Endurance biassed bike for around £1,000...

cglynne
Posts: 5
I consider myself new to cycling in as much as it has been 20+ years since I rode my 10 speed steel bike to and from school every day.
A group of my friends and I are going to start a charity annual cycle from Aachen in Germany back to Bromley, Kent each year and I'm looking to buy a bike that will make that a pleasant ride rather than punishment. Initially I bugetted £1,000 for the bike and all the kit I'd need but it seems now like I might be wise to set a budget of around £1k just for the bike given that the kit might well set me back £400 without too much trouble.
I have narrowed in on 2 recongnised brands - Cannondale and Specialized - and potentially Ribble as an alternate.
The Cannondale Synapse Tiagra was recommended by my closest LBS and the Specialized Secteur or Roubaix by a relatively close one.
I have tried the entry level Synapse alloy over the last couple of days and the most immediate thing I noticed was that I felt every single imperfection in the local road surfaces - it hurt the bony part of my backside.
I tried the Secteur next and whilst I was 'aware' of the imperfections it wasn't so that I would say it was painful or even uncomfortable. The Roubaix felt a tiny bit more harsh than the Secteur (not as much as the Synapse) but definitely felt much lighter to get rolling from traffic lights.
I can get a 105 specced Synapse for £1k in last year's model or a Tiagra specced Secteur Elite 2013 for £1k or finally the entry level Roubaix with Sora groupset for £1,200. I might even be persuaded to go to the Roubaix Sport with 105/Tiagra for £1,500 but to be honest I don't feel I know enough to know whether the extra money is worth the extra value I would notice.
The last option is to go Ribble and build a great spec on their Sportive Bianco or New Sportive Racing for about £1,200 with 105 group set.
I could really do with some help advising whether others have felt the difference between the Synapse and Secteur/Roubaix and potentially Ribble bikes.
I did all 3 comparisons with just tracksuit trousers rather than padded shorts. My theory is that if I can cope with a bike on my local roads without padding then I'll definitely be fine with a pair on. The Synapse I tried might be a slightly unfair comparison (being the entry level one) but I'm worried as to whether the uncomfortable ride on it might be a theme of that frame or whether a different saddle, for example, might make it feel more like the Secteur's more forgiving feel.
Any help gratefully received.
A group of my friends and I are going to start a charity annual cycle from Aachen in Germany back to Bromley, Kent each year and I'm looking to buy a bike that will make that a pleasant ride rather than punishment. Initially I bugetted £1,000 for the bike and all the kit I'd need but it seems now like I might be wise to set a budget of around £1k just for the bike given that the kit might well set me back £400 without too much trouble.
I have narrowed in on 2 recongnised brands - Cannondale and Specialized - and potentially Ribble as an alternate.
The Cannondale Synapse Tiagra was recommended by my closest LBS and the Specialized Secteur or Roubaix by a relatively close one.
I have tried the entry level Synapse alloy over the last couple of days and the most immediate thing I noticed was that I felt every single imperfection in the local road surfaces - it hurt the bony part of my backside.
I tried the Secteur next and whilst I was 'aware' of the imperfections it wasn't so that I would say it was painful or even uncomfortable. The Roubaix felt a tiny bit more harsh than the Secteur (not as much as the Synapse) but definitely felt much lighter to get rolling from traffic lights.
I can get a 105 specced Synapse for £1k in last year's model or a Tiagra specced Secteur Elite 2013 for £1k or finally the entry level Roubaix with Sora groupset for £1,200. I might even be persuaded to go to the Roubaix Sport with 105/Tiagra for £1,500 but to be honest I don't feel I know enough to know whether the extra money is worth the extra value I would notice.
The last option is to go Ribble and build a great spec on their Sportive Bianco or New Sportive Racing for about £1,200 with 105 group set.
I could really do with some help advising whether others have felt the difference between the Synapse and Secteur/Roubaix and potentially Ribble bikes.
I did all 3 comparisons with just tracksuit trousers rather than padded shorts. My theory is that if I can cope with a bike on my local roads without padding then I'll definitely be fine with a pair on. The Synapse I tried might be a slightly unfair comparison (being the entry level one) but I'm worried as to whether the uncomfortable ride on it might be a theme of that frame or whether a different saddle, for example, might make it feel more like the Secteur's more forgiving feel.
Any help gratefully received.
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Comments
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Both the synapse and the secteur are worse than the Giant Defy 1.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-giant-defy-1-12-45849
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-cannondale-synapse-5-12-45884
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/review-specialized-secteur-elite-12-45863
and I'd also personally be reluctant to pay £1200 for Sora.
I bought a Defy 1 back in January and its been perfect all year.
The one other factor to take into account is bike fit.. buy the one that fits best.. and buy from a shop that will fit you properly -> If not budget in £100->£200 for a professional bike fit.0 -
I've owned a Secteur and a Roubaix. Same bike really but as you say, the Roubaix is certainly happier to get going and change direction due to it's carbonness. Also it does give you a leg-up on the stamina front and the 2013's are cheaper. That said there's now a Secteur Disc for £999 which might be the better bet if the weather is crap.
My riding buddy has an alloy Synapse, which does him well; One difference I do notice is that when I'm on the drops I am level with him on his hoods, so geometry wise there is a difference. I personally need the high comfortable front of the Secteur / Roubaix as I have aback problem and these bikes actually cure it!
Don't know anything about the Giant, sorry.0 -
Being a newbie I can be naively candid that I didn't really notice much of a difference between the Tiagra groupset on the Secteur Elite and the 2013 Sora on the Roubaix. What I really noticed was the harshness of ride between the Synapse and the Secteur (and lesser degree Roubaix).
