Spesh Tarmac Pro \ Cannondale System Six or another

sherer

Looking at getting a new bike around the 6k budget. Last carbon bike as lasted 17 years but is now showing it's age and needs to be upgraded. Always ridden Treks but im now looking beyond the single manufacturer.

Big Sagan fan so would love a Spesh and they get decent reviews. Cant quite get an S-Works so looking at this one

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Specialized-Ta ... 214627.htm

Love the look of this Cannondale

https://www.wheelbase.co.uk/product/roa ... xhmultdi2/

Or this would be the Trek

https://www.wheelbase.co.uk/product/bra ... eslr6disc/

Thought id through it out there for some advice. Ive seen some decent Canyons too, but can only find one year finance on them and that breaks the budget.

Want electronic gears, disc brakes and also decent wheels as my current ones are too old.

Happy to listen to advice from people with far more knowledge than me

w00dster

They're obviously both very good bikes. The System Six was one I looked at when buying my last bike.
I really liked it, comes with a power meter that needs a monthly subscription. I had a decent week of test riding the System Six, I did think it was a very good bike, but for me I ended up getting something different, same spec and an aero bike just quite a lot cheaper.
Will you get the opportunity to test ride either of them? I really wouldn't want to spend that amount of money and buy based on internet reviews and other peoples opinion. The System Six I test rode was out in Girona so probably not much help.

sherer

depends who i order from.. im looking to get in contact with Spesh concept store about a test ride over the weekend.

At that price they are all going to be fairly decent and like the sound of the etap axs setup 12 speed setup.

As you say it's mainly down to test ride and may end up being the one that will give me a ride

daniel_b

Foil?

https://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/scott-foil-10-disc-road-bike-2019-p338108/s605697?gclid=CjwKEAjwlujnBRDl2teOp_veulQSJAC5bHgtnZjpMO6qa3viuPimRg5OEkAVPBHgiNyK_fSy5VFg8hoC19nw_wcB

Expect a 'Premium' in the sale if it happens could also fall into budget.

Or:
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bikes/road-bikes/scott-foil-rc-disc-2019-aero-road-bike_460999


Versus the Dale, which is also stunning:

mrb123

Personally I'd have the Tarmac. Bit more of an all rounder than the other two.

Depends a bit on where you normally ride really. Is it always flat or do you do lots of steep hills? The Venge would seem a more direct competitor to the System6 and Madone as full aero bikes.

Worth looking at Rose too. You'd get a pretty much top spec X-lite 6 for your budget and you can choose from a selection of wheels and other components.

sherer

Thanks.. im taking it to the etape and then using it mainly around Kent.. some decent hills round here and will get used in Canary Islands and South France a few times too.

Shame I cant afford a 10K top of the range S-Works.

Im not a sprinter and im a slow rider too so not sure I need an aggressive all aero bike.

daniel_b

sherer wrote:

Im not a sprinter and im a slow rider too so not sure I need an aggressive all aero bike.

Have you looked at framesets?

You could potentially land a frame from last year in the sales, and get to spec it exactly as you want it.

I too am not a sprinter, and did not think I needed an aero bike, but I can confirm (as do the reviews) that the Foil is ridculously comfortable, if not more so that my normal road bike, especially in the drops

The Dale above is also an aero bike I think?

Geometry's look not too dissimilar to me.

shortfall

sherer wrote:

Im not a sprinter and im a slow rider too so not sure I need an aggressive all aero bike.

With that in mind do you really need a 6k bike? It's your money and all but that's one hell of a budget for something not necessarily suited to your needs.

sherer

Shortfall wrote:

sherer wrote:

Im not a sprinter and im a slow rider too so not sure I need an aggressive all aero bike.

With that in mind do you really need a 6k bike? It's your money and all but that's one hell of a budget for something not necessarily suited to your needs.

that is something im thinking too... not sure if I will be much quicker, but would like to go lighter to make it easier for me in the French Alps

daniel_b

sherer wrote:

Shortfall wrote:

sherer wrote:

Im not a sprinter and im a slow rider too so not sure I need an aggressive all aero bike.

