Bike for racing but can take full guards?

rob13
rob13 Posts: 430
edited January 2013 in Road buying advice
Bit of an odd one (perhaps more common that I expect), but having sold my first road bike, I then went and bought some carbon loveliness in the form of a Cannondale Supersix. Since doing so, the winter has turned, I've hated taking that lovely bit of carbon out and now I'm hunting around for something which will handle the winter. I want to be able to fit full guards (not raceblades as I have them now and theyre too flimsy).

Ideally, I could also use this bike for commuting and also some closed circuit racing. I havent got into the racing side of things yet, but I'm working with a club at the moment and getting nearer week on week. I'm just too worried about binning the carbon considering some of the Cat3/4 races i've seen.

What would be suitable for being light enough, but with enough clearance for guards?

Comments

  • tomhammersley
    tomhammersley Posts: 107
    The Trek Madone 3 series has mudguard eyelets I believe - as has the Cannondale CAAD8.
  • hugo15
    hugo15 Posts: 1,101
    What about the Kinesis TK3?
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    http://www.dolan-bikes.com/Dolan-Dual%20Frameset ?

    If you get into racing you may want two bikes i.e get a winter trainer (like a Ribble) and a race bike.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • Tom Dean
    Tom Dean Posts: 1,723
    Rob13 wrote:
    I'm just too worried about binning the carbon considering some of the Cat3/4 races i've seen.
    Do you mean breaking your frame in a crash? There is a risk of course, but this is pretty rare.
  • rob13
    rob13 Posts: 430
    Tom Dean wrote:
    Rob13 wrote:
    I'm just too worried about binning the carbon considering some of the Cat3/4 races i've seen.
    Do you mean breaking your frame in a crash? There is a risk of course, but this is pretty rare.

    No I know bikes will get scuffed up, but I dont want my best bike taking a hit on it.

    What I should have done is keep my cheaper Boardman using that for racing/winter and just bought my summer bike. Problem was that the Boardman could only take Cruds which I dislike.
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Meant to show this earlier too:

    http://www.dolan-bikes.com/road-bikes/C ... oad%20Bike

    Review:

    http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... x-12-46664
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Kinesis T2 or Tk3? Originally designed as winter training bikes so take full guards / long drop brakes.
  • CarlosDSanchez
    CarlosDSanchez Posts: 455
    tifosi have carbon and aluminum winter frames, so do Dolan. I think the Kinesis TK3 is supposed to be one of the best aluminum winter frames.
    Dolan Preffisio
    2010 Cube Agree SL
  • saprkzz
    saprkzz Posts: 592
    Moda Stretto or Finale
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    What your title asks and what your text then described are different. Get a winter training bike and race the dale
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • rob13
    rob13 Posts: 430
    Ooh a few more to add to the list. Currently compiling a list of options and trying to decide which to go for, including whether or not I could build it up cheaply by using some hardly used parts. I'm thinking of using my Aksiums from my Supersix and buying some Ksyriums for the summer bike as i've been impressed with the Mavics. Ideally want eyelets for guards so looking at fork options too.

    Looked at the CAAD8 as it has guard eyelets but I dont think theres enough clearance to run full guards?

    Racing the Dale? That would be the longer term picture.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    No, you have to be careful; there's a few bikes that come with mudguard eyelets but bugger all in the way of clearance for real guards.
  • rob13
    rob13 Posts: 430
    keef66 wrote:
    No, you have to be careful; there's a few bikes that come with mudguard eyelets but bugger all in the way of clearance for real guards.

    Yeah, its a bit sneaky that.
  • rob13
    rob13 Posts: 430
    I'm thinking of building something up with 10spd, just because I can. I'll try and go used on the groupset, except for chain/cassette to keep build costs down, use my Mavic Aksiums from the Supersix and look at getting something lighter for that one. Something like Ksyrium Elites or RS80s. Frameset will probably be new as I've been looking for about a month now and nothing has come up. Probably something to do with trying to buy a winter frame when its winter ;)
  • ScottieP
    ScottieP Posts: 599
    I have a Kinesis TK3 and it is definitely good enough to race. It's already been suggested by a few people in the thread and they're all absolutely right. It's a 4 seasons race bike, light, lively, nimble and stiff but with enough comfort.

    I've also spent some time riding a CAAD8 and whilst it's a lovely bike, it won't take full guards and it's not a race bike. A terrific bike too - more comfortable but not a bike to race in my opinion. If you want a Cannondale to race CAAD10 but again no guards.

    Seriously the TK3 fits your criteria very well indeed.
    My cycling blog: http://girodilento.com/
  • lc1981
    lc1981 Posts: 820
    smidsy wrote:
    What your title asks and what your text then described are different. Get a winter training bike and race the dale

    This is what I was thinking. The SuperSix should be for racing, and if you're buying a second bike, only that one needs to take mudguards.
  • rob13
    rob13 Posts: 430
    You're right, I think I just need to accept that the 'Dale is the race bike. It is my best bike, but its also the lightest and therefore in a game of marginal gains, if i'm racing its the one I should be doing it on.

    Still very interested in a T2. The LBS has a fully built bike available for somewhere around £750, Kinesis carbon fork, Tiagra (not sure if 9 or 10spd though) and some variety of CXP22s from one of their Felts. Seems a good deal, and probably not any more expensive than I could build if doing it from a frameset.
  • mr_mojo
    mr_mojo Posts: 200
    What about Titanium? I've got the Dolan ADX Titanium frame. The rear mudguard eye is tapped into the dropout and you spec a fork with or without eyelets when ordering. I've only had mine a couple of weeks but initial thoughts are I like it a lot.

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