Is the Defy 1 geometry aimed at the more upright 'sportive'/endurance rider? I've not even entertained that bike as yet.
I certainly wouldn't agree with the Bike Radar claim that it was a harsh ride - or if that qualifies as harsh then the Synapse is bone cracking...
Not sure I know which one 'fits' me best. I only know which felt more comfortable and seperately which were more responsive: Comfortable - Secteur, Roubaix, Synapse ; Responsive - Roubaix, Synapse, Secteur.
Will have to find someone that stops the Giant to try that one perhaps.
@Plymouthsteve... have you tried your friend's synapse? Did you feel it was harsher than the Roubaix?0 -
Will you be carrying any stuff or do you plan to have a support vehicle?More problems but still living....0
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I ride a Synapse 105 (2011). Never had a problem with it being uncomfortable. However, the wheels on the Sora & Tiagra Synapse are poor. I've ridden them on a friend's CAAD 8 and I can understand why the ride of the Synapse felt harsh. The RS10s on the 105 Synapse are a lot better. Worth trying to ride a 105 Synapse if you can - I suspect it's very different to the Sora & Tiagra models.
However, I would echo some of the other comments on here. Try to find a Defy 1 to test ride if you can. Brilliant bikes.FCN 3 / 40 -
cglynne wrote:Being a newbie I can be naively candid that I didn't really notice much of a difference between the Tiagra groupset on the Secteur Elite and the 2013 Sora on the Roubaix. What I really noticed was the harshness of ride between the Synapse and the Secteur (and lesser degree Roubaix).
Is the Defy 1 geometry aimed at the more upright 'sportive'/endurance rider? I've not even entertained that bike as yet.
I certainly wouldn't agree with the Bike Radar claim that it was a harsh ride - or if that qualifies as harsh then the Synapse is bone cracking...
Not sure I know which one 'fits' me best. I only know which felt more comfortable and seperately which were more responsive: Comfortable - Secteur, Roubaix, Synapse ; Responsive - Roubaix, Synapse, Secteur.
Will have to find someone that stops the Giant to try that one perhaps.
@Plymouthsteve... have you tried your friend's synapse? Did you feel it was harsher than the Roubaix?
Its all relative -> it may not be that harsh.. but it may be relatively harsh compared to other similar bikes
And yes the Giant Defy is a more of a sportive geometry.0 -
amaferanga wrote:Will you be carrying any stuff or do you plan to have a support vehicle?
Support vehicles for the annual event... so no need for more than basic repair kit and fluids.
I did look at whether an alloy would be a better bet given the ability (usually) to put panniers on if I get into touring but have decided that's a different ball game and best to leave it as such.
Right now my heart is saying buy the Synapse 105 on a good deal at my LBS and accept that once I get proper padded shorts, etc. the harshness will be masked a little. My head however is saying that as a level playing field the Secteur and Roubaix are just more comfortable before padding and hence will be even better with.
Could well be overanalysing it all though...0 -
The Fuggler wrote:I ride a Synapse 105 (2011). Never had a problem with it being uncomfortable. However, the wheels on the Sora & Tiagra Synapse are poor. I've ridden them on a friend's CAAD 8 and I can understand why the ride of the Synapse felt harsh. The RS10s on the 105 Synapse are a lot better. Worth trying to ride a 105 Synapse if you can - I suspect it's very different to the Sora & Tiagra models.
However, I would echo some of the other comments on here. Try to find a Defy 1 to test ride if you can. Brilliant bikes.
It was probably the tyres and not the wheels that made the difference. More expensive wheels don't make for a less harsh ride.More problems but still living....0 -
amaferanga wrote:The Fuggler wrote:I ride a Synapse 105 (2011). Never had a problem with it being uncomfortable. However, the wheels on the Sora & Tiagra Synapse are poor. I've ridden them on a friend's CAAD 8 and I can understand why the ride of the Synapse felt harsh. The RS10s on the 105 Synapse are a lot better. Worth trying to ride a 105 Synapse if you can - I suspect it's very different to the Sora & Tiagra models.
However, I would echo some of the other comments on here. Try to find a Defy 1 to test ride if you can. Brilliant bikes.
It was probably the tyres and not the wheels that made the difference. More expensive wheels don't make for a less harsh ride.
Normally yes, but we tried new tyres first and they still weren't good. Even the RS10s with the stock Luganos were better than the stock wheels with Conti GP4000s. Pop some Contis (4 seasons probably the best bet as an all rounder) on the RS10s on the 105 Synapse and you'd have a very nice set up for the money. It certainly works for me.
I'd still try and find a Defy though!FCN 3 / 40 -
And today I discover the Trek Domane series... And the scientist in me really sees the logic in that approach.
Problem is that I've now super-confused myself what to actually buy and that's before even tracking down a Giant Drfy to try out...0 -
I'd only spring for the Domane if you're splashing out on a carbon model. I personally don't see as much advantage to using such tech on an alu frame and I've yet to see a test on one. Plus for the money you're looking to spend you're saddled with Tiagra which is fine but 105 is really where he fun starts.
As others have said the Defy 1 is solid. Get it.English Cycles V3 | Cervelo P5 | Cervelo T4 | Trek Domane Koppenberg0 -
So what did you buy in the end?0
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Cube Agree GTC 2012 full 105 and £1259 gets great reviews aswell0
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Grill - disagree. New, 10 speed tiagra is very good.http://www.georgesfoundation.org
http://100hillsforgeorge.blogspot.com/
http://www.12on12in12.blogspot.co.uk/0