Roubaix Elite vs Giant Defy vs Scott CR1 vs Trek Domane 4.1

Paul 8v

I'm looking at getting one of the above bikes but I really cant decide.

it needs to be comfortable as I have a knackered back so relaxed geometry, plus the roads round near me look like they been carpet bombed by a B52 so some give in the frame is essential.

Plan to use it for short training rides of an hour to two hours, Strava segments and a few sportives.

From what I can see the Giant has by far the best spec with the Ultegra, the others seem to be much of a muchness with 105 but seem to be more focused around the frame technology (The Trek and the Specialized especially) I can't seem to find much about the weights of the bikes (Giant specifically won't tell you!) I don't want to go for the Giant if it has a harsher ride (As it looks a bit more race orientated) but I also don't want a tank (The roubaix and the Domane look a bit portly)

I've ridden the Roubaix (But only inside the excell centre on the crit circuit where it is pretty flat) and I've taken the Scott out for a test ride on real roads but not the others.

Does anyone have any ideas or advice or other bikes I should be looking at?

Many thanks

Paul

Paul 8v

Should have said, it's the Defy Composite 1 and the CR1 Team

Bar Shaker

I really like the Scott CR1. It looks great and is well specc'ed for the money.

canny_lad

4 cracking bikes on your list. I'd add the Synapse carbon as well. I've got the Scott and claimed weight is just under 8kg minus pedals. Very happy with it so far. Happy hunting

asprilla

I've not tried the Giant or the Domane but when I bought my Scott it was up against the Roubaix and the Madone. The Scott is the lightest of the three and is the most nimble, but it doesn't float over the road like the others, you feel the Tarmac more. For me, this is a plus point but it won't be for many.

luv2ride

I have a Roubaix and like it a lot. Roads round here are rubbish and with 25mm tyres its pretty plush. Tried a Domane 6 series at the weekend (very short test ride though) but was really underwhelmed, although seemed to put more power down when out of the saddle. Just not as comfy as I would have thought. Almost went for the CR1 when I got my Roubaix, still think I might go for one in the future. Nice looking bikes. You really need to try em all and go for the one you click with most...none are bad, all are good. Which has the best colour scheme? 8)

alihisgreat

I'd go for the Giant, unless you really need something super-plush and in that case the Trek.

Paul 8v

Ah, hadn't thought about the cannondale as the ones I'd seen had minging colour schemes but that is quite tasteful.

Luv2Ride, I've heard the Roubaix feels a bit slow and they are bit on the portly side? The main thing for me is comfort to be fair but I'm hoping my back will get better at some point and I want something I can put the hammer down with. The Scott did feel pretty fast to be fair

The Giant looks by far the best spec though, so hard to decide!

canny_lad

If you want to put the hammer down you can get the Scott for list price with Mavic Ksyriums from Epic. Mine was stock and had £300 off. Something to think about.

dwanes

Just buy the one which you like the lookk of and put some 28mm tyres on. The tyres will make more difference to comfort than any of the frames.

luv2ride

Anyone running 28mm tyres on a CR1? That might be a winning combination if clearances allow.
To the OP: I wouldn't describe the Roubaix as being portly as such, but certainly soft (but stiff enough to climb well when out of the saddle). That said, after trying a few new bikes recently I think I might be falling back in love with it, as its so comfy and does everything I ask of it. The others just haven't been THAT much better than what i already have. I might just look at a higher spec 2013 Roubaix frame, or a CR1 in Oct when the prices (hopefully) come down again...

Paul 8v

Just found out I might be able to get a bit of a discount on the Domane, this could be a game changer, as long as it doesn't ride like an old barge! If it is a fair bit cheaper that could be the deciding factor

tincaman

Luv2ride wrote:

Anyone running 28mm tyres on a CR1? That might be a winning combination if clearances allow.
To the OP: I wouldn't describe the Roubaix as being portly as such, but certainly soft (but stiff enough to climb well when out of the saddle). That said, after trying a few new bikes recently I think I might be falling back in love with it, as its so comfy and does everything I ask of it. The others just haven't been THAT much better than what i already have. I might just look at a higher spec 2013 Roubaix frame, or a CR1 in Oct when the prices (hopefully) come down again...

I have 23mm on my 2010 CR1 and rear clearance is tight, 25mm at a push, no chance on 28mm

asprilla

tincaman wrote:

Luv2ride wrote:

Anyone running 28mm tyres on a CR1? That might be a winning combination if clearances allow.
To the OP: I wouldn't describe the Roubaix as being portly as such, but certainly soft (but stiff enough to climb well when out of the saddle). That said, after trying a few new bikes recently I think I might be falling back in love with it, as its so comfy and does everything I ask of it. The others just haven't been THAT much better than what i already have. I might just look at a higher spec 2013 Roubaix frame, or a CR1 in Oct when the prices (hopefully) come down again...

I have 23mm on my 2010 CR1 and rear clearance is tight, 25mm at a push, no chance on 28mm

I run 25mm Vittoria Open Corsas on mine easily. It is most commonly shod with Open Paves which are a large 24mm. I've got loads of room to spare. Mind, I run on 23mm wide rims so that might make a difference.

Edit: Just looked and whilst there is plenty of clearance for 25mm, I wouldn't recommend 28s.

