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don’t race what you can’t afford to replace.
Very much this for any kind of actual racing; if you want to pose around the lanes or ride to the cafe or have an 'epic' on a sportive when it's spitting, ride what you want.
If you want to race, pick something you can chuck in the back of a car or your team van and crash and train on and not worry about. I was quickest on a 9.2 kg gas pipe tubed alu bike with 32 spoke wheels...
don’t race what you can’t afford to replace.
Well, seeing as we've taken to talking in Specialized bikes, Crit Racing is the whole point of the bikes like the Allez Sprint isn't it?
An affordable bike/frameset, a bit aero-ish, but made of Alluminium so it can take a knock or two.
I mean you can choose to Race Crits on a Venge but you're risking a bit more financially doing so.
Like I said, I half fancied assembling a cheap bike to try crits (some sort of Al frame with whatever gears I could shove on cheaply), but I'm generally put off doing this by much of what I see online which is fellas in club kits thrashing pricey looking bikes about, it's almost as bad as DH...
is fellas in club kits thrashing pricey looking bikes about
But not winning, at least not because of the bike they are on. For an education, go to Belgium where you can race every day of the week. Watch the races and watch the guys who turn up to as many races as they can; they are not on top of the range bikes. Cycle racing has turned from a working class sport to something else in the UK, but we are still not as quick as the guys abroad.
Why would it bother you what other people race on? Race what you want to race on and **** everybody else's choice.
It's not the value of the bikes and kit, it's the atmosphere that comes with it.
I've just found that when a competitive discipline picks up that undercurrent of "loadsamoney" it tends to kill it a bit for me.
I used to happily chuck together crappy DH bikes and do a few local races, trundle over to Wales and do a dragon now and then, and it was a friendly enough scene, you'd see a few people you knew who'd made the same trip, have a laugh, not worry about results or the fact that you were on a scrapper, but it seemed to change noticeably about a decade ago, more and more 'poker faces' and very little friendly conversation, it started to feel like you were "in the way" of the people who'd spent significantly more on the sport...
Kids were a natural point to have a break from that, and I've no inclination to go back to racing any sort of MTB now.
Most of my miles are on the road/gravel bikes and as I slide into my 40's it's natural enough to want to pick up some sort of related casual racing habit again...
From what I can tell Crit racing (at least in the SE) has some of the same hallmarks as DH and that sadly puts me off.
The couple of CX races I've done have been a totally different affair, friendly, all sorts of levels of finance on display and a generally excellent vibe from everyone.
If you can be shit and still have a good time the format works IMO.
Maybe it is just me, I am very much on the outside looking in when it comes to Crit racing, no club, no history with road racing in general, I just get the feeling it's increasingly awash with Cash-rich, hyper competitive types and the atmosphere such personalities tend to bring (odd perhaps to worry about such things if you're talking about racing).
I could probably afford to crash my current road bike in a race, I don't want to but it wouldn't be the end of the world... But do I really want to chance it for a type of racing that I might not end up enjoying?
Maybe I'll give it a go at some point.
All irrelevant, certainly until CV19 is finished with us, and a bit of a tangent from the original topic...
Why would it bother you what other people race on
I love the sound of the expensive carbon breaking in the morning. I’ve raced a lot and went to carbon only after leaving the fourth cat carnage. But if you’re a vet, we don’t crash so your di2 sworks is standard fayre. My race bike is about the headline budget. Propel SL (no discs) non Di2 ultegra and some very fast wheels. It’s been down the road a couple of times but not seriously smashed.
The best bike doesn’t get raced.
Cycle racing has turned from a working class sport to something else in the UK, but we are still not as quick as the guys abroad.
Many say it's become like the new golf attracting >35 year old middle-class men inspired by the asthmatic Sir Bradley "never used a needle" Wiggins.
In that sense, they all like to fawn over the kit turning cycling into part sporting activity part act of consumerism.
I'm no innocent myself, and back in the mid to late 00's - when I was earning a lot of money -certainly spent more on bikes that I should have (although not to bonkers levels). I've definitely learned my lesson from that and pay only a modicum of attention to the gear now. I don't need XTR or exotic carbon frames or Hope stuff to have fun; whether my stem weighs 90 g or 100 g makes virtually no difference to anything really. I feel lucky to be riding as it is after stopping for 7 years due to back problems which I thought had ended my cycling. Having said that I would never ride a Boardman :D.
