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I'm looking at a new bike for next year. Budget is up to 4k but I'd rather spend less. A few bikes have caught my interest but I was wondering what I may have missed.
I'll be using it for general riding, road racing, TTs and hill climbs. It must have Di2 and hydraulic disc brakes. I'd like a nod to aero (frame, 38mm+ deep wheels) but I'm quite keen to keep the weight down as I tend to focus my racing efforts on hillier terrain. It needs to be a complete package. I'd buy a 3K bike and some new wheels but I want something ready from day one, no intention of upgrading.
I'm leaning towards the internet based places to get what I want. Rose, Ribble or Canyon
I do like the look of the Giant TCRs - and they seem well priced.
Not ridden one though!
Love my Canyon (Endurace), cracking bike if you are confident on the sizing.
I’ll be using it for general riding, road racing, TTs and hill climbs.
That's normally four separate bikes. One to do it all will be compromised in all situations.
That’s normally four separate bikes. One to do it all will be compromised in all situations.
Not really. A very light (which it woould be for £4K) road bike would be fine for general riding, road racing and hill climb's although clearly compromised in TT races.
Canyon Ultimate:-
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes/race-bikes/ultimate/ultimate-cf-slx-9.0/2163.html?dwvar_2163_pv_rahmengroesse=2XL&dwvar_2163_pv_rahmenfarbe=BK%2FRD
Cannondale Supersix:
https://epic-cycles.co.uk/cannondale-supersix-evo#models
A tarmac would also be an option, but probably over budget for the model that meets your description.
Love my Canyon (Endurace), cracking bike if you are confident on the sizing.
I like mine, but it's not really a bike for racing or TT. I'd go with the Canyon Ultimate.
Any road bike for racing will be compromised for hill climbs, but a 6.6kg bike will be fine for most mid packers.
Hill climb bikes as you probably know are bastardised to be as light as possible.....and you want hydraulic disc brakes, so again compromised.
But that’s just me being pedantic. I’d be happy to race either the system six or the canyon ultimate for either road or hill climbs.
Breaks the budget by £150, but otherwise hits all criteria Canyon Ultimate CF Sl
Not really. A very light (which it would be for £4K) road bike would be fine for general riding, road racing and hill climb’s although clearly compromised in TT races.
Depends. I wouldn't want to race on my 4k carbon superbike for fear of crashing it. I wouldn't want to hill climb on it due to its weight with disc brakes and all (but could be done I agree). TT if you want to be competitive against others then you really do need a tt bike I think we can all agree on that one. That leaves general riding, which your 4k disc braked carbon bike will be perfect for.
I'd spend £3.5k on a decent road bike, and £500 on a second hand TT if you are serious about doing TT's.
I have a very nice road bike with 404s etc... I also have a cheap boardman tt - guess which is substantially faster on TT's?!
I raced for years on a carbon lightweight Emonda SLR with Dura Ace and £2k wheels. Some guys were on cheaper bikes, but my bike was by no means the most expensive on the start line. Next season will be on my £4K Canyon Aeroad.
Insurance covers any crashes, never had to use it fortunately.
I have that tcr advanced pro 0 linked up there. Cracking bike, great wheels, di2. I would however warn that the power meter was totally hopeless, and gave nonsensical readings. To giants credit they swapped it out for a dual sided stages without quibble and the shop said that's not first time they've done so, so they are obviously aware of the issues it has. They are releasing an updated version, so No doubt they'd swap it out if it didn't work.
But as above, if doing tts keep 600 quid back and by a proper tt bike, makes a massive difference. I bought both the giant for 3500, and then spent another 600 on a planet x tt bike with zipp disk wheel. And it's quite a bit faster!
Not thought of this before, do pure hill climb bikes need brakes...at all?
Not thought of this before, do pure hill climb bikes need brakes…at all?
Yes, they need to be road legal so 2 brakes (or 1 if riding fixed gear)
Bang on budget, new Cube Litening - https://www.cube.eu/uk/2020/bikes/road/road/litening/cube-litening-c68x-pro-carbonnwhite-2020/
Stunning bike, 7.8kg and deepish 32mm deep wheels
The local (M) TT races have a road bike catagory so I'm in no hurry to buy a dedicated machine. The main reason to list the various aspects was to highlight that I don't want a dedicated weight weenie hill climber or heavy but aero bike.
Some good suggestions to look at though.
HC bikes have to have brakes but I've seen plenty that take weight over stopping power. Cut back pads etc.
My mate has looked for the same and had almost identical criteria. A couple of curve balls for you are:
Rose x-lite six
Vitus ZX1 CRi disc
Well worth a glance
I think I'd try to find another £149 and get what @momo suggested. Or (if you're really lucky) you might find a Cervelo R3 Di2 Disc in the sales.
