Budget £1000 - £1500 which bike (Carbon)

chazw1978
chazw1978 Posts: 4
edited April 2015 in Road buying advice
Hello All, first post and looking for advice. Quick back ground..

Cycle 14 miles every working day, with weekend rides also thrown in. Cycled London to Paris, London to Brighton and back to give a rough idea of distances cycled.

Recently purchased and now had stollen a Canondale Disc 2015 (alloy) which I loved the look of, and was an upgrade from my specialised before it.. but it was still quite heavy. Now it has been stollen I want another bike, as sad as it sounds.. that bike has been tainted by the chav who stole it!

So.. local bike shop (very good, and trust them) suggested the Trek Domain 4.0 Carbon, with disc breaks. I tended to go through breaks quickly as I cycled in all weather.. storms and all. which didnt do wheels/ bike or breaks any favours.

The downside is.. the comp are all lower quality than other bikes for the same price with the disc breaks seemingly increasing in price. i.e. Sora shifters..

Choices seem to be (open to suggestions.. but I do like the look of Cannondale)
Cannondale Super 6 Evo 105 5 2015 Road Bike
Cannondale Synapse 105 6 2015 Road Bike
Trek Domane 4.1 2015 Road Bike
Trek Domane 4.0 Disc 2015 Road Bike

I really did like disc breaks.. but.. its not a deal breaker. Hoping you can help make up my mind :) will be my first carbon

Comments

  • Big Geordie
    Big Geordie Posts: 49
    Why does it have to be carbon? Good aluminum is better than bad carbon and gets you a better groupset and finishing kit, which reduces the weight difference.

    I'd go for a Canyon Inflite AL- Ultegra and hydraulic discs for less than £1,500. Even comes with mudguards.

    https://www.canyon.com/en/roadbikes/ser ... te-al.html
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    edited April 2015
    Big Geordie wrote:
    Why does it have to be carbon? Good aluminum is better than bad carbon and gets you a better groupset and finishing kit, which reduces the weight difference.

    I'd go for a Canyon Inflite AL- Ultegra and hydraulic discs for less than £1,500. Even comes with mudguards.

    https://www.canyon.com/en/roadbikes/ser ... te-al.html

    What a load of twaddle! Better question would be 'Why does it have to be £1500?' if that were true.
    Good Carbon bike is better than a good aluminium one for sure :wink:

    Hydraulic discs should not be taken into the equation. If you want them, they are an extra IMO.

    If you like the Cannondale's then go for one of those. An easy recommendation. Just don't get one thats too big.
    I prefer sportier bikes but rode a Synapse recently and was really impressed.
    Try to get the 105 5 if you can though. If not, put 5800 callipers on pronto, they are amazeballs :wink:
  • thefog
    thefog Posts: 197
    Giant defy advanced 2 - £1300 ?

    http://www.rutlandcycling.com/284981/pr ... green.aspx
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    edited April 2015
    TheFog wrote:
    Giant defy advanced 2 - £1300 ?

    http://www.rutlandcycling.com/284981/pr ... green.aspx

    Says £1399 and all out of stock :?:

    Mechanical disc :shock: Yuk! 105 5800 with some Swissstop greens are much better IME.
    I ride fast up to red traffic lights just to enjoy the stopping power of that combo.
    Even cable levers with a £200 TRP HY-RD hydraulic calliper upgrade does not stop anywhere near as good!

    Disc winter/rim summer IMO, but for all year riding get full hydraulic (or TRP HY-RD at least) if you really must have disc instead of winter wheels with rim brakes.
  • johnny25
    johnny25 Posts: 344
    I'd second the Synapse Carbon 105. Ridden one for a number of years now and it is a great bike. The new models, I hear, are even better.

    In fact I'm tempted to upgrade to an 11 speed 105 group set on the Synapse, that's how much I like the bike!
  • bagz3
    bagz3 Posts: 253
    Big Geordie wrote:
    Why does it have to be carbon? Good aluminum is better than bad carbon and gets you a better groupset and finishing kit, which reduces the weight difference.

    I'd go for a Canyon Inflite AL- Ultegra and hydraulic discs for less than £1,500. Even comes with mudguards.

    https://www.canyon.com/en/roadbikes/ser ... te-al.html

    Can also get a carbon Canyon with Ultegra for less than £1500. Ditch the disc breaks in my opinion.
    It really is money for nothing
  • vermin
    vermin Posts: 1,739
    edited February 2016
    ///
  • dwanes
    dwanes Posts: 954
    No point in getting the Trek Domain 4.0 Carbon, with disc brakes, that is also heavy.

    Don't automatically think Carbon is going to give you a light or lighter bike.
  • chazw1978
    chazw1978 Posts: 4
    Thanks all for advice.. went for the Synapse carbon in the end, with standard breaks :)

    Its is most def lighter than my previous 2015 cannondale disc alloy synapse.. which I really enjoyed by the way. But my new bike just feels quicker, more response - my overall times are a little quicker, even with the wind trying to ruin my enjoyment!

    I do miss the disc breaks a little, but with the sunshine and lack of rain, its not been noticable .

    Anyone else thinking about it, would recommend synapse 105 6 carbon

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