Having said that I would never ride a Boardman
There are some very nice Boardman road bikes!
It looks bland, but it rides well enough and - judging by the figures bandied around here - is comparable with £5k bikes on weight (8.2kg on my scale, with pedals).
Cost me around £1,300 after factoring in the carbon wheel & tubeless tyre upgrade.
t looks bland, but it rides well enough and – judging by the figures bandied around here – is comparable with £5k bikes on weight (8.2kg on my scale, with pedals).
Same here - my SLR Endurance 9.4, with Di2 and discs, is 8.2kg on my scales and was only £2.5K. Ok, not as pretty as say a Tarmac but not a bad looking bike either:
That's pretty light if it includes pedals, cages, computer mount etc. Is it aero, does it have carbon mid sections and does it weigh 6.8kg? No? Eeeee aawwww, donkey fail. Doesn't meet OP spec 😁 Oh and it's not £5k 😉
hat’s pretty light if it includes pedals, cages, computer mount etc. Is it aero, does it have carbon mid sections and does it weigh 6.8kg?
Not a clue what'd weigh with 2 full bottles and the pack (which even has a small lock in it). Hell of a lot more than 8.2kg though! Definitely wouldn't get anywhere close to the "my bike cost loads and is the same weight as a TDF bike/boasting on the internet" required spec anyway!
Ok, not as pretty as say a Tarmac but not a bad looking bike either:
That saddle bag though, I assume that's for a 2 day bike packing trip 😉
That saddle bag though, I assume that’s for a 2 day bike packing trip
I don't tend to carry anything other than my phone in my jersey pockets so there are 2 tubes, a mini-tool, a small lock and a puncture repair kit in there. And with that one admittedly I probably could get sandwiches and loads more in there as well!
And with that one admittedly I probably could get sandwiches and loads more in there as well!
Buffet lunch for 12? 😁 I don't like my pockets being full either but it's a toss up between that and 'baggate'...
Anyhoo Ben, what's the conclusion to all this research?
My aero bike cost me £2900, weighs 7.5kgs with pedals, bottle cage and wahoo mount. It does have a TDF level frame. Purchased new direct from the manufacturer. I’d guess about 7.2kgs without those bits. It’s Ultegra Di2 so a lower group set than the pros use and clinchers not tubs.
My previous race bike was way under 6.8kgs, all in I paid under £4K (rrp is a lot more). Also a TDF level frame. The previous bike I had was weighed on proper scales, current bike is the non scientific stood on bathroom scales.
I remember a few years ago having similar silly comments about people’s bikes not really weighing under 7kgs. My previous bike was the same as used by a pro team and they had to add ballast. The only difference was mine was mechanical dura ace rather than Di2.
I’m thinking I’d like to lose some weight from the current race bike. Just a different cassette could save me close to 100 grams, maybe lighter pedals as well. Should get the total weight down to about 7.2kgs for not massive spend.
Im sure I could save a heap of weight off mine....
But I've not once felt the weight of the bike is holding me back so it'd be wasted money.
I spent 2.5k on bike 500 on my kickr core and a chunk on a week in Porto polensa . Seemed more useful to me than buying the Di 2 ISP hi mod framed model of my bike
Don't do as I did last weekend and find out you have not out the co2 inflator back in your saddle bag......had tube , anchovies /boot and multitool but no means to inflate which could have been fun
Having said that I would never ride a Boardman :D.
Haha, well played 😝😝 . Let’s face it they are only nice for the money, like a Dacia Duster.
but it seemed to change noticeably about a decade ago, more and more ‘poker faces’ and very little friendly conversation, it started to feel like you were “in the way” of the people who’d spent significantly more on the sport…
Have to say I agree with this and I feel sorry for any riders trying to get into any form of racing really. I’m well beyond beginner but I imagine it’s quite intimidating. The MTB marathon series have a nice atmosphere and race feeling, without being a race, so are a bit more laid back.
Don’t do as I did last weekend and find out you have not out the co2 inflator back in your saddle bag……had tube , anchovies /boot and multitool but no means to inflate which could have been fun
All my road bikes have a mini-pump attached to bottle cage and tubes and tools in a seat pack, as I don't trust myself to pack all the stuff I need on a ride by ride basis. Still hasn't stopped me getting caught out when I'd forgotten I'd borrowed the pump off one of the bikes, forgotten to put the pump back then got a puncture when I was next out on it. Fortunately I was only a mile from the house at that point though!
