Back to cycling after 6yrs away - new bike time!
Discussion
After a solid 12yrs of obsession for several reasons I all but stopped cycling from 2020 until recently but I can finally feel the spark starting to come back.
My Wilier is retired and hanging up as an ornament in the attic and the gravel bike I bought in 2019 whilst fun to ride, isn't really that great for decent road mileage....or getting anywhere quickly!
Although I haven't been cycling, I've still been following bikes and are fully aware of the push towards ever wider tyres.
I want a bike that retains the lively and exceptional handling of the Wilier but not a full on race bike.
I was never a fan of the super tall endurance bikes (Roubaix etc) and I believe that function and form are equally as important.
So far I've been considering the following:
Fairlight Strael
Standert Pfadfinder
Cervelo Caledonia
Basically I want fast, excellent handling, a bit of character and ideally at about the 5k mark.
I am drawn towards some of the gravel race bikes (Wilier Rave) but although they look fantastic on Insta, I've somewhat less convinced when mainly used for road cycling.
My Wilier is retired and hanging up as an ornament in the attic and the gravel bike I bought in 2019 whilst fun to ride, isn't really that great for decent road mileage....or getting anywhere quickly!
Although I haven't been cycling, I've still been following bikes and are fully aware of the push towards ever wider tyres.
I want a bike that retains the lively and exceptional handling of the Wilier but not a full on race bike.
I was never a fan of the super tall endurance bikes (Roubaix etc) and I believe that function and form are equally as important.
So far I've been considering the following:
Fairlight Strael
Standert Pfadfinder
Cervelo Caledonia
Basically I want fast, excellent handling, a bit of character and ideally at about the 5k mark.
I am drawn towards some of the gravel race bikes (Wilier Rave) but although they look fantastic on Insta, I've somewhat less convinced when mainly used for road cycling.
I have recently got myself a Lauf Seigla gravel bike, with the Grit suspension fork. Superb bike and very well specc'd for the money.
They do the Seigla in a rigid fork model and also, a road bike with a very good spec for your budget.
The Seigla is quite a racey geometry, so not as slack as a typical gravel bike, which means it has great handling and is very good on the hardpack and road.
The dollar exchange rate means they're really good value.
https://www.laufcycles.com/ww/product/seigla-rigid
https://www.laufcycles.com/ww/product/uthald
Of the 3 I'd say probably the Caledonia is the closest to what you're after. I have a Cal-5 and it's definitely at the racier end of the endurance spectrum.
The Strael and Standert are both lovely looking things so I think you'd be very happy on all 3, but I think the Caledonia would be the best compromise across categories. For me the first "nice" bike I ever rode was a friends Soloist so the Cal-5 is a attainable dream machine
Stick some better tyres on the gravel bike and use that for what it is.
The Strael and Standert are both lovely looking things so I think you'd be very happy on all 3, but I think the Caledonia would be the best compromise across categories. For me the first "nice" bike I ever rode was a friends Soloist so the Cal-5 is a attainable dream machine
Stick some better tyres on the gravel bike and use that for what it is.
I'll throw a left field option in here.
Similar to you (although I ride a hybrid bike with my son to school etc) I'd lost the spark with road riding when he was born in 2017.
Decided eaalrlier this year to tackle Mont Ventoux this year, so started riding on my 10spd rim braked Litespeed Sienna in Jan. Got knocked off in Feb and bike was a write off.
Turned to my summer special. A 7kg Cervelo S2 with 50mm carbon rims, 23mm tubs and 10spd. (I'd ridden this up Alpe d'Huez and Col de Galibier in 2013)
So I chose to replace the Litespeed with a Gloria All Road titanium with 50mm Zipps, Ultegra di2, disc and 32mm tubeless.
Wow, just wow. What a difference. So compliant, so comfy on long rides and with a compact and 34 on back it's easier to spin up hills than my Carbon Cervelo that's 2.4kg lighter.
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Similar to you (although I ride a hybrid bike with my son to school etc) I'd lost the spark with road riding when he was born in 2017.
Decided eaalrlier this year to tackle Mont Ventoux this year, so started riding on my 10spd rim braked Litespeed Sienna in Jan. Got knocked off in Feb and bike was a write off.
Turned to my summer special. A 7kg Cervelo S2 with 50mm carbon rims, 23mm tubs and 10spd. (I'd ridden this up Alpe d'Huez and Col de Galibier in 2013)
So I chose to replace the Litespeed with a Gloria All Road titanium with 50mm Zipps, Ultegra di2, disc and 32mm tubeless.
Wow, just wow. What a difference. So compliant, so comfy on long rides and with a compact and 34 on back it's easier to spin up hills than my Carbon Cervelo that's 2.4kg lighter.
Chrispee said:
Of the 3 I'd say probably the Caledonia is the closest to what you're after. I have a Cal-5 and it's definitely at the racier end of the endurance spectrum.