Paul 8v

OK, so I went for the Domane, rode it back to back with the Roubaix and it made that feel like a shopping bike. Very comfortable but really stiff bottom end (Can't even get my hand round the down tube it is so fat!) Running it with a high front end at the moment until I have something done with my back, be it cortisone, operation or whatever so please don't take the piss out of the bar height, at least I can ride it and still walk the next day now (Seriously)!

canny_lad

Good on ya

Out of interest, how does the Domane compare to the Scott? Ordered Conti GT 25's for mine last night, should smooth things out a bit.

Paul 8v

Scott wasn't as stiff or as comfortable, still a very fast bike though. It was so hard to choose between them but this just had the edge I think

carrock

Paul 8v wrote:

Ah, hadn't thought about the cannondale as the ones I'd seen had minging colour schemes but that is quite tasteful.

Luv2Ride, I've heard the Roubaix feels a bit slow and they are bit on the portly side? The main thing for me is comfort to be fair but I'm hoping my back will get better at some point and I want something I can put the hammer down with. The Scott did feel pretty fast to be fair

The Giant looks by far the best spec though, so hard to decide!

Roubaix s are superb at the higher levels- I have owned 3- but the base models are a bit heavy. I would seek out a 2012 comp with ultegra if you can find one at a discount.

Edit- see you have bought a domane so fair enough- good choice.

luv2ride

Luv2ride wrote:

I have a Roubaix and like it a lot. Roads round here are rubbish and with 25mm tyres its pretty plush. Tried a Domane 6 series at the weekend (very short test ride though) but was really underwhelmed, although seemed to put more power down when out of the saddle. Just not as comfy as I would have thought. Almost went for the CR1 when I got my Roubaix, still think I might go for one in the future. Nice looking bikes. You really need to try em all and go for the one you click with most...none are bad, all are good. Which has the best colour scheme? 8)

Well, I ended up ordering a CR1 SL frame from Westbrook Cycles. Will hopefully be transferring everything from the Roubaix over to the Scott, until cash allows for upgrades. Will be very interesting to see how it rides. Hopefully it will be reasonably comfy with 24 or 25mm tyres, but I am looking forward to a more involving ride. Just got a bit fed up with the soft feel of the Roubaix, although it was soaking up a lot of surface buzz from rubbish roads on last night's ride. Hope I've chosen right!!!

EDIT: to the original OP - How are you finding the new Domane? Nice choice...

Paul 8v

Just literally come back from a ride on it. It's so much more comfortable than the bike I had previously but still very quick. I can ride further and faster with it as it is so much kinder on the back! I've flipped the stem, ridden it like that a few times then dropped down a 10mm spacer, going o ride it like that a bit then drop down again as my back improves. Really love it to be fair, I used to think Trek were a boring make but it's a great bike.

luv2ride

Nice one, glad you're enjoying it (looks ace). My local LBS do Trek and I had pretty much decided on a Domane as my next bike (shop owner did the Tour of Flanders route on it a few weeks ago and said it was sublime).
However, the Cr1 frame is only costing £499 and I can put my preferred SRAM Rival groupset on it, so hopefully a faster, more direct feeling bike without sacrificing too much comfort, and more affordable than a new Trek 8)

Paul 8v

Yeah you can't really argue for £499. The Scott was still a great bike, enjoy :-)

hammer46

I test road the CR1 and went with the Roubaix. I got a 2012 model that hadn't sold for a grand off the RRP. It is a compact with mostly Ultegra. I got the LBS to change the 105 breaks to Ultegra for the same price.
The Specialised was higher at the front and felt more relaxed but still responsive.
I have arthritis in my hip and a stiff back from an old motorcycle injury, Ive given them up and ride push bikes but I can do 100k's on the roubaix now with hardly any discomfort averaging 27.4ks
I used to get very bad numbness in my left hand so I upgraded the wheels to rs81 c30's and went to a bigger 25mm Conto 4000s tyre. That has transformed the bike, it rides so soft now at about 95psi in the front and 100 in the rear.
Our country roads are very rough chip here in NZ and for a beginner at 47 years old with an injury i'm fitter than ever, if I keep riding I get no pain so that hip replacement might have to wait.
cheers hammer46
ps MotoGP starts next week go Valentino.

unixnerd

Roubaix s are superb at the higher levels- I have owned 3- but the base models are a bit heavy. I would seek out a 2012 comp with ultegra if you can find one at a discount.

Good advice. I have an SL3 Expert (Ultegra) and love it to bits. Very comfy and I having broken my wrist at the end of last year I really appreciate the damping of bumps and road buzz. I paid almost 3k for it after discount and it was worth every penny. Some of the Roubaix's they sell now are compromised by low spec parts and cheaper frames which will give a poorer riding impression. I'd rather a used SL3 than a new low-end Roubaix. Even then I'd also fit nicer wheels (almost all new bikes have cheaper wheels).

Father Faff

I've got the old Scott CR1 from about 2006 or thereabouts and have the stem flipped and lots of spacers to accommodate my back but its still a fast and exciting ride. I tried a Giant Defy once and that was certainly more comfortable. I believe the latest 2014 CR1 has a much more compliant frame and may even have a slightly more relaxed geometry to make it more comfy but I daresay still feels fast. As for Treks they are probably excellent machines but I've never liked the name!