Road bike with relaxed geometry

greywheeler
greywheeler Posts: 16
edited August 2013 in Road buying advice
I am in the market for an easy ride!!
57 years old, 92kgs and not as flexible as I used to be. Weekend rides of 30-50 miles.Budget of £1000.
I have heard that the Cannondale Synapse is made for comfort, can you advise any other makes/models to add to my shortlist ?

Thanks in advance.
Greywheeler
«1

Comments

  • kentphil
    kentphil Posts: 479
    Giant Defy range get good reviews and are designed for to be comfortable for longer distances.
    1998 Kona Cindercone in singlespeed commute spec
    2013 Cannondale Caadx 1x10
    2004 Giant TCR
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    Spa Audax, Genesis Equilibrium or maybe the Specialised range.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    edited July 2013
    Wilier gran turismo EDIT didn't see your budget, soz
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    Tifosi CK7 has a tall heead tube are is long distance audax bike.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    Trek Domane has a clever detached seat post thingy that acts as suspension plus relaxed geometry - certainly worth a look.
    Bianchi Infinito CV
    Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Ultegra
    Brompton S Type
    Carrera Vengeance Ultimate Ltd
    Gary Fisher Aquila '98
    Front half of a Viking Saratoga Tandem
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Domane as above, or Scott CR1/Solace are 'relaxed' geometries.
  • elderone
    elderone Posts: 1,410
    For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.
    Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    elderone wrote:
    For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

    I just wish I could love mine. It's a bike you buy with your head rather than heart. I find the tube profiles and styling to be a bit meh :|
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    elderone wrote:
    For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

    I just wish I could love mine. It's a bike you buy with your head rather than heart. I find the tube profiles and styling to be a bit meh :|

    I'd go along with this.

    I read the reviews - best bike under £1000 etc.

    I'd done A LOT of research on geometries, components, sizing etc etc (over-thought it if anything! :shock: ) and had narrowed it down to a few. And at one stage was sure the Defy was best but.........it just didn't "do it" for me. However, in the end, as above, I let my head rule my heart and went for the Defy as being the sensible option when spending that amount of money.
    It's been a couple of months now since I bought it and I still don't get excited by it. It's a great bike. Comfortable on long distance (85 miles longest so far), reasonably quick, good components, well put together etc etc BUT it doesn't excite me.
    For a little while, I even preferred to use my Triban 3 and leave the Defy in the garage!

    Having said that, I'm now "forcing" myself to use the Defy and gradually beginning to appreciate it more and how it rides, handles etc. But I still think I'd be more excited about going out on my rides if I'd bought something else from my list :D

    I would never put someone off buying one but, for me, I think there are more exciting/interesting bikes out there at a comparable price point.
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    It's not just me then! Typically I somewhat rushed my purchase and got a size too big and a bike that is fine to ride but doesn't put a big smile on my face. It has helped me to increase my average speed by 3mph in the 5 months I have had it though so it's not all bad. I can feel a carbon purchase on the cards early next year when i have a significant birthday.

    Even the carbon offerings from Giant are a bit dubious styling wise with only the higher end bikes being desirable imo.

    New slogan for Giant: "for the head, not the heart" maybe?

    Giant own brand kit whilst functional is a bit pre-school in the styling stakes. Already changed my wheels/saddle as they only served to cheapen the bike. New Defy colours are not the best, glad I got my 0 when I did.
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    Stanley222 wrote:
    elderone wrote:
    For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

    I just wish I could love mine. It's a bike you buy with your head rather than heart. I find the tube profiles and styling to be a bit meh :|

    That's interesting - could you expand on that please as I've been considering one!

    Stanley, don't get me wrong it's a very decent bike for the £1000 outlay. I look at mine daily in my hall way and just wish I had something different. I think it's the tube shape and some of the decals that bug me. The flat top tube especially I don't like when looking down on it and the boxy down tube is also pretty ugly. As I got a size too big I also don't have much seat tube showing which also detracts from the aesthetic. The branded seat and wheels are horrible and got changed straight away.