The Strael and Standert are both lovely looking things so I think you'd be very happy on all 3, but I think the Caledonia would be the best compromise across categories. For me the first "nice" bike I ever rode was a friends Soloist so the Cal-5 is a attainable dream machine
Stick some better tyres on the gravel bike and use that for what it is.
Thing is, I've never been especially drawn to Cervelo as a brand although their current offerings are far nicer than in years gone by. LBS is a Cervelo dealer so I've booked a test ride. The Strael and Standert are both lovely looking things so I think you'd be very happy on all 3, but I think the Caledonia would be the best compromise across categories. For me the first "nice" bike I ever rode was a friends Soloist so the Cal-5 is a attainable dream machine
Stick some better tyres on the gravel bike and use that for what it is.
If you get a gravel bike that suits/fits you, it almost makes an endurance bike redundant.
I got a Specialized Crux pro which has the nice kit (SRAM Force etap and carbon wheels) but not the ludicrous price of the S-Works with a healthy discount on interest free credit. Since the new Crux 5 (aero, internal cable routing) is out then there should be deals available on this previous iteration. Crux is cyclocross derived and is definitely at the 'race' rather than 'adventure' end of the gravel spectrum which is what makes it a great road bike. It helped me that it is very 'traditional' in looks with round tubes, external cable routing and a threaded BB shell.
It's a very comfortable and fast bike and I added some Roval Alpiniste wheels and 32mm GP5000s. Half price at Sigma and only needed a freehub adapter to get them to fit the SRAM cassette so impossible to resist.
I have a couple of friends who each bought an Aethos at around the same time as I got the Crux and capable and beautiful as the Aethos is, they both concede that mine was the better choice as I have two bikes in one and it barely weighs more than theirs.
It also leaves me the n+1 possibility of a proper race bike should I choose
I got a Specialized Crux pro which has the nice kit (SRAM Force etap and carbon wheels) but not the ludicrous price of the S-Works with a healthy discount on interest free credit. Since the new Crux 5 (aero, internal cable routing) is out then there should be deals available on this previous iteration. Crux is cyclocross derived and is definitely at the 'race' rather than 'adventure' end of the gravel spectrum which is what makes it a great road bike. It helped me that it is very 'traditional' in looks with round tubes, external cable routing and a threaded BB shell.
It's a very comfortable and fast bike and I added some Roval Alpiniste wheels and 32mm GP5000s. Half price at Sigma and only needed a freehub adapter to get them to fit the SRAM cassette so impossible to resist.
I have a couple of friends who each bought an Aethos at around the same time as I got the Crux and capable and beautiful as the Aethos is, they both concede that mine was the better choice as I have two bikes in one and it barely weighs more than theirs.
It also leaves me the n+1 possibility of a proper race bike should I choose
oddman said:
If you get a gravel bike that suits/fits you, it almost makes an endurance bike redundant.
I got a Specialized Crux pro which has the nice kit (SRAM Force etap and carbon wheels) but not the ludicrous price of the S-Works with a healthy discount on interest free credit. Since the new Crux 5 (aero, internal cable routing) is out then there should be deals available on this previous iteration. Crux is cyclocross derived and is definitely at the 'race' rather than 'adventure' end of the gravel spectrum which is what makes it a great road bike. It helped me that it is very 'traditional' in looks with round tubes, external cable routing and a threaded BB shell.
It's a very comfortable and fast bike and I added some Roval Alpiniste wheels and 32mm GP5000s. Half price at Sigma and only needed a freehub adapter to get them to fit the SRAM cassette so impossible to resist.
I have a couple of friends who each bought an Aethos at around the same time as I got the Crux and capable and beautiful as the Aethos is, they both concede that mine was the better choice as I have two bikes in one and it barely weighs more than theirs.
It also leaves me the n+1 possibility of a proper race bike should I choose
I’ve got a SL4 Tarmac, 50mm carbon wheels, Di2 but looking at gravel now with a second set of wheels for the reasons above. My LBS who sell Specialized confirmed no deals at the moment, there probably will be at the end of the summer.I got a Specialized Crux pro which has the nice kit (SRAM Force etap and carbon wheels) but not the ludicrous price of the S-Works with a healthy discount on interest free credit. Since the new Crux 5 (aero, internal cable routing) is out then there should be deals available on this previous iteration. Crux is cyclocross derived and is definitely at the 'race' rather than 'adventure' end of the gravel spectrum which is what makes it a great road bike. It helped me that it is very 'traditional' in looks with round tubes, external cable routing and a threaded BB shell.
It's a very comfortable and fast bike and I added some Roval Alpiniste wheels and 32mm GP5000s. Half price at Sigma and only needed a freehub adapter to get them to fit the SRAM cassette so impossible to resist.
I have a couple of friends who each bought an Aethos at around the same time as I got the Crux and capable and beautiful as the Aethos is, they both concede that mine was the better choice as I have two bikes in one and it barely weighs more than theirs.
