roubaix vs endurace

ianbar
ianbar Posts: 1,354
edited December 2014 in Road buying advice
pondering a possible new bike in the summer...yes again lol it would be something like the roubaix or endurace. now the roubaix sly expert comes in not far off £3k...gasp! now the endurace cf 9.0 also comes with ultegra but is not far off half the price!! now unless i am being really bad comparing totally different bikes this seems a no brainer? I'm sure people will say spech are way over priced etc but are there tangible reasons that the roubaix would be so much more? or am i just comparing the totally wrong canyon!?....very possible knowing me
enigma esprit
cannondale caad8 tiagra 2012

Comments

  • zak3737
    zak3737 Posts: 370
    I guess the thing is, you can easily test ride a Roubaix......

    I love the look of some of the Canyon's......and they undoubtably well specced for less money, but its the buying blind that would put me off.
    I tried a Roubaix, and immediately knew I liked the position.
  • ianbar
    ianbar Posts: 1,354
    yeah thats a good point, i have a spech dealer on my doorstep too! i suppose spending 1500 on a roubaix that has 105 would do me, for some reason it doesn't look as nice as the expert though!

    i do like canyons they look nice, but i do struggle a little with getting my position bang on
    enigma esprit
    cannondale caad8 tiagra 2012
  • superkenners
    superkenners Posts: 169
    You can try Canyon and return if you don't like under their 30-day policy - certainly worth the hassle given potential saving
    Allez
    Brompton
    Krypton
    T-130

    Never tell her how much it costs ......
  • zak3737
    zak3737 Posts: 370
    The Roubaix Sport, @ £1500, is still a helluva bike, and in that bright green, looks well, if a little LOUD !
    I'm drooling over the £2500 model, with Hydraulic discs......but its all just dreamin.
    In reality, the £700 2nd hand Elite I have is all the bike I need for quite some time !

    Knowing how I've tweaked it already, it would worry me buying a Canyon without riding it first, expensive mistake if it doesnt suit .......

    Plus - the top of the headtube on an Endurace is still nearly 1" lower than on a Roubaix.......so still a more 'aggressive' position.
  • ianbar
    ianbar Posts: 1,354
    all good points, i think i still fancy the canyon but i do think when i got and look in my lbs at roubaix that would change me. saying that it is all about what you can afford too i guess
    enigma esprit
    cannondale caad8 tiagra 2012
  • cjn72
    cjn72 Posts: 5
    Maybe too late to help but this question speaks to my recent/direct experience....

    I just sold my beloved 2014 Roubaix SL4 Sport (105, FACT 8R) and upgraded to an Endurace Pro.

    Now I say upgraded even though I loved my Spesh ( did 7000km's on it last year) - and this is saying it would still be a great buy regardless BUT the Endurace really is a step up in riding experience - lighter, stiffer and actually with a better handling front end.

    I think the 'Sportive' bike market is now so mature that its fragmenting itself...with the Roubaix probably at the 'comfier' end and the Endurace at the 'racier' end. Depends what rides you're looking to do. I personally wanted to go faster, do more crits and more c. 40km rides/1-2 hr rides but didn't want to go all 'aero' or twitchy/hardcore (I'm reasonably fit but also 42 now).

    Anyway, both a great but only partially comparable.

    I should also say that while the FACT 8R is stiff that its still quite 'heavy' - and that's even after I'd upgraded to wheels (Campag Zondas) and the group to 6700s.

    I'd post pix of both bikes if I could work out how this forums CRM interface works!!!
  • cjn72
    cjn72 Posts: 5
  • cjn72
    cjn72 Posts: 5
    Previous ride:
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    What about the Scott Solace or Trek Domane?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Go with your gut feeling and get the Canyon (if you think you can handle that 'aggressive' position :roll:).

    As mentioned above, there are lots of bikes you could buy from a UK store, so to buy the 'Spech'? (get it right if you are going to try to sound cool and be part of the Spesh gang lol) over the Canyon just because the Canyon is mail order seems silly.

    There are two separate things to be decided here. Which bike do you want, and are you happy to put in slightly more effort to get a better deal?
    I think whichever one you go for, you will deserve it. So win win :wink:

    Just make sure its not too big. Something loads of people have done when buying a Specialized in a shop anyway!
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    Specialized seems to inspire brand loyalty in some people the way no other bicycle brand appears to manage, I wonder why that is?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Either they are super bikes, or its nothing at all to do with how the bike rides and its simply that a lot of people who have specialised bikes want other people to have them too.

