Real world comfort Vs marketing hype?
aserota
Posts: 56
Hi all,
I'm a regular cyclist; out 3 times a week and a few times on the turbo too. I've just hit 30 and am more into the social cycling scene i.e. slower rides with less focus on monitoring watts. I had ally bieks stolen 4 years ago and have been cycling on a Dolan Prefissio with a 105 5800 groupset on which is ready to become the turbo bike. I've previously owned 30+ road bikes from Tarmac SL4s to old steel rigs; but as I'm looking for a sportive and comfort based bike I'm a little lost.
I wanted to find out how different bikes actually compare in real life to each other? Currently there's a massive push towards comfort in bikes like the Giant Defy; but are these as smooth as simarly priced titanium bikes? I have a build list in my head (obviously geometry is key); but I'm a tad lost in hype Vs real world performance.
In terms of other variables I've always believed dropping tyre pressure makes a profound difference potentially greater then a carbon Vs alloy build. Are tubeless that better in the realworld Vs a decent clincher with GP 4000s II?
Ideal kit:
Relaxed geometry i.e. sportive fit
Focus on comfort for longer 150-200k daily rides at moderate pace
Carbon preferred for weight, aero and comfort
105 or Uletgra groupo - ideally discs or direct mount
Ability to fit 28mm tyres (30mm preferred)
Tubeless preferred (for reduction to flats and better comfort)
Any thoughts?
I'm a regular cyclist; out 3 times a week and a few times on the turbo too. I've just hit 30 and am more into the social cycling scene i.e. slower rides with less focus on monitoring watts. I had ally bieks stolen 4 years ago and have been cycling on a Dolan Prefissio with a 105 5800 groupset on which is ready to become the turbo bike. I've previously owned 30+ road bikes from Tarmac SL4s to old steel rigs; but as I'm looking for a sportive and comfort based bike I'm a little lost.
I wanted to find out how different bikes actually compare in real life to each other? Currently there's a massive push towards comfort in bikes like the Giant Defy; but are these as smooth as simarly priced titanium bikes? I have a build list in my head (obviously geometry is key); but I'm a tad lost in hype Vs real world performance.
In terms of other variables I've always believed dropping tyre pressure makes a profound difference potentially greater then a carbon Vs alloy build. Are tubeless that better in the realworld Vs a decent clincher with GP 4000s II?
Ideal kit:
Relaxed geometry i.e. sportive fit
Focus on comfort for longer 150-200k daily rides at moderate pace
Carbon preferred for weight, aero and comfort
105 or Uletgra groupo - ideally discs or direct mount
Ability to fit 28mm tyres (30mm preferred)
Tubeless preferred (for reduction to flats and better comfort)
Any thoughts?
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Comments
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Worth also saying I'm living in rural Ireland and the farm roads here are brutal! The Dolan frameset is sharp and really not comfortable for long rides (no issues when ridden on smooth tarmac in London)0
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Hard to make any recommendations without a budget.0
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I feel im in the same boat as yourself when it comes to geometry. I much prefer a relaxed frame geometry. I bought a canyon ultimate aluminium to replace a giant aluminium defy. As much as the ride on the canyon felt quicker and sharper on long rides my lower back was hating it so ended up getting rid of the camyon amd replacing that with a carbon giant defy.
The problem i have is that looking at frame geometrys has me baffled and ive tried comparing frames to my giant defy on the basis of buying but just end up confused.0 -
Budget is flexible upto £2k second hand or new is fine. Giant defy 105 disc comes in new for well under that, just interested in other options for pure comfort with strong overall qualities0
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Trek Domane0
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aserota wrote:Budget is flexible upto £2k second hand or new is fine. Giant defy 105 disc comes in new for well under that, just interested in other options for pure comfort with strong overall qualities
I have the aluminium and carbon defys and cant fault them. Never had a problem with them and find the comfort spot on. The carbon is the most comfortable and i can pick up pace when needed.0 -
MrB123 wrote:Trek Domane
+1 for the Domane.
Like yourself, i've been through a range of fantastic road bikes, which were amazingly fast, but left me in bits after more than an hour (I had my bikes in London for 4 years and have since moved back to Ireland so know what you mean about the roads!)
The Domane was a real eye opener....im just as fast as I was on the other bikes, but with the bonus of feeling great at the end of the ride. The ISO speed system is one feature that lives up to the hype and has to be tried for yourself to feel the difference. I had a 5 series to start with, which was stolen and I've since moved up to a 6 series frameset and built it up with some lovely Aeolus wheels and ultegra groupset.
I was toying with the idea of getting a new bike this year, but you know what, I won't be much, if any faster with a new bike, so i've opted to get the Domane custom sprayed instead to truly make it a one of a kind.
I don't know exactly where you are based, but if you get a chance, throw your leg over one and give it a try, its what I did and my mind was made up instantly.
On the other hand, Road Cycle Exchange have some good deals on a range of second hand Domanes at the minute if you want to give them a look - I purchased my Aelous wheels from them and have nothing but good things to say about the service.
