You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Looking for something more road focused than my Genesis CDA, using Cyclescheme I could top up £500. There are a few things I’d like;
- Carbon
- Discs
- 105
- To suit 5’10”
- retailer takes Cyclescheme and top up.
I’ve looked at the Giant Defy and TCR but am put off by the proprietary semi mechanical disc system and ugly stem this requires. Also looked at the Ribble Grand Fondo but it’s over budget and the frame colours are not the best.
Anything I’m missing?
Stretch to £1699?
https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/orbea-avant-m30-team-d-2018-Q2214170.html?colour=117
Afraid it’s not £1500,
Thanks both.
badddad - I'd seen that but I've set my limit at 1500 as this is very much a want, rather than need. Ticks all the boxes otherwise
Riksbar - the Cube looks a good shout. Rutland honour the sale price too, I'll pop it on the list.
Got to ask the obvious question - how much do you NEED discs? Good callipers + good pads (e.g. Swisstop BXP) have seen me through the full gamut of Scottish winter road conditions. You'll get a better lighter bike for your money and only compromise is what, squeezing brake lever a bit harder on wet descents?
Anyway, am sure you've already considered that. Looked at Rose bikes?
At that budget its going to be carbon/105/disc and pick 2. If you did find all three then your picking from a very small pool of choices and open mold bikes.
Try whittling it down based on other factors first (do you want to be able to run 28 or 32c tyres, mudguards, relaxed geometry, all rounder or something all out sprinty). You can always buy a new group set or wheels next year, you couldn't turn that Ribble into a sprinter (well Greipel could probably win a sprint on it against STW, but you know what I mean).
Boardman SLR disc 9.0? Officially £29 over budget...
@13thfloormonk - I'm an mtber - discs are in my nature, and rightly or wrongly they're on the list. Did borrow a road bike with rim brakes and missed them. Looked at Rose, but don't do cysclescheme, and for my budget it's an Alu I think.
@thisisnotaspoon - I know I am limiting myself. I'm currently using a gravel bike with a second set of wheels, it's not particularly light, or racey, and I'm doing more road miles hence the interest in a new bike. I don't think I need something which is going to be an all out speed machine, but at the same time, I already have a bike which will be fine for winter and fatter tyres, so I don't need that either. (I'll eventually 1x the CDA and put some flared drops on it).
@redmist - I struggle with the Boardman brand (I know, shortsighted!). Will take a look though.
If I had a bigger budget and they did cyclescheme I'd be after the Canyon at £1800.
Edinburgh Bike Co-op have the Genesis Zero Disc Z1 at £1200. Tiagra Hydro Disc group rather than 105 but frame alone is £1500.
Thanks sillyoldman. I've emailed to see if they'll honour the discount using CTW. I could compromise for the right bike at the right price. However looking at their smallprint they state that they won't sell at sale price to cyclescheme buyers.
You could wait for the annual "cube attain gtc for a grand" in rutland cycling...
Planet X has some good deals, CTW does add a surcharge to some offers from them
Are you sure about the giant bikes?
i am looking to get a tcr soon and have been testing a few recently (admittedly higher prices though) Our daughter has just bought a liv with disks.
No ugly stems or that mechanical to hydro thing they used to have in sight.
Merida?
One over (with ultegra):
https://m.startfitness.co.uk/merida-2017-scultura-5000-disc-ultegra-road-bike-black-mersclt5k17.html
One under (105):
https://www.motocard.com/en/bike/road/merida-scultura_disc_4000_2018_blue_red.aspx
No idea if either accepts cyclescheme though...
Twonks - I’ve seen that TCR in the flesh. Giants up to that price point are running their disc system which is what is putting me off, check the full list of spec details. Next step up are Shimano discs, but over budget.
At your budget you are going to compromise. Personally I’d forego disks and take ultegra. For 50 over, the tcr would be my choice. Sadly the nice fork comes on the Pro, and that is a big jump up (fork alone is £350). Not all carbon frames are created equal.
