£1000 Budget - Comfy 1st Road Bike

Trippy

Good afternoon. 50 yr old, reasonable fitness but could be a lot fitter, 6.1 and 15.5 looking for recommendations for a first road bike to replace the hybrid. Work is a 23 mile round trip with only a couple of hills however any other direction from home is hilly. Mate suggests a triple and he rides a Domane 2.0. Local dealer is doing them for £900 which seems a good deal. Anything else around a grand that I should consider? Comfort is high on my list of priorities.

J3w3ll3r

I have a cannondale synapse and it's super comfy, have a look on Paul's cycles as they have some of the previous years models at big discounts, I saved 40% but mine is a double not a triple, although it's available in triple

That said I also looked at the domane and I'm lead to belive it's also very comfy

Pepperoni Man

I've got a Donane 2.3. It's very comfy. Not the quickest bike in the world but I'm 50 now and am happy just to be enjoying my cycling

simonj

I'd do all you can to stay away from a triple, unless all your hills are like Everest. A compact double (50/34) combined with an 11-28 cassette, which many comfy / endurance / sportive bikes come with should be more than enough and a double will change and feel better than a triple and is just simpler. Also probably once you get a bit more into it you'll push up the hills in a medium gear rather that drop to the lowest gear and spin at the whiff of a hill. If mature and not too flexible (like me) you may want the front up a bit, then yes Domane along with Cannondale Synapse, Giant Defy, Scott CR1, Felt Z types bikes would be a good starting point.

JMcP92

I wouldn't worry about a triple, double is more than enough range for almost anyone.

For that range it seems to be between the Domane 2.0/2.3 and the Giant Defy 1 - I hear good things about the synapse but I do also hear that the carbon one is far more comfortable.
Personally, I ride a Defy 1 and it is very comfy, and has almost full 105 gearing.
I do hear the Domane is more comfortable, but slightly heavier frame in doing so and less spec for the money if I recall

sparklehedgehog

defy domane or roubaix

compact

RideOnTime

This may be an idea...
www.d2ride.co.uk

Trippy

Thanks for all the advice. I have been reading lots and do like the idea of maybe getting something now that will last me forever. I quite like the idea of some cycling holidays in the future so would have to find something that could take luggage. If I look to future proof myself and raise the budget a bit I do like the look of these ...

http://www.bicyclechain.co.uk/product/s ... iple/29480

electriclinux

I am actually considering the Defy 1 at the moment but I noticed that it can only take tyres up to 25c and the mudguard seems a little wonky. I am just not sure if 25c tyres are wide enough for the roads of Belfast. Does anyone know what the Defy 1 is like to cycle on bumpy roads?

simonj

My Defy 0 has 28's on no issue. I always tend to put 28's on and even though they say won't fit, what they actually mean is will fit, but can be a bit of a faff to get on and off with brakes. All I do is loosen brakes off a bit as well flick the cam and they go on fine. If I don't loosen off the brakes with the adjustment screw they'll still go on, they are just tight between the brake blocks, but once cleared no issue.

sparklehedgehog

Trippy wrote:

Thanks for all the advice. I have been reading lots and do like the idea of maybe getting something now that will last me forever. I quite like the idea of some cycling holidays in the future so would have to find something that could take luggage. If I look to future proof myself and raise the budget a bit I do like the look of these ...

http://www.bicyclechain.co.uk/product/s ... iple/29480

I own the Compact version of that exact bike and it's the best thing i've bought in my life, hands down. Love my bike so much it's crazy.

