Which road bike...£1500-£2000
Discussion
I'm just getting back into cycling after a bit of a gap, and I was thinking about a bike upgrade. Current ride is a 2007 (or thereabouts) Giant TCR Alliance 0, half carbon, half aluminium frame with Mavic Aksium wheels and SRAM Rival 10 speed groupset.
I think what I want is full carbon, hydraulic disc brakes, within a budget of roughly £1.5-£2k. I'm nearly 46, reasonably fit but carrying a few extra pounds, intended use will be mainly recreational solo riding (certainly at the moment!) but perhaps a few club rides (if I join) and the odd sportive. I have had a couple of spinal operations in the past so being realistic I don't want to sacrifice all comfort for out and out stiffness/pace/handing that would be a bit wasted on me.
I'm used to the SRAM "double tap" system, and the last time I rode a Shimano equipped bike many years ago I wasn't sure if I really liked the fact that the brake lever moved in two planes, but I guess I'd be open to either Force or Ultegra unless there is a big difference in cost or performance now.
I'm tempted by the new PX Pro Carbon Evo Disc. I also really like the Ti Spitfire...if only they did it with discs! The Giant TCR Advanced 1 Disc also looks good, and a bit of me wonders if it's better buying from a really big manufacturer...my TCR A 0 has been very good with all credit to Giant.
Is there anything else I should consider? There's a bit of me thinking I'm not getting any younger or about to start racing, so could a PX Hurricane on slightly narrower rubber be a "life" bike that is actually more relevant for the rougher country road tarmac I ride?
Any thoughts gratefully received!
I think what I want is full carbon, hydraulic disc brakes, within a budget of roughly £1.5-£2k. I'm nearly 46, reasonably fit but carrying a few extra pounds, intended use will be mainly recreational solo riding (certainly at the moment!) but perhaps a few club rides (if I join) and the odd sportive. I have had a couple of spinal operations in the past so being realistic I don't want to sacrifice all comfort for out and out stiffness/pace/handing that would be a bit wasted on me.
I'm used to the SRAM "double tap" system, and the last time I rode a Shimano equipped bike many years ago I wasn't sure if I really liked the fact that the brake lever moved in two planes, but I guess I'd be open to either Force or Ultegra unless there is a big difference in cost or performance now.
I'm tempted by the new PX Pro Carbon Evo Disc. I also really like the Ti Spitfire...if only they did it with discs! The Giant TCR Advanced 1 Disc also looks good, and a bit of me wonders if it's better buying from a really big manufacturer...my TCR A 0 has been very good with all credit to Giant.
Is there anything else I should consider? There's a bit of me thinking I'm not getting any younger or about to start racing, so could a PX Hurricane on slightly narrower rubber be a "life" bike that is actually more relevant for the rougher country road tarmac I ride?
Any thoughts gratefully received!
Same age etc as yourself...
Started with a similar spec aluminium framed / carbon fork bike as you about 6 ish years ago. Progressed to a full carbon framed bike with Ultegra about 3-4 years ago (cost just over £1300 as i haggled a great deal on a previous season bike). Just upgraded to a Trek Domane SLR 6 (again last season frame) with latest Ultegra Di2 upgrade - the bike was 2nd hand and had barely been ridden (genuinely immaculate) - chap had just got the wrong frame size. Cost me £1800 towards the end of last year for a bike that would have retailed at that spec for about £4.5k. Some good bargains to be had 2nd hand if you know what you are looking for and are prepared to be patient.
The one thing I would say is don't let your familiarity with double tap limit your choice. My 1st bike was sram and I similarly didn't like the idea of shimano levers being brake/gears but I can honestly say that it took about 5 mins to get used to it and I probably prefer the shimano system now. I still have my double tap bike on my turbo and for extreme winter duties and switching between sram and shimano levers is as easy as driving your own car today and then your wifes tomorrow.
I am similarly lacking in flexibility at 46 hence the Domane SLR as a more endurance biased road bike. It was a toss up between the domane sir and a specialized roubaix.
Good luck with your search
Started with a similar spec aluminium framed / carbon fork bike as you about 6 ish years ago. Progressed to a full carbon framed bike with Ultegra about 3-4 years ago (cost just over £1300 as i haggled a great deal on a previous season bike). Just upgraded to a Trek Domane SLR 6 (again last season frame) with latest Ultegra Di2 upgrade - the bike was 2nd hand and had barely been ridden (genuinely immaculate) - chap had just got the wrong frame size. Cost me £1800 towards the end of last year for a bike that would have retailed at that spec for about £4.5k. Some good bargains to be had 2nd hand if you know what you are looking for and are prepared to be patient.