Even my TT bike has a seat-pack on it:
Let’s face it they are only nice for the money, like a Dacia Duster.
Ouch!
Well that's how I caught my self out..... Keep it on the bike at all times.
Bikes not been out since last season at some point I borrowed the co2 inflator and never returned it.
Found out at ballater and I live in Aberdeen 🙂
Anyway since we all posting photos... Or our not 5grand not 6.8kg bikes I shall offend with some prime headtube spacers
Don’t do as I did last weekend and find out you have not out the co2 inflator back in your saddle bag……had tube , anchovies /boot and multitool but no means to inflate which could have been fun
What’s that about anchovies?
Let’s face it they are only nice for the money, like a Dacia Duster.
That's not really an insult when it's literally their business model.
I'm not precious about bike brands, and would happily drive a Dacia Duster - if I could afford one.
😀
When does my £5k arrived, I'm going to order this
https://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/product/15268/2020-roubaix-expert/
I nearly bought a Roubaix when I was looking a couple of years back. The price difference between the Roubaix with Di2 & hydro's and the SLR Endurance with the same spec that I went with in the end were quite stark though. I think the Roubaix was about £4.5K and the Boardman £2.5K. Plus I already had a Roubaix (although an old one).
Still not convinced I made the right decision but consoled myself with the thought that if it went badly wrong and I didn't get on with the Endurance then I could buy a nice frame (Enigma maybe) and move the kit from the Boardman onto that.
Anyhoo Ben, what’s the conclusion to all this research?
Quite interesting, mainly confirmed what I thought in that mid priced bikes don't come near 6.8k in the main brands. Was quite impressed by Rose bikes, think I knew they existed, but not seen their weights.
Aero probably is more useful for the Fens, but I'm not going to be taking any KoMs even on an aero bike...
I will probably pull the trigger on the Orbea, just need to check frame dimensions against my CR1 to make sure I get the right size and work out what stem length etc I need.
Not 100% sure about the fork though, bit of a marmite colour scheme....
It's a bad time to be buying a bike in terms of bargains, anything decent is pre-order 2021 build!
About as aero as a road bike gets. And this was not a sportive.
Bike including PM and twin Arundel cages and wheels is about the budget. Manual ultegra. But aero helmet, Skinsuit and position. And a solo 25 lap breakaway in the only race I’ve won. Sometimes aero is faster. Sadly the chance of this happening again either by my fitness of the bunch not letting me are now slim 🙂
will probably pull the trigger on the Orbea
Nice bike, but 8kg according to the only review I could find that actually weighed the bike.
And a solo 25 lap breakaway in the only race I’ve won.
Awesome!!!!!!
I have/will never win a race. Did come second on a club hill climb once on a £400 Felt with a triple chainset!!!!
Its not about the bike!!
I will probably pull the trigger on the Orbea
Yeah you've got me looking at those...just what I need! I should really just buy a Foil frameset and retire a CR1. I've asked Epic for a price (and weight) on the DA and Force builds just in case... 😉
Just to upset the apple cart.....Tired, you didn’t fancy the Elite Crono bottle cage? Save you at least 0.05 of a watt....I’ve got it on mine just for the sake of it. Big respect for the solo breakaway, I dream of being able to do that, being a lightweight powder puff power guy it ain’t ever going to happen.
Boblo, it was the original foil that gave aero bikes the reputation for being a bone shaking harsh ride. That was back at the start of the last decade, I’m sure it will be a great ride now. Always had a soft spot for them but never owned one. Isn’t the addict the lightweight race bike?
And a solo 25 lap breakaway in the only race I’ve won. Sometimes aero is faster. Sadly the chance of this happening again either by my fitness of the bunch not letting me are now slim 🙂
You need to take them by surprise, turn up on a shit heap with MTB helmet. I won an E/1/2 at Hillingdon on my cross bike (with road wheels), solo as they didn’t think I’d stay away and gave me too much rope. Cheers Y’all.
Tired, you didn’t fancy the Elite Crono bottle cage
Funny you should say that - I do have one of those on the TT bike. It's aero, but it's absolutely rubbish as a bottle. I race with someone who uses two of them. They are terrible.
I won an E/1/2 at Hillingdon on my cross bike (with road wheels), solo as they didn’t think I’d stay away and gave me too much rope.
