Which frameset?

src1

I'm interested in people's thoughts on the following framesets. It'll be used as a dry weather best bike, e.g., club rides, chain-gang, the odd sportive and trip abroad, etc. The geometry is similar enough to mean they'll all fit me just fine and the price and weights aren't that that different. I'll be putting DA 9000 and a nice pair of custom carbon clinchers on it.

The shortlist is:
1. Giant TCR Advanced SL 2016
2. Canyon CF SLX
3. Specialized S-Works Tarmac
4. Cannondale Super Six Evo Hi Mod

Just as a reminder as to what they look like:

Giant TCR


Canyon CF SLX


Specialized


Cannondale


Anything else around this price I should be considering?

Anonymous

Well the difference is about £750-£2,800 so quite a price range (SSE HM -> S-Works)!

Assuming you fit, the Nano Evo Black Inc is £1,600 also at Pauls and comes with the SiSl2 chainset, but only in a 54 (I think). Also worth noting that the 2016 frameset of the SSE HM is to be released soon on sale also through Paul's which is meant to be updated with more sensitive tubing and the slightest of aero profiling. It also comes with the option of the SiSl2 chainset.

Not sure if it's frameset only, but I like the look of the Scott Addict.

It's fair amount of money, but if you are paying RRP for the others, then custom is always an option.

src1

I think the price range is £2000 - £2800 (the s-works). That's rrp and 2016 versions. I did see the nano black edition, but not sure I like the black/gold colour scheme, plus I already have a DA9000 chainset with powermeter, so not really interested in the Cannondale chainset. Still tempting thought, as 54cm is my size!

BTW - where have you seen the SSE HM for £750 - that's very tempting too!

Anonymous

Pauls cycles as well. 2015 on sale now and 2016 "coming soon".

Edit: just checked and no 2015 54s for 750. Sorry 56 and 58 only

src1

coriordan wrote:

Pauls cycles as well. 2015 on sale now and 2016 "coming soon".

Edit: just checked and no 2015 54s for 750. Sorry 56 and 58 only

Thanks anyway.

cmcdonnell

For me it would be between the Canyon and Specialized. In my small size the I think the Cannondale looks terrible as I need a sloping frame and I hate the look of the Giant TCR or Propel in any size. Hard to pick between the other 2 and I may well be making that choice later this year or maybe between the Venge and Aeroad

redvision

I had similar predicament recently. My mind said canyon even though my heart said specialized. In the end I ordered a full canyon ultimate CF SLX.

I still find myself dreaming about the s-works though, so I am seriously considering cancelling the canyon & getting one.

If money is an issue go for the canyon (prepare yourself for a wait though), otherwise I would always say specialized s works tarmac!

964cup

From that list, I'd go with the Supersix. I think the ISM on the Giant would be limiting, I won't buy Specialized on principle and you'll never actually receive the Canyon. In that price range, I'd look at the Cervelo R3 (or stretch a little to last year's R5) and the Fuji 1.1 SL (due in at Evans in March, orders taken from mid-Feb, £1250 - all this according to my local branch). Maybe also the Focus Izalco Max (not sure you can get just the frameset) and the Ridley Helium SL (in retro Team Lotto spec, of course).

letap73

The Cannondale frames at Pauls cycles and evans are fantastic deals - I think the new Cannondale frames are only likely to be marginally better.

cmcdonnell

Going beyond the list i'd add the Colnago V1-R and Bianchi Oltre XR2.

JesseD

Genesis Zero frame set?

All black (gloss and matte) and only £1100.

Gets a great write up too!

galatzo

As there are no £750 SSEVOHMs left at Pauls in a 54 it has to be the SS Black Inc, at £1599 with SiSl chainset VFM in this catergory is as good as your gonna get.
Or then the SSEVOHM bikes for £2k ish at Pauls too and then spec it up how you like.
There are some mega deals to be had out there.
Of your choices I like them all except the Spesh, the dale of course as I have one, the Giant and the Canyon look great so tough choice but really the Black Inc is the one and the wheels you could put on that with the money your saving could be something else !