The one thing I would say is don't let your familiarity with double tap limit your choice. My 1st bike was sram and I similarly didn't like the idea of shimano levers being brake/gears but I can honestly say that it took about 5 mins to get used to it and I probably prefer the shimano system now. I still have my double tap bike on my turbo and for extreme winter duties and switching between sram and shimano levers is as easy as driving your own car today and then your wifes tomorrow.
I am similarly lacking in flexibility at 46 hence the Domane SLR as a more endurance biased road bike. It was a toss up between the domane sir and a specialized roubaix.
Good luck with your search
Edited by Pot Odds on Saturday 11th April 11:00
Lots of people like Planet X but personally I think the frames are s
te, quality control is hit and very miss and they aren’t really anything that special to ride, they are such “good value” for a reason. If you can determine what size you need, and what geometry would suit you, there are bargains out there...
https://www.thebicyclelounge.co.uk/2019-cervelo-r2...
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/271/products/cannond...
https://www.merlincycles.com/look-765-optimum-105-...
My recommendation would be to worry less about the group set, Planet X often mix things up so you don’t get a full group set anyway, plus well set up 105 is already very good, and research which are the good frame sets which is where the bulk of the budget should go....
te, quality control is hit and very miss and they aren’t really anything that special to ride, they are such “good value” for a reason. If you can determine what size you need, and what geometry would suit you, there are bargains out there...https://www.thebicyclelounge.co.uk/2019-cervelo-r2...
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/271/products/cannond...
https://www.merlincycles.com/look-765-optimum-105-...
My recommendation would be to worry less about the group set, Planet X often mix things up so you don’t get a full group set anyway, plus well set up 105 is already very good, and research which are the good frame sets which is where the bulk of the budget should go....
What ever bike you get at that price point will be fine, and give you a lovely ride.
I've also recently got back into road cycling, with a few hundred miles now done since Feb I felt good today after a brisk outing, feeling I was finally getting some fitness back....
Strava sadly showed me how unfit I still am, a full 30 seconds+ slower up a small climb compared to when I was last properly fit
.
As the saying goes 'Its not about the bike'
.
I've also recently got back into road cycling, with a few hundred miles now done since Feb I felt good today after a brisk outing, feeling I was finally getting some fitness back....
Strava sadly showed me how unfit I still am, a full 30 seconds+ slower up a small climb compared to when I was last properly fit
.As the saying goes 'Its not about the bike'
.pablo said:
Lots of people like Planet X but personally I think the frames are ste, quality control is hit and very miss and they aren’t really anything that special to ride, they are such “good value” for a reason. If you can determine what size you need, and what geometry would suit you, there are bargains out there...
https://www.thebicyclelounge.co.uk/2019-cervelo-r2...
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/271/products/cannond...
https://www.merlincycles.com/look-765-optimum-105-...
My recommendation would be to worry less about the group set, Planet X often mix things up so you don’t get a full group set anyway, plus well set up 105 is already very good, and research which are the good frame sets which is where the bulk of the budget should go....
I wouldn't touch a PlanetX. On paper they look a great deal but they just feel wrong to ride and you don't feel involved. te, quality control is hit and very miss and they aren’t really anything that special to ride, they are such “good value” for a reason. If you can determine what size you need, and what geometry would suit you, there are bargains out there...https://www.thebicyclelounge.co.uk/2019-cervelo-r2...
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/271/products/cannond...
https://www.merlincycles.com/look-765-optimum-105-...
My recommendation would be to worry less about the group set, Planet X often mix things up so you don’t get a full group set anyway, plus well set up 105 is already very good, and research which are the good frame sets which is where the bulk of the budget should go....
Same with the on ones.
It's for people who seek value first rather than ride quality and feel.
Try and ride a bike first. They are very personal.
I can only echo what has been said previously I’d avoid PX there are loads of brands to choose from at that price point and you may still find some 2019 models going very cheap try Scott foil for some big discounts. I ride a focus that’s within range although I had to upgrade to carbon wheels a great bike and you don’t see many about which I like.
pablo said:
Lots of people like Planet X but personally I think the frames are ste, quality control is hit and very miss and they aren’t really anything that special to ride, they are such “good value” for a reason. If you can determine what size you need, and what geometry would suit you, there are bargains out there...
https://www.thebicyclelounge.co.uk/2019-cervelo-r2...
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/271/products/cannond...
https://www.merlincycles.com/look-765-optimum-105-...
My recommendation would be to worry less about the group set, Planet X often mix things up so you don’t get a full group set anyway, plus well set up 105 is already very good, and research which are the good frame sets which is where the bulk of the budget should go....