I know its horses for courses, but I don't know why you would want disc brakes for road racing and hill climbing. I race in the Midlands and South East (or raced and back again next year). Even with carbon rims there is no problems what so ever.
I bought my Aeroad with the inention of racing again, rim brake and weighs 7.2kgs.
Its your money so you should go for the bike and components you're most comfortable with. But looking at your "use case" that you list, I don't see the need for hydraulic brakes. I'd go as far as saying for two of the three use cases they are going to be either hinderance or just not required.
Not intending to start the disc brake debate, my disc brake bike has just been serviced ready for winter/wet weather duty. But just mentioning that your use case is more lined up with rim brakes, lightweight and aero.
I'd be tempted to hang on to see what you think of the new Aeroad.
Rose was on my original list. the X-lite 4 or 6 meet plenty of the requirements - I currently ride an X-lite from about 5 years ago.
That Canyon was in the sale a few weeks ago for about 30 minutes. Wish I'd pulled the trigger.
Anyone ridden a boardman the SLR 9.6 looks interesting and is cheap (in a relative sense).
I’m convinced that the giant tcr is the best road bike available and by far the best I have ever owned/ridden. I have 3 including the latest with di2 dura ace, carbon wheels and discs. There honestly is nothing I would improve or change which I have never been able to say about any other off the shelf bike. Some say they are not boutique enough but I would take the ride/handling/quality over boutiqueness. The ride is just perfect.
I did want a canyon aeroad purely on looks but no way I’m buying without a proper test/fitting.
I can’t understand why anyone would not go for discs these days. Rim brakes are truely awful especially with carbon wheels.
The thing is we are all different, I’ve had the TCR and didn’t like it, that was back in 2016. Swapped it after two weeks. I wanted a Madone but was offered a great deal on the TCR, but decided it wasn’t for me.
My Aeroad I was lucky enough to test ride for a week before buying. Also test rode the Systemsix, Venge and the Madone 2019 disc brake version before opting for the Aeroad. I went with the Aeroad on the fact that it was the same spec as the others and was £3k cheaper in the sale. I actually find the Aeroad pretty dull to look at, but it does perform well. Handling is great, braking in the wet, cold, dry is fine. Cross winds are noticeable with the 60mm rims, but nowhere near as bad as the Systemsix.
Mine is the SLX Di3 version. I got it in the sale last year, paid about £2900 for it. This years sale didn’t seem anywhere near as discounted.
I’m an advocate of discs for certain conditions. An all round bike for Road racing, TT’ing and Hill Climbs doesn’t meet those conditions. But agree we’re all different and understand why people prefer discs, and that includes me for the wet weather.
I’m looking for similar. Narrowed it down to the etap ultimate linked above, and stick to my current bike which is set up for Tri, or hang fire for the new aeroad which will be integrated cables etc, Tri bar compatible. Compromised yes but quick enough everywhere for me. I’d probably want rim brakes on an aeroad though so I could keep my existing non aero but nice wheelset for regular days.
For me it’s got to be canyon just because the green commute initiative works so well.
Propel Advanced SL
And if you must hill climb, then some more wheels to lighten it. If you are happy to compromise on TTs, then a TCR Advanced SL instead.
I wouldn not be road racing on Di2. One drop and it's tears for a new RD. My cable Ultegra shifts just fine, and I'm normally blowing so hard I really don't notice the shifting. I love electronic shifting, but it's going to seriously cost when (not if) it get dropped. I've also seen quite a few failures whilst racing - normally 10 minutes before the race starts 😀
My Propel allows a forward seat position on the Vector post and a TT position almost identical to my normal TT bike. Hence I've taken one of them and made it into a TT bike now It has SRAM eTap, but my TT trike has Di2 - there is nothing in it, other than eTAP is easier to set up, and remove from a bike. You could wire up some clip-ons and add them to the Propel. You'd need Giant ones because of the shape of the bars (I swapped to a TT base bar instead), but I have another race Propel SL 😉
EDIT - actually, I'd just buy this! A grand off and Di2. Fantastic bike. If I only had one, this would be it. I too have had a TCR in the past. Now I divide between Propels and Defys
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/gb/tcr-advanced-sl-1
My tcr replaced my canyon ultimate. The canyon had rim brakes and was slightly lighter, but as for ride quality equally good.
I don't think there's going to much difference between brands at that price point. You certainly won't get a bad bike if you spend 4k with a big manufacturer. Pick rim or disk, then aero or non aero, then pick the one you like the look of the most/one with biggest discount.
Its a lovely dilemma to have.
I got a trek madone in the 2019 sales. the slr discs are the same as the 2020s but several grand cheaper.
they have a bolt on aerobar doo-dah
two sets of wheels and you can do all sorts.
be aware that bikes will shoot up next year, trumpets tariffs and a certain economic uncertainty that shall not be named.
I’m looking at Rose at the moment; specs look great around the £3 mark.