Road Bike For The Etape

Chris1865
Chris1865 Posts: 9
edited January 2015 in Road buying advice
I'm cycling the Etape in July and looking for a new bike to help me complete this challenge. I started riding a few years ago and currently ride a Specialized Allez.

I was wondering whether anyone could advise me on good options, happy to pay around £2k. People have mentioned the Giant Defy and Specialized Roubaix.

Comments

  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    You can do it on the allez, you don't a need a new bike unless you want a new bike. If you do want a new bike then you pick a bike based on the sizing you need. Different manufacturer size there bike differently and some will be good for you other will not be as good. The bike you mention are sportive/endurance bikes as they are now called. That is a bike with a fairly long head tube but bike like this have been made for a long time. I have a 1992 trek 2300 which falls in this category.

    If you are going to buy a new bike buy one that fits first of all, then buy a frame and spec it yourself with decent wheels and tyres. Use what is left for a saddle you like good brakes and the group set. The brakes are the most important part of the group set as sora drive train will be you round fine but shimano ultra rim brakes are very good and worth having.

    When I say pick good wheels and tyres I mean you often find some of the wheels even on expensive bikes to be a lack lustre or not very well built. Giant's wheels can be guilty of this. You rarely find decent rubber like victories open corsa's on a any bike except the most expensive.

    For the money you have I would look at a disc brake bike, start with a frame ideally and get a set of good wheels for it and fit tubeless tyres. Spec the bike with tektro spare mechanical disc brakes and shimano 105 11 speed or campagnolo veloce. Or ride what you have if it fits you well. It is a sportive not a race.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,223
    This BR member has a review of the 2015 Defy Advanced 2 Carbon disc model.
    viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=13010197
  • Chris1865
    Chris1865 Posts: 9
    Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. I'm swaying towards the Defy.

    Whilst I could right it on the Allez I fancy I slight upgrade.
  • iron-clover
    iron-clover Posts: 737
    Also bear in mind the transport there any back- if you know the bike will be completely safe then taking your pride and joy out will be fine, but if you're flying or have it in a van with you and your friend's kit piled to the roof I would be wary of lightweight, fragile frames in case of knocks.
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Canyon? The Ultimate CF 9.0 is right at your pricepoint

    A29bwsT.jpg

    http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/reviews/road-bikes/canyon-ultimate-cf-sl-9-0
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    I would possibly look at the Trek Emonda. Green one is the superlight with 105 11sp. Black is the regular with Ultegra. Not sure about the wheels.

    http://www.scotbycycles.co.uk/bikes-c19 ... lack-p3719

    http://www.scotbycycles.co.uk/bikes-c19 ... -red-p3640
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    coriordan wrote:
    I would possibly look at the Trek Emonda. Green one is the superlight with 105 11sp. Black is the regular with Ultegra. Not sure about the wheels.

    http://www.scotbycycles.co.uk/bikes-c19 ... lack-p3719

    http://www.scotbycycles.co.uk/bikes-c19 ... -red-p3640

    The black weighs in at 8.4 kg. Not sure about the Green one. Probably more given it is 105 equipped.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    But lighter frame as it's the SL. plus it will probably arrive in time...
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    coriordan wrote:
    But lighter frame as it's the SL. plus it will probably arrive in time...

    Lol. The Canyon is just under 7GK though. Trek ain't gonna be lighter than that.
  • lostboysaint
    lostboysaint Posts: 4,250
    Or you could buy http://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-920-carbon-road-bike-id_8290152.html from a shop, having sat on it and made sure it fits, ridden it around a bit etc.
    Trail fun - Transition Bandit
    Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
    Allround - Cotic Solaris
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,697
    Have a read of these - http://road.cc/content/feature/139239-r ... ear-201415

    Try and test ride a few (take them on long rides if you can) and get the one that fits you best.

    Bear in mind that just because you re doing a sportive, you don't NEED a sportive bike. That will depend on how flexible you are and your ride position.
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • vermin
    vermin Posts: 1,739
    Chris1865 wrote:
    I'm swaying towards the Defy.

    plus
    Chris1865 wrote:
    Whilst I could right it on the Allez I fancy I slight upgrade.

    does not compute.
  • cedargreen
    cedargreen Posts: 189
    thecycleclinic wrote:
    You can do it on the allez, you don't a need a new bike unless you want a new bike. If you do want a new bike then you pick a bike based on the sizing you need. Different manufacturer size there bike differently and some will be good for you other will not be as good.

    This. The Etape will be a long day in the saddle and riding a bike which fits you and puts you in a relaxed, comfortable position is far more important than a few hundred grams in weight. Feeling comfortable and confident on a stable bike is alaso cruciasl for descending. Personally, I'm not totally convinced by the concept of 'sportive' bikes with a more upright position on a long ride. And ignore the Canyon fans on here- apart from the issue of sizing correctly over the internet there's the question of delivery. Some of the threads on here suggest that although your bike will certainly arrive in time for the Etape, this might be the 2016 event.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    cedargreen wrote:
    a bike which fits you and puts you in a relaxed, comfortable position is far more important than a few hundred grams in weight.... concept of 'sportive' bikes with a more upright position on a long ride.

    Your statements seem to contradict each other. A comfortable bike tends to have a more upright position. It's exactly why I got the Volagi Liscio - designed for double centuries by guys who ride them: tall head-tube and set up by the Bike Whisperer. It's not to say other bikes can't do long distances but I'm more comfortable after 7 hours in the saddle on the Volagi than I am the Foil.

    I'm a great fan of Spesh's Toupe RBX saddles - great for all-day riding too - don't understand why they stopped making them.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • cedargreen
    cedargreen Posts: 189
    If a more upright position works for you, fine. I just don't agree with the assumption that an upright position is automatically more comfortable. A number of people on here have found a lower, more stretched out position better perhaps because it allows you to use your arms and shoulders to take some of your weight and act as leverage, thereby reducing the weight on your bum and the strain on your lower back.
    I've always idden road bikes because when I was a kid that's really all there was - nowadays lots of peple get into cycling via mountain biking or riding hybrids and perhaps find a traditional racing bike position too extreme, especially to begin with. But I think you can be just as comfortable on a race bike as you can on a sportive.
    For the OP, sizing and fit are more important than weigh or a particular brand or type of bike.

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