Pablo, thanks for the suggestions, although I see that the Cervelo is rim braked. I've never ridden a disc braked road bike, but I've owned and ridden various disc braked mountain bikes and clearly there's no other way to go on an MTB. I do absolutely see the advantages on a road bike, especially on wet rides, and it seems that investing in a rim braked road bike now is very much doing so at the end of the life of rim brakes. I'm 90 odd kilos too so stopping power is good. Is there a reason why perhaps I should still be looking at a rim braked bike...although discs was one of the main reasons for the upgrade TBH!te, quality control is hit and very miss and they aren’t really anything that special to ride, they are such “good value” for a reason. If you can determine what size you need, and what geometry would suit you, there are bargains out there...https://www.thebicyclelounge.co.uk/2019-cervelo-r2...
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/271/products/cannond...
https://www.merlincycles.com/look-765-optimum-105-...
My recommendation would be to worry less about the group set, Planet X often mix things up so you don’t get a full group set anyway, plus well set up 105 is already very good, and research which are the good frame sets which is where the bulk of the budget should go....
Hard-Drive said:
Pablo, thanks for the suggestions, although I see that the Cervelo is rim braked. I've never ridden a disc braked road bike, but I've owned and ridden various disc braked mountain bikes and clearly there's no other way to go on an MTB. I do absolutely see the advantages on a road bike, especially on wet rides, and it seems that investing in a rim braked road bike now is very much doing so at the end of the life of rim brakes. I'm 90 odd kilos too so stopping power is good. Is there a reason why perhaps I should still be looking at a rim braked bike...although discs was one of the main reasons for the upgrade TBH!
Unless you are hurtling down an alp in the wet at 60kpm rim brakes are still going to stop you. I wouldn’t let rim brakes v disc put you off a particular bike. Hard-Drive said:
Pablo, thanks for the suggestions, although I see that the Cervelo is rim braked. I've never ridden a disc braked road bike, but I've owned and ridden various disc braked mountain bikes and clearly there's no other way to go on an MTB. I do absolutely see the advantages on a road bike, especially on wet rides, and it seems that investing in a rim braked road bike now is very much doing so at the end of the life of rim brakes. I'm 90 odd kilos too so stopping power is good. Is there a reason why perhaps I should still be looking at a rim braked bike...although discs was one of the main reasons for the upgrade TBH!
Not just the wet in the Alps.The heat build up on the rim was more of a concern to my mate's Pinarello last year. The rim melted on small part of it as we came down D'Huez.
I've had a blow out after a long descent before with rim brakes, I wouldn't have anything else but discs now.
Each to their own.
Maracus said:
Not just the wet in the Alps.
The heat build up on the rim was more of a concern to my mate's Pinarello last year. The rim melted on small part of it as we came down D'Huez.
I've had a blow out after a long descent before with rim brakes, I wouldn't have anything else but discs now.
Each to their own.
Did the Etape Du Tour last year, many blow outs (and crashes) and melted carbon rims on descents. I ruined an expensive set of carbon wheels. The heat build up on the rim was more of a concern to my mate's Pinarello last year. The rim melted on small part of it as we came down D'Huez.
I've had a blow out after a long descent before with rim brakes, I wouldn't have anything else but discs now.
Each to their own.
Just a bit of balance....
All the PX bikes I've had experience of have been fine, yes they aren't as exotic as certain brands and the majority of their frames are moulds available to a number of makers, but they are competitively priced and usually pretty well spec'd for the money.
I'd suggest you look at brands like Rose or Canyon if you fancy something a bit different but reputable.
Something like a Grail or Endurance from Canyon would fit the bill nicely.
Absolutely adore my Canyon Ultimate.
I can only second those advocating discs brakes, it's the future.
All the PX bikes I've had experience of have been fine, yes they aren't as exotic as certain brands and the majority of their frames are moulds available to a number of makers, but they are competitively priced and usually pretty well spec'd for the money.
I'd suggest you look at brands like Rose or Canyon if you fancy something a bit different but reputable.
Something like a Grail or Endurance from Canyon would fit the bill nicely.
Absolutely adore my Canyon Ultimate.
I can only second those advocating discs brakes, it's the future.
Tom1312 said:
Just a bit of balance....
All the PX bikes I've had experience of have been fine, yes they aren't as exotic as certain brands and the majority of their frames are moulds available to a number of makers, but they are competitively priced and usually pretty well spec'd for the money.
I'd suggest you look at brands like Rose or Canyon if you fancy something a bit different but reputable.
Something like a Grail or Endurance from Canyon would fit the bill nicely.
Absolutely adore my Canyon Ultimate.
I can only second those advocating discs brakes, it's the future.
It’s not about them being as “exotic” as other brands, it’s about how they get them out on sale at such a price and where they make those savings. Sure people say they but in bulk buy they aren’t that many of them around... Using the same mould is irrelevant, the important bit of carbon frame manufacturing is the carbon used, filaments etc,, the design of the lay up, that’s usually proprietary, the resin, amount of and type, and the quality control/pressure applied to bond it all.... it’s like saying a kit car has the same performance as the original because they look identical. All the PX bikes I've had experience of have been fine, yes they aren't as exotic as certain brands and the majority of their frames are moulds available to a number of makers, but they are competitively priced and usually pretty well spec'd for the money.
