All Rounder Advice 2nd bike - Road/Trails/Winter training

neilkav1
neilkav1 Posts: 91
edited March 2019 in Road buying advice
Hi all,

Sorry another "which bike" thread, I do understand that I should just try them all, see which fits bets and then chose the one i like, but I'm asking on the off chance anyone actually owns or has ridden any of these bikes. Any comments on how they ride on different surfaces would be very much appreciated. It's also incredibly difficult to test ride any of these bikes as they're not usually in stock in bike shops.

There are a range of prices and specs, and I'm open to other ideas, max budget approx £1500, but happy to spend less if the differences are minimal.

Background - I'm late 40's been road riding socially and very low club level for around 5 years, also do up to half iron triathlon with aero bars fitted. I have 54 cm supersix evo di2 as my current one (best lol) bike, and whilst I love it, it pains me to take it out in crappy weather and our horrific road surfaces in winter. I'm now looking for a second bike, I want to be able to do trails (trans pennine mainly) and tow paths and maybe some gravel tracks/woodland trails and of course take it out in winter/spring/autumn on roads. Will also be commuting every other week on it. So I guess a whole range of uses - hence - do it all bike.

I have test ridden some that are available....

- Whyte Glencoe, (adventure) - really didn't like it on road, too heavy couldn't get on with Apex x1
- Cannondale Topstone 105 (adventure/gravel) - again found it too upright, and heavy.
- Cannondale Caad x 105, (cyclocross) - felt much better, this bike is definitely an option, slightly more aggressive position I think helped.

So my choices (on top of the Caad x) are based on more cyclo geometry and 2 x gearing rather than 1 x which I just don't fancy for my road miles (gaps are huge).

First one is massively discounted on CR, and coincidentally they have my frame size as 52 on this bike (lots of research on sizing says go down a size). 2018 model, Alu frame, carbon forks, tiagra hydro disks, tiagra groupset, 33 mm tyres. £945 - bargain?

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/kon ... gLSMvD_BwE


Second, just love the look of this bike, sizing comes out at M 2019 model, alu frame, carbon forks, R7070 hydro disks, 105 groupset, 40mm tyres (would swap these for schwalbe G-One's) Can get this for £1300.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Orbea-Terra-H3 ... 127522.htm


Third is a titanium frame choice - have heard titanium is very 'complaiant', size M, sram rival 22 speed, Rival HRD hydro brakes, cant find tyre size??

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/EBOOPICKR ... cross-bike

Finally carbon, very tough to find carbon in my price range, I know wiggle have the vitus crx carbon but its apex x1 groupset. This one is a 2017 bike from a reputable brand, carbon frame but rest of spec might not be as good, RS 405 hydro disks, tiagra groupset, 33mm tyres.

https://www.biketart.com/bikes-c1/cyclo ... gIW2fD_BwE

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any advice.

Neil.

Comments

  • I'm going to say again

    The decathlon RC520. £700 and get a great bike for that. Have a look at it. It's like a great all rounder and still have £700 left. Gets rave reviews everywhere and selling like hot cakes
  • Will take a look thanks
  • neilkav1 wrote:
    Will take a look thanks

    Let us know what you think to the rc520. For the price with everything else it comes with its crazy it has the new 105 groupset too.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    It’s so good that you can see how excited you are through your shorts once you have bought one.
  • Webboo wrote:
    It’s so good that you can see how excited you are through your shorts once you have bought one.

    That happens with or without the rc520
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    With the Cannondale you need BB30A bb's and there not slot if choice there. Also the rear wheel must be 6mm offset. Almost no one builds wheels for Cannondale do wheel upgrades are difficult. Wheel builder like me are your only option if new wheels are wanted or needed.

    A CX bike will probably lack the braze ons for guards or a rack. A gravel bike has these.

    Buy the bike with the right geometry for you. I.e one that is similar to the Cannondale and can therefore give you the position you like and has brazeons for guards as. Bare minimum. Rack mounts for commuting are essential I think.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • -Dash
    -Dash Posts: 179
    With the Cannondale you need BB30A bb's and there not slot if choice there. Also the rear wheel must be 6mm offset.

    Is that for the topstone or caadx? (or both!)
  • 2006 Giant XTC
    2010 Giant Defy Advanced
    2016 Boardman Pro 29er
    2016 Pinnacle Lithium 4
    2017 Canondale Supersix Evo
  • super_davo
    super_davo Posts: 1,116
    I suppose the question is how much you'll do on each surface and then tailor the all round aspect so it's better on or off road depending on which matters more.

    So for me, I knew I'd be doing 90% on road with only the occasional dabble in a trail so 35mm tyres would be plenty.

    If that's the case, then something like a Ribble CGR or Dolan RDX (or at a push a Ribble Endurance AL) would be ideal. Advantage of one of those is you can specify it how you want, bar length, stems, gear ratios etc and make the ideal all round for your usage.

    Personally I'd get a Ribble Endurance AL in R7020 road spec, a second set of wheels, off road tyre and 11-34 cassette and then you've got a bike that's all round, but specialised when you need it to be. And you can do that easily under your £1500 budget.
  • I've had the Planet x Pickenflick and this is a superb bike the only downside is no mustard mounts. Fantastic price as well.
  • joey54321
    joey54321 Posts: 1,297
    banditvic wrote:
    I've had the Planet x Pickenflick and this is a superb bike the only downside is no mustard mounts. Fantastic price as well.

