Road bike for the village elder
Discussion
I've been doing the new bike trawl lately, looking for a road bike to suit the older gentleman for high days and holidays. My main concerns are to find something as usable and comfortable as possible. More fragile out and out racers are less desirable but not discounted altogether.
I'd like the shifters to not have the separate downshift stump, which means 2013 Sora or something better if older. Extras like rear mudgaurd eyelets are welcome for the usability factor. Compacts with a large rear cassette are OK (i.e. a 34 chainring with 28 tooth or above), or a triple.
There are a few models that seem to cater for these needs with a more relaxed geometry, usually touted under the Roubaix banner, such as Specialized Secteur or Cannondale Synapse. My front runner at the moment is the Felt Z85 which seems good value for money, and my only reservations are over the chainset and old fashioned square taper BB.
The other contender so far has been the Canyon Roadlite 6.0, and is the only bike I've seen which has a well rounded build out of the box. Every other one makes you factor in a proper set of tyres / brakes etc., but that is presumably an effect of the price point (up to £900ish).
If anyone has any other suggestions that can top the Felt Z85 linked above I'd be grateful.
I'd like the shifters to not have the separate downshift stump, which means 2013 Sora or something better if older. Extras like rear mudgaurd eyelets are welcome for the usability factor. Compacts with a large rear cassette are OK (i.e. a 34 chainring with 28 tooth or above), or a triple.
There are a few models that seem to cater for these needs with a more relaxed geometry, usually touted under the Roubaix banner, such as Specialized Secteur or Cannondale Synapse. My front runner at the moment is the Felt Z85 which seems good value for money, and my only reservations are over the chainset and old fashioned square taper BB.
The other contender so far has been the Canyon Roadlite 6.0, and is the only bike I've seen which has a well rounded build out of the box. Every other one makes you factor in a proper set of tyres / brakes etc., but that is presumably an effect of the price point (up to £900ish).
If anyone has any other suggestions that can top the Felt Z85 linked above I'd be grateful.
Nothing wrong with a square taper chainset. The Bottom Bracket will last 10 times as long as an external.
I don't know much about the FSA chainset. They used to make superb MTB kit (they may still do) and I'd be surprised if you'd notice anything 'bad' about it. Possibly the least important componenet for an upgrade on any bike, although easy to swap for something else.
The Felt looks pretty good spec to me.
I don't know much about the FSA chainset. They used to make superb MTB kit (they may still do) and I'd be surprised if you'd notice anything 'bad' about it. Possibly the least important componenet for an upgrade on any bike, although easy to swap for something else.
The Felt looks pretty good spec to me.
Edited by HardWorkers on Wednesday 8th August 17:31
HardWorkers said:
Nothing wrong with a square taper chainset. The Bottom Bracket will last 10 times as long as an external.
Wasn't aware of that. Losing a bit of sophistication for a improved longevity is a plus for me.Thanks for the replies, just attempting to pick between two sizes as the recipient is right in the middle. Is there a general rule about slightly bigger or smaller bikes being more or less comfortable for someone of diminished flexibility?
Furberger said:
Nothing wrong if you don't want your peddals to be 180 degrees apart.... but ST BB's do seem to last much longer, agreed.
Furberer, would you mind explaining both of these points please? Surely a square taper BB will leave your pedals 180 degrees apart (or 90/270 but no one would use that). And why do they last longer?Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff