I'm in the market for an aerobike...
Discussion
Chaps, I'm looking at upgrading my sectuer elite to a proper road bike.
I'm very much taken on the design and looks of an aerobike, I feel as if I've reached the limits that the very basic groupset that is on my current bike (think it's tiagra) I was looking at upgrading the groupset and wheels on mine, but for the price it seems I can get a decent second hand aerobike for nearly similar money.
Any recommendations out there? I was looking at a Cervelo s3 but the shop didn't have a 54cm in stock. Budget is around 2k but can increase for the right bike.
Ultregra as a minimum and some nice carbon wheels wouldn't go a miss!
Any forums out there I can get on with a decent classified section?
I'm very much taken on the design and looks of an aerobike, I feel as if I've reached the limits that the very basic groupset that is on my current bike (think it's tiagra) I was looking at upgrading the groupset and wheels on mine, but for the price it seems I can get a decent second hand aerobike for nearly similar money.
Any recommendations out there? I was looking at a Cervelo s3 but the shop didn't have a 54cm in stock. Budget is around 2k but can increase for the right bike.
Ultregra as a minimum and some nice carbon wheels wouldn't go a miss!
Any forums out there I can get on with a decent classified section?
For Aero around the 2k mark look at Ribble, Cube, Giant, Merida etc. I would have said Canyon Aeroad as that is my dream bike but they seem to have put the prices up each year and they now sit out of my range.
I keep looking at this instead and think it looks great value for money, sub 8kg, aero, Shimano Di2 Ultegra with hydraulic discs.
https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-cwx-ult...
I might get one and save to upgrade the wheels to deep carbon at a later date.
I keep looking at this instead and think it looks great value for money, sub 8kg, aero, Shimano Di2 Ultegra with hydraulic discs.
https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/bike/rose-xeon-cwx-ult...
I might get one and save to upgrade the wheels to deep carbon at a later date.
One thing to note is the differing fit of a Secteur, which is a high geometry, tall head tube bike for beginners and 'sportive' rides, versus the low aggressive position of an aero bike.
For example a 56cm Sectuer has a head tube length of 190cm, a Venge of the same size is 160cm, that's a fair difference when it comes to saddle to bar drop, I've lost count of the times I've seen an aero bike with 2 inches of spacers under the stem.
I'm not saying don't go for it but I'd really recommend a bike fit and comparing against some options that suit you.
Options at £2k would be Giant Propel, Merido Reacto, Tiffosi Auriga etc.
Or more race orientated Specialized Tarmac, Cannondale Supersix / CAAD 12 etc.
For example a 56cm Sectuer has a head tube length of 190cm, a Venge of the same size is 160cm, that's a fair difference when it comes to saddle to bar drop, I've lost count of the times I've seen an aero bike with 2 inches of spacers under the stem.
I'm not saying don't go for it but I'd really recommend a bike fit and comparing against some options that suit you.
Options at £2k would be Giant Propel, Merido Reacto, Tiffosi Auriga etc.
Or more race orientated Specialized Tarmac, Cannondale Supersix / CAAD 12 etc.
If you want a full aero bike, at this price point I'd suggest either a Giant Propel (new) or Canyon Aeroad (used but would be an older model).
Alternatively I'd suggest something like:
Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7.0
It's a good compromise between a full aero bike and a 'normal' road bike. It'll get you into a more aero position but will be more comfortable if you're not used to a full on race bike. The frame is also optimised to be more aerodynamic than a normal road bike with lots of details that you don't notice on first viewing.
New 105 is easily as good to use as Ultegra and you won't notice a difference. I don't and I have the 2017 CF SL 9.0 ( https://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes... )
Brilliant bit of kit and exactly on budget. I may be biased but I love my one.
Alternatively I'd suggest something like:
Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7.0
It's a good compromise between a full aero bike and a 'normal' road bike. It'll get you into a more aero position but will be more comfortable if you're not used to a full on race bike. The frame is also optimised to be more aerodynamic than a normal road bike with lots of details that you don't notice on first viewing.
New 105 is easily as good to use as Ultegra and you won't notice a difference. I don't and I have the 2017 CF SL 9.0 ( https://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/category/bikes... )
Brilliant bit of kit and exactly on budget. I may be biased but I love my one.
I've had a Propel for nearly two years now, I love it. At the time it had full Ultegra and normal rim brakes for £1600. They used to make 3 levels of frame, and then there are three models for each frame type. I could have bought a £1100 model which had same frame worse groupset, £2100 model which had same frame and better groupset or a £2500 model which had better frame and wheels, but worse groupset.
I demo'd the £2500 model for over an hour, it was awesome and had me desperately re-doing the sums trying to justify the extra almost-grand. I came back down to earth and stuck with the £1600 model, which I still get a kick out of riding. It isn't too harsh, I did an Everesting on it two months after getting it, so 27 hours on a bike...hence I am dubious about manufacturer claims that "endurance" bikes are massively different to "race" bikes. Having said that, I did demo the Fuji aero bike whilst I was researching and that DID feel harsher than what I was used to. It might be a case of looking at your riding; if you are always doing 100 mile or 6 hour rides, then get the comfiest sofa of a bike you can find. However, if you mainly ride for 2-3 hours with the odd century thrown in a few times a year, get the bike that gives you a kick.
I demo'd the £2500 model for over an hour, it was awesome and had me desperately re-doing the sums trying to justify the extra almost-grand. I came back down to earth and stuck with the £1600 model, which I still get a kick out of riding. It isn't too harsh, I did an Everesting on it two months after getting it, so 27 hours on a bike...hence I am dubious about manufacturer claims that "endurance" bikes are massively different to "race" bikes. Having said that, I did demo the Fuji aero bike whilst I was researching and that DID feel harsher than what I was used to. It might be a case of looking at your riding; if you are always doing 100 mile or 6 hour rides, then get the comfiest sofa of a bike you can find. However, if you mainly ride for 2-3 hours with the odd century thrown in a few times a year, get the bike that gives you a kick.
I'd be considering a lightly used Specialized Venge from the bay
e.g.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282921625430
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183177677729
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142746806509
e.g.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282921625430
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/183177677729
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142746806509
Cheers for the info chaps.
Matt N, it's something I actually didn't consider, apart from the S3 I sat on, which was too big so I really didn't get a proper feel for it. I've not really had the chance to have a proper sit on one. I guess it's something I'm going to struggle with looking at second hand bikes.
I'll have a look at a Specialized Tarmac, I think they do a semi aero version? Seat post anyway, so could be a good halfway house for me.
I'm not one for massively long rides, but being not far from Surrey, do have some nice hills to blast down...
Matt N, it's something I actually didn't consider, apart from the S3 I sat on, which was too big so I really didn't get a proper feel for it. I've not really had the chance to have a proper sit on one. I guess it's something I'm going to struggle with looking at second hand bikes.
I'll have a look at a Specialized Tarmac, I think they do a semi aero version? Seat post anyway, so could be a good halfway house for me.
I'm not one for massively long rides, but being not far from Surrey, do have some nice hills to blast down...
Boom, f
k your budget and get an Aeroad. I did and I love it...
Was going to spend £2k, then £2.5k and ended up getting the £4.5k di2 disc Aeroad...
Stuck the 65mm wheels back on yesterday and gave it a good blast.
.
.
.
.
However on a serious note... whilst I absolutely love my Aeroad my other hack is a 2012 Giant TCR with 105 & 40mm Mavic Cosmic Carbons. Whilst the Aeroad is clearly quicker, it’s not night and day - so just spend what you want to spend and don’t get too hung up on all the Aero stuff. Your legs and your position on the bike will make considerably more difference than any so called ground breaking aero features...
k your budget and get an Aeroad. I did and I love it...Was going to spend £2k, then £2.5k and ended up getting the £4.5k di2 disc Aeroad...
Stuck the 65mm wheels back on yesterday and gave it a good blast.
.
.
.
.
However on a serious note... whilst I absolutely love my Aeroad my other hack is a 2012 Giant TCR with 105 & 40mm Mavic Cosmic Carbons. Whilst the Aeroad is clearly quicker, it’s not night and day - so just spend what you want to spend and don’t get too hung up on all the Aero stuff. Your legs and your position on the bike will make considerably more difference than any so called ground breaking aero features...
Edited by russy01 on Monday 16th April 22:34
E65Ross said:
Have another Aeroad pic....here's mine
Hang on, is that the childs version 
I see the Ultimate has been mentioned above... this is also a lovely bike. My riding buddy got the Aero version when I got the Aeroad. So his has the Carbon Cosmics, mechanical Ultegra and the same Carbon bars. Both fab bikes and both weigh about the same... (Aeroad is Medium and the Ultimate is Large in this pic)
i saw one of these the other day and fk me its a serious bit of kit.
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/S-Wor...
k me its a serious bit of kit. https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/S-Wor...
z4RRSchris said:
i saw one of these the other day and fk me its a serious bit of kit.
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/S-Wor...
Another one of the fellas I ride with has one, its seriously cool. But should be for that dollar...k me its a serious bit of kit. https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Specialized/S-Wor...
z4RRSchris said:
russy01 said:
Another one of the fellas I ride with has one, its seriously cool. But should be for that dollar...
i like the etap one with hydro discs... Mine going to the shop tomorrow as I was playing about with the headset on mine as it wasn't QUITE lined up (well, the wheels were in relation to the steerer/bars, but the collar at the bottom was off-centre....and I may have tightened it up a tad much as there is now seemingly a little play there when I rock the bike forwards when holding the front brake.....It may just be my imagination but I'd rather it be checked!
Also, where I've slammed the front end I'm going to get them to cut the hydraulic brake lines to tidy the front end a bit which should make it look even slicker.
z4RRSchris said:
i like the etap one with hydro discs...
Yep, the rim braked one was borderline dangerous. I was given an early S Works bike to ride pre them on sale and the braking was atrocious. If that wasn't fixed for launch I wouldn't ride one without discs.The braking on Madone 9.9 is brutal in comparison, much firmer than the Durace 9000 on my Parlee. You might get a 2017 Madone near budget. Here's mine, it looks tiny despite being "nominally" a 54. Its H1 fit and "slammed". I've seen a few H2 fit around and they are considerably more relaxed. Benefits of the Madone 9 series is it has the comfort saddle post decoupler hidden in the aero seat tube.
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