Another what first road bike

[AAD44H]

Hi all, I am now in a position to purchase a road bike having road a hybrid for a short period of time, I have now figured that i enjoy the road side of things the most. I have approx £2k to spend and have just put a deposit down on a Specialized Roubiax Elite however I am having second thoughts due to it having mechanical disc brakes. I have been looking on the net and have seen the following bikes, I would love you to help point me in the right direction. I am head pros and cons of disc brakes and at the moment I am not too fussed either way.

Starting at the most expensive working my way down.

https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/96545/products/c...
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/12898/products/c...
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/107689/products/...
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/106697/products/...
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/107650/products/...
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/110389/products/...
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/110389/products/...
https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/106698/products/...

This is the one I have put a deposit down on however it is fully transferable - https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/110762/products/...

Thanks for your help, I am new to this therefore cannot tell you exactly what style of bike I am after however I am open to suggestions, the Cube bikes seem good value to me however I currently have a Specialized hybrid bike at the moment and the build quality is great.

The other option is going up to the next level Roubiax however it is £2650 which is a bit more than I want to spend, I am a relatively fit 25 year old male therefore am also now thinking that the Roubiax may be aimed more at older riders?

Edited by AAD44H on Thursday 11th May 23:24

[R1gtr]

Nothing wrong with any of the bikes you listed, however the spec (value for money on some of them is not great.
It kind of comes down to whether you want a Carbon or Aluminium frame? And disc or rim brakes.
I went from a Cube carbon rim braked bike to an aluminium Cannondale CAAD 12 Ultegra with hydraulic discs. I would probably not buy another rim brake bike, nothing wrong with them but I just prefer the hydraulics.

Looking at that website with a max of 2500 I would either get what I already have (CAAD12 Ultegra disc) or this Cube as I think it looks pretty cool and comes with Carbon, Ultegra, Discs and half decent wheels-

https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/110413/products/...

Otherwise I would be very tempted by this-

https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/129010/products/...

I have no experience of them but have heard good things about Orro on a few forums and that is a great spec for the money, expensive groupset with hydraulic discs, 300quid wheels and a Carbon frame.

These are just personal preferences and what I like and may suit me will possibly differ drastically for you.
At 25 and fit I would want something cool and racy rather than a bike designed for long distance comfort.
Good luck, you have a good budget and plenty of nice choices

Edited by R1gtr on Thursday 11th May 23:54

[AAD44H]

R1gtr said:

Nothing wrong with any of the bikes you listed, however the spec (value for money on some of them is not great.
It kind of comes down to whether you want a Carbon or Aluminium frame? And disc or rim brakes.
I went from a Cube carbon rim braked bike to an aluminium Cannondale CAAD 12 Ultegra with hydraulic discs. I would probably not buy another rim brake bike, nothing wrong with them but I just prefer the hydraulics.

Looking at that website with a max of 2500 I would either get what I already have (CAAD12 Ultegra disc) or this Cube as I think it looks pretty cool and comes with Carbon, Ultegra, Discs and half decent wheels-

https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/110413/products/...

Otherwise I would be very tempted by this-

https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/129010/products/...

I have no experience of them but have heard good things about Orro on a few forums and that is a great spec for the money, expensive groupset with hydraulic discs, 300quid wheels and a Carbon frame.

These are just personal preferences and what I like and may suit me will possibly differ drastically for you.
At 25 and fit I would want something cool and racy rather than a bike designed for long distance comfort.
Good luck, you have a good budget and plenty of nice choices

Edited by R1gtr on Thursday 11th May 23:54

Thanks, the Cube looks great.

[yellowjack]

Trek bikes?

Emonda SL6 (rim brakes) - http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/trek-emonda-sl-6... @ £2200
Emonda SL5 (rim brakes) - http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/trek-emonda-sl-5... @ £1900
(same again, but in silver, not red, with more sizes available - http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/trek-emonda-sl-5... )

Domane S5 (hydraulic disc brakes) - http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/trek-domane-s-5-... @ £2100


I have an Emonda SL6 from 2015. It's a fabulous bike, I absolutely love it. 7,126 miles ridden since I bought it on 11/03/2015. Many long days, including one 130-mile ride. No problems with comfort or excessive fatigue, and everything is original, as it came from new (except chains/cassettes, etc, obviously) and I've felt no need for upgrades of wheels or anything else.

Pedal On are worth a look too, if you can get there. Their 'Podium Points' scheme in lieu of discount is really generous. It allowed me to fully kit myself and the bike out with lights, cadence sensors, shoes, helmet, etc without having to find extra cash over the purchase price of the bike. You can work through some of what's available through Podium Points on their website to see just how much "stuff" you can get from it before buying. Staff are all proper cyclists too, well at least on the shop floor they are...

[TwistingMyMelon]

Find a good shop if I was you and see them in the flesh

Online is good if you are confident and know what you are doing, ironically there is too much choice of bikes!!!

This was near me a few months back: http://road.cc/content/event/213624-roadcc-live-de...

Yes its in the past, but that to me looks a great option to try a load of bikes properly

In regards to brakes, ask 10 different people , get 10 different answers, if you:

Aren't confident descending
Want to ride through December/November
Are on the heavy Side

Buy disc brakes, otherwise just stick to rims imo

[yellowjack]

TwistingMyMelon said:

Find a good shop if I was you and see them in the flesh

Online is good if you are confident and know what you are doing, ironically there is too much choice of bikes!!!