As Nike says...

samsbike

Another choice would be a genesis equilibruim

Trippy

Slightly different but like the look of these Boardman Hybrid Pro's too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S6nvkO50V4

markhewitt1978

Pepperoni Man wrote:

I've got a Donane 2.3. It's very comfy. Not the quickest bike in the world but I'm 50 now and am happy just to be enjoying my cycling

The Domane has to be the No. 1 choice for a comfort road bike. And I don't know about not quick, it could benefit from a wheelset upgrade but that being done it could keep up with the best.

mjf1017

I did the same. Ran a Boardman hybrid for 3 and a half years as a commuter. Then did sportives, longer rides etc and wanted to step it up. So my treat for my 50th was a Giant Defy 1. It is a superb bike. I am really happy with it.
I picked it because the reviews were all excellent and to be honest I wasn't exactly sure what to go for.
Buy the defy 1 and you won't be disappointed.

RideOnTime

This may be an idea...
http://d2ride.co.uk/Road-Bikes.php

jimmocrates

I bought a Defy1 based on the C+ BOTY reviews.
It's a bike you buy more with your head than your heart.
It has decent spec, decent frame and I've not read anyone who has regretted buying one. It is a "safe" choice.

I've upgraded mine now - saddle changed fairly quickly; tektro brakes were ok, but ultegra are a dream. Tyres changed to Conti GP4S 25's- I use the Giant mudguards with them and they are fine (all mudguards in my experience are fiddly though and give some inevitable noise)

When the time came to replace my casette, upgraded that to ultegra 12-30.

Low gear of 34-30 is plenty enough for gliding up hills without giving your knees hell.

Its a competitive price bracket. I like the look of the Synapse.

(Can't help finding the spesh frames really ugly, however much buzz the stays are meant to absorb)

sparklehedgehog

Jimmocrates wrote:

I bought a Defy1 based on the C+ BOTY reviews.
It's a bike you buy more with your head than your heart.
It has decent spec, decent frame and I've not read anyone who has regretted buying one. It is a "safe" choice.

I've upgraded mine now - saddle changed fairly quickly; tektro brakes were ok, but ultegra are a dream. Tyres changed to Conti GP4S 25's- I use the Giant mudguards with them and they are fine (all mudguards in my experience are fiddly though and give some inevitable noise)

When the time came to replace my casette, upgraded that to ultegra 12-30.

Low gear of 34-30 is plenty enough for gliding up hills without giving your knees hell.

Its a competitive price bracket. I like the look of the Synapse.

(Can't help finding the spesh frames really ugly, however much buzz the stays are meant to absorb)

Ugly?! They're works of art!

I personally love them but am a big fan of individuality and variation of choice so each to their own.

sparklehedgehog

Domane, Defy or Roubaix

BrandonS

I don't have a specific bike recommendation since I've only ridden my bottom of the barrel Trek. As far as gearing I vote a compact with 50/34 and an 11-28 rear. This should get you up any reasonable hills. I don't know your budget so if you do end up going a higher end bike with something like 105 or Ultegra groupsets and they have a 52/39 crankset go with an 11-32 cassette in the rear. This will give you pretty much the same low gear as the 50/34 and 11-28 I do believe.

markhewitt1978

I don't know about other brands but certainly with Trek they are specced by default with compacts all the way up the range. Indeed I think it's only when you get to the likes of 6 series that a standard is even a factory option!

mrfpb

Get a Triple. If you want to carry luggage uphill, then your legs will really appreciate the lower gears. The 50/34 compact is the widest gear ratio up front and is hard when changing compared to a 50/39/30 triple. If you find you don't need a 30/30 bottom gear, you can change to a narrower cassette. I have 50/34 on my CX bike, and it's fine for all day rides without much kit, but I use my hybrid with triple for shopping.

You may want a touring bike like the Dawes Galaxy or a Ridgeback Voyage The Edinburgh Bike Co-op have some good value tourers in their Revolution range. They tend to come equipped with racks and mudguards and the wide range of gears you would use for all day riding with luggage.

ry1978

I have a specialized Roubaix and have ridden it on cobbles, rutted farm tracks and over potholes using 23c tyres with no issues. I would recommend these bikes without hesitation.

