Back to road - bike for £2.5k?
Discussion
Wonder if you guys can help?
Looking at getting back into road riding. Used to do a reasonable amount, but mtbing has always been my thing. Finding less and less time to ride offroad both due to winter conditions now and the "commuting time" between house and forest eating into available riding time (have wife & 22month old daughter demanding of my time!). So getting a pang of interest back in clocking some road miles.
There seems to be a bewildering array of bikes out there and wondered if you could help me navigate. Looking for something fast, but comfortable (probably emphasis more on the latter), decent kit list and wheels from out of the box. And what about hydraulic disc brakes? Big fan of them on my mtb and never been a fan of caliper brakes on my previous road bikes, what's the sentiment? Worth having?
Been looking at Spez Tarmac - heard the zerts are good for comfort. Quite like Cannondales offering at this price point too.
Whatever I do, I'll look to get a full fitting, I reckon. Make sense in the long run.
If anyone's interested, my other bike is a custom built SantaCruz 5010c.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Looking at getting back into road riding. Used to do a reasonable amount, but mtbing has always been my thing. Finding less and less time to ride offroad both due to winter conditions now and the "commuting time" between house and forest eating into available riding time (have wife & 22month old daughter demanding of my time!). So getting a pang of interest back in clocking some road miles.
There seems to be a bewildering array of bikes out there and wondered if you could help me navigate. Looking for something fast, but comfortable (probably emphasis more on the latter), decent kit list and wheels from out of the box. And what about hydraulic disc brakes? Big fan of them on my mtb and never been a fan of caliper brakes on my previous road bikes, what's the sentiment? Worth having?
Been looking at Spez Tarmac - heard the zerts are good for comfort. Quite like Cannondales offering at this price point too.
Whatever I do, I'll look to get a full fitting, I reckon. Make sense in the long run.
If anyone's interested, my other bike is a custom built SantaCruz 5010c.
Thanks in advance for your help.
I'm still not sure about roadie disc brakes to be honest, the difference between how I brake on an mtb and my road bike is markedly different. For pros descending huge mountains I can see the logic of discs given the potential for heat build up in the rims but even then they are trying to descend as fast as possible and wont be on the brakes... for mere mortals like us bimbling along though, I'm still a little cynical. Only once descending a hill in the Mendips in a thunderstorm did I get really scared with my regular rim brakes. I just dont think I drag the brakes on a road bike for long enough for there to be a significant heat build up that necessitate discs.... plus they look ugly.
I've never been convinced with things like zertz either, its possible to make a good comfortable carbon frame without adding things like that. Just think about bikes that have recently won some of the tough one day classics, thats the sort of thing I'd be looking at. Although comfort is a personal issue, with a good fitting you should be comfy on anything within reason, even a racier frame fitted with 25mm tyres makes a big difference, you're probably looking for something with a fairly long headtube and a 73 deg head tube angle as a starter and there are loads of brands out there with sportive orientated models. Have a look at these....
Scott Solace 20
Bianchi Intenso
Pinareallo Rokh
I've never been convinced with things like zertz either, its possible to make a good comfortable carbon frame without adding things like that. Just think about bikes that have recently won some of the tough one day classics, thats the sort of thing I'd be looking at. Although comfort is a personal issue, with a good fitting you should be comfy on anything within reason, even a racier frame fitted with 25mm tyres makes a big difference, you're probably looking for something with a fairly long headtube and a 73 deg head tube angle as a starter and there are loads of brands out there with sportive orientated models. Have a look at these....
Scott Solace 20
Bianchi Intenso
Pinareallo Rokh
pablo said:
I'm still not sure about roadie disc brakes to be honest, the difference between how I brake on an mtb and my road bike is markedly different. For pros descending huge mountains I can see the logic of discs given the potential for heat build up in the rims but even then they are trying to descend as fast as possible and wont be on the brakes... for mere mortals like us bimbling along though, I'm still a little cynical. Only once descending a hill in the Mendips in a thunderstorm did I get really scared with my regular rim brakes. I just dont think I drag the brakes on a road bike for long enough for there to be a significant heat build up that necessitate discs.... plus they look ugly.