Anonymous

As he said he doesn't want the chainset as has a PM already, but otherwise I'd agree.

954Cup has been on a similar search I gather so has done much of the legwork already.

The harsh reality for most riders is that it's aesthetics and gut feeling. I'd love an Oltre but would rather campag. Giant although well reviewed says "Mondeo of bikes" to me, sadly. Spesh I fully buy into their BS and think they look great in a 54 and 56. Cervelo R3 is a bit too meh for me - would rather an r5.

After a poorly spent evening, I'd considering having a look at a legend 5.7 which is about the top of budget. My personal view is when spending that amount on a frameset you may as well try and go somewhere special. Most of those others will be 1K less after a year or so to be replaced by something with a new paint job.


That said, I have a mate building up the SSE HM with record 11 and fizik finishing kit and excited to see it. I hope the chainset doesn't look stupid

galatzo

Or one of the De Rosa bargains that are currently about
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/de- ... Ao5V8P8HAQ

cmcdonnell

If you want campag it's a nightmare as they seem to be entirely boutique now. I'd love a new bike and if Specialized offered a Tarmac with Super Record like Astana use or Canyon and Ultimate CF with Super Record like Movistar (with a Power2Max PM) but they don't. The shops only offer Shimano or SRAM so that's where the deals are so campag ends up costing you double because you end up paying close to retail.

964cup

I have indeed been around this loop. I ended up happy with the repair on my R5Ca, so am sticking with that for now. When I unstick, it will probably be for an RCa. Because I am an idiot. If I wasn't an idiot, I'd likely buy the Fuji - underrated brand and stupidly cheap for the quality. I still think the 2015 'dales at Pauls are also astonishing value, though - I so nearly bought the SSEHMNano when they still had a 56, but it sold while I was waiting to get my repaired frame back. Also the SISL2 was the wrong length for me (and I have a Rotor LT anyway).

I love the look of the Ridley, but word is that the weight is suspect. I'd stay away from the '16 SSE HM, because if you don't like the Cannondale seatpost, where are you going to find an alternative in a 25.4? The Canyon leaves me cold, even if they fix their delivery times. It is supposed to be light, though. There's the AXLightness Vial Evo D, which is the other one on my remaining shortlist; a lot more expensive at €1.3/£ than it was at €1.43, though, and no race pedigree. I love the Mondeo of bikes comparison for the Giant - quite right, too.

As for Specialized, after the Cafe Roubaix incident, they can eff right off. Having Fuji remind them that it wasn't actually their trademark in the first place is one of my top ten corporate comeuppances, and endears Fuji to me no end.

Anyway, I'm off to waste the money I saved by not buying a frame. Apparently Extralite do a set of wheels that weigh 775g for the pair. They must have seen me coming...

src1

redvision wrote:

I had similar predicament recently. My mind said canyon even though my heart said specialized. In the end I ordered a full canyon ultimate CF SLX.

I still find myself dreaming about the s-works though, so I am seriously considering cancelling the canyon & getting one.

If money is an issue go for the canyon (prepare yourself for a wait though), otherwise I would always say specialized s works tarmac!

What is it about the Tarmac over the canyon you like?

src1

Thanks for all the suggestions.

My first road bike was a Bianchi, but hadn't considered then this time round. Of the current crop I like the Specialissima (sp?) best, but can't justify the price.

It's the same with Cervelo (R5) and Pinarello (F8) they look overpriced to me - for no real benefit?

I worry about the BBs used on the Spesh and 'dale, does using a shimano chain set and converter mean I'm more likely to get bb creak?

redvision

SRC1 wrote:

redvision wrote:

I had similar predicament recently. My mind said canyon even though my heart said specialized. In the end I ordered a full canyon ultimate CF SLX.

I still find myself dreaming about the s-works though, so I am seriously considering cancelling the canyon & getting one.