Good luck with whatever you choose.0 -
Cheers all :-)
So how would a Titanium bike compare with a Domane as an example? Something in the same price bracket i.e. a PlanetX Ti build or Lynksey - is there any comparison in terms of frame flex or is carbon way past this now0 -
I have infinito CV, and is really comfortable bike even with 25mm tires. Specialized Roubaix is also an other good option.0
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Giant Advanced TCR 2 just voted Bike of the Year in Cycling Plus. £1449 with 105 5800 and set up with Giant wheels and tubeless tyres (25mm)
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Giant-TCR-Adva ... 58QAvD_BwE
Also well reviewed with the Trek's Isospeed system is the Trek Domane SL5. £1900 with 105 5800 and Bontrager wheels and 25mm tyres
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/ro ... LMQAvD_BwE
Not sure it will be easy to find capacity for 30mm tyres on many of the offerings out there on rim braked bikes. Some may just squeeze a 28mm but finding those that do is a challenge0 -
Why restrict it to rim caliper brakes?0
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I'm not restricted to rim brakes - discs are fine too!
I'm interested in the actuals behind frame set construction through materials rather then just what bike. It's pretty clear that the domane and defy are solid bets, but are these any more comfortable then a ti build on 28mm tyres? Just interested at the specific use carbon vs steel/ti outlook0 -
aserota wrote:I'm not restricted to rim brakes - discs are fine too!
I'm interested in the actuals behind frame set construction through materials rather then just what bike. It's pretty clear that the domane and defy are solid bets, but are these any more comfortable then a ti build on 28mm tyres? Just interested at the specific use carbon vs steel/ti outlook
Sorry, my post was more directed at arlowood's above.
I can't really help though, I have a Ti bike and do love it, though not particularly for it's comfort. My gut tells me that with proper engineering carbon has the potential to be far more comfortable.
With Titanium you are pretty much restricted to the properties of the material, with carbon (and time + money + intelligent people) you can tune to get the properties you want at different parts of the frame.
Thought this may be worth a read:
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/04/jra-wit ... ll-matter/0 -
That's a fab article thanks so much for sharing :-)0
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YiannisM wrote:I have infinito CV, and is really comfortable bike even with 25mm tires. Specialized Roubaix is also an other good option.
I wouldn't say the Infinito CV is the last word in comfort. I have one running 28mm Vittoria Corsa G+'s with latex tubes and it's not as comfortable as my Planet X London Road running cheap 28mm tyres. Don't get me wrong the Bianchi does eliminate a lot of road buzz but the PX really is a plush ride for an aluminium frame.0 -
dstev55 wrote:YiannisM wrote:I have infinito CV, and is really comfortable bike even with 25mm tires. Specialized Roubaix is also an other good option.
I wouldn't say the Infinito CV is the last word in comfort. I have one running 28mm Vittoria Corsa G+'s with latex tubes and it's not as comfortable as my Planet X London Road running cheap 28mm tyres. Don't get me wrong the Bianchi does eliminate a lot of road buzz but the PX really is a plush ride for an aluminium frame.
Deferent kind of bikes dont you think? For me infinito it has the perfect balance between feel and comfort, but again i am not using it for commuting, only for long sportive rides at the weekends.0 -
Trek Domane discFFS! Harden up and grow a pair
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Svetty wrote:Trek Domane disc
I have the Trek Domane older model without adjustable rear decoupler and it is indeed a good bike for comfort.
Thinking of upgrading to a newer Trek Domane SLR or Emonda but it would be the rim brake version as i just cannot get passed the external brake cale that runs down the fork on the disc version of either bikes!
Why have all other cables internal then ruin the bike with front brake cable held against the fork with bloody cable ties !!
Just spoils the whole bike IMO.0 -
rando wrote:Svetty wrote:Trek Domane disc
I have the Trek Domane older model without adjustable rear decoupler and it is indeed a good bike for comfort.
Thinking of upgrading to a newer Trek Domane SLR or Emonda but it would be the rim brake version as i just cannot get passed the external brake cale that runs down the fork on the disc version of either bikes!
Why have all other cables internal then ruin the bike with front brake cable held against the fork with bloody cable ties !!
Just spoils the whole bike IMO.
