Forum home› Road cycling forum› Road buying advice

What bike should I buy?

pep.fermipep.fermi Posts: 247
in Road buying advice
My 50th birthday is still far, but approaching, so contemplating on a next luxury bicycle...
What bike should I buy with these properties?

budget max 3500, maybe 4000 if I sell a kidney
carbon
endurance
hydraulic disc brake
As light as possible. I love climbing
Mechanical gear, not electronic, Ultegra preferably
Not integrated cockpit, I'm kind of put-off but not having the possibility to fine tune the stem length.
sexy looking of course, preferably single color black or red.
«1

Posts

  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 24,654
    pep.fermi said:

    ...
    Mechanical gear, not electronic, Ultegra preferably...

    I presume you enjoy replacing cranksets every couple of years. 😉
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • pep.fermipep.fermi Posts: 247
    No.
    Why?
  • seanoconnseanoconn Posts: 10,971
    Canyon endurace has everything you need with only one hitch. It’s £1,500 under budget!
    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי
  • veronese68veronese68 Posts: 26,939 Lives Here
    seanoconn said:

    Canyon endurace has everything you need with only one hitch. It’s £1,500 under budget!

    Sexy looking?
    Kinesis Pro6
    Marin Nail Trail
    Cotic Solaris
  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 24,654
    pep.fermi said:

    No.
    Why?

    Try a Google search on Ultegra crank failures.
    Well known problem. On this site too.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • pep.fermipep.fermi Posts: 247
    My Ultegra failed after 14yr of use
  • seanoconnseanoconn Posts: 10,971
    veronese68 said:

    seanoconn said:

    Canyon endurace has everything you need with only one hitch. It’s £1,500 under budget!

    Sexy looking?
    Black stealth, very slimming and sexy 👍
    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי
  • seanoconnseanoconn Posts: 10,971
    Too be honest and possibly controversial….. you don’t need anything more expensive than 105. Few grams heavier than Ultegra but you won’t notice the difference, specially after a good poo. Cheaper to replace parts for 105 down the line also.
    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי
  • ibr17xviiibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    If you "love climbing" & want as light as possible I would go rim brakes every time which admittedly does bring down your options but at your budget you would get a far lighter bike - IMO.
  • wobblebobwobblebob Posts: 73
    pep.fermi said:

    My Ultegra failed after 14yr of use

    Have you tried contacting Shimano for a replacement
  • navrig2navrig2 Posts: 1,810
    pblakeney said:

    pep.fermi said:

    No.
    Why?

    Try a Google search on Ultegra crank failures.
    Well known problem. On this site too.
    Mine is 10 years old and still turning.

    OP - ignore him, the failure rate is very small.
  • pep.fermipep.fermi Posts: 247
    edited June 2022
    ibr17xvii said:

    If you "love climbing" & want as light as possible I would go rim brakes every time which admittedly does bring down your options but at your budget you would get a far lighter bike - IMO.

    Makes sense, thanks.
    What I didn't mention is that I'm the worstest descender ever. And disc brakes give me some extra confidence, so I'm slightly less bad (still the worstest).
  • pep.fermipep.fermi Posts: 247
    wobblebob said:

    pep.fermi said:

    My Ultegra failed after 14yr of use

    Have you tried contacting Shimano for a replacement
    No.
    It failed after this many years, I thought it was just normal to get it replaced.
  • ibr17xviiibr17xvii Posts: 1,065
    pep.fermi said:

    ibr17xvii said:

    If you "love climbing" & want as light as possible I would go rim brakes every time which admittedly does bring down your options but at your budget you would get a far lighter bike - IMO.

    Makes sense, thanks.
    What I didn't mention is that I'm the worstest descender ever. And disc brakes give me some extra confidence, so I'm slightly less bad (still the worstest).

    Fair enough.

    FWIW after I had a major unscheduled look at the tarmac on black ice a few years ago I would put myself in the worst descender category as well.
  • stephenmaddock57stephenmaddock57 Posts: 5
    Mine. Ticks all your boxes,
    https://forum.bikeradar.com/discussion/13118460/new-giant-defy-advanced-sl#latest
  • oxomanoxoman Posts: 11,735
    Good bike but I'd buy a new one. Love mine, but I'd stick with 105 chainset.
    Too many bikes according to Mrs O.
  • pep.fermipep.fermi Posts: 247
    edited June 2022
    Looking at Canyon endurance range: difference between 105 and Ultegra is 300€ and 240gr.
    Next level up is different Carbon frame, 500€ more and 320gr lighter.

    CF SL 8: 2799€, 8.06Kg, Ultegra
    CF 8: 2299€, 8.38Kg, Ultegra
    CF 7: 1999€, 8.62Kg, 105

    The SL also has integrated cockpit which I like less, no chance of fine tuning stem length.

    I write €, I happen to be in Germany
  • bobonesbobones Posts: 1,215
    https://www.bicyclechain.co.uk/shop/bikes/sub/road/giant-defy-advanced-pro-2-9133/option/
  • seanoconnseanoconn Posts: 10,971
    pep.fermi said:

    Looking at Canyon endurance range: difference between 105 and Ultegra is 300€ and 240gr.
    Next level up is different Carbon frame, 500€ more and 320gr lighter.