Those wily vets know that they can't let me go any more after that race. Funny enough I won a middlemarkers open TT on the Saturday before, then died in a Tuesday night E1/2 at the 'don, only to go off the front on lap 2 on the Wednesday and stay away!
That Propel is faster than my Defy. I've tested this multiple times with and without fancy kit (on both bikes). With a power meter to assess speed for 200 watts. I've also raced the Defy and it is harder work. AS others will attest, geometry and stiffness are what matter most. The Propel is comfortable over 100 miles. So is the Defy. Position is actually the same on both bikes. Handling a tiny bit slower on the Defy.
But look at those wheels 😀
Slower, lighter and posher bike.
That orbea is lovely and not too many about, always liked the look of orbeas since seeing them in Sandy Wallace's (inverkeithing) years ago. He was quite successful racing on them too from memory. Don't think orbeas are known to be super light weight though.
After a suggestion off someone on here I can't seem to get the Allez sprint out of my head. It would be totally impractical and I don't even race but it looks an awesome bike for a couple of hours blasting along back roads. Love the colour schemes you can get them in too (not all of them as some are a bit extravert for me). Always thought specialized was too common for me as well but I've never seen one of them about. A pal used to say "they were like clitorises. Every c### has got one". He rode a specialized Rockhopper. 😀
After a suggestion off someone on here I can’t seem to get the Allez sprint out of my head. It would be totally impractical and I don’t even race but it looks an awesome bike for a couple of hours blasting along back roads.
I rode a fair bit with one of the guys in the club who has an Allez Sprint. It seemed a bit stiff to be comfortable to me, but he loved it and was pretty quick on it. He's a lot younger than me so seemed to cope fine doing 4 or 5 hour rides on it. I suspect I wouldn't!
I'd want to keep my Ritchey for longer rides as it's very comfy.
Footflaps, you know there are custom paint options for the Orca?
You can change the fork if you don’t like the detailing, suspect it may increase the lead time though.
I’m torn between this and building up an Addict as a longer project.
Footflaps, you know there are custom paint options for the Orca?
You can change the fork if you don’t like the detailing, suspect it may increase the lead time though.
Yes, seen that, not asked about lead time, waiting for a few Qs on sizing to be answered as thier frame dimension diagram is very odd, it shows measurementss from edge of tubes rather than the centre (or poss it's just a crap diagram), which with fat tubes makes a big difference to TT length etc...
If you don't like the Orbea colours I thought they let you customize
When I bought my Giant TCR SL2, I asked the shop to put it on the scales and it came in at 6.8kg. That was under £2.5k and was with Ultegra and stock wheels. I think Giant are pretty good on that front, as they make their own frames, so have the budget to include pretty good wheels in the mix
You need to take them by surprise, turn up on a shit heap with MTB helmet. I won an E/1/2 at Hillingdon on my cross bike (with road wheels), solo as they didn’t think I’d stay away and gave me too much rope. Cheers Y’all.p
You only get away with that once!
Many years ago at Lancaster crit (Salt Ayre circuit) a guy turned up on his commuter road bike, still with the cable lock wrapped round the seatpost. Faded old "pro team" jersey. Classic newbie 4th cat.
The sole reason he didn't win was because he had zero idea of tactics - turned out he was a triathlete so super strong, able to sit there and TT for ages. It was only when he'd been sitting at + 1/2 a lap for 30 minutes that everyone was like "shit, we're going to have to reel him in..."
If he'd have attacked about 10 minutes later, he'd have won it hands down. No-one gave him an inch after that!
I used to do flat crits on my SS road bike quite a bit for that reason, no-one took you seriously. Again, it needed favourable circumstances because once it got above 35mph in a sprint, I simply couldn't pedal that fast so I could only place from a breakaway. If it hadn't worked out with 3 laps to go, I'd just drift to the back and stay out of the way.
That was all good until: 'it came in at 6.8kg'. Mebbies the shop needs their scales calibrating... 😉
Was quite impressed by Rose bikes, think I knew they existed, but not seen their weights.
Sorry, this is the last I'll say about Rose, I promise I'm not connected to the company in any way, I'm just having a mini-love affair with mine right now. I've always enjoyed riding it but doing some routine maintenance now (cables, chains etc) and realise how well put together and how well specced even my relatively budget Xeon Team was, not a single corner cut, all the little details perfect e.g. provision and position of inline cable adjusters, inline QR for rear brake (mounted under chainstays) etc.