Merida make and own Specialized, I’d be happy with any of their bikes too.
In fairness, when Giant did their own MTB disc brakes, they actually seemed really well thought out, they came to our shop and did a wee breakdown for us, although all I remember was something about leverage ratios allowing them to run a larger pad gap for clearance.
Forgot about Rose and CTW, there goes my X-Lite 4 with Chorus : (
Vitus Venon Disc from CRC, 1400 for 105 version and 1600 for Ultegra.
El Vino - I'd looked at the 105 Vitus, not seen the Ultegra one which looks very well specced for the money (better finishing kit and colours too). Can't find too much in terms of reviews but a definite contender.
13thfloormonk - been reading a little more into the Giant disc brakes and still not convinced. Shame.
a carbon frame at that price will be a heavy and unsophisticated thing. Alloy will be better.
Soooo, the Genesis is available at 10% more than listed for purchase via cyclescheme. So 1K on cyclescheme, topped up with £320 of my own money.
General consensus is it is worth sacrificing 105 (groupset replaceable in the future) for a better frame and coming in £200 under budget (which is nice)?
Others in frame;
Cube - not 100% sold but good value
Vitus - Ultegra specced one looks good, but over budget and concerned frame is lower spec
Not:
Orro - good call but want hydro discs
Planet X / Boardman - don't think I could get past name / branding
Giant - those brakes!
Merida - cheaper one not on CTW / other over budget (will have 10% uplift)
All others over budget / rim brake etc.
I've got a hydraulic disc road bike (with thru axles) and it's fine, but like some of the posters above I'd probably put it bottom of my list of needs.
A little rubbing of rotors on the MTB in the mud and slop, with the chain rattling and stones flying, i can cope with, but when they rub on road when everything else is so quiet it's a real irritation. Decent calipers are more than powerful enough even in the wet and it's easier to set them so they don't rub.
Fair point on the giant brakes. Never noticed it tbh but have been looking further up.
In your situation, if I had settled on a spec (for whatever reason), I’d want that even if it meant spending a little more.
Reason being that I’d buy a lesser bike then get immediately annoyed, spend more money and upgrade it to the spec I wanted originally.
To that end I think I’d go for a giant with the spec you want and suck up to £200 extra.
Buying to an unrealistic spec only = missing lots fo good bikes.
You'll end up with a Claud Butler.
May want to see what the 2019 models have to offer, since the new shimano 105 hoods are being replaced with something less provocative.
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p6994/GIANT-DEFY-ADVANCED-PRO-3-2016
proper hydro discs and size large which should be about right for you. £1299
Thanks jonnyboi, but on Giant's size guide I'm plumb on size M, Pauls have a 2017 Defy which would've been great, but only M/L.
What's wrong with a bike made by one of the best British cyclists of the last 30 yrs and who ran the tech research "secret squirrel" team for British cycling? Get the Boardman
https://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p8342/CUBE-ATTAIN-GTC-PRO-DISC-2017 Newer version of my road bike.
I ride a 58cm, I'm 5'10" with ~32" cycling inseam, short legs long torso.
Default bike rides nicely, the wheels are ~1900g and it will take at least 31mm tyres i.e. Continental GP4000 S2 700*28.
Less than, and Ultegra!
I've got the Cube and would certainly recommend it, for the (sale) price I don't think it can be beaten. My previous road bike was an aluminium Allez and the Cube is head and shoulders above it in the comfort stakes.
How long are your rides on the road? I've done over 100 mile rides on my Cube and found it spot on.
What’s wrong with a bike made by one of the best British cyclists of the last 30 yrs and who ran the tech research “secret squirrel” team for British cycling? Get the Boardman
Boardman road bikes have won Olympic road golds too. I'd happily have one.
planetX often have road bikes with Disc for that price. Order the cycle scheme vouchers and then just wait.
Ok that has rival but personally I prefer it to 105. The shifters are easier to use.