If money is an issue go for the canyon (prepare yourself for a wait though), otherwise I would always say specialized s works tarmac!

What is it about the Tarmac over the canyon you like?

I've always loved the Tarmac. Rode an S-Works for a weekend a couple of years ago and wanted one ever since. When i jumped back on my Canyon it just didn't feel as nice to ride or as fast - prior to that i had always been happy with it.

Don't get me wrong, the Canyon is an awesome bike and far better value for money - this is why i have an order in for one. BUT, i don't think they look great (or ever have) and i just don't have the excitement about getting my SLX that you should get with a new bike.

All personal preference though.

964cup

The R5 is fully priced rather than overpriced. Ride one. Astonishing things (declaration of interest: I have two). I've yet to ride anything that combines speed, lightness and comfort so well.

There's a 56 on eBay at the moment for sensible money (2.5k for a full bike, IIRC). There's also an R5Ca frameset and some other bits for £3400. If you're happy with mechanical gears, or external cabling, this is a whole other league - a 2011 frame, but still sub 1Kg for frame, forks, hanger. Fully built with DA9070, Enve kit and power meter mine is 6.0Kg with pedals.

Anonymous

FYI the 2016 Hi-Mod frame comes out around Easter at £2K. A few grams heavier than the 2015 version but changed.

I think it would be worth riding one back to back with an R5 - as my experience of riding it is similar to 964Cup of the R5 (which I haven't ridden)

Geo555

For the price you are willing to pay, you could consider a custom italian built carbon frame. Hersh frames (made by Sarto) start off from around £1500

src1

Well, there's a Cervelo R5 for sale which the seller might consider selling the f+f on.

It's tempting, just because it makes a £3.8K framset look affordable. However, not sure I want to risk spending nearly £2K on a 2nd hand frame with no warranty or knowledge of what sort of life the bikes had...

src1

I think I'm leaning towards this one. It's the cheapest and no long waits to get it. Although it's hard to get directly comparable weights, I think it'll be lightest or just as light as the others and I just like the look of it (even if it is a Giant!)...

Also tempted by the Tarmac, if only so I don't have an ISP (a concern for foreign trips), but not sure it's worth £600 more and it is a bit heavier. The Canyon would cost me £500 more than the Giant, but tempting too...

Decisions, decisions!

bluemoon17

Come on, anything but a Giant!

llu02

Canyon. Got three Canyon bikes at home. Love them...

964cup

SRC1 wrote:

Well, there's a Cervelo R5 for sale which the seller might consider selling the f+f on.

It's tempting, just because it makes a £3.8K framset look affordable. However, not sure I want to risk spending nearly £2K on a 2nd hand frame with no warranty or knowledge of what sort of life the bikes had...

Slane have a 10% of frames deal at the moment, making the 3.5k R5 frameset only £3.15k. There's a few prior year frames kicking around at good discounts - and never forget the "R3 Dark" which is actually the 2013 R5 with a respray. *That* was the bargain of the century; I'd have bought one if i didn't already have one, IYSWIM.

src1

I nearly ordered a Bianche Oltre XR2 f+f last week, but couldn't quite bring myself to do it. I'm just not sure I like the look of it enough...

I've just seen a '14 Super Six Evo Hi Mod CPC edition (green/white/black) available in my size for £750. It seems rude not to!

It's hard to judge from pictures, does the colour scheme look good in the flesh?

Also, anyone know the difference between the '14 and '15 version?

src1

So, I ended up with this:


It's a bit more glittertastic than I was expecting :shock:

Anonymous

Uh oh! Nice work. Enjoy. Will be hard to make it not all black! Maybe look at Rose for inspiration on where to add colour?

src1

Thanks!

I think it has to end up completely black tbh. I definitely don't want to go down the route of matching glittery gold handlebar tape.

At the moment, I'm wishing I'd gone with the safe stealth/red Canyon Ultimate CF SLX