Getting a better road bike?
Discussion
I currently have a 2011 Specialized Allez which I've gradually upgraded since buying:
- Fulcrum Racing 5 wheelset
- FSA compact bars
- GP4000s tyres
- Full 105 groupset
I don't really have any issues with the bike to be honest, but knowing my tendency to seek out new bikes I was wondering if there would be any tangible benefit to getting a bike on the next tier - something like the Canyon CF SLX? I know that I'll never outgrow my current bike's capability but would I really notice a difference on such a 'better' bike?
I don't race, just long/hilly weekend rides and a few Sportives each year.
- Fulcrum Racing 5 wheelset
- FSA compact bars
- GP4000s tyres
- Full 105 groupset
I don't really have any issues with the bike to be honest, but knowing my tendency to seek out new bikes I was wondering if there would be any tangible benefit to getting a bike on the next tier - something like the Canyon CF SLX? I know that I'll never outgrow my current bike's capability but would I really notice a difference on such a 'better' bike?
I don't race, just long/hilly weekend rides and a few Sportives each year.
I've just ( yesterday ) went from a Boardman Alimunium frame to a Giant, full carbon fibre and the ride quality is twice as good.
My main reason was that I'm starting to race and needed 2 bikes, one for the winter/commute with guards on and one to race/train in the summer that I would keep pristine. Even if I wasn't going to race I'd do it.
My main reason was that I'm starting to race and needed 2 bikes, one for the winter/commute with guards on and one to race/train in the summer that I would keep pristine. Even if I wasn't going to race I'd do it.
McFsC said:
I've just ( yesterday ) went from a Boardman Alimunium frame to a Giant, full carbon fibre and the ride quality is twice as good.
My main reason was that I'm starting to race and needed 2 bikes, one for the winter/commute with guards on and one to race/train in the summer that I would keep pristine. Even if I wasn't going to race I'd do it.
Ahhhh you dick ; )My main reason was that I'm starting to race and needed 2 bikes, one for the winter/commute with guards on and one to race/train in the summer that I would keep pristine. Even if I wasn't going to race I'd do it.
I'm on an ali Boardman and I've been thinking of buying a summer / racer carbon.
Now you've said that, I'm going to have to. Ha!
I think you need to change your title from 'Getting better on a road bike' to 'Can the PH massive give me an excuse to buy a new plastic road bike?' 
The only way to get better on a road bike is to ride more, if you are crap at climbing - climb more, if you are crap at sprinting - sprint more, if you have a low cadence and grind along - push yourself to twiddle more!
On last weeks Sunday ride there was the usual mix of plastic and alu, plus one bloke who stood out like a pork chop at a Bar Mitzvah riding a steel bike. We set off on the usual route and I could see one or two of the blokes on expensive plastic eye-ing him with an air of 'I hope he will be able to keep up when the pace quickens'.....We hit the first hill and with the exception of two of us he smashed the rest of the group into the hedgerow and absolutely took off - he then spent the remainder of the ride on the front with me!! I got chatting to him and discovered that he rides a 30 mile commute each way, each day to work and back - just goes to prove its not the bike, its the engine!
Don't look for excuses to buy another bike, if you want one - get one! Unless you are like one of two of the racers on here who train on power and where marginal gains make the difference between winning and coming second, don't kid yourself that a change of bike will improve your performance (although it might give you a physiological edge to push harder).
I tried putting a business case together to get myself a Ti or plastic bike last year based on 'getting better', finally gave up and used the excuse that I turned 40 and it was my birthday pressy! (ended up with a rather expensive Ti bike that is totally fantastic to ride, but sadly hasn't turned me into Wiggo)......
Go out, buy what your heart desires, enjoy it, and ride more!!!!
The only way to get better on a road bike is to ride more, if you are crap at climbing - climb more, if you are crap at sprinting - sprint more, if you have a low cadence and grind along - push yourself to twiddle more!
On last weeks Sunday ride there was the usual mix of plastic and alu, plus one bloke who stood out like a pork chop at a Bar Mitzvah riding a steel bike. We set off on the usual route and I could see one or two of the blokes on expensive plastic eye-ing him with an air of 'I hope he will be able to keep up when the pace quickens'.....We hit the first hill and with the exception of two of us he smashed the rest of the group into the hedgerow and absolutely took off - he then spent the remainder of the ride on the front with me!! I got chatting to him and discovered that he rides a 30 mile commute each way, each day to work and back - just goes to prove its not the bike, its the engine!
Don't look for excuses to buy another bike, if you want one - get one! Unless you are like one of two of the racers on here who train on power and where marginal gains make the difference between winning and coming second, don't kid yourself that a change of bike will improve your performance (although it might give you a physiological edge to push harder).
I tried putting a business case together to get myself a Ti or plastic bike last year based on 'getting better', finally gave up and used the excuse that I turned 40 and it was my birthday pressy! (ended up with a rather expensive Ti bike that is totally fantastic to ride, but sadly hasn't turned me into Wiggo)......
Go out, buy what your heart desires, enjoy it, and ride more!!!!
I should have been more specific. I'm not looking for the new bike to yield an x% improvement in average speed or to knock y seconds off climbs, I'm more interested in the ride quality and general feel of expensive frames and wheel versus my current setup.
I'm not planning to buy this year and the Allez will be getting me round the Fred Whitton again and also La Marmotte in July.
Cheers
I'm not planning to buy this year and the Allez will be getting me round the Fred Whitton again and also La Marmotte in July.
Cheers
nammynake said:
I currently have a 2011 Specialized Allez which I've gradually upgraded since buying:
- Fulcrum Racing 5 wheelset
- FSA compact bars
- GP4000s tyres
- Full 105 groupset
I don't really have any issues with the bike to be honest, but knowing my tendency to seek out new bikes I was wondering if there would be any tangible benefit to getting a bike on the next tier - something like the Canyon CF SLX? I know that I'll never outgrow my current bike's capability but would I really notice a difference on such a 'better' bike?
