Canyon or last minute bargain headturners?

uberkraaft

Getting to the sharper end of deciding on a 40th birthday present to myself

I've been coveting the Canyon Ultimate CF SLX for the best part of a year. Budget (£3K) constraints probably meaning the 7.0 Di2 or maybe the DuraAce 8.0 at a push.

Before I pulled the trigger, I had a quick look around and found a couple of bargains that seem pretty tempting too -

Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod - £3000 - http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 7b0s6p4315
SCOTT CR1 SL - £3000 - http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/products.asp?category=Sale%20Bikes&product=CR1%20SL%2020sp%20-%202012%20Road%20Bike#.USkbzOsXf8u
CUBE LITENING SUPER HPC SL - £2500 - http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/products.asp?category=Sale%20Bikes&product=Litening%20Super%20HPC%20SL%20-%202012%20Road%20Bike#.USkcT-sXf8u

Just wondered if anyone might have any thoughts/experience with these? Should I just stick to the Canyon?

I only ride up to 100 miles a week, and I know any of these is more bike than I need. I've added the Cube in there because it's lovely looking &, I assume, a bit more aggressive. The Scott & Cannondale are a bit more relaxed, is that right? Would I really notice the difference given that I don't ride particularly far or fast?!

Thanks in advance for any input guys.

M

letap73

What do you actually ride now and what do you think of it? This may have a bearing as the bikes listed above are quite differnt in geometry as you have noted.

uberkraaft

Yep, sorry... I ride a hand-me-down classic 853 frame (probably 90s) - I don't know too much about geometry! Previously I rode a more compact Boardman road comp - both have felt fine fit-wise?

mallorcajeff

If it was my money I'd go for the canyon. Check the measurements before ordering, there was a couple on eBay this week new still in the box?

Avit5

How about this one http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 7b0s6p4311 it's only £1850 for dura ace on a caad 10.

letap73

Do you want something a little racy or something comfort orientated? How important is brand? Have you considered building a bike up? Perhaps a ti/steel framed bike from Enigma/Rourke/Mercian etc? Lots of things to consider! I would take your time. Paul's Cycles offer interest free credit - does this increase your budget?

http://www.enigmabikes.com/bike-list.html

letap73

Just clicked on your website -seems like you are the creative type, how about you get a plain custom frame, you come up with the paint/graphics scheme to decorate it ala pegoretti:

Shaun67

I would say what many have said on this forum before, go with your heart, the one that makes you smile.
After reading your post it has to been the Canyon and all the bikes you have listed are very, very nice.

Good luck and enjoy riding your new bike.

uberkraaft

Thanks for the input guys!

mallorcajeff - Thanks, duly noted!

Avit5 - Lovely bike, but i'm not sure it's enough of a step up. TBH I'm not that fussed about it being DA, I'm more concerned with a top frame & cracking wheelset. I'm running early Ksyrium Elites & Ultegra so anything around that or better will be fine.

Hey letap - I think it's got to be Carbon. I really can't imagine getting a better steely than the one I've got and I'm a little wary of Ti - plus (i may be wrong here), I image Ti to be a smoother, more comfort oriented ride ... like my steel Because 95% of my riding is 50miles or less, I imagined I could get away with the racier side. At least while I can still ride a more aggressive bike... - Oh, the problem with your own custom artwork is you tend to see the bits that didn't go right!!

Thanks Shaun - Yeah you're most probably right. The Canyon is the one that raises my pulse the most They put their prices up this year and I'm a bit iffy on the Di2....

mooro

Hi Uberkraaft,

I have a couple of canyons, and the CF SLX is an amazing bike. Light / stiff but still pretty comfy, i couldnt recommend it highly enough! I have dura ace and it is fantastic bit of kit, less sure about Di2 though but up to you.

As others have said, its important to get your sizing right so i would suggest you get this done in a bike shop then work out the size online.

M

ps - great website and some fantastic illustrations!

letap73

Have a look at the discounted bikes on the wiggle site - they have a 30 day return policy.There is a nice basso and colnago on there heavily discounted- if they are the right size however. Check out the 2012 supersix evo frame for sale at pauls cycle at £1500 it is the high mod frame -a bargain at that price (and interest free credit), you could make a great build out of that for £3000 - dare I say just as good and possibly better than the canyon at £3000 .

smidsy

Damn that Basso is good value at under £1800.

I have to say the are fantastic to ride and they look so much better in reality than any pictures can depict.

letap73

smidsy wrote:

Damn that Basso is good value at under £1800.

I have to say the are fantastic to ride and they look so much better in reality than any pictures can depict.