I've never been convinced with things like zertz either, its possible to make a good comfortable carbon frame without adding things like that. Just think about bikes that have recently won some of the tough one day classics, thats the sort of thing I'd be looking at. Although comfort is a personal issue, with a good fitting you should be comfy on anything within reason, even a racier frame fitted with 25mm tyres makes a big difference, you're probably looking for something with a fairly long headtube and a 73 deg head tube angle as a starter and there are loads of brands out there with sportive orientated models. Have a look at these....
Scott Solace 20
Bianchi Intenso
Pinareallo Rokh
I see disc brakes being useful in the wet, rather than because of 'heat build-up' on long descents. Rim brakes are pretty shocking on wet rides - having predictable braking is definitely a plus in my book. Wouldn't bother having it on my good summer bike though as it stays at home if the roads are wet.I've never been convinced with things like zertz either, its possible to make a good comfortable carbon frame without adding things like that. Just think about bikes that have recently won some of the tough one day classics, thats the sort of thing I'd be looking at. Although comfort is a personal issue, with a good fitting you should be comfy on anything within reason, even a racier frame fitted with 25mm tyres makes a big difference, you're probably looking for something with a fairly long headtube and a 73 deg head tube angle as a starter and there are loads of brands out there with sportive orientated models. Have a look at these....
Scott Solace 20
Bianchi Intenso
Pinareallo Rokh
A what bike thread? Well I never.
Any of the big brand bikes won't be crap at £2-2.5k, so take your pick on what ever looks nice, fits and had a groupo to your liking.
Personally, I'd spend £2k on the bike and then £400 on some decent wheels and tyres. Someone else suggest the Synapse. Thats a good shout. Giant's TCR Advanced is pretty nice along with their new Defy Pro range which is disc equipped too
As for discs? I commuted for 6 months with discs and it was much better in the wet and you don't have to worry about cleaning the rims with baby wipes each week.
Any of the big brand bikes won't be crap at £2-2.5k, so take your pick on what ever looks nice, fits and had a groupo to your liking.
Personally, I'd spend £2k on the bike and then £400 on some decent wheels and tyres. Someone else suggest the Synapse. Thats a good shout. Giant's TCR Advanced is pretty nice along with their new Defy Pro range which is disc equipped too
As for discs? I commuted for 6 months with discs and it was much better in the wet and you don't have to worry about cleaning the rims with baby wipes each week.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Or a canyon ex-pro bike with Di2 for under your budget!! http://www.canyon.com/en/outlet/original-pro-bikes... size dependant. My aim for my first road bike was to spend £2.5k in total but couldnt find anything that ticked every box.
So i purchased a prior model year supersix from westbrook cycles. Stripped it down, and sold all the standard parts from it. Bought a mixture of sram red chainset, ultegra groupset/brakes, 50mm carbone cosmic wheels, zipp finishing kit. Total cost was just shy of £2.5k and the wheels made a massive chunk of that.
So i purchased a prior model year supersix from westbrook cycles. Stripped it down, and sold all the standard parts from it. Bought a mixture of sram red chainset, ultegra groupset/brakes, 50mm carbone cosmic wheels, zipp finishing kit. Total cost was just shy of £2.5k and the wheels made a massive chunk of that.
http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/giant-defy-advan...
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-cdx-3100...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/grade-carbo...
I think the Rose is the most race oriented but unless you've got a back issue I wouldn't be put off as it just takes a bit of getting used to the position. Defy is a little more upright and the GT could be a good all rounder due to clearance for mudguards and big tyres (looks divide opinion but I like it)
ETA - Specialized make some great MTBs but I find the road offerings poor value and most look very dull.