With that in mind do you really need a 6k bike? It's your money and all but that's one hell of a budget for something not necessarily suited to your needs.

that is something im thinking too... not sure if I will be much quicker, but would like to go lighter to make it easier for me in the French Alps

Electronic gears and disc brakes don't usually tie in with lightness, though I appreciate this is becoming less so.

redvision

Shortfall wrote:

sherer wrote:

Im not a sprinter and im a slow rider too so not sure I need an aggressive all aero bike.

With that in mind do you really need a 6k bike? It's your money and all but that's one hell of a budget for something not necessarily suited to your needs.

Does anyone?? BUT, life is short and about living. If you fall in love with a bike and can afford it, buy it.

OP I'm biased towards the tarmac as I love mine.
In your budget though whichever bike you pick I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Btw might be worth hanging on a couple of weeks as my lbs told me specialized will be reducing some 2019 models later this month (before the 2020 models are launched).

w00dster

I've got an aero bike and a standard endurance bike. I'm not the most flexible or the youngest (47), but I still enjoy the aero bike and have no problems with comfort or position. Nowadays aero bikes are also good for climbing, mine is approx. 7kgs, the System Six I've used in the Spanish mountains and its also been absolutely fine.
Previously had an Emonda SLR, 6.2kgs, I don't really see much difference on climbs between the bikes. The biggest differentiator is the gearing. I use 52/36 on the aero bike and 50/34 on the Emonda, only because 95% of my rides on the aero bike are on rolling hills rather than mountains.
I'm off to Girona again in a few weeks, was going to take my own bike but decided to hire a System Six again. Will be doing a fair bit of climbing but more than happy to do it on that bike.
I'd never buy a bike to become faster, that's just too marginal, but I'd buy the bike that is going to make you want to ride more. I'm sure you know that already though.

daniel_b

IF you would fit a 52 Foil, this 11k premium disc beauty slips in under 7K with the code.



https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Scott/Foil-Premium-Disc-Road-Bike-2018/GKU7

Matthewfalle

Shortfall wrote:

sherer wrote:

Im not a sprinter and im a slow rider too so not sure I need an aggressive all aero bike.

With that in mind do you really need a 6k bike? It's your money and all but that's one hell of a budget for something not necessarily suited to your needs.

if he wants it and can afford it then yes.

#lethimenjoyhismoney

pippi_langsamer-2

Foil or Addict

sherer

Had a few personal issues last year so buying this is very much a treat and getting back to normal.

Think it’s going to boil down to which one I can test ride. Big Sagan fan and with a Slovak GF I ride in their kit too, so Tarmac seems as close as I can get to my idols bike.

As stated reviews and research never mean as much as a ride. At this price range whatever I get will be a great bike

pippi_langsamer-2

...or if you are in the 54 to 56cm range, grab a Factor O2 on closeout pre the new VAM model?

https://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/facto ... oCJrbw_wcB

https://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/facto ... oC_9Dw_wcB

(In 35 years of riding/ racing, I've never test ridden a bike, and never been disappointed in a purchase)

cougie

Get one of those Ribble E-bikes and you'll blitz it on the hills of the Etape !

Wayne Plunger

Orca Aero and customise it to your taste?

alex222

In your shoes I'd go for the Tarmac. Will be lighter than the other two, plus you're obviously keen on a Specialized.

arlowood

Don't suppose you'd be interested in 2nd hand but an S-Works Tarmac has just popped up on the 2nd hand road bikes forum.

viewtopic.php?f=40090&t=13105822

At that price you could strip the frame and sell off the bits you don't fancy and hang a nice SRAM Etap groupset on it. The Reynolds Aero 48? (Does he mean 46?) wheels are tasty tho so could be a keeper.

Only caveat is that it is not the disc version

sherer

went for the Spesh in the end. Didnt get a test ride but looks a decent bike and was the favourite one I wanted too