Also bear in mind the added value of being able to customise most of the customisables, e.g. gear ratios, crank lengths, tyres, saddles, bar widths, stem lengths. Can save a lot if you're a micro-adjuster like I am and run odd sizes of everything!
Bit of shame they're now going down the butt-ugly weird integrated headset spacer path. Seems a lot of effort and proprietary parts just for no visible cables...
Bit of shame they’re now going down the butt-ugly weird integrated headset spacer path. Seems a lot of effort and proprietary parts just for no visible cables…
Just looks so clean though, will be pretty much standard on all half decent bikes soon.
Just looks so clean though
Yeah, but for those of us determined still to run mechanical gears and cable operated brakes, it's very much form over function, how many extra bends in the cable just to get it through the headset area? For what gain? At least internal cable routing largely seems to allow smoother routes, so arguably probably offers form + function
I guess I could live with proprietary spacers, not something you're likely to break or lose in the middle of nowhere.
You only get away with that once!
Correct. Although it was a couple of weeks before the Cross worlds so I was going pretty well! The other 2 I won there were from a small groups as I was shit at large bunch sprinting. My usual role was to keep it hot for the last few laps so our real sprinter could
do his thing.
Yeah, but for those of us determined still to run mechanical gears and cable operated brakes, it’s very much form over function, how many extra bends in the cable just to get it through the headset area? For what gain? At least internal cable routing largely seems to allow smoother routes, so arguably probably offers form + function
I guess I could live with proprietary spacers, not something you’re likely to break or lose in the middle of nowhere.
“Determined.....”
Makes it sound like the people who were still clinging on to 26 inch bikes years ago, but now moved on . In 5 or 10 years time what will the ratio of mechanical to Di2 be I wonder?
Having everything ran through the steerer tube and stem makes things more aero from what I’ve read, but I can’t vouch for it, no cables in the wind . Marginal gains and all that.
The aero effects of cables are barely detectable in wind tunnel testing. Seriously it looks good, but if it’s 0.5W, then you are doing well. Put your water bottle on the seat tube for a bigger effect.
https://www.aero-coach.co.uk/water-bottle-testing
I like my road bikes manual, but I like my TT bikes button press. It’s a lot nicer not having to think about shifting after 10 hours in the saddle.
Im with you I'd like di2 on the TT bike for sure.
No desire for it on the road bike. I'm that guy who would forget to charge it before a big Day out.
Re the hidden cables in the stem. - the way they have done it have improved the situation far from the old propels mid top tube vertical entry. (Aesthetically)
As for introduction of drag and tight curves.... Because it's a cockpit system - it works together well. The exit from the bars and the entry to the stem are pretty much alligned. Then there's a hood over the stem allowing to have a shallow curve round into the back of the stem and then a shallow curve back into the downtime .....it's not perfect but it's far from shifting issues.
Can I ask for some wheel advice please?
I’ve just weighed my 2015 Domane 2 (aluminium) with the bathroom scales method. With pedals, cages, sensor it comes in at 9.6kg. It’s a rim brake too.
I was thinking of a nice “light” carbon bike with discs. The Domane SL 5 is 9.9kg or Edmonda SL6 disc 8.2kg
I weighed the wheels (inc cassette, skewers stock tubes and tyres I wasn’t that sad to take them off) and they came in at 3kg.
Can anyone give me a rough idea what the wheels on their own may weigh please? Looks like that may be an easier way of saving weight. ( but it won’t be a new bike time 😕)
Cassette will be ~300-400g (depends on range)
Skewers ~150g total
Tubes ~150g each if bog standard ~25c
Tyres A non-premium ~25c such as Grand Sport Races would be ~300g each
So ~1350g ballpark.
A pair of 25mm GP5000s and a pair of Supersonic tubes would drop that total by ~350g.
Stock tires @360 each
Cassette at 350
Tubes and skewars....
Suggests those wheels will be about 1850 .
Not that much of a saving to be had as you would think how ever I'd question the accuracy of your weight.
Plus if you go carbon you get to have brakes that are suggestive at best
If you do want nice lighter wheels I'd go down the novatec hplus son hand built route with some nice tires rather than spending a fortune on carbon rims
Cheers- that’s quite a drop just for the rubber.