C'mon smidsy you could not fail to notice the supersix evo frameset on at £1500 interest free - in fact I 'm betting you breaking out in a sweat right now - imagine ridng one adorned with one of Ugo's wheelsets handbuilt with love, shod with vittoria corsas and latex tubes.
:twisted:

smidsy

letap73 wrote:

C'mon smidsy you could not fail to notice the supersix evo frameset on at £1500 interest free - in fact I 'm betting you breaking out in a sweat right now - imagine ridng one adorned with one of Ugo's wheelsets handbuilt with love, shod with vittoria corsas and latex tubes.

That would certainly be close to cycling Nirvana for me 8) Perhaps Carbon tubs though.

Great price but the Basso is a complete bike, hence my previous post.

ShutUpLegs

letap73 wrote:

smidsy wrote:

Damn that Basso is good value at under £1800.

I have to say the are fantastic to ride and they look so much better in reality than any pictures can depict.

C'mon smidsy you could not fail to notice the supersix evo frameset on at £1500 interest free - in fact I 'm betting you breaking out in a sweat right now - imagine ridng one adorned with one of Ugo's wheelsets handbuilt with love, shod with vittoria corsas and latex tubes.
:twisted:

Is the Supersix Evo a better frame than the CF SLX :?:

galatzo

£3000 ?
Pick and choose with that budget

Frame £1300
Wheels £500
Sram Force £700
Bars Stem £150
Post saddle £200
Mich Pro4 £50
Sundries and build £100

http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/p/20457/wil ... eset-2011/

http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/p/21063/arg ... eset-2011/

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/de- ... tch__plid_

Actually this

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/1145885/produ ... meset.aspx £1700

Sram Force £650 (its a BB30 frame) or Campag Athena
Bar stem post saddle £250
Wheels tyres £400 Ksyrium Elites or Zondas for Campag

uberkraaft

Hey Mooro - Thanks dude - yeah, I think you've helped make up my mind (again!) - I might give the Di2 a whirl - (if the battery pack is hidden? Anyone?) or I'll have to schmooz Mrs U and go up a step! Thanks for the props too

Re. Building up - Galatzo I just lost 2 hours of my life looking for bits! Although my inner bike shopper/OCD fetishist loves the idea, in all honesty I don't think I could get near any of these bikes if I build it up myself ... so it would only be worthwhile if I found a super incredible frame that was beyond any of these? But these are sooo good! Tempted by the Supersix Evo, but as SUL said ... is it any better than the CF SLX?

matt.rochfort

Hi There,

I've recently been pondering a similar new bike scenario. I'm currrently riding a CAAD 9 which I've had for a few years (it's for sale now). I had a supersix hi-mod which was written off in a slow speed (10mph) meeting with a car door. My point is that the CAAD 9 was much more lively than the supersix and a more engaging ride - However - the position is now too racy for my ailing 44 year old back so I've just bought a Cannondale synapse in alloy which is going to be rebuilt with SRAM red from the supersix. It is a lovely ride, it feels as stiff as the CAAD and just as fast but WAY more comfortable. The question you need to ask is - how racy a position do you really want - are you going to be racing or doing sportives? Too many people buy out and out race bikes without really racing them and suffer on the comfort stakes after 50 miles or so. Also - I snapped the supersix in half, an alloy bike would have almost certainly survived such a low speed shunt - the weight penalty between a great alloy frame and carbon is minimal especially if you put a decent grouppo and wheels on the bike and considering we don't live in the alps you'll hardly notice a few hundred extra grammes. SO - buy the Alloy synapse with 105 from Pauls cycles (£879) and spend money upgrading it (wheels/gruppo) and you'll still come out smiling with about a grand to spend on a week away in the sun to ride it!

uberkraaft

Hey Matt - thanks for the post. You know Tom & Jerry thing where Tom has an angel cat on one shoulder & a devil cat on the other?!

Your point is a very sensible one - I guess in this instance I'm hitting 40 & really want a super bike while I can still enjoy it (reach the bars!). I already have a beautiful 853 frame for longer rides and really like the idea of a carbon 'race' bike for putting my foot down. However, you have got me thinking about the Synapse again! Did you really snap a frame in half??! That worries me a bit ...

