Buying a 'comfortable bike'

TheEnglishman

Following on from a big accident involving lots of broken bones I got into cycling as an aid to recovery. And love riding on the road. Having done a few 100 mile events I think I have the bug. The bike I do this on is a Specialised Secteur with a fair few adaptations following a really good bike fit. The bike is 100 mile comfy, which is brilliant. I have to be careful I don't put too much weight onto my hands so an out and out 'bum in the air, hands around my ankles' type frame may be a bit ambitious.

However now the insurance payout is imminent, (a few thousand) I feel like putting it into a custom bike as opposed to blowing it all on booze, fags and hookers. (well, I don't smoke, hardly drink and the Mrs informs me that any divorce settlement will involve the bike, but you get the drift)

Most of the 'chain' bike shops I've been in all want to sell me the latest carbon 'must have' as apparently carbon absorbs the shocks of the road much better. Although most were reluctant to say much better than what, exactly.

I called in to a custom carbon bike builder and was smitten. i.e. the place was swish, he talked well and the bikes looked fantastic. But then again, so do Titanium frames from custom builders or even a nice steel one.

However, I'd like a nice, very light bike (I'm 10 stone, wet), as the Surrey hills really take it out of me, so I'm guessing carbon it is. Unless anyone has any better ideas?

And wheels.... Do tubular tyres really give a significantly smoother ride than clincher type tyres? Are these half tubular/half clincher rims as scary as the internet makes out? (Stans ZTR type of thing) - I'm guessing not, a bit like the carbon frames will fall apart if you brush them with a feather type argument. I'm going to call a few wheelbuilders so is there anything important I should be mentioning that they may be reluctant to talk about (other than price?)

Obviously this is more of a vanity thing - I will be the guy with all the gear and no idea and I'm not looking to race, but I can't take the money with me and may as well spend it on something I like.

Thoughts anyone? Just go for it and enjoy the ride? Perhaps someone knows a nice, discrete hooker?

cougie

Unless you have odd dimensions then I don't think there is a need for a custom built bike.
I started off with steel custom builds but nowadays I ride off the peg carbon and they're a lot cheaper comparatively.

For me I prefer normal tyres. Tubs may give a slightly better ride, but I've had a lot more flats with them and its a hassle I can live without.

If your current bike is comfy for 100 mile rides - why take a punt on something that might not be ?

markhewitt1978

If you are happy with a Specialised Secteur then perhaps you should look at the Roubaix as I believe it's the carbon version of the same bike? Having a geometry you're used to and comfortable with is crucial, so if you can, stick with it!

You can't really get custom carbon as such really, even the pros don't get that.

cougie

You can get custom carbon. Cyfac for one.

alan_sherman

Sounds like you'd want a 'sportive' type of bike. Carbon, Titanium, or steel doesn't really matter as long is it suits your comfort criteria. There is a fair bit of choice. In theory carbon can be built into a lighter bike for the same performance, but you are talking about 400g maximum here so it is not really that much of a differentiator. It sounds like you would need a longer head tube so the bars are relatively higher. Things like the specialized roubaix in Carbon.

Best thing is to go and test ride a few. Try a trip to Fatbirds for various titanium, or Enigma in Sussex, Carbon brands from various shops in SW London.

Be aware of the wheels on the test ride. A lot of brands are fitted with race / stiff wheels. Avoid radial spokes and deep rims. A nice 3 cross DB spoked set of handbuilt wheels with nice supple 25c tyres sound ideal for you. Tubulars are supposed to be nice but can you really be arsed to change a tubular if you get a puncture?

southdownswolf

How many £000's are you looking at spending?
For about £3500 you could get a custom ti frame with hand built wheels and Athena/Ultegra level groupset, all weighing in at around 7kg.
This would be about the same price as the equivalent level groupset Roubaix with a decent set of wheels.

Monty Dog

Depends on whether you want to follow the 'flock' with their cookie-cutter Specialized, Treks, Giants, Cannondales etc. Accomplished bikes they may be, but in a year's time when the new model is launched folks will just see 'old bike'. As said, weight-wise the difference between carbon and titanium is less than a few hundred grammes and from my own experience, I can climb off my titanium bike after 6 hours still feeling fresh whereas if I do the same ride on my carbon bike, my back will be suffering. If you're planning on keeping the bike for a while, it's nice to have something unique and maybe a bit different?

meursault

alan sherman wrote:

Sounds like you'd want a 'sportive' type of bike. Carbon, Titanium, or steel doesn't really matter as long is it suits your comfort criteria. There is a fair bit of choice. In theory carbon can be built into a lighter bike for the same performance, but you are talking about 400g maximum here so it is not really that much of a differentiator. It sounds like you would need a longer head tube so the bars are relatively higher. Things like the specialized roubaix in Carbon.

Best thing is to go and test ride a few. Try a trip to Fatbirds for various titanium, or Enigma in Sussex, Carbon brands from various shops in SW London.

Be aware of the wheels on the test ride. A lot of brands are fitted with race / stiff wheels. Avoid radial spokes and deep rims. A nice 3 cross DB spoked set of handbuilt wheels with nice supple 25c tyres sound ideal for you. Tubulars are supposed to be nice but can you really be arsed to change a tubular if you get a puncture?

Excellent post +1

as opposed to blowing it all on booze, fags and hookers

Agreed, no need to blow it all, you need to keep some back to waste on friviolities.

LegendLust

Depends on budget but Marco Bertoletti at Legend will build you a carbon bike to ride exactly how you want it to.

southdownswolf

LegendLust wrote:

Depends on budget but Marco Bertoletti at Legend will build you a carbon bike to ride exactly how you want it to.

I wondered how long it would be until you came along to recommend a Legend

LegendLust

southdownswolf wrote:

LegendLust wrote:

Depends on budget but Marco Bertoletti at Legend will build you a carbon bike to ride exactly how you want it to.

I wondered how long it would be until you came along to recommend a Legend

Well seeing as they tick all his boxes why not

1. Custom - check
2. Carbon - check
3. Wants comfort - check

The only stumbling block is budget!

southdownswolf

LegendLust wrote:

southdownswolf wrote:

LegendLust wrote:

Depends on budget but Marco Bertoletti at Legend will build you a carbon bike to ride exactly how you want it to.

I wondered how long it would be until you came along to recommend a Legend

Well seeing as they tick all his boxes why not

1. Custom - check
2. Carbon - check
3. Wants comfort - check

The only stumbling block is budget!

I completely agree, a Legend would be nice if the budget is there. Not my choice, but may be the OP's choice.
Personally I would be looking at a British made Ti bike with Italian drivetrain if I had a few thousand to spare.

LegendLust

southdownswolf wrote:

LegendLust wrote:

southdownswolf wrote:

LegendLust wrote:

Depends on budget but Marco Bertoletti at Legend will build you a carbon bike to ride exactly how you want it to.

I wondered how long it would be until you came along to recommend a Legend

Well seeing as they tick all his boxes why not

1. Custom - check
2. Carbon - check
3. Wants comfort - check

The only stumbling block is budget!

I completely agree, a Legend would be nice if the budget is there. Not my choice, but may be the OP's choice.
Personally I would be looking at a British made Ti bike with Italian drivetrain if I had a few thousand to spare.

Have you seen the Legend Ti frames :shock:

MichaelW

I have to be careful I don't put too much weight onto my hands
Check out some clip on aerobars. They are not permitted in massed start racing so you find them on time trial and triathlon bikes. Tourists clip them on to provide additional hand grips for long hauls into the wind. You can set them higher than a time trial position, for comfort but still get quite an aero advantage.