It’s a triple so if I swap to a double I might save a bit there too!
FB-ATB
Subscriber
Can anyone give me a rough idea what the wheels on their own may weigh please?
What tyres, what cassette?
If you have Schwalbe One's/GP5000's and a DA cassette, the derived number will be a lot different than if you have low end tackle.
He said stock.
Good news is his stock tires are heavy at 350 so gp4000s is a big saving @215
Supersonics another 50 grams an end.....not a change id make mind.
Could wipe out half a kilo in rubber and skewars quite quick and cheap
Makes it sound like the people who were still clinging on to 26 inch bikes years ago, but now moved on . In 5 or 10 years time what will the ratio of mechanical to Di2 be I wonder
Yes it does seem like roadies are now falling for all the marketing bollocks too and getting new bikes with increasing frequency.
Also if you are going to swap tyres to gp 4000 or 5000 the. It makes sense to swap your inner tubes as well. A latex inner tube will be a weight saving and a plusher ride combined with the new rubber.
Aye, I was indirectly questioning the 1350g wheel weight suggested up there ^
Conti's are more like 220g per now and Supersonic's (which I've used without even a suggestion of imminent death for ~20 years) are 50g each. Cooking Hunt's or similar are 1500g a pair and a DA cassette 190g?
So for ~£600-£650 @FB-ATB could save approx 1000g... Go for carbon wheels and the light SRAM cassette and that could be ~1200g but for a few more £'s....
Supersonics..not a change id make mind.
Any reason for that or just personal preference?
When they let go it's always sudden.
trail_rat
Member
When they let go it’s always sudden.
As counter point, I've used Supersonic's for ~20 years and thousands of miles including descending most of the classic Alpine cols and I don't appear to be a red smear on the road. I have never (yet) had one go bang 'all of a sudden'.
Make of that what you will.
It's ok.
Modern technology gave us tubeless so we don't have to worry about that arguement anyway.
Ooo heavier tubeless? Where do I sign? 😁
Indeed. But like disks. Things that simply funtion better are worth a small penalty.
Unless of course your chasing for a hill climb champs trophy mind.
And that's why current en pointe lightweight stuff is heavier than non in vogue stuff.
Discs and disc frames are heavier than calipers and caliper frames. There are arguably some maintenance benefits of discs and definitely some longer term wear benefits but the argument about superior breaking from discs on road bikes is a bit of a fallacy save perhaps carbon in the wet. We all know braking is limited on road bikes anyway and that limit is not usually braking friction/retardation related.
As for tubeless, at the lightweight end of the spectrum, they're heavier than tubed. The tyres are heavier and are heavier again when jizz and a spare tube is included. Rolling resistance is supposed to be lower than tubed so there should be a benefit there though I don't know if it offsets the weight increase. Does anybody?
So, we have a fashion for discs and tubeless in roadbikes. Solutions looking for problems that has lead to increases in overall weight that is being poo pooed under the 'aero is King' mantra. I'll have aero, calipers, tubed and low weight please. 😉
I wondered why this thread had run on for so long. Expected to see people dragging footflaps for his idea of 'mid range', wasn't disappointed. Also misleading use of stats too, could be a Tory minister with lines like that 🙂
However I'm now off to check out Rose bikes for my own prospective purchase; I'd been imagining it would be mid range but now I'm not so sure!
TiRed - TCC kit, are you Twickenham local?
I’ll have aero, calipers, tubed and low weight please
This will be my approach with my next bike.
Its in danger of going down the CTC we have always done it this way change is bad mmmkay in here.
Light and aero is possible just have to open the wallet a bit wider
I'm off to ride my lardy bike
Thanks for the comments re wheels etc. Looks like I’ll have to tak the tyres off to get a better idea of the wheel weight🤪!
If I’m going to start cheaply, tubes, tyres & skewers will have to come off regardless! If I venture to wheels as well I’d have to get them anyway!
I’m their Windsor outpost.
My Propel SL is light enough. I could drop half a kilo with dura ace and some posher carbon wheels. But the frame is actually heavier than the Defy (the lightest frame Giant ever made). It sports quite a heavy arione saddle as the original lighter one split. I can’t see disc and Di2 being lighter than calliper and manual. Even the forks must be heavier for the braking stresses.