    I absolutely love my Focus but I have never tried to get anyone to buy one.
    I have not bought a Focus since, and my next best bike will probably not be a Focus.
  • paulmon
    paulmon Posts: 315
    Carbonator wrote:
    Either they are super bikes, or its nothing at all to do with how the bike rides and its simply that a lot of people who have specialised bikes want other people to have them too.

    I absolutely love my Focus but I have never tried to get anyone to buy one.
    I have not bought a Focus since, and my next best bike will probably not be a Focus.

    Were you bullied as a child by someone who owned a Spesh?
  • zak3737
    zak3737 Posts: 370
    cjn72 wrote:

    Looks good ! What are the wheels ? & did you order from Canyon like that ?
  • Tjgoodhew
    Tjgoodhew Posts: 628
    Just an idea - Its what i did !!!

    So if the Canyon is £1500 cheaper use £500 of that for a long weekend in Majorca staying in Cala d'Or and hire a Canyon. That way you get an amazing cycling trip and a chance to try test ride the bike.

    If not still go with the Canyon. Super bikes, great spec and the service i received from them was great
    Cannondale Caad8
    Canyon Aeroad 8.0

    http://www.strava.com/athletes/goodhewt
  • ianbar
    ianbar Posts: 1,354
    to be fair home improvements seem to be getting the nod over a bike...would you believe it!! but i think the canyon is something i would like. i guess the main thing really would be making sure the sizing was right... i could of course just stick with what i have lol
    enigma esprit
    cannondale caad8 tiagra 2012
  • ai_1
    ai_1 Posts: 3,060
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    Specialized seems to inspire brand loyalty in some people the way no other bicycle brand appears to manage, I wonder why that is?
    My old bike is a Specialized and my new one's a Canyon. I must be immune!

    The whole buying blind worry is in my opinion pretty unfounded unless this is your first bike.
    With a little measurement, research and calculation it's possible to be very confident in the geometry and the sizing before ever setting eyes on your bike. As for test rides, I think they're a red herring. How you feel about a bike after a test ride has way more to do with how you're feeling on the day, how the shop set up the bike, the terrain and the weather than it does the ride quality of the bike itself. If you're having a bad day (physically or mentally), if the bike setup is bad (dodgy saddle position, over/under inflated tyres, badly adjusted gears/brakes, bad handlebar setup), if the road surface is poor and the terrain no to your liking and it's a windy dull day, these are the things that you'll notice, and you'll probably buy a different bike for no rational reason....the opposite is also true.
    If you're unhappy about not having a local physical shop to bring the bike back to with any queries or complaints that's fair enough. However I think it's a pretty small compromise for a huge saving. In all likelihood you'll never have a problem anyway.
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    ^^This
  • lostboysaint
    lostboysaint Posts: 4,250
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    Specialized seems to inspire brand loyalty in some people the way no other bicycle brand appears to manage, I wonder why that is?

    50_asian_experiences_sheep.jpg
    Trail fun - Transition Bandit
    Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
    Allround - Cotic Solaris
  • markhewitt1978
    markhewitt1978 Posts: 7,614
    I'm no stranger to brand loyalty myself.

    I ride Scott and a drive a Ford and if I'm in the market for a new bike or car I'll look at those manufacturers first and only consider alternatives if none of their offerings match what I'm looking for. But that's mostly because I'm familiar with the product range so sticking to a particular brand cuts out a good deal of work in research.
  • gdcfc1
    gdcfc1 Posts: 125
    Have you also looked at Canyon Ultimate? More racy but why not consider that vs Endurace? Sorry if I ask a dim question.
    looking into the +1
  • redscouse
    redscouse Posts: 157
    edited December 2014
    Went from allez to endurace .superb bike retired for winter back on the allez till march..London bike show in Jan/Feb has a canyon stand with and you also get a chance to ride some of them on a 200m track..
    riding a canyon endurace
    spesh allez
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    lostboysaint wrote:
    markhewitt1978 wrote:
    Specialized seems to inspire brand loyalty in some people the way no other bicycle brand appears to manage, I wonder why that is?

    50_asian_experiences_sheep.jpg
    Corbis-42-22097837.jpg?size=67&uid=59fc79b9-2131-47b6-92a4-e801781a12ba

    Were you bullied too lostboysaint? :wink:

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