Bike buying advice

metmanmark

In the next year or so I'll be turning 50 and I'd like to celebrate with a new bike. I currently have a Dawes Audax Supreme that I use for everything (Commuting / recreational use / the occasional event). I love the way it rides - it seems to be quite compliant and absorbs the imperfections on the dreadful road surfaces that we have in the South West. I'd like to continue to use this for commuting and also to experiment with bike packing in future.

What I'd like is something a little faster whilst retaining a comfortable riding position so I can do events such as the Dartmoor Classic. I guess that I am after a Endurance bike what would people recommend? It needs to be under £3k and ideally on the CycleSolutions Cycle to Work scheme. I'd quite like 105 Di2 and think that a threaded bottom bracket is preferable to a press fit bottom bracket. I should say that other than an old aluminium hybrid I haven't ridden any other bikes. So far I have considered:

Sonder / Dolan (titanium) too heavy?

Cannondale Synapse 2 (don't like the integrated lights as this is just something to go wrong and I'd rather sort out my own lights). I am slightly nervous about the lifetime / robustness of carbon bikes.

A friend of mine has suggested a Cannondale SuperSix Evo3 but this is just too racy / not sufficiently comfortable.

Thoughts?

Mark

plymouthsteve

Specialized Roubaix? Some good Black Friday deals and ticks all the boxes. If you're close to Dartmoor then you'll be close to Certini so worth checking them out?

First.Aspect

Your concerns over carbon fibre are unfounded. However you will need to try a few out and decide how you like ride quality of modern bikes. There's quite a lot of variation and you will be making a huge change from a steel touring tank.

Personally, I find that measures to add compliance just dull the ride and make it harder to judge changing road surfaces etc.

froze

The Sonder Dolan bike is the same weight as the Cannondale Syn 2!

It was kind of insultive that someone called that Dawes a tank, it's only 5 to 6 pounds more than the Sonder or the Cannondale, and most of that weight is in the wheels, tires, and fork, whereas those other two use carbon fiber forks that are at least a pound and half lighter, and the wheels are probably another pound lighter, not to mention the larger tires on the Dawes that probably adds another pound. So that Dawes is not a tank, it is right in the ball park for what a touring bike weighs. But I digress.

Personally, I would get the Dolan bike, titanium, if welded correctly at the factory, titanium does not corrode, and it is the metal with the highest strength-to-weight ratio. But it is also really strong, so strong that a titanium frame can match that of a steel frame with only half the material. TI can withstand repeated stress without weakening over time Whereas Carbon Fiber bike frames will last especially long, however, will eventually fail due to the resin that bonds the carbon fiber together. Carbon fiber is also resistant to fatigue, but it can be more prone to damage from impacts or improper handling. Once damaged, carbon fiber can fail suddenly without warning TI frames can last 100 years, CF is only expected to last 20 but some websites will say only 10 years, but I haven't found that to be true.

I use to have a CF bike, and still have several steel bikes and an aluminum bike, decided to try a Lynskey TI bike, riding that TI bike is like riding in a Mercedes Benz or a Lexus, the steel bikes come in second, but the CF came in third while the AL bike came in last for comfort.

But don't take my word on this, because a lot of people will argue about it, but go test ride one, and then see if you notice a difference. But if you want this bike to be the last bike you'll buy for a very long time, then TI is the only real option; while steel can also last 100 years, but rust can get to steel if you don't take care of them, a TI bike can't rust, but neither can CF, but CF has the problem of the resin eventually loosing it's bond capabilities.

Webboo2

However a carbon frame is easier to repair than a titanium frame given it’s only using surf board technology. As for something 5 or 6 pounds heavier not being a tank, try strapping 3 bags of sugar under your saddle and pretend it doesn’t make any difference.

oxoman

Problem is people have got weak. The Dawes comes from an era when gearing was a lot harder and the gear you carried was a dam sight heavier. Personally I'd go with steel or titanium as I would want something bombproof. Fed up of CF issues around bottom brackets. Saying that i use my Aluminium Whyte gravel bike for bikepacking and sportives.

DeVlaeminck

I'd probably buy carbon if only because the choice of lighter road bikes around £3k is far greater. There is a reason carbon dominates as the material of choice for that kind of bike.

I've got an early Look 585 that hasn't fallen apart yet - maybe it will in 50 or 100 years but that's unlikely to concern me.