It also leaves me the n+1 possibility of a proper race bike should I choose
I was looking at a Meridia Mission 7k or 9k as I think 2* may give a better spread of climbing gears than. 1*13.
£12k for the new SWorks is insane.
I love the look of modern gravel race bikes and the vibe that goes with them but gravel riding in my locale isn't enough to justify the ride and being honest, the terrain I was hunting out (thanks OS maps app) was better suited to a HT MTB.
I'll likely keep my Space Chicken and stick more off-road focussed tyres on in but my head and heart are saying my best bike should be for the road.
I'll likely keep my Space Chicken and stick more off-road focussed tyres on in but my head and heart are saying my best bike should be for the road.
One of the guys I ride with has a Reilly titanium gravel/road bike. Classic round tubes with integrated cables etc and he runs some nice chunky tyres in the winter and deep carbon rims in the summer. Lovely looking bike and he’s a monster on the descents so they definitely handle well. They appear to do full builds around the £5k mark.
ALawson said:
I ve got a SL4 Tarmac, 50mm carbon wheels, Di2 but looking at gravel now with a second set of wheels for the reasons above. My LBS who sell Specialized confirmed no deals at the moment, there probably will be at the end of the summer.
I was looking at a Meridia Mission 7k or 9k as I think 2* may give a better spread of climbing gears than. 1*13.
£12k for the new SWorks is insane.
You can get the old Crux Pro at Certini for £6k which is 90+% of the S-Works for 50% of the price.I was looking at a Meridia Mission 7k or 9k as I think 2* may give a better spread of climbing gears than. 1*13.
£12k for the new SWorks is insane.
I got mine for a a bit less than that a couple of years ago. On interest free credit it was impossible to resist. I've had some really nice bikes in my time but the Crux is fantastic. Apart from custom fit, it's the only road type bike I've had that fit perfectly straight out of the box. I usually have to tweak stem length and spacers.
Get a proper race bike that you want, compromise bikes are awful. You need n+1 and with a specific purpose for each, remember at 5k they still compromise on wheels to give you a sexy frame and DI etc. I'd consider 4-4.5k bike and instantly change wheels. For me that's always been the upgrade of choice
Wilier becomes your winter steed, gravel for whatever people use these for and get a nice aggressive geo on a race bike
Wilier becomes your winter steed, gravel for whatever people use these for and get a nice aggressive geo on a race bike
TheFungle said:
So far I've been considering the following:
Fairlight Strael
Standert Pfadfinder
Cervelo Caledonia
Definitey look at Enigma and Reilly titanium, and one of the many Mason bikes, at that price point.Fairlight Strael
Standert Pfadfinder
Cervelo Caledonia
I've had a Giant Propel for 10 years, it's a lovely aero road bike. But it can only take 25 mm tyres and no mudguards, so winter UK riding is messy. I'm not fastidious about maintenance either so parts wear out much quicker. I read a story on Road cc about how good gravel bikes were as winter UK road bikes, and they recommended the Specialised Diverge. This has a small suspension system in the headset, it's only 20mm but they said it really helped. I started looking on ebay, and found a 3 yr old Carbon Diverge with a double chainset for £1300. At the time the new equivalent was £3300. Went for a look, liked it, bought it, and it has been a revelation. Light off road duties are fine, winter road bike with mudguards, perfect. It is 3-4 km/h slower on the same route though, the 35 mm tyres and possibly a more relaxed attitude to riding it making the difference.
I also have a Sonder Dial hard tail, I live in the South Downs. The Diverge is ok on most trails, but some of the descents are rough as hell; the MTB just tanks down them with a little care, but the Diverge takes much more thought and is much slower.
Also have a look at Sonder, they are supplied by Alpkit and come highly recommended. They will be cheaper than the three you are looking at.
Have a look at the Scott Addict. It's lovely to look at, rides very well, and there's some really cool design features like the tube/pump that stores in the down tube, the multi-tool that stores in the bar end (yet with only 2 tool sizes undoes all bolts on the bike including wheels), the integrated frame bag that sits behind the head tube, and the rear light that is part of the seatpost (aftermarket adaptors available to seamlessly mount a Varia with no visible fixings).
It somehow doesn't feel as playful as my Canyon Endurace, but is really quick, somehow I just posted my "fastest 10miles ever" on Strava last night, yet I'm 52 and nowhere near match fit at the moment.
Throw the stock Schwalbes in the bin immediately after delivery and fit some very fat GP5000s of your choice and it's a supremely comfy place to be.
It somehow doesn't feel as playful as my Canyon Endurace, but is really quick, somehow I just posted my "fastest 10miles ever" on Strava last night, yet I'm 52 and nowhere near match fit at the moment.
Throw the stock Schwalbes in the bin immediately after delivery and fit some very fat GP5000s of your choice and it's a supremely comfy place to be.
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