    Of course all of this is subjective and has nothing to do with performance which is just fine by the way. I can keep up with most people on their expensive carbon frames. There is a part of me however which thinks "what if i had one of those!"
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    The branded seat and wheels are horrible and got changed straight away.

    The saddle I've changed and I'm thinking about changing the wheels. So, I'd be interested to know what you went for?
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    My local LBS for a long time sold only Giant and Orbea road bikes. Spent ages in there drooling over bikes I couldn't afford, but could never get excited about even the most expensive of the Giants. Never could put my finger on the reason. The Orcas by comparison seemed things of real beauty.

    LBS recently changed hands and I notice there's a Ghost hanging in the window and something else I haven't identified. May need to go and have a proper look.
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    AllanES wrote:
    The branded seat and wheels are horrible and got changed straight away.

    The saddle I've changed and I'm thinking about changing the wheels. So, I'd be interested to know what you went for?

    I went down the hand built route. H plus Son Archetype rim, Via hubs and 28/32 spokes. Rides very well compared to the stock wheels. Smoother and quicker to get up to speed, also climbs more readily.
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    It's not just me then!

    Nope!
    Typically I somewhat rushed my purchase

    Mine was too in the end. Went along one lunchtime "just to look" and came away having bought one :D
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    we should re-name this " the no love for Giant despite them being good bikes" thread. The name Giant even irritates me and Iv'e got one!
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Stanley222 wrote:
    elderone wrote:
    For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

    I just wish I could love mine. It's a bike you buy with your head rather than heart. I find the tube profiles and styling to be a bit meh :|

    That's interesting - could you expand on that please as I've been considering one!

    Stanley, don't get me wrong it's a very decent bike for the £1000 outlay. I look at mine daily in my hall way and just wish I had something different. I think it's the tube shape and some of the decals that bug me. The flat top tube especially I don't like when looking down on it and the boxy down tube is also pretty ugly. As I got a size too big I also don't have much seat tube showing which also detracts from the aesthetic. The branded seat and wheels are horrible and got changed straight away.

    Of course all of this is subjective and has nothing to do with performance which is just fine by the way. I can keep up with most people on their expensive carbon frames. There is a part of me however which thinks "what if i had one of those!"

    I just gave in to the "what if I had one of those" niggle when Westbrooks were selling the CR1-SL frame and forks for £500 incl headset and press fit BB, and transferred everything over from my alloy framed bike. It's a joy to ride, but rather dull to look at. Still, there's no other way I'd have got a decent carbon framed bike for £500, so I'm happy to put up with the meh looks.
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    AllanES wrote:
    It's not just me then!

    Nope!
    Typically I somewhat rushed my purchase

    Mine was too in the end. Went along one lunchtime "just to look" and came away having bought one :D

    I do suffer from impetuous decision making which my mrs despairs of. Can you picture the scene of me trying to justify why I need to sell a virtually new bike? I bought mine on a sunny february afternoon when i was supposed to be going to look at a Planet X Pro carbon. Wish I had now apart from the the fact that they had not released the RT-58 at that stage which I am now lusting after.
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    we should re-name this " the no love for Giant despite them being good bikes" thread.

    :D

    It reminds me a bit of The Emperor's New Clothes..........everyone is afraid to speak out against them despite not really liking them. :D:D
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    keef66 wrote:
    Stanley222 wrote:
    elderone wrote:
    For your budget,defy 1 by giant.Designed for long rides in comfort with many test wins under it,s belt.

    I just wish I could love mine. It's a bike you buy with your head rather than heart. I find the tube profiles and styling to be a bit meh :|

    That's interesting - could you expand on that please as I've been considering one!

    Stanley, don't get me wrong it's a very decent bike for the £1000 outlay. I look at mine daily in my hall way and just wish I had something different. I think it's the tube shape and some of the decals that bug me. The flat top tube especially I don't like when looking down on it and the boxy down tube is also pretty ugly. As I got a size too big I also don't have much seat tube showing which also detracts from the aesthetic. The branded seat and wheels are horrible and got changed straight away.