    I would never buy a bike without the ability to mount some mustard, it is essential on every ride I do. Shame on Planet X.
  • banditvic wrote:
    I've had the Planet x Pickenflick and this is a superb bike the only downside is no mustard mounts. Fantastic price as well.

    How does it deal with getting dropped, can you ketchup back to the group?
  • Bongofish wrote:
    neilkav1 wrote:
    Will take a look thanks

    Let us know what you think to the rc520. For the price with everything else it comes with its crazy it has the new 105 groupset too.

    I bought the RC520 as a winter bike/summer-rough-stuff bike and couldn’t be happier with it. I looked at various options up to about £2k but in the end just couldn’t convince myself to spend the extra. It’s a bit heavy and not super good looking (like it’s owner) but I’ve got full mudguards on it and it’s been out in some shocking weather, on some filthy roads and been absolutely great. Bearing in mind it cost only a bit more than one of the wheels on my fancy-pants summer bike it’s a no brainer for a winter/2nd bike.
  • Thanks for all the replies folks, much appreciated.

    So I've been to see the Triban RC520, and whilst undoubtedly it's fantastic value, I just can't get excited about it, very dull and the welds are pretty awful, spec wise it's great for the money, but this bike is a 50th birthday gift for me from OH, and needs to be a little bit special! Also believe there would be a problem running anything wider than say 33m tyres, std spec is 28's, my riding will be at least 50% off road / trails, so would want at least 33's, probably wider.

    For the same reason super_davo, I don't think an endurance focussed road bike would be the right choice either.

    It really comes down to personal choice now, as I say I want it to be a 'little special' as it's a 50th gift, we (she is!) are happy to spend the £1500 budget, and I have narrowed it down to 3 choices, as follows (the Rose choice is 2 colour schemes as shown cant decide between the 2).

    Would be great to have opinions on components, geometry (added at the bottom - test ridden canondale and I know that type of geometry would work for me), looks!! yes very important, and any opinions from owners. Whatever button I press I'm going to have a great bike, and feel very lucky to be able to make this choice for my second bike. proper looking forward to getting off road and riding our crappy roads without worrying too much lol.

    1)Orbea, love this blue colourscheme

    https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/ro ... a-h30-d-19

    2)Rose (2 colours to choose from - decided against black even though it seems de rigeur these days!)

    https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/rose-pro-cross-105-2671643

    https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/rose-pro-cr ... Sand-Black

    3) Kona, Last years model but carbon (any opinions on carbon for this type of use?)

    https://www.wiggle.co.uk/kona-major-jak ... road-bike/

    Geometry comparison (sorry cant transpose excel formatting);

    I'm 5'9 and 32" inseam

    Caadx 105 54 rose procross 54 Orbea H30d S Kona Major Jake 52
    frame alu alu alu carbon
    seat tube 540 550 515 520
    top tube 537 534 542 546
    head tube 132 147 139 141
    HT angle 71 70.5 72 70.5
    ST angle 74 74.5 74 74
    BB height 28.1 ?? 28.5 28.2
    wheelbase 1020 1031 1020 1026
    stack 555 555 565 560
    reach 378 380 380 385
    standover 79.1 78.3 81.3 79.2
    weight kg 10 9.2 9.3 9
  • Look at Bristolpete's review of his Giant Tough Road in the your road bike section, it should cover all your needs.
    Giant Contend SL 2 Disc
    Giant Defy 3 Adv 2018
    "I brake for cake!"
  • Look at Bristolpete's review of his Giant Tough Road in the your road bike section, it should cover all your needs.

    Thanks it’s a lovely bike and great reviews - only issue for me is 1x, I much prefer 2x due to gaps between gears.
  • Pinnacle Arkose?

    https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-ar ... e-EV339951

    Well within budget, especially with BC discount and ticks all your boxes.

    I imagine the crazy long waiting times has ruled out a Canyon Grail?
  • pinchez
    pinchez Posts: 76
    I had the same requirements as you and have just ordered the 105 R7000 Ribble CGR with Mavic Allroad wheels and 40mm Tyres for the Trails etc. And have also bought a set of Hunt Mason X wheels for winter road use. Think I spent 1700 total but it’s essentially two bikes with a quick swap of wheels and the GCR ticked all my boxes for mounting points, riding position, Disc Brakes, internal cable routing, R7000 Groupset and it looks great (Ordered the blue one)
  • neilkav1
    neilkav1 Posts: 91
    Thanks guys both great recommendations...

    I tried the pinnacle and it was fine just didn’t feel quite right really don’t know why...

    The Ribble also looks to tick all the boxes, and could well have been a contender.

    I think though I’ve had a stroke of fortune and realised that via the green commute scheme I can order the Orbea (via independent lbs) who are registered to the green commute scheme and I save a whopping 40% on total price not restricted to £1000!!!

    So I’m getting 2 sets of wheels - hunt gravel disc and stock wheels for winter training - for £1600, less 40%!!!

    Fell very blessed, thanks to everyone for suggestions.