I have the SLR 6 disc and this is the only thing than bothers me (not enough to stop me buying it). Hell of a difference in comfort terms compared to my winter bike (aluminium Cannondale Synapse). I'm not sure I can really notice the difference with the front isospeed but the rear does take out the worst of the road buzz. It came with 32c tyres, which I'm sure made some of the difference although I'm now running 28c with no difference in ride quality. Expensive compared to some of the notionally higher specced bikes you can get online but there's no doubting the engineering that's gone into it.0 -
Iirc, the Domane's stack versus reach is high, but the Cube Attain isn't far off (my 58cm is 389mm reach and 610mm stack).================
2020 Voodoo Marasa
2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
2016 Voodoo Wazoo0 -
I had the same requirements as you and ordered the Ribble Gran Fondo which ticked all my boxes and only £1700 plus they swapped over the FSA chainset to Ultegra for free so I can use my power meter
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-g ... hydro-fsa/0 -
I've got a Bianchi Oltre XR3 and it's the most comfortable road bike I've ridden by far (and I've ridden a lot of hire bikes on holidays, some costing much more). I assumed that Countervail would be marketing bollocks, but they've certainly done something to make it a comfortable ride and they've done it without using gimpy looking elastamers.0
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For the use the OP is intending, some sort of Gravel/adventure road (or what ever term) would seem to fit nicely, I have one of Norco’s Search bikes, compared to the CX bike before it on the same tyres it’s quite a bit more comfortable be that rough old lanes or what ever, and to be honest at my level no slower than the pure road bikes I had previously.0
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Tyres, pressure and bike fit for me are the most crucial aspects to being comfortable on a bike.
28c tubeless tyres run at a slight lower pressure will make any bike more comfortable, but also having a bike fit (in a shop or from a club rider who knows what they are doing) will be worth its weight in gold in the long run.
I had one on my alu Felt Z75 a couple of years back and did 100 mile+ rides on it without any aches or pains, it just felt right, I now have the same set up on my full carbon race bike and again have done 100 miles+ on it with no issues in comfort, then when i chucked on my new wheels with tubeless 25c tyres on there it was even better! Slotting a paid of wheels with tubes in the tyres back on the race bike was noticeable comfort wise.
Long story short, get a bike fit, buy something that fits you (I would go carbon) and run tubeless tyresObsessed is a word used by the lazy to describe the dedicated!0 -
JesseD wrote:Tyres, pressure and bike fit for me are the most crucial aspects to being comfortable on a bike.
28c tubeless tyres run at a slight lower pressure will make any bike more comfortable, but also having a bike fit (in a shop or from a club rider who knows what they are doing) will be worth its weight in gold in the long run.
I had one on my alu Felt Z75 a couple of years back and did 100 mile+ rides on it without any aches or pains, it just felt right, I now have the same set up on my full carbon race bike and again have done 100 miles+ on it with no issues in comfort, then when i chucked on my new wheels with tubeless 25c tyres on there it was even better! Slotting a paid of wheels with tubes in the tyres back on the race bike was noticeable comfort wise.
Long story short, get a bike fit, buy something that fits you (I would go carbon) and run tubeless tyres
This is it really :-)
Bike fit checks out - I spent a fair amount of time honing in my position over the last few years (a couple of injuries have made me relax my fit a tad). I'm keeping my eye out for slightly more forgiving frameset; however the first major change I'll make is running tubeless tyres at a lower pressure - ideally 28mm too!
The more I read, the more I feel there's little to gain on just investing in a frameset. My bike currently fits and at worse will be retired to the turbo; so I might as well sort the wheelset in the meantime and keep and eye out for an allround upgrade0 -
Worth considering the Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc?
It ticks the carbon, 105, hydraulic discs, , wide tyres and comfort (at least for me) boxes.
Looks very good value for the 2017 model at Rutland at the moment £1070 (was £1699)
I have the 2016 model and it's performed very solidly - a lot more comfortable for long rides than my previous alloy framed Scott.0 -
You are a brave man going on the rural roads of Ireland , I go mountain biking in SW Ireland and the roads can be brutal !
If you want wider tyres have a look at the Gravel bikes like the Specialized Diverge I currently ride. I used to have a road bike with 23mm tyres and now have the Diverge and the bigger tyres mean it is fine on rough roads and goes off road fine. The downside is they are a little slower uphill and weigh a little more. I do 4 hour+ road rides on mine and it is very comfortable.
It will easily take 32mm tyres and the new version even wider tyres. In the winter I use 25mm tyres purely on road.0 -
Actually there's a diverge my size for sale on another forum. What's your feedback on the frame quality; yes it's pretty relaxed geometry but could be a nice fit all-round0
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I’m another one in the camp who rides a Trek Domane disc, mine has the front and rear Isospeed decoupler. Very comfortable bike, but I think it’s the wide tyres run at low pressure that gives the biggest benefit. I use 32mm tyres, at about 60psi.
I’ve had lots of other bikes and my steel bike (Genesis CDF) was also very comfortable, that also ran with 32mm tubeless tyres.0 -
I've pretty much narrowed my decisions down to a domane or defy - but am holding back due to cost currently. I'm putting in the miles on my Dolan around 200km a week - sometime a fair bit more and it's not comfortable, but still OK. Planning to keep this as my winter and training bike over in Ireland.
I've seen this which is a much lower price point:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Giant-Defy-1 ... SwgFJa8LpW
Setup seems fine to me - would replace wheelset with tubeless in time and 28mm. Would this offer an better ride then a Giant contend though? Groupsets if setup correctly have little impact i.e. Tiagra (latest version) vs Ultegra 6700 in my opinion0