    Of course all of this is subjective and has nothing to do with performance which is just fine by the way. I can keep up with most people on their expensive carbon frames. There is a part of me however which thinks "what if i had one of those!"

    I just gave in to the "what if I had one of those" niggle when Westbrooks were selling the CR1-SL frame and forks for £500 incl headset and press fit BB, and transferred everything over from my alloy framed bike. It's a joy to ride, but rather dull to look at. Still, there's no other way I'd have got a decent carbon framed bike for £500, so I'm happy to put up with the meh looks.

    I looked at those too but as I am totally inept at anything mechanical decided it wasn't worth the hassle. looking at buying a PX RT-58 and transferring my wheels over. now that would look nice!
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    [quote="Camcycle1974I do suffer from impetuous decision making which my mrs despairs of. Can you picture the scene of me trying to justify why I need to sell a virtually new bike? .[/quote]


    LOL!
    That's me too. OH looked aghast when I said I'd been looking on here in the classifieds and on eBay to find out how much a nearly new Defy might fetch :D
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    I went down the hand built route. H plus Son Archetype rim, Via hubs and 28/32 spokes. Rides very well compared to the stock wheels. Smoother and quicker to get up to speed, also climbs more readily.

    I wouldn't know where to start with handbuilts. So I've been looking at factory built. And my worry is (at the price point I can afford at the moment......£200-ish) the wheels wouldn't be that much better than whats on the Defy anyway.
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • elderone
    elderone Posts: 1,410
    Cant believe you people spent a grand on a bike you don't like,thats just crazy.Pointless be moaning giants after you bought one.The OP asked for a bike with relaxed geometry and giants are one that fit the bill.
    You should always buy with the heart imho as you have got to love your ride.
    Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori
  • AllanES
    AllanES Posts: 151
    elderone wrote:
    Cant believe you people spent a grand on a bike you don't like,thats just crazy.Pointless be moaning giants after you bought one.The OP asked for a bike with relaxed geometry and giants are one that fit the bill.
    You should always buy with the heart imho as you have got to love your ride.

    I agree with your comments - to some extent.
    Yes, we've deviated from the OP.
    Giant Defy does indeed fit the bill of a relaxed geometry bike as per original post.

    I'm not saying I don't like the bike - just that it doesn't excite me and I don't love it. Just like it.
    And I think i've said earlier that it's a great bike, comfortable ride, well built, good components etc etc so I wouldn't say I'm bemoaning Giants.

    And I totally agree (in hindsight :D ) with your final comment about buying with your heart. I will next time! :wink:
    Red Triban 3
    Giant Defy 1
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    Elderone, I now know that what you say makes sense, easy with hindsight. My problem is emphasised by the fact that I got the wrong size. It was my first new road bike purchase in 20 years so no wonder I didn't get it quite right! LBS was as much use as a chocolate teapot as it turns out.

    Allan, we appear to have had very similar experiences with the Defy. will continue via pm so as not to further de-rail the thread. The OP has got some good opinions as a result of our waffling.
  • canny_lad
    canny_lad Posts: 329
    The Synapse is a great bike, you'll not go far wrong with one of them. Have a mooch around, make a shortlist, ride them all if possible and buy the one that rides the best. If you can't decide which one rides the best buy the one that looks the best. Make sure you buy the right size frame and have fun looking.
  • I was hoping for more suggestions evenso many thanks for your comments. Perhaps I will give the Defy a wide berth though :-)

    Greywheeler
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    I still think this - there is a nice Ti version too which was reviewed by Bike Radar:
    http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... b0s21p2827
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • upperoilcan
    upperoilcan Posts: 1,180
    Bianchi Via Nirone..........

    That is all.
    Cervelo S5 Ultegra Di2.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    I am in the market for an easy ride!!

    katie%20price-1594079.jpg

    Are these the droids your looking for???