    CF SL 8: 2799€, 8.06Kg, Ultegra
    CF 8: 2299€, 8.38Kg, Ultegra
    CF 7: 1999€, 8.62Kg, 105

    The SL also has integrated cockpit which I like less, no chance of fine tuning stem length.

    I write €, I happen to be in Germany <</b>/blockquote>

    pep.fermi said:

    Looking at Canyon endurance range: difference between 105 and Ultegra is 300€ and 240gr.
    Next level up is different Carbon frame, 500€ more and 320gr lighter.

    CF SL 8: 2799€, 8.06Kg, Ultegra
    CF 8: 2299€, 8.38Kg, Ultegra
    CF 7: 1999€, 8.62Kg, 105

    The SL also has integrated cockpit which I like less, no chance of fine tuning stem length.

    I write €, I happen to be in Germany

    All the higher end models have integrated cockpits which I don’t like either.

    Buy the CF 7 and treat yourself to another bike? Maybe a hardtail for bikepacking or gravel bike.
    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי
  • MattFalleMattFalle Posts: 11,644
    Ultegra and discs.

    Oh well, never mind.....

    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • pep.fermipep.fermi Posts: 247
    seanoconn said:


    All the higher end models have integrated cockpits

    How are integrated cockpits supposed to be better?🤔
    Maybe they are, I just don't know...

  • MidlandsGrimpeur2MidlandsGrimpeur2 Posts: 1,187
    As light as possible. I love climbing


    Bike weight obviously has an impact, but I find stiffness of the bike and geometry is more important than weight when climbing.

    I have a LOOK 785 (rim brake) with 45mm deep carbon rims. It is the stiffest bike I have owned and requires far less power on climbs to achieve the same speeds as my other bikes. One of my local training climbs takes me around 3 minutes to cycle up. On my Caad12, an average speed of 22kmh will require 350 watts. On the LOOK it is around 300 watts for the same speed. A stiffer bike is going to be more efficient and require less effort on climbs.
  • MattFalleMattFalle Posts: 11,644
    If you want light as poss, rim brskes with tubs.

    Anything else is just putting weight on for no real reason espesh discs.

    If braking with rims is sn issue then we generally advise to learn to brake, descend and corner propely.
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • pep.fermipep.fermi Posts: 247
    MattFalle said:


    If braking with rims is sn issue then we generally advise to learn to brake, descend and corner propely.

    Yes, this would be best thing to do.
    I spent already the last 40yr trying to learn how to descend. So far failed. :'(
  • pep.fermipep.fermi Posts: 247
    edited June 2022
    MidlandsGrimpeur2 said:

    As light as possible. I love climbing

    One of my local training climbs takes me around 3 minutes to cycle up. On my Caad12, an average speed of 22kmh will require 350 watts. On the LOOK it is around 300 watts for the same speed. A stiffer bike is going to be more efficient and require less effort on climbs.
    Very interesting, thanks a lot.
    Though this much difference seems a little too much.
  • N0bodyOfTheGoatN0bodyOfTheGoat Posts: 5,782
    edited June 2022
    Without googling, aero trumps weight at surprising gradients, figures of ~4/7% ring a bell (one for pro-esque, one for mortals). Can't recall which is which, I'd guess higher for pros as they will typically have higher W/Kg and therefore go quicker.

    Edit: A quick google found this article https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/at-what-point-does-aero-become-more-significant-than-weight-316952
    ================
    2020 Voodoo Marasa
    2017 Cube Attain GTC Pro Disc 2016
    2016 Voodoo Wazoo
  • MidlandsGrimpeur2MidlandsGrimpeur2 Posts: 1,187
    Very interesting, thanks a lot.
    Though this much difference seems a little too much.


    Good spot, the LOOK figure should read 330 watts! The power difference seems to be around 6-8% between the two.
  • katanikatani Posts: 126
    N0bodyOfTheGoat said:

    Without googling, aero trumps weight at surprising gradients, figures of ~4/7% ring a bell (one for pro-esque, one for mortals). Can't recall which is which, I'd guess higher for pros as they will typically have higher W/Kg and therefore go quicker.

    Edit: A quick google found this article https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/at-what-point-does-aero-become-more-significant-than-weight-316952

    The founder of a company that makes deep section wheels confirms aero trumps lightweight. I am deeply surprised.
  • pblakeneypblakeney Posts: 24,654
    edited June 2022
    The trouble with all these lightweight and aero aero bikes getting tweaked to maximise performance is a lump of a rider climbing aboard and riding high up on the hoods.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • MattFalleMattFalle Posts: 11,644
    pblakeney said:

    The trouble with all these lightweight and aero aero bikes getting tweaked to maximise performance is a lump of a rider climbing aboard and riding high up on the hoods.

    This.

    While throwing dhapes with mad pedalling techniques and having had two pints and a pie for dinner beforehand.
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
Sign In or Register to comment.