Road bike with relaxed geometry

greywheeler

I am in the market for an easy ride!!
57 years old, 92kgs and not as flexible as I used to be. Weekend rides of 30-50 miles.Budget of £1000.
I have heard that the Cannondale Synapse is made for comfort, can you advise any other makes/models to add to my shortlist ?

Thanks in advance.
Greywheeler

kentphil

Giant Defy range get good reviews and are designed for to be comfortable for longer distances.

passout

Spa Audax, Genesis Equilibrium or maybe the Specialised range.

giant_man

Wilier gran turismo EDIT didn't see your budget, soz

cycleclinic

Tifosi CK7 has a tall heead tube are is long distance audax bike.

t4tomo

Trek Domane has a clever detached seat post thingy that acts as suspension plus relaxed geometry - certainly worth a look.

markhewitt1978

Domane as above, or Scott CR1/Solace are 'relaxed' geometries.

elderone

For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

Camcycle1974

elderone wrote:

For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

I just wish I could love mine. It's a bike you buy with your head rather than heart. I find the tube profiles and styling to be a bit meh

AllanES

Camcycle1974 wrote:

elderone wrote:

For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

I just wish I could love mine. It's a bike you buy with your head rather than heart. I find the tube profiles and styling to be a bit meh

I'd go along with this.

I read the reviews - best bike under £1000 etc.

I'd done A LOT of research on geometries, components, sizing etc etc (over-thought it if anything! :shock: ) and had narrowed it down to a few. And at one stage was sure the Defy was best but.........it just didn't "do it" for me. However, in the end, as above, I let my head rule my heart and went for the Defy as being the sensible option when spending that amount of money.
It's been a couple of months now since I bought it and I still don't get excited by it. It's a great bike. Comfortable on long distance (85 miles longest so far), reasonably quick, good components, well put together etc etc BUT it doesn't excite me.
For a little while, I even preferred to use my Triban 3 and leave the Defy in the garage!

Having said that, I'm now "forcing" myself to use the Defy and gradually beginning to appreciate it more and how it rides, handles etc. But I still think I'd be more excited about going out on my rides if I'd bought something else from my list

I would never put someone off buying one but, for me, I think there are more exciting/interesting bikes out there at a comparable price point.

Camcycle1974

It's not just me then! Typically I somewhat rushed my purchase and got a size too big and a bike that is fine to ride but doesn't put a big smile on my face. It has helped me to increase my average speed by 3mph in the 5 months I have had it though so it's not all bad. I can feel a carbon purchase on the cards early next year when i have a significant birthday.

Even the carbon offerings from Giant are a bit dubious styling wise with only the higher end bikes being desirable imo.

New slogan for Giant: "for the head, not the heart" maybe?

Giant own brand kit whilst functional is a bit pre-school in the styling stakes. Already changed my wheels/saddle as they only served to cheapen the bike. New Defy colours are not the best, glad I got my 0 when I did.

Camcycle1974

Stanley222 wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

elderone wrote:

For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

I just wish I could love mine. It's a bike you buy with your head rather than heart. I find the tube profiles and styling to be a bit meh

That's interesting - could you expand on that please as I've been considering one!

Stanley, don't get me wrong it's a very decent bike for the £1000 outlay. I look at mine daily in my hall way and just wish I had something different. I think it's the tube shape and some of the decals that bug me. The flat top tube especially I don't like when looking down on it and the boxy down tube is also pretty ugly. As I got a size too big I also don't have much seat tube showing which also detracts from the aesthetic. The branded seat and wheels are horrible and got changed straight away.

Of course all of this is subjective and has nothing to do with performance which is just fine by the way. I can keep up with most people on their expensive carbon frames. There is a part of me however which thinks "what if i had one of those!"

AllanES

Camcycle1974 wrote:

The branded seat and wheels are horrible and got changed straight away.

The saddle I've changed and I'm thinking about changing the wheels. So, I'd be interested to know what you went for?

keef66

My local LBS for a long time sold only Giant and Orbea road bikes. Spent ages in there drooling over bikes I couldn't afford, but could never get excited about even the most expensive of the Giants. Never could put my finger on the reason. The Orcas by comparison seemed things of real beauty.

LBS recently changed hands and I notice there's a Ghost hanging in the window and something else I haven't identified. May need to go and have a proper look.

Camcycle1974

AllanES wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

The branded seat and wheels are horrible and got changed straight away.

The saddle I've changed and I'm thinking about changing the wheels. So, I'd be interested to know what you went for?

I went down the hand built route. H plus Son Archetype rim, Via hubs and 28/32 spokes. Rides very well compared to the stock wheels. Smoother and quicker to get up to speed, also climbs more readily.

AllanES

Camcycle1974 wrote:

It's not just me then!

Nope!

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Typically I somewhat rushed my purchase

Mine was too in the end. Went along one lunchtime "just to look" and came away having bought one

Camcycle1974

we should re-name this " the no love for Giant despite them being good bikes" thread. The name Giant even irritates me and Iv'e got one!

keef66

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Stanley222 wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

elderone wrote:

For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

I just wish I could love mine. It's a bike you buy with your head rather than heart. I find the tube profiles and styling to be a bit meh

That's interesting - could you expand on that please as I've been considering one!

Stanley, don't get me wrong it's a very decent bike for the £1000 outlay. I look at mine daily in my hall way and just wish I had something different. I think it's the tube shape and some of the decals that bug me. The flat top tube especially I don't like when looking down on it and the boxy down tube is also pretty ugly. As I got a size too big I also don't have much seat tube showing which also detracts from the aesthetic. The branded seat and wheels are horrible and got changed straight away.

