Trek Domane 4.3 any good?

[Shinobi]

Hopefully the Pistonheads Cycling massive can help me out here.

The cycling bug has bit and I've picked up a few bits of gear so the next logical step is to upgrade the Halfords special I currently ride.

I've been looking and trying to learn quickly but wow there is a lot to learn.

Initial findings seem to keep pushing me towards a Trek domane 4.3 due to seemingly have a fantastic drive train, light, saddle/suspension idea sounds interesting and looks great. (Please correct me if the drivetrain isn't good or the suspension thing is a fad, the reviews I read seemed to think it was great)

I am looking to buy second hand with spending around £700 maximum, seems one can be had for around £675

Any other bikes I should be looking at? I'm a commuter with a 14 mile ride each day all on roads, bus lanes and cycle paths just for a bit of background.

Thanks for any advice

[anonymous-user]

What size do you need?

[NorthDave]

I had a domane 6.9 (so only suspension on the back) and absolutely loved it. Very comfortable to ride and fast.

Unfortunately it got written off but I will probably by another one when this years bikes are released soon.

[Shinobi]

JPJPJP said:

What size do you need?

58 or 60 depending on which shop I believe.

[Shinobi]

Alternatively what are people's thoughts on a Cube Agree GT SL?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192180624976

With only ten gears my initial uneducated thoughts would be that it wouldn't be very good for hills? I have a two day 170 mile ride coming up next week and recently borrowed a very highly geared classic Eddie Merkz (not sure on spelling) it was good on the straights but terrrible on the hills as only had one low gear I could use.

[bigdom]

It's 10 speed compact, so 20 gears total. 50/34 up front, 12-30 cassette at the rear.

You don't really get much lower gearing than 34-30 on a road bike, it will see you up pretty much most hills.

[Shinobi]

bigdom said:

It's 10 speed compact, so 20 gears total. 50/34 up front, 12-30 cassette at the rear.

You don't really get much lower gearing than 34-30 on a road bike, it will see you up pretty much most hills.

Thanks Bigdom, appreiciated

[Piginapoke]

Gains from 20 to 22 speeds are pretty marginal tbh.

Cube looks good to me

[anonymous-user]

I'd go on eBay, search by frame size, order by price and see what you get

I'll have a look and post a couple up

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201897888246

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172670532371

Edited by anonymous-user on Saturday 13th May 16:35

[Barchettaman]

Shinobi, what's your current Halfords special?

Would the new bike be just for commuting, or are you looking for something for club rides, Sportives, TTs or similar?

Would you want to your new bike go off-road: bridalways, towpaths etc?

[yellowjack]

Shinobi said:

bigdom said:

It's 10 speed compact, so 20 gears total. 50/34 up front, 12-30 cassette at the rear.

You don't really get much lower gearing than 34-30 on a road bike, it will see you up pretty much most hills.

Thanks Bigdom, appreiciated

My bike has a 50/34 x 11-28t gear set. So your ten speed system has lower gearing than my eleven speed. Yours will have some bigger gaps between some of the gears, but there really won't be much in it.

My last bike was 50/34 x 11-25t, and that was low enough for anything the Surrey Hills offers.
Before that I had a seven speed with 53/39 x 13-23t. A heavier bike too, but I was younger and fitter then. That got swapped for an 11-28t cassette more recently, and I haven't needed to walk any hills yet.

[Shinobi]

JPJPJP said:

I'd go on eBay, search by frame size, order by price and see what you get

I'll have a look and post a couple up

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201897888246

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172670532371



Thanks for doing that! Very useful to know what kind of bikes I should be aiming for.

In respect of the use, it will be 99% for commuting but I imagine we will be doing one big charity bike ride a year from now on. It's been a huge success and we are just about to hit the target of £15,000 which the company is going to double so we would be silly not to do it next year.

So in short it needs to be able to do all kinds of road work not really off roaring although I do a small half mile bit which is quite rocky to save me a fair few miles.

Edited by JPJPJP on Saturday 13th May 16:35

[Shinobi]

Barchettaman said:

Shinobi, what's your current Halfords special?

Would the new bike be just for commuting, or are you looking for something for club rides, Sportives, TTs or similar?

Would you want to your new bike go off-road: bridalways, towpaths etc?

This is my current work horse http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/...

The cube is apparently 4kg lighter, will this difference with the Ultegra groupset be noticably different?

[Barchettaman]

Shinobi said:

This is my current work horse http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/...

The cube is apparently 4kg lighter, will this difference with the Ultegra groupset be noticably different?

Right. Unpopular advice incoming.

Stick with what you have. 99% commuter duties? The Carrera is fine for that.

I would swap in a proper 50/34 compact and a decent Shimano square taper bottom bracket.

Recable brakes and derailleurs with Jagwire Road Pro cables and housing.

Swap in a front dynamo hub laced to a skinny rim, get some LED lights, lightweight mudguards, cheap rear rack, a Brooks B-17, and you have the perfect tool for the job.

A pair of Conti UltraSport tyres in 700c/28 would also be worth investing in.

[Big Rod]

I bought a Domane 4.0 Disc in August (I think), last year and it is sublimely comfortable. Certainly compared to the Boardman CX I have.

The only thing I've had a problem with are the wheels. I don't think they're quite up to my weight so could use a set of more robust items. All the reviews said the wheels should be the first thing to be upgraded on them anyway.

[Shinobi]

Thanks everyone, I've taken on all your comments and done a fair bit of reading this last week.

I think I will stick with what I have for the big ride as sillto try and get something before Friday and panic buy.

I think the way forward for me is a aluminium frame with carbon forks and 105 group set.

Ultegra is a bit OTT for a commuter with the added expense with bits needing replaced when I probably won't see the gains.

Carbon frame again OTT as I'll probably get knocked off and Alu is more robust.

[Barchettaman]

Good lad, makes sense really.

Do not underestimate the performance improvement of adding Jagwire teflon/kevlar cables and outers to a cheap groupset. Get it nicely dialed in, with the gear spread you need, and you'll question whether you really need more than 2x8 (or 2x7 for that matter!)

One thing I forgot - ensure your wheel hubs are spinning nicely, repack them with fresh grease if they're not silky smooth when you spin them with your fingertips off the bike.