Pro bikes have access to lighter finishing kit and their frames are seldom what you are buying in the shop. Even sworks, Advanced SL and highest spec Trek. They have their own production with custom geometry and layups. You can however always drop a bit with a carbon saddle, very light bars and stem. But really? Think how much half a water bottle weighs.
7.something low kilos will always feel like a light bike when you lift it down off the hook. That’s a nice feeling and you need a lot less money to do that now than you used to.
I always liken accessibility of bikes to that of F1 cars. You can ride a pro bike for about £10k. Of real money. That’s pretty accessible. Ok it’s down to priorities (think what your car costs for example), but not out of touch for many. You can’t access F1 technology. Not even close. At any reasonable budget. I say this to people when I take my race bike into the office and they say How much??!!
Discs and disc frames are heavier than calipers and caliper frames. There are arguably some maintenance benefits of discs and definitely some longer term wear benefits but the argument about superior breaking from discs on road bikes is a bit of a fallacy save perhaps carbon in the wet. We all know braking is limited on road bikes anyway and that limit is not usually braking friction/retardation related.
The main spur for me to move to discs was the ability to run 28mm tyres with good clearance - the braking is better modulated too and it's facilitated the use of full carbon rims (I had RS81s before).
There's a notable weight penalty swapping previous gen Ultegra caliper to the same generation disc, but improved power transfer via the stiffer frame seems to counterbalance that a bit when climbing.
I’ll have aero, calipers, tubed and low weight please.
And there's no one correct answer is there. Personally I do predominantly hilly rides and I don't care how fast I am on the flat bits between the climbs, so I'm not that fussed on aero. Though I'd like to try it.
Whereas we probably all agree the OP should prioritise aero over weight for the Cambs flatlands, though I'm not sure we've convinced him yet.
He should try the Rutland Alps, that'd redefine his priorities... 😁
You're right though Chaka, there is no 'right' answer. Well, except for having one of each type/genre but if poor old Ben was getting stick for one £5k bike...😲
I was gonna keep my old CR1 SL as a "climbing bike", until used bike prices went bonkers.
It feels strangely liberating to just have one road bike now though.
However I’m now off to check out Rose bikes for my own prospective purchase
Awesome, my commission will be rolling in soon! 😀
I was gonna keep my old CR1 SL as a “climbing bike”, until used bike prices went bonkers.
It feels strangely liberating to just have one road bike now though.
I'll sell the CR1 as soon as I get a replacement, don't have the space for too many bikes. I've got a dedicated winter bike (Spesh Diverge) with mudguards etc. I always kept meaning to get a 2nd set of wheels for hilly days (we have a cottage in Swaledale) but never got round to it and just use the 'heavy' 404s....
Been riding my TCR advanced Pro for the past few months. It is a bit lardy with discs, 28mm GP5000TLs and Di2. Think it’s over 8kg. Anyway had a few repairs to do on my Cannondale Supersix, Ultegra mechanical old race bike (2016 model). It’s very light with carbon bars, light carbon railed saddle and Mavic Pro carbon wheels. Must be under 7kgs close to 6.5. Took it up the street for a test ride boy the calliper brakes on carbon rims are awful now I’m used to discs. I’m going to put a fresh set of brake pads on before I dare to take it out for a proper ride.
Anyway moral of the story is the plush ride of 28mm tyres, disc brakes and di2 does add a bit of heft to the bike. However although we all love to lift up a light bike saving 1 to 1.5kg is barely noticeable in every day riding. I”ll reach for the disc/di2 every day unless it’s a hill climb race.
Anyway moral of the story is the plush ride of 28mm tyres, disc brakes and di2 does add a bit of heft to the bike. However although we all love to lift up a light bike saving 1 to 1.5kg is barely noticeable in every day riding. I”ll reach for the disc/di2 every day unless it’s a hill climb race.
Amen to that! I sold my Colnago C60 with Dura Ace Di2 and Reynolds Aero46 wheels because is felt really bad to ride after a few months on my S-Works Tarmac with disc, 28's and Ultegra Di2 group.
Isn't Rose just another Planet-x, Merlin or Ribble? Or even like Aldi?Just they seem more exotic as they're German? Canyon kind of do this too but having a pro road team makes them seem more of a premium brand.
Not knocking them at all, everyone wants a good product at a good price.
Just aren't other roadies going to sneer at you on one? Like wearing baggies on the road. Or riding in full team kit. Or wearing a cycling cap off the bike.