OP, I got the Vitus Venon in ultegra Di2 a month or so ago when I found a crack in my frame a week before packing it off to Ventoux.
Anyhow, the kit list is impressive as you can see, the frame is very solid, more like a racer than it is billed as. Great tyre clearance so perfect for uk roads, 30’s no problem I recon, but the 28’s are fine.
The ultegra discs are astonishing, the Ventoux 50+mph downs were easily controlled before the bends and the next flat out straight.
The bike was nicely built, and I didn’t need to fettle, I would definitely choose a vitus for my next bike, and I like the fact it isn’t Trek, Giant or Canyon.
Edit, it weighed in at 8.2kg or so, not the 7.4 claimed so the non Di2 would be under 8.
Found a Genesis Zero with 105 rather than Tiagra for an additional £280 (£1600 - so a little over budget, but the frame is top spec). I've run the geometry numbers and it looks like the fit should be good for me.
Big question is that it is worth the additional outlay for a complete 105 11spd groupset over the 10spd Tiagra? Only issue I can see with the Tiagra is that to upgrade later would be a complete groupset overhaul to go to 11spd.
Vitus is tempting, but I'm drawn to the Genesis.
I’m not sure if they do cycle to work but I was in Wheelbase today and saw this offer on a Focus Cato
Sram rival rather than 105 but fully carbon with hydraulic discs for £1149
may fit the bill
If you want the 105 genesis
Tiara is fine but if the shifters are better on 105 then stump up and don't stress over a small increase. Wheels are WAY more important than groupset but that's another topic...
I personally cant tell the difference in 105 and Tiagra 4700 groupset so i certainly wouldnt be spending extra. Yes Tiagra weighs more but i highly doubt anybody could tell the difference as its small and insignificant plus with the requirement for discs i dont think weight is an issue.
- Fatoldgit - thanks for that, an interesting alternative.
- edhornby - that's the one I was looking at albeit from a dealer who takes cyclescheme - same price (but with the admin feee uplift for a sale bike on ctw) - I see they do cyclescheme so will see if they can honour the price, will make the decision a bit easier!
I bought one of these https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/giant-defy-advanced-2-2018-Q2214185.html?channable=e11508.MjIwNDk5XzEwMjQ&colour=1024&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5ZuA2vrJ3AIVb7vtCh3EeAmyEAQYAiABEgItUvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds but in the year befores red / black colour scheme. Absolutely fantastic bike and I've since put some £500 dt Swiss wheels on it . It dosent have the horrible semi mechanical hydros . I bought from Giant in bromley and paid the balance in cash .
If you really want carbon/105/disc, I'd say wait till September when 2019 models come in and 2018 models get sold off.
Stanfree - looked for one but can only find in m/l size. I prefer your years colours too.
Mctd - I’m already looking at discounted models (spoke to the Giant store and they’ve hardly any stock left). The Genesis I’m looking at already have a hefty discount.
I'd go with the the genesis Zero with the Tiagra since it's so similar to the 105 and you'd likely never miss the 2 gears.
Fantastic frames, I had one briefly with DI2 and it was a really lovely thing to ride, but decided I didn't want that sort of cash tied up in a road bike and sold it on.
I’m definitely edging towards the Genesis, struggling with the 105 / Tiagra decision. There’s a reasonable chunk of weight saved and I’m more concerned about being restricted with future upgrades if on 10 speed (the big one being having to replace the shifters / brakes to go 11). But it’s a pretty big premium at £270 when no other parts on the bike are upgraded.
Ghost Nivolet X 3.8 Disc 2018..... misses the 105 spec but tiagra hydro discs, carbon frame, good looks.......
£1500 for a Tiagra bike is a compromise too far in my opinion. That money should get you a carbon bike with 105 as a minimum. If it doesn't, the difference is profit taking. I'd compromise on brakes personally, not frame, and 105 is a great groupset now.