I'd suggest you look at brands like Rose or Canyon if you fancy something a bit different but reputable.
Something like a Grail or Endurance from Canyon would fit the bill nicely.
Absolutely adore my Canyon Ultimate.
I can only second those advocating discs brakes, it's the future.
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/01/how-carbon-fibre-b...
Tom1312 said:
Just a bit of balance....
All the PX bikes I've had experience of have been fine, yes they aren't as exotic as certain brands and the majority of their frames are moulds available to a number of makers, but they are competitively priced and usually pretty well spec'd for the money.
I'd suggest you look at brands like Rose or Canyon if you fancy something a bit different but reputable.
Something like a Grail or Endurance from Canyon would fit the bill nicely.
Absolutely adore my Canyon Ultimate.
I can only second those advocating discs brakes, it's the future.
The moulds- any decent bike company doesn't share moulds or produced in the same factory. All the PX bikes I've had experience of have been fine, yes they aren't as exotic as certain brands and the majority of their frames are moulds available to a number of makers, but they are competitively priced and usually pretty well spec'd for the money.
I'd suggest you look at brands like Rose or Canyon if you fancy something a bit different but reputable.
Something like a Grail or Endurance from Canyon would fit the bill nicely.
Absolutely adore my Canyon Ultimate.
I can only second those advocating discs brakes, it's the future.
Thanks for the replies everyone.
I do like the look of the Canyons and the reviews seem good. However the Ultimate is not shipping until June. The Endurace is in stock, although the whole "endurance" genre is a bit of a new one on me. I probably won't be doing massive century rides which I guess is what they are aimed for, however if it does make a 40/50 miler more comfortable, perhaps that could be the one to go for over the Ultimate?
I kinda thought if I ever went for that kind of bike I'd like to go Ti, hence the interest in the PX Hurricane, however if the CF Endurace is aimed at the sportier end of that market perhaps that's right for me.
I have a question on tyres though...my Giant is on 23mm tyres, the Endurace is significantly wider at 28mm, although the Ultimate, which I understand to be a fully focused race bike, is only slightly narrower than that at 25mm. Will I notice a big comfort difference at 28mm compared to 23mm, or is there a lot more rolling resistance? Does the "comfort" element rely quite heavily on the tyres? The head angle on the Endurace is half a degree slacker but that's the only angle difference between that and the Ultimate (although obviously the Ultimate is a bit more "committed" elsewhere...). Could I go narrower on the Endurace rims if I wanted to?
Endurace: https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/endurance-...
Ultimate: https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/race-bikes...
I do like the look of the Canyons and the reviews seem good. However the Ultimate is not shipping until June. The Endurace is in stock, although the whole "endurance" genre is a bit of a new one on me. I probably won't be doing massive century rides which I guess is what they are aimed for, however if it does make a 40/50 miler more comfortable, perhaps that could be the one to go for over the Ultimate?
I kinda thought if I ever went for that kind of bike I'd like to go Ti, hence the interest in the PX Hurricane, however if the CF Endurace is aimed at the sportier end of that market perhaps that's right for me.
I have a question on tyres though...my Giant is on 23mm tyres, the Endurace is significantly wider at 28mm, although the Ultimate, which I understand to be a fully focused race bike, is only slightly narrower than that at 25mm. Will I notice a big comfort difference at 28mm compared to 23mm, or is there a lot more rolling resistance? Does the "comfort" element rely quite heavily on the tyres? The head angle on the Endurace is half a degree slacker but that's the only angle difference between that and the Ultimate (although obviously the Ultimate is a bit more "committed" elsewhere...). Could I go narrower on the Endurace rims if I wanted to?
Endurace: https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/endurance-...
Ultimate: https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/race-bikes...
I’ve got an Endurace (2017, bought new with disc brakes)
It’s a comfy ride, the sprung seat post sees to that and that, combined with the larger tyres gives reasonable compliance across varied road surfaces.
It can get get the hammer down to, if you want it to.
I’ve done a number of 100 mile rides on it without any discomfort.
Canyon have a habit of speccing the bikes properly, (fully matched group set), rather than group set mechs and then scrimping on the crankset or brakes....
The VFM isn’t quite what it was 4-5 years ago as the pound has devalued, but they still offer value against the competition.
It’s a comfy ride, the sprung seat post sees to that and that, combined with the larger tyres gives reasonable compliance across varied road surfaces.
It can get get the hammer down to, if you want it to.
I’ve done a number of 100 mile rides on it without any discomfort.
Canyon have a habit of speccing the bikes properly, (fully matched group set), rather than group set mechs and then scrimping on the crankset or brakes....
The VFM isn’t quite what it was 4-5 years ago as the pound has devalued, but they still offer value against the competition.
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