Hmm practicality & being sensible isn't gonna help my mid life crisis any is it?

matt.rochfort

I absolutely understand your desire to own a carbon superbike - I did the same thing buying the Supersix, full Sram Red, kysriums etc - I rode it 6 times (About 300 miles in total) before the car door incident - snapped clean in half across top and down tubes - the mortified lady driver admitted liability and her husband folded the bike in half,put it in the boot and they drove me home!!

jane90

Hi uberkraaft, I was recently in exactly the same position as you with the same budget for a quick carbon bike, I, too, quite fancied a Canyon but I tested a few others first and fell in love with a Colnago CLX 3.0 Ultegra which I've bought instead. I see it's available on Wiggle for slightly less than I paid for mine and perhaps you might like to add it to your list to try in case you fall in love with it too! Good luck and I hope you enjoy your new bike, whichever one you choose.

galatzo

jane90 wrote:

Hi uberkraaft, I was recently in exactly the same position as you with the same budget for a quick carbon bike, I, too, quite fancied a Canyon but I tested a few others first and fell in love with a Colnago CLX 3.0 Ultegra which I've bought instead. I see it's available on Wiggle for slightly less than I paid for mine and perhaps you might like to add it to your list to try in case you fall in love with it too! Good luck and I hope you enjoy your new bike, whichever one you choose.

Glad you like it but £3k for a bike with Ultegra, basic Deda bars and stem and RS30 wheels ? Is that a £2000 frame then ?

ShutUpLegs

It's overpriced for what you get.

the_jackalcp

My local Giant shop has an ex demo TCR advanced, full red and carbon wheels for a smidge over £3000. It looks amazing, by all accounts is beautiful to ride and is an amazing deal, if it is your size. I think it is a 55cm but can't swear by it. It is in the window of the Twickenham store should you, or anyone else, be interested

uberkraaft

jane90 - Thanks for that! (Heresy warning) - I'm not a massive fan of Colnago but that is one beautiful looking bike - I would be tempted apart from the pony wheels

Thanks The Jackalcp - I'm down that way this week, I may swing by & have a look ... I don't know much about Giant tbh.

bernithebiker

If you want the Canyon, do it soon. The pound may well be in freefall next week, now we've lost a AAA rating.

uberkraaft

bernithebiker wrote:

If you want the Canyon, do it soon. The pound may well be in freefall next week, now we've lost a AAA rating.

Good call!! Thanks!

Camcycle1974

Uberkraaft, Station Cycles in Cambridge has a Giant TCR Advanced SL3 on sale for £2000 (£1500 off list price). It's a beautiful bike but I decided the more relaxed geometry of the Defy was more my thing. I also bought it as a present for my 40th, although i am about to turn 39! Seriously you should check it out, I was sorely tempted although a race bike was not really what I was after. The SL frame is stunning and more than a match for the Canyon. Giant, whilst not the coolest of brands are at the forefront of carbon frame design.The Advance SL3 is made with Toray 800 carbon with integrated seatpost would cost more than £2000 for the frame so 2k for the complete bike is a steal.

The added bonus is that you can test ride the bike, not an option with Canyon.

Ps I didn't buy my bike from them so have no agenda. I got mine form Chris's bikes in Girton who is a Giant specialist and also has some stunning Giants in his Aladdins cave of a shop.

letap73

If you are interested in the giant advanced tcr, then you may have realised that Paul's cycles has them on with large discounts:
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 7b4s6p3602

I would still contend that a better build could be made with the Supersix Evo or the frames suggested by Galatzo. Assuming the Supersix Evo frame is comparable to the Canyon frame, you can decide what is more important in your build, e.g the wheels rather than the groupset. The build suggested on the canyon website is excellent and great value for money, however it cannot be changed. My personal preference for the build would be to get a cheaper groupset like Ultegra/Force, then with regard to wheels you could either get factory or a set of handbuilts (Ugo will provide excellent advice on this). Saddle preference is also very important - you may prefer a fizik saddle over the selle italia provided on the canyon. If the prospect of building your own bike is daunting then there are plenty of people on here who can provide advice. Afterall, if an idiot like me can successfully put a bike together then so can you.

If you choose to get a fully built up bike then you should consider a Rose - same mode of operation as the Canyon, similar value for money and it also reviews well, the benefit is that it has customisable options:

http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/products/bikes/road-bikes/

galatzo

As above.
If you buy a complete bike there's bound to be something you want to alter be it saddle bars stem or even wheels. Pick your frame and go from there, save on bars stem post for now if you have too but this would be yours like no other.

uberkraaft

You know, I was hoping this thread would make it easier!

Personally, the Giant isn't really exciting me - not overly liking the slope of the top tube. I'm seriously considering the Supersix Evo build as suggested ... I recently bought 3T Ergonova Pro bars & stem for my current set up & they're great so I could feasibly use them (swap back the nasty Cinelli Integralter I replaced!)

Bernithebiker's point about the exchange rate might well make a huge difference. ie I don't have the notes to order the Canyon this week plus Mrs U needs a bit more greasing I feel

I'd better work on my maths and see what I can do for a build. Thanks again.