There is a significant improvement in shifting from 10 speed concealed cables to 11 speed. Old Tiagra 10 speed was better (have a CAAD8), but the internal cabled 5700 and 6700 is not great (have 6700 too). By contrast the 11 speed 5800 and 6800 is as good as Dura Ace (have both 6800 and DA9000 too).
Waiting is the right game to play here, That and check the geometry closely.
As if all carbon frames are the same...
OP 10s will be around for a while - 6,7 and 8 are still around you know.
£1500 for a Tiagra bike is a compromise too far in my opinion. That money should get you a carbon bike with 105 as a minimum. If it doesn’t, the difference is profit taking. I’d compromise on brakes personally, not frame, and 105 is a great groupset now.
105 has been a great groupo for a while, and Tiagra now is as good as 105 from a few years ago and no-one moaned about 105 back then. Its just name snobbery IMHO. I would take a Tiagra equipped £1500 bike over a 105 one 9 times out of 10. Its not always profit taking, it can be that the manufacturer has poured money into a better carbon frame. 105 equipped bikes have less headroom for money to go into frame development and manufacture.
I reckon I'd rather go with the Tiagra since they both have the less comfortable hood shape and later if you fancy an upgrade to 11 speed, you can get the nicer 685 levers and perhaps use the same mechs etc. (not sure if the pull ratio is the same in this generation)
Based on all the excellent advice I've received on here (and thanks all for the input), I'm sold on getting the best frame for the money hence favouring the Genesis - reviews continually praise the frame and it uses the same frameset all the way through the range. I've done a spreadsheet of the geo numbers of various options and my existing CDA (which I find a comfortable position) and the Genesis offers a more racy position whilst not deviating too far.
There are 2 options - Tiagra at around 1330 (670 less than full retail) and 105 at 1600 (600 less than full retail) - (these prices take into account CTW adding 10% to the first 1000 - I cant get the bike through any of the dealers which will honour full sale price).
My head says go for the cheaper option as Tiagra will be comparable on performance - seems like STW is split on this too! But I think the fact I didn't upgrade to 11spd at the time will nag at me. I know either way I'll be getting a good bike with upgrade potential. Gahh decisions!
BTW I have found info on the 2019 Giant Defy range - all models in the Advanced range will get the Giant discs again so no point waiting on that.
can anyone tell me why the Genesis has those big fat ugly hoods, but the Ghost above doesn't?
It's the Tiagra spec vs 105. If you look at the Genesis Zero Z1 Disc and Z2 Disc you can see the difference.
Not that I think there is a great deal of difference in the look.
Yeah but the Z1 and the Ghost are both Tiagra, one has fugly hoods the other smaller ones.
Strange as they are both listed as the same model of shifter.
The 105 Ghost is only £99 over budget on CRC
The Ghost (54) geo numbers are very similar to the Giant Defy (M), so a little more relaxed than the Genesis. That aside there's not much to chose between them on the component spec for the money.
Must admit the Ghost is a looker.
Still not pressed the button on anything. Just seen this come up, any opinions?
https://www.cyclesurgery.com/p/cannondale-synapse-carbon-disc-105-2018-Q2214137.html?colour=1895
Don’t think you’ll get any better than this Ultegra for £1299
I had Vitus zenium rim brake for 2 years stunning bike very well made(ok not carbon) but the alloy frame was lighter than most cheap carbon anyway.
I just got the email saying there on sale. Reckon popular sizes will be gone very quickly !! Christ I may get one as a spare winter bike 🙂
Quick update. After touring bike shops over central and sw London in the past few days, actually sitting on and riding bikes a deposit is down on the Genesis Zero 2 disc for 1550. Found last years Giant Defy Advanced 2 but in m/l, and also a TCR Advanced 1 but same m/l. Tested both and too big. M Defy felt good but well over budget for the Advanced Pro, even an ex demo I found.
The Gensis sized up well and is stunning in the flesh. All reviews state the frame is great, so a solid platform for future upgrades as required. Will pop a carbon post on it I have and find some better wheels eventually.
Thanks all for the input which helped get me there.