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-cdx-3100...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gt/grade-carbo...
I think the Rose is the most race oriented but unless you've got a back issue I wouldn't be put off as it just takes a bit of getting used to the position. Defy is a little more upright and the GT could be a good all rounder due to clearance for mudguards and big tyres (looks divide opinion but I like it)
ETA - Specialized make some great MTBs but I find the road offerings poor value and most look very dull.
Edited by duff on Sunday 30th November 17:53
s off. This the pedal powered section re. discs, IMO it's still too early to commit. They'll come, I've no doubt about that, BUT, given the industry is still making its mind up re. hubs/axle types, AND hydraulic brakes/shifters are still new tech, I'd rather wait a few years and see where things go.
Rim brakes will be around for a LONG time yet Clean rims, Swisstop pads and good, clean cables are still sufficient.
Rim brakes will be around for a LONG time yet
Clean rims, Swisstop pads and good, clean cables are still sufficient.
Hi guys - thanks for all of those suggestions. Gives me something to start with and focus my attention upon.
As for discs, I completely agree that it may be a little too early in terms of evolution but I did specifically seek out a disc-equipped bike to commute upon a few years back given some scary moments on wet days with rim brakes. If i do go discs then it'll be to aussage that part of me which places a lot of emphasis on predictable braking. But I get that it's a personal thing.
I've seen a few ex-demo bikes which are down from my £2.5k to the £1.7k so may check those out aswell.
Apologies again for the "what bike thread". Totally get that it's boring but this has proved really useful, thanks. Know my way around mtb's pretty well but road bikes are a bit of an unknown to me.
As for discs, I completely agree that it may be a little too early in terms of evolution but I did specifically seek out a disc-equipped bike to commute upon a few years back given some scary moments on wet days with rim brakes. If i do go discs then it'll be to aussage that part of me which places a lot of emphasis on predictable braking. But I get that it's a personal thing.
I've seen a few ex-demo bikes which are down from my £2.5k to the £1.7k so may check those out aswell.
Apologies again for the "what bike thread". Totally get that it's boring but this has proved really useful, thanks. Know my way around mtb's pretty well but road bikes are a bit of an unknown to me.
Yesterday, for the daily commute, I reverted to my hybrid and put my road bike (Cannondale Carbon Synapse) back in hibernation for the Winter.
The reason is purely stopping in the wet weather. The difference that hydraulic disks makes when its torrenting down is substantial. However, for what its worth, from my experience cable disks were a poor substitute and most of the road bikes with disks are still cable. That might just be my experience.
But if I needed one bike to use year round for commuting, it would need disks (preferably hydraulic).
The reason is purely stopping in the wet weather. The difference that hydraulic disks makes when its torrenting down is substantial. However, for what its worth, from my experience cable disks were a poor substitute and most of the road bikes with disks are still cable. That might just be my experience.
But if I needed one bike to use year round for commuting, it would need disks (preferably hydraulic).
http://www.bikesoup.com/magazine/buyers-guide-best...
Is one of a few reviews/guides I've read....
I'm in the same boat as you .... Ridley is leading currently as I'd like something a bit 'different' to the more often quoted examples, but there's plenty to choose from. Coming from MTB's the idea of poor wet braking, wearing out rims and the potential of wheel development without the sacrifices made for rim design etc they are a logical, if not aesthetic/traditional choice.
Axle std's are the key difference and rear spacing, after that it's down to frame/groupset/manufacturer/aesthetic preferences.
Is one of a few reviews/guides I've read....
I'm in the same boat as you .... Ridley is leading currently as I'd like something a bit 'different' to the more often quoted examples, but there's plenty to choose from. Coming from MTB's the idea of poor wet braking, wearing out rims and the potential of wheel development without the sacrifices made for rim design etc they are a logical, if not aesthetic/traditional choice.
Axle std's are the key difference and rear spacing, after that it's down to frame/groupset/manufacturer/aesthetic preferences.
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