I don't race, just long/hilly weekend rides and a few Sportives each year.
IMO, how a bike (ref. your later post) and thus how much "better" it feels comes down to things like the fit, the riding position, the set-up (gear indexing, etc) the tyres and pressures, the saddle and handlebars etc. more than it does through any perceived "level". People will say "Oh, I moved to x-bike with a carbon frame and Dura Ace gears, and suddenly EVERYTHING was better, I was faster, world peace arrived, cancer was cured etc, etc...", but they omit to fell you it replaced a badly-fitting bike with an utterly shagged, badly set-up transmission, cheap tyres at 100000psi, etc, etc. Amazing what a difference all the little things can make.- Fulcrum Racing 5 wheelset
- FSA compact bars
- GP4000s tyres
- Full 105 groupset
I don't really have any issues with the bike to be honest, but knowing my tendency to seek out new bikes I was wondering if there would be any tangible benefit to getting a bike on the next tier - something like the Canyon CF SLX? I know that I'll never outgrow my current bike's capability but would I really notice a difference on such a 'better' bike?
I don't race, just long/hilly weekend rides and a few Sportives each year.
I was in a very similar position to the OP. I've got an aluminium Boardman CX Pro which over a couple of years, I transformed into an ok-ish road bike: 105 drivetrain, carbon forks and Shimano RS20 wheels, so I guess a pretty budget road bike. I toyed with the idea of spending c £1.5k, but had a serious case of budget creep and a few people egging me on. Et voila, I'm sat here with a Canyon CF SLX on order with Ultegra Di2.
I'm extremely excited, but there's absolutely no denying that the bike will be so much more capable than I. I don't race, but wanted a serious bike and by all accounts, this is an excellent frame. I ride to enjoy, and I have every expectation that this will deliver
Do it, do it, do it!
I've still another 5 weeks or so to wait
I'm extremely excited, but there's absolutely no denying that the bike will be so much more capable than I. I don't race, but wanted a serious bike and by all accounts, this is an excellent frame. I ride to enjoy, and I have every expectation that this will deliver
Do it, do it, do it!
I've still another 5 weeks or so to wait
Jimbo, that may be true but trust me... My previous bike was perfect, gears set-up properly every month, fit perfect and I was doing plenty of miles at a decent pace, including a few races which I done ok in and finished in the top 10%.
I'm now riding this new carbon bike. I've rode 20 miles on it, haven't had it fitted properly yet but the ride IS more comfortable by a long way - that's how it is and that's why bikes made with better materials are worth more.
I'm now riding this new carbon bike. I've rode 20 miles on it, haven't had it fitted properly yet but the ride IS more comfortable by a long way - that's how it is and that's why bikes made with better materials are worth more.
McFsC said:
Jimbo, that may be true but trust me... My previous bike was perfect, gears set-up properly every month, fit perfect and I was doing plenty of miles at a decent pace, including a few races which I done ok in and finished in the top 10%.
I'm now riding this new carbon bike. I've rode 20 miles on it, haven't had it fitted properly yet but the ride IS more comfortable by a long way - that's how it is and that's why bikes made with better materials are worth more.
How do you know that comfort comes through materials? Why not saddles, handlebars, tyres, tyre pressures...maybe the riding position just suits you better? To attribute it primarily to the frame material after a mere 20 miles (not enough time for "new toy novelty" to wear off) when hardly anything is the same is a bit too keen...I'm now riding this new carbon bike. I've rode 20 miles on it, haven't had it fitted properly yet but the ride IS more comfortable by a long way - that's how it is and that's why bikes made with better materials are worth more.
a lot ofit is psychological, new bikes cost x more than old bike so new bike must be x times better... my old boardman was great, did everything i asked of it and more but i still wanted some properbike bling so i upgraded. its hard to quantify things like this but i know that i do ride more often now and for longer, i think of it the same as having a nice new tailored suit or something though my logic is reknowned for being questionable atthe ebst of times?!
The main thing here is a new bike gives you a new lease of life out on the road.When the bug hits go with it i pester the wife and drop hints for weeks....then get the green light and go for it.My current every day bike is a cube peleton...the 105 model,then i have a "it may rain bike",which is a felt ar4......then i have my summer pride and joy,a cannondale six 13 which is now oldish,but i love its classic look.this is part of cycling for me the goodies we can treat our selves too.have a look on epic cycles website i fancy a kouta next
I have 2 bikes, both Dolans, one ally and the other carbon, positions are identical, equipment near identical, main difference is tyres, slightly heavier on the ally winter bike. When I ride the carbon bike it's like chalk and cheese, much better ride and general 'feel', also seems a lot easier when riding with the same training group, if anything I reckon a good steel frame scores over ally.
Buy the best bike you can afford, but don't skimp on wheels / tyres, they make a hell of a difference imho of course.
Buy the best bike you can afford, but don't skimp on wheels / tyres, they make a hell of a difference imho of course.
It's hard to know. But it's likely you'll notice a difference in the carbon bike. But Jimbo makes good points on comfort. It can be down to so many things.
If I put my f
ked mavics from my work bike with its 400g tyres on my cervelo race bike it would ride horribly.
Still, I'm not the best to ask as I've got ten grands worth of bikes sitting in the spare room when I could have done just as well on ones a quarter of the price
If I put my f
ked mavics from my work bike with its 400g tyres on my cervelo race bike it would ride horribly. Still, I'm not the best to ask as I've got ten grands worth of bikes sitting in the spare room when I could have done just as well on ones a quarter of the price
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