Of course all of this is subjective and has nothing to do with performance which is just fine by the way. I can keep up with most people on their expensive carbon frames. There is a part of me however which thinks "what if i had one of those!"

I just gave in to the "what if I had one of those" niggle when Westbrooks were selling the CR1-SL frame and forks for £500 incl headset and press fit BB, and transferred everything over from my alloy framed bike. It's a joy to ride, but rather dull to look at. Still, there's no other way I'd have got a decent carbon framed bike for £500, so I'm happy to put up with the meh looks.

Camcycle1974

AllanES wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

It's not just me then!

Nope!

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Typically I somewhat rushed my purchase

Mine was too in the end. Went along one lunchtime "just to look" and came away having bought one

I do suffer from impetuous decision making which my mrs despairs of. Can you picture the scene of me trying to justify why I need to sell a virtually new bike? I bought mine on a sunny february afternoon when i was supposed to be going to look at a Planet X Pro carbon. Wish I had now apart from the the fact that they had not released the RT-58 at that stage which I am now lusting after.

AllanES

Camcycle1974 wrote:

we should re-name this " the no love for Giant despite them being good bikes" thread.

It reminds me a bit of The Emperor's New Clothes..........everyone is afraid to speak out against them despite not really liking them.

Camcycle1974

keef66 wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

Stanley222 wrote:

Camcycle1974 wrote:

elderone wrote:

For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

I just wish I could love mine. It's a bike you buy with your head rather than heart. I find the tube profiles and styling to be a bit meh

That's interesting - could you expand on that please as I've been considering one!

Stanley, don't get me wrong it's a very decent bike for the £1000 outlay. I look at mine daily in my hall way and just wish I had something different. I think it's the tube shape and some of the decals that bug me. The flat top tube especially I don't like when looking down on it and the boxy down tube is also pretty ugly. As I got a size too big I also don't have much seat tube showing which also detracts from the aesthetic. The branded seat and wheels are horrible and got changed straight away.

Of course all of this is subjective and has nothing to do with performance which is just fine by the way. I can keep up with most people on their expensive carbon frames. There is a part of me however which thinks "what if i had one of those!"

I just gave in to the "what if I had one of those" niggle when Westbrooks were selling the CR1-SL frame and forks for £500 incl headset and press fit BB, and transferred everything over from my alloy framed bike. It's a joy to ride, but rather dull to look at. Still, there's no other way I'd have got a decent carbon framed bike for £500, so I'm happy to put up with the meh looks.

I looked at those too but as I am totally inept at anything mechanical decided it wasn't worth the hassle. looking at buying a PX RT-58 and transferring my wheels over. now that would look nice!

AllanES

[quote="Camcycle1974I do suffer from impetuous decision making which my mrs despairs of. Can you picture the scene of me trying to justify why I need to sell a virtually new bike? .[/quote]


LOL!
That's me too. OH looked aghast when I said I'd been looking on here in the classifieds and on eBay to find out how much a nearly new Defy might fetch

AllanES

Camcycle1974 wrote:

I went down the hand built route. H plus Son Archetype rim, Via hubs and 28/32 spokes. Rides very well compared to the stock wheels. Smoother and quicker to get up to speed, also climbs more readily.

I wouldn't know where to start with handbuilts. So I've been looking at factory built. And my worry is (at the price point I can afford at the moment......£200-ish) the wheels wouldn't be that much better than whats on the Defy anyway.

elderone

Cant believe you people spent a grand on a bike you don't like,thats just crazy.Pointless be moaning giants after you bought one.The OP asked for a bike with relaxed geometry and giants are one that fit the bill.
You should always buy with the heart imho as you have got to love your ride.

AllanES

elderone wrote:

Cant believe you people spent a grand on a bike you don't like,thats just crazy.Pointless be moaning giants after you bought one.The OP asked for a bike with relaxed geometry and giants are one that fit the bill.
You should always buy with the heart imho as you have got to love your ride.

I agree with your comments - to some extent.
Yes, we've deviated from the OP.
Giant Defy does indeed fit the bill of a relaxed geometry bike as per original post.

I'm not saying I don't like the bike - just that it doesn't excite me and I don't love it. Just like it.
And I think i've said earlier that it's a great bike, comfortable ride, well built, good components etc etc so I wouldn't say I'm bemoaning Giants.

And I totally agree (in hindsight ) with your final comment about buying with your heart. I will next time!

Camcycle1974

Elderone, I now know that what you say makes sense, easy with hindsight. My problem is emphasised by the fact that I got the wrong size. It was my first new road bike purchase in 20 years so no wonder I didn't get it quite right! LBS was as much use as a chocolate teapot as it turns out.

Allan, we appear to have had very similar experiences with the Defy. will continue via pm so as not to further de-rail the thread. The OP has got some good opinions as a result of our waffling.

canny_lad

The Synapse is a great bike, you'll not go far wrong with one of them. Have a mooch around, make a shortlist, ride them all if possible and buy the one that rides the best. If you can't decide which one rides the best buy the one that looks the best. Make sure you buy the right size frame and have fun looking.

greywheeler

I was hoping for more suggestions evenso many thanks for your comments. Perhaps I will give the Defy a wide berth though :-)

Greywheeler

passout

I still think this - there is a nice Ti version too which was reviewed by Bike Radar:
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... b0s21p2827

upperoilcan

Bianchi Via Nirone..........

That is all.

smoggysteve

Greywheeler wrote:

I am in the market for an easy ride!!

Are these the droids your looking for???