This was near me a few months back: http://road.cc/content/event/213624-roadcc-live-de...

Yes its in the past, but that to me looks a great option to try a load of bikes properly

Pedal On is a decent shop. Three shops joined together in fact. They stock a damned good range of Trek, Giant, Scott and Cannondale bikes, both road and MTB. Great place to go to see alternatives on the same shop floor. When I bought my Emonda it wasn't even "on my radar". I'd gone to have a look at the Cannondale offerings if I remember it right. Matt (C) in the shop 'bullied' me into having a test ride on the Emonda, based on what I told him about the riding I did. The damned thing sold itself in the end.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Yeah good points above

Also shops can often give better deals than online retailers, they might have a bike that costs more than you budget they need to shift and offer a good deal, I got £300 off my commuter bike that was only £1000 to start, much better deal than anywhere online

[R1gtr]

I got the impression his deposit was transferable on another bike but only at Leisure Lakes hence my recommendations.

[yellowjack]

R1gtr said:

I got the impression his deposit was transferable on another bike but only at Leisure Lakes hence my recommendations.

Good point!

I skimmed through the OP's post, and failed to pick that bit up. Presumably Leisure Lakes will be making sure he buys from them, even if it isn't the bike he first placed the deposit on.

Not wanting to piss on the OP's chips or owt, but I've never got on with Specialized bikes. Nothing to do with quality, perceived or otherwise. I just can't get around an irrational dislike I have of them. A big part of it is down to aesthetics, but with most bike brands I'm willing to at least take a closer look, maybe even secure a test ride. I can't explain why, but I'd probably take up running if Specialized were the last bicycle manufacturer on earth. For the record, I REALLY like old-school steel framed bikes, and have bought more modern Merida and Trek road bikes. Bizarre, perhaps, and apropos of nothing, but there, I've confessed now...

[BoRED S2upid]

£2000 bikes and still only getting 105? I thought Ultegra would be a must have at that price point? I personally don't see the need in disc brakes my rim brakes have never failed me. Ok I only reach speeds of 50 kph as we don't have any big hills and I don't do much in bad conditions as I don't like falling off.

[jontysafe]

I'm in exactly the same position.

Normally ride a Halfords special hybrid at 100-150kms per week and have just come back from Dubai where I hired a Specialized Tarmac Elite.

Riding my bike now feels akin to riding a tractor.

I came to the same conclusion as you: the Specialized Roubaix was the bike for me.

I loved the Specialized Tarmac but the roads round where I live (Bourne Valley) are terrible. The Nadd Al Sheba track in Dubai is as smooth as a babies bottom and not akin to my riding here so hence the Roubaix choice.

I don't want to go from a £400 Halfords special to a full Di2 set up as where do I go after that.

You and I decided on exactly the same bike.

[neil-935ql]

Hi , I also bought a trek emonda from pedal on in tadley , I originally had my heart set on a canyon , but was advised to try before you buy and this defo sat better with me when your spending thousands of your hard earned pounds . The guys at pedal on we're much nicer to deal with than some other shops , Evans for me at least we're pretty rubbish and did not have anywhere near the selection of bikes to pysically look at on the shop floor . As Yellowjack says keep an open mind and try them all for your perfect fit , although it sounds like your geometry requirements are different to what mine were , I am 43 ! Enjoy the search it's all part of the fun

[aberdeeneuan]

I'm in the same boat. Roads round me are shocking, I want hydraulic discs as I'm not that confident downhill anymore (self preservation kicks in - I reckon it's an age thing) and my current bike is very stiff and I'm beginning to feel various points of numbness and pain on longer rides that I didn't before. So comfort was vital. I've had a very brief test ride on the roubaix, both elite and comp, and the hydraulics were much better. The ride itself was encouraging you to be more confident as I wasn't spending the time looking for small bumps to avoid like I do at the moment. I do like the trek s5 disc as well but no ridden one yet, just struggling to comprehend the figures involved at the moment.

[jontysafe]

Just to add I'm 43 so you may want a different geometry?

[TwistingMyMelon]

I don't think you can really buy a "bad" bike for £800- £2000 in the UK, they are all pretty good, with some being better buys/value than others

I would concentrate on getting the right size, I would factor in bike fit as well

[Usget]

From your list and for your use case I'd have the Synapse, I've had a bike with those R785 brakes and they are unbelievable!

I'd also be tempted by the R2 but I'd always be annoyed at myself for buying at the wrong time of year and not getting a discounted R3... but that's not very helpful is it!

[AAD44H]

Thanks for all your help, I think the Cannondale Synapse fits the bill!

[jontysafe]

I went to a Specialized Concept store today and went through what rides I do, how I do them, average length etc and was advised that the Tarmac would actually probably suit better than the Roubaix.

I'm having a load of a Tarmac next weekend to take on some local rides.

[AAD44H]

jontysafe said:

I went to a Specialized Concept store today and went through what rides I do, how I do them, average length etc and was advised that the Tarmac would actually probably suit better than the Roubaix.

I'm having a load of a Tarmac next weekend to take on some local rides.

Fair enough, I think the Roubiax is too relaxed, I've now started looking at Bianchi's, any views on them? Thanks Adam

Edited by AAD44H on Monday 15th May 19:47

[AAD44H]

That question re Bianchi's is for anyone