Trippy

I have decided to stick with a hybrid but buy a slightly nicer one that will hopefully last me for a good few years to come. I have decided to buy a Specialized Crosstrail Expert. Went to Exeter yesterday to have a look at one in teh flesh and it's really nice and ticks all my boxes.

ai_1

simonj wrote:

I'd do all you can to stay away from a triple, unless all your hills are like Everest. A compact double (50/34) combined with an 11-28 cassette, which many comfy / endurance / sportive bikes come with should be more than enough and a double will change and feel better than a triple and is just simpler....

Utter nonsense!
Triples work just fine. They weigh a little more, fewer bikes are available with them as standard and they can add about €50 to the price but that's about it for disadvantages.
If you plan to do some touring or just want something that gives you lots of gearing options a triple is a good idea. Modern compacts matched with wide range cassettes can now give you similarly low gearing to a typical triple so a compact may well fit your needs too but don't listen to the nonsense about triples being difficult to maintain and having poor shifting, it's ignorant bull.

simonj

I'm not an ignorant bull and it may have just been me, but I definately found that doubles just seemed to shift better, sliker, less clunky than triples. I'm not saying it's a big issue and your experience may be different to mine, but I definately found a difference. There's physically less to do so to me it's a much simpler setup. I also think a wider front end, i.e. 3 cogs instead of 2, can lead to the unknowing to accidently get more crossed chainline opportunities, but I guess that's just a leaning curve thing. As I say it's not necersarily an issue, but worth noting and the advantages of having that low end may outway that.

TFC1

I had a similar budget to you when i was buying my first road bike last year and decided to go for the Planet X Pro Carbon with Ultegra for £999. Absolutley love it and it looks like they have now upgraded the spec to 6800 Ultegra for the same price!

meagain

Trippy wrote:

I have decided to stick with a hybrid but buy a slightly nicer one that will hopefully last me for a good few years to come. I have decided to buy a Specialized Crosstrail Expert.

With a sub 30" bottom gear should get you most hills, but with a weight of some 30lbs you'll sure need it! Looks nice though.

HellsCyclist

simonj wrote:

I'd do all you can to stay away from a triple, unless all your hills are like Everest. A compact double (50/34) combined with an 11-28 cassette, which many comfy / endurance / sportive bikes come with should be more than enough and a double will change and feel better than a triple and is just simpler. Also probably once you get a bit more into it you'll push up the hills in a medium gear rather that drop to the lowest gear and spin at the whiff of a hill. If mature and not too flexible (like me) you may want the front up a bit, then yes Domane along with Cannondale Synapse, Giant Defy, Scott CR1, Felt Z types bikes would be a good starting point.

I can vouch for the CR1 comp. It has the gearing you mentioned and I never felt the need for higher gearing, even on a 50mph descent.
However I also ride a triple SCR1.0 as an old runabout. Due to the fact Im always carrying a rucksack and therefor more weight, I find the granny ring has its uses. Not sure what you mean about a double "will change and feel better than a triple". In what way do you mean better?

simonj

For me and this may not apply to everyone - when I changed from a triple to a double it just felt smoother and needed less tweaking. I presumed it's because there's less to go out of adjustment with a double as it just has a high and a low stop, it needed to move less and the indexing was not quite as important to be bang on. I'm not saying it's night and day and many people like the backup of having the triple, but 2 cogs is simple, 3 takes a bit more care. Also the fact that the front has more lateral movement 3 cogs instead of 2 means there are more opportunities to cross the chain, but if you're careful that's obviously not an issue. Just my personal take, as I say not everyone's view. Many higher end kit

MisterMuncher

electriclinux wrote:

I am actually considering the Defy 1 at the moment but I noticed that it can only take tyres up to 25c and the mudguard seems a little wonky. I am just not sure if 25c tyres are wide enough for the roads of Belfast. Does anyone know what the Defy 1 is like to cycle on bumpy roads?

I ride 25 and 23c Tyres in and around Belfast, on aluminium framed bikes. You'll be grand.