New bike decisions, thoughts welcome...

Gess

I’m looking for a bit of help in narrowing down options for a new bike, and any thoughts on what I should be looking at/ ruling out would be appreciated.

A few details…

Current bike – Genesis Croix de Fer 2014, steel frame, tiagra groupset, with full mudguards/ Marathon Plus tyres – weighing in at about 13kg.

I’m looking for something lighter/ faster but still comfortable for long days and bumpy roads. I’ll be using the bike for anything from 10 mile commutes to 30 mile head-down runs to 80-90 mile full-day runs. It’ll be my only bike (apart from a full-sus MTB) so needs to be OK for some (probably fairly light) winter use. I’ll need to put some sort of mudguards on it, but something along the line of Race Blades look like they’d be good enough. I’ll probably run 25mm tyres but maybe move up to 28mm in winter (no idea if this is necessary – running 28s on the current bike and have never tried 25s…).

I’m looking at spending around £1000, but can go a up to £1400 if it’s really worth the extra. There are obviously plenty of options out there – a few of the bikes I’ve been looking at are below. Key questions I guess are:

- Is carbon worth it in this price range, and is it suitable for all-year use, or do I go with alu?
- Is it worth spending more to get ultegra over 105?
- Do I try mail-order (i.e. Canyon/ Rose) or is buying a bike I can sit on first more important (although I’m not going to get a decent 50-mile test-run on any of these bikes so not sure there's really any benefit in spending more and buying locally, apart from it being easier to sort out any post-sale issues?)
- Would these all take a 28mm tyre if I wanted to put one on, and will they all take some sort of useful mudguard?

https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-fuse-105-road-bike-84164.html?utm_campaign=googlebase-GB&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shopping&utm_term=Bikes+%26+Frames&ucpo=22375&gclid=CjwKEAjwguu5BRDq8uSKhaKIzDkSJACQ7WJl0c7zYtvStEHV_xSn8KMljUAL6-IhuM718cY8d22JrRoC9NHw_wcB

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road/endurace/2016/endurace-cf-8-0.html

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road/endurace/2016/endurace-al-7-0.html

https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-synapse-alloy-105-5-disc-2016-road-bike-EV239410

https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-synapse-105-6-2015-road-bike-EV214043

https://www.evanscycles.com/specialized-roubaix-sl4-sport-2016-road-bike-EV244946

https://www.cycledivision.co.uk/scott-solace-30-2015?gclid=CjwKEAjwpfC5BRCT1sKW2qzwqE0SJABkKFKR2EKQuAtoTb8QI9LPMX4Df8kxH-Vib1Wutk4o4L4DxxoCR2Dw_wcB


I’m not expecting anything definitive with this, just some thoughts/ experiences etc…thanks!

drlodge

Something like the Tifosi CK7, Tiagra, comes with mudguards and is more suited to audax/long distance. You could get a carbon bike for £1000 but think it will be a bit aggressive for what you want.

Just a suggestion compared to what you listed. From your list, the Cannondale Synapse is a great bike but not sure you're going to get decent mugaurds to fit it.

http://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections ... oce-double

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Pinnacle Dolomite 6 or Arkose 3?

Gess

drlodge, Nitrous - thanks for your replies. I guess both of these are a bit heavier than the bikes I listed, but probably more practical? The benefit of the Pinnacle bikes is that at it should be fairly easy to go and have a decent look at them. Definitely worth checking out, thanks again.

mugensi

drlodge wrote:

Something like the Tifosi CK7, Tiagra, comes with mudguards and is more suited to audax/long distance. You could get a carbon bike for £1000 but think it will be a bit aggressive for what you want.

Just a suggestion compared to what you listed. From your list, the Cannondale Synapse is a great bike but not sure you're going to get decent mugaurds to fit it.

http://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections ... oce-double

The Synapse has mudguard eyelets/mounts so there are plenty of different mudguards available to suit it.

drlodge

MugenSi wrote:

drlodge wrote:

Something like the Tifosi CK7, Tiagra, comes with mudguards and is more suited to audax/long distance. You could get a carbon bike for £1000 but think it will be a bit aggressive for what you want.

Just a suggestion compared to what you listed. From your list, the Cannondale Synapse is a great bike but not sure you're going to get decent mugaurds to fit it.

http://thecycleclinic.co.uk/collections ... oce-double

The Synapse has mudguard eyelets/mounts so there are plenty of different mudguards available to suit it.

Looking at the photos on the Evans per the links, I can see one mount (rack?) on the disc/ally version, and nothing on the 105 carbon version. No mudguard mounts that I can see.

Camcycle1974

How about a Cannondale Caad X? I run one for commuting and as a winter bike. Of course it will be fine for light off road duties too and has rack mounts and will fit big tyres and full guards. I have been using it this winter as a winter training bike on club runs etc using 28mm tyres and it's been great. I have the 2013 105 version but you can now get it with 105 and discs for about £1200. Bargain if you ask me.

Thigh_burn

Probably at the top end of your budget, but what about the Condor Fratello Disc. Took it along some fairly bumpy, muddy towpaths this weekend (unintentionally) and it handled very well. A delight on the road, and perfectly happy on normal, gravelly tow paths.

bmxboy10

Condor fratello disc can be built up for 1400 or a Caad 12 disc can take 28s

Gess

Thanks for all of the replies/ suggestions. It looks like my original list of bikes probably doesn't fit to my requirements - i.e. I'm looking at bikes around the 8kg mark but also asking for mudguards and 28mm tyres...I guess I have to compromise somewhere.

I did look at the Caad12 but figured it would be too race-orientated, hence looking at the synapse instead - maybe there's not such a big difference, and the Caad12 does get excellent reviews?

My wife actually has a CaadX so I know what an excellent bike it is - but not sure I can get the same as she has...sorry...

The Condor looks interesting but possibly not enough of a weight-saving to make it a worthwhile change from the Genesis with a wheel upgrade...will look into them further though.

Again - thanks for all of the replies, feel free to keep 'em coming!

Fat-Boy-Roubaix

I have a GT Grade for winter discs and mudguards.

A Cannondale Supersix Evo for summer as it doesn't bother me getting wet as long as it is not freezing.

I am 51 only cycling for 5 years and the Supersix is just as comfortable as the GT "gravel Bike" I have my Supersix lower down the stem than standard and the GT slammed the GT is lower. Both ride over the bumps fine, I was expecting to really feel knocked around on the Cannondale when I got back on it after a winter on the GT but it is just as smooth.

Honestly these days IMO there is very little between the geometry of a "sportive" bike and that of a "race" bike.

bmxboy10

I had 2014 CDF and the fratello is miles better if only a bit lighter, with the 32c Panaracer tyres it's an amazing all rounder you should try one if you can. My caad10 disc is light responsive and I was put off one of these for years due to the so called aggressive geo. trust me you can ride these bikes as aggressive or semi relaxed geo and the bike performs unbelievably well when set up correctly. I run my tyres at 80 psi and it is plenty comfortable.

Gess

I guess I need to get less hung-up on what bikes are classed as and just go and try a few, and get what feels best and gives me what I'm looking for - which is pretty much what it always comes down too!

Thanks all.

Samo30

Hello.

I am also buying a new bike and I cannot say which is a better choice regarding equipment. Both bikes I've tested and geometry is OK for me. Can you help decided which bike is better to buy?
Merida crossway 600
http://www.merida-bikes.com/nl_nl/bikes ... -2362.html

or
Giant Roam XR 1

https://www.giant-bicycles.com/int/roam-xr-1-2015

Thank you in advance.