes are split into two types (at the price point you’re talking) race replica and the less stretched out sportive style. If like a lot of blokes, you’re not that flexible, you may appreciate a slightly more upright style (closer, but nowhere near the same as mountaim bike) and something like the Spesh Roubaix / Secteur, Giant Defy (I think) and the Planet X RT-57 – amongst many others of course – are designed for that. Still look like Tour de France bikes, but are comfier for the kind of riding you put in your original post. HTH.

[EDIT] – a good point by Mary Hinge there on the benefits of bike fit. I do see the thinking / benefits, but IMHO it’s not a vital requirement, and not everyone who rides a road bike has had one done, I’m sure.

Scott CR1, top notch carbon frame, not as racy geometry as Addict or Foil.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/scott/cr1-team-compact-2011-road-bike-ec025491

2011 BMC Pro Machine , lot of bike for the money http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/pro-machine-slc01-105-2011-road-bike-ec026388

BMC Roadracer SL02
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc/roadracer-sl02-2011-road-bike-ec024690#BVRRWidgetID

Something a bit different, Litespeed M1
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/litespeed/m1-sram-apex-2011-road-bike-ec029424

Comfy and quick Spesh Roubaix elite
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/roubaix-elite-compact-2012-road-bike-ec030133

Just a quick note, im sure I’ve seen that litespeed not being reviewed that well. Google it

+1 for getting a fitting. I had one done before getting my first ‘posh’ bike and it highlighted how far off my old bike had been position wise.
I knew i had shortish legs but didn’t know i had long monkey arms as well. Made frame choice slightly difficult as i needed a smallish frame with long top tube (ended up with Lynskey Cooper M/L) and still need to have a 120mm stem to try to reach my optimal position.
They sort out optimium crank lengths drop from saddle etc as well as saddle height/for and aft positioning.
Well worth it, as road bike fit is vital compared to mtb and you’ll only need measuring once.

I’d go for the Cube on looks alone.

I you dont mind (handmade Italian) alu, a 2011 De Rosa Milanino with Veloce and Fulcrum R7s can be picked up for under £1200 now. Gorgeous looking bit of kit.

when the guy at the shop talked about ‘race orientated’ he meant the relative length of the top tube and stem, also height difference from the saddle to the bars, some of these bikes have a pretty ‘racey’ geometry so I would try the TCR as well

don’t worry about the relative differences between groupsets, the wheels are much more important

…or if you’re not fussy about labels, get along to Halfords and pick up a Boardman which will probably be better spec’d and lighter than all the others mentioned.

The spec on the Madone 3.5 is quite amazing for the price, plus you get the lifetime warranty etc. Cyclingplus reckoned it outrode bikes twice the price. just wish Santa would bring me one

Im sure I’ll love it, and if I do then I’d probably be wanting to upgrade. Best to do it right to start with.

Yeah but all the bikes mentioned here are worth upgrading. But if you buy a cheapish starter bike, then you find you hate it, it’s easier to sell, with less loss to you. If you find you love it, it’s easier to sell to raise funds for a really nice bit of kit, or you keep it, slam mudguards on it, and call it your winter bike. Just a thought.

Not so sure about getting a fitting, the big and i mean big problem is your flexibility or probable lack of.

The idea is to get into a position that will be aerodynamic, but the more extreme the position the harder it can be to get comfy. You need to adapt the body to fit the position, if that makes sense.

What may happen is that if your bars are too low you’ll get neck and shoulder pain, but time can get you to adapt and strength the relevant muscles so you can hold that position without pain.

You would in my opinion be better talking to a decent roadie orientated shop they should get you the right size and tweak it to fit you, then as you get used to riding maybe look at tweaking the position, slowly drop the bars etc. consider that the saddle matters ALOT!! you will be in the saddle for a long time and minor annoyances can be become a real pain.

As for bikes, it doesn’t matter that much, get one that looks nice and you like.

Giant TCR’s but he said they were a little too race orientated and would stay clear for a first road bike….

Knickers to that.

At the moment I’m riding a TCR1 and a PX SL Pro. The Giant is very stiff in the right places, but is waaaay more compliant than the more flexy Planet X.
Giant is a well known advocate of stiffness combined with ride comfort. That’s why I think they’re a good choice for punters like us.

All good choices though.
4th Cube, because all the ones in the club are cracked.
3rd Canyon, blinding spec but a little unknown. Yes I know pros ride bikes with Canyon written on them.
2nd Giant, wheels on that might be branded up DT Swiss as Giant own them.
1st Madone, superbe all rounder, all faults ironed out though a little long in the tooth now.

If you look around you can get a Cannondale Caad 10 Dura Ace for £2000

sorry to harp on, but the Trek Madone 3.5 has a top rated carbon frame and a mix of Ultegra and 105, and can be got for only £1600 – so I have been telling the wife for the last week, to no avail…. 😡

Please Santa !

Why d’ya need to spend so much on a first road bike? Seems daft. Merry Christmas 😉

I’ve never heard that Giant own DT Swiss, and neither company makes any reference to this. I was wondering where you’d heard that?
…and as said above I’m quite surprised that someone would spend so much on a first road bike and especially considering buying such disparate bikes and asking random random people on an Internet forum. I’d really suggest going to a couple of decent road shops and trying a few different bikes out.

Have you thought about a Boardman? Im in the same boat as you, mtber with a curiosity to explore……
I looked at a few bikes but nothing came close to the Boardman in regards value for money…expecially with almost 30% off RRP at the moment. If you can get over the Halfords ‘thing’ (and i genuinely dont give a shit what name is printed on the frame) i cant imagine much better for the money. Ive just unboxed it..cheers Santa!

I don’t see the issue with spending this much, plenty of people spend that (and far more) on a first ‘proper’ bike without knowing if they even enjoy cycling- that’s a far bigger risk. If I’d come into road riding via my Allez I’m not sure I’d have liked it; heavy slow and uncomfortable – why not spend a bit more to get it right first time!

For my money, on paper, it’d be the Madone. I’ve still got a 2004 Madone SL 5.9, and it still makes me smile, great bike!