"Race" or "Endurance" bike ?

ned17

So I am lining up to get a new road bike this year and would appreciate some real-world practical advice as to choices. I am a reasonably fit 67 year old man, currently riding a 25 year old steel-framed race bike (Argos Racing Cycles) that weighs around 10.5 kgs, Campy groupset with 50/34 and 11-30 cassette. I do mostly 25-35 mile rides, alone, with partner and friends, or on short club runs. No real off road stuff (occasional cycle tracks/ ex-railway or canal paths). I am reasonably flexible for my age. I am looking for a bike that will keep me smiling, get me up the hills (so compact chainrings and cassette with 32 or even 34), light, responsive but not too twitchy. I rented an older version Trek Domane in France last year (first time I had ridden carbon, and loved it), so something like that is a starting point. Manufacturers” “blurb” tends to steer me towards ‘Endurance” bikes like the Madone, but I was wondering whether something lighter and more towards the “race” spectrum might be better for me, considering that I have no ambitions to do more than 50 miles in general, and like to take on hills (and descend them!) with as much alacrity as age, courage, fitness and ability allow! So, for example, would a Trek Emonda be more suitable than a Trek Domane (also looking at Cannondale, Giant, etc.) Any advice/suggestions ?
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imposter2.0

Race bikes are also 'endurance' bikes, by definition. Don't be taken in by the marketing.

asprilla

Indeed. Marketing terms.

Slapping the endurance sticker on a road bike generally means that it's a bit shorter than average and the bars are a bit higher than average, but there are no standards and it's really all about how well it fits and how comfortable you are.

As someone who is 5'9" and has a 33.5' inside leg it's 'endurance' all the way, anything else is just too long and low to be comfortable.

haydenm

imposter2.0 said:

Race bikes are also 'endurance' bikes, by definition. Don't be taken in by the marketing.

I put 1.5cm of spacers under the stem on my aero Argon 'race' bike and rode it 320km in a storm with bike packing bags last year, the only thing I missed were disc brakes...

I would pick something with racey geo but ideally clearance for wider tyres and keep some steerer for stem spacers if needed and it should be fairly versatile. Both Treks and the Defy take 28mm or over tyres (the Domane goes up to 38mm) so combined with the right saddle you could go on for ever.

Longshot

The Cannondale Synapse has always been reviewed as a quick endurance bike. I bought a carbon one a couple of years ago and it has been a great bike for me. It seems plenty light and quick enough to me. I've ridden several centuries on it and have no issues with comfort/fit over that distance that I wouldn't arguably have with any bike.

lesfirth

Welcome to the forum. You are getting some good replies ( you don't always) I agree with all the above. I have a Ridley Helium and Wilier GTR" Endurance ".2 cms more spacers under the Ridley stem and I am in the exact same position on both bikes.
IMHO the advantages of disc brakes are reliable wet braking and the fact that I don't have to listen to my caliper brakes grinding away my alloy rims in wet weather.
I have had a Domane with the rear decoupler and I think going one size wider in tyres makes more difference than the decoupler.
I am even older than you and ride very much the way you do. You will not regret getting a new bike. I just don't understand the old guys who try to grind up hills on an old steel bike with a tiny cassette.
Remember Ned ,you don't slow down because you get old.You get old because you slow down.

racerex

Second the recommendation of the Cannondale Synapse. I'm 61 yrs old, rode a Colnago for about 10 yrs before getting my Synapse Carbon Ultegra and I love it. I upgraded the wheels (the Aksiums weigh a ton), but for under $3,000.00 everything else stock is perfect for me. I've done two trips of 400+ miles, averaging 80+ miles per day, very comfortably.

amrushton

Trek offer different headtube heights so H1 is race, then H2 and H3. H3 is the most upright so worth reading about this as it changes the geometry slightly. Disc brakes are the way to go but they need maintaining poss more than rim brakes (fluid, pads, avoiding contamination). New bikes allow wider rims. Some might say why not go 1x and have 2 sets of wheels - 1 for road and a set for those canal paths etc. Disc brakes allow you to do that

Longshot

racerex said:

Second the recommendation of the Cannondale Synapse. I'm 61 yrs old, rode a Colnago for about 10 yrs before getting my Synapse Carbon Ultegra and I love it. I upgraded the wheels (the Aksiums weigh a ton), but for under $3,000.00 everything else stock is perfect for me. I've done two trips of 400+ miles, averaging 80+ miles per day, very comfortably.

Agreed on the Aksiums - I've also changed wheels now but nothing else.

There's no pannier mounts on it though, should the OP be looking to do some touring/commuting with it.

pottssteve

Depending on your budget a lot of people report titanium frames as being comfortable and can be had in racing geometry, combining your two main requests. I ride a Van Nicholas ti frame and find it very nice.
Agree that decent wheels are important, and also contact points - saddle, bars, pedals for comfort, of course.
Fantastic to see you investing in a new bike at 67 - I just hope I am still able to throw my leg over when I get to my late 60's!

arlowood

Think I can trump the OP in the geriatric purchasing stakes. Having built up sveral bikes from framesets over the past 10 years or so, I decided to award myself with an off-the-peg model for my 75th birthday last year.

After much deliberation I eventually opted for a Rose X-Lite Four in 105 format

https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/rose-x-lite-four-105-2674412



I'm very happy with it and have only done a couple of modifications (swapped the stock saddle for a Fabric Scoop Shallow Race and the wheelset for the handbuilt wheels on my previous build).

If your budget allows you can upgrade the build to Ultegra, Ultegra Di2, SRAM Force or Force ETAP AXS

lesfirth

Thats a great bike.
When you are over 70 you are allowed to use a 36 T big cog with that rear derailleur.

step83

pottssteve said:

Depending on your budget a lot of people report titanium frames as being comfortable and can be had in racing geometry, combining your two main requests. I ride a Van Nicholas ti frame and find it very nice.
Agree that decent wheels are important, and also contact points - saddle, bars, pedals for comfort, of course.
Fantastic to see you investing in a new bike at 67 - I just hope I am still able to throw my leg over when I get to my late 60's!

I can back that up having a Ti bike, its more endurance geo but built racey and its an utter dream to ride.
Contact points and wheels more defiantly make the difference. Going from my winter to summer wheels changes the bike behaviour over bumps mainly but being silly deep carbons they do make it far quicker.

I would say look at an endurance bike, you can tweak it to make it more racey as its more flexible by its nature, Rather than trying to do it the other way round. Narrow tyre clearance and super stiff frames are nice, but its also nice to have something you can sit on all day an not feel like you've lost half your teeth.