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I’m seriously considering changing my aging allez to something carbon, probably with discs, and with a minimum of an ultegra groupset.
Budget is up to about £4000 and as I don’t really have that many spare notes lying about it’ll need to be through finance. I could also go to someone like Canyon as I can stick the purchase onto a 0% credit card.
I’m finding I very hard to look past the Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8.0 disc, mainly for the perception of value for money, but I’ve also thought about a Giant TCR Pro, Tarmac (although the disc version only has 9mm qr’s) and the Cannondale supersix (neighbours got one and loves it). Over budget but the CF SLX 8 disc looks lovely...
Anyone got a canyon road bike, how the frames compare to the likes of Specilized? Also, how honest are the weights on their website as they look bloody good if true!!
Also, do we think discs are the future, they certainly seem better than rims on the one road bike I’ve tried them on!
And is Di2 a wothy upgrade at purchase, as it’ll be prohibitively expensive to upgrade later on, especially on a disc frame...
Sorry for a dark side thread, I’ll go and sit in my corner now...
In my experience and humble opinion I would forget the disks and electronics and get a quality frame with some posh wheels and Ultegra or mechanical Dura ace. Di2 is fantastic there's no denying that but the extra money is better spent on wheels.
As for the disks... The Di2 disk levers are great, the none Di2 disk levers are big bulky bloody things.
Wow four grand. There's no doubt Canyon are good (I have one) but they're really boring. For four grand I'd want something cool (YMMV).
Also wouldn't be bothered about discs unless it was to be used in the rain in which case I'd want guard mounts and some decent guards. I'd probably go £1000 - £1500 on a disc braked rain bike and the rest on something cool.
If I was spending four grand on a bike I'd want quality stuff such as a Campagnolo Chorus groupset and carbon wheels minimum
Have a look at the Rose Xeon disc di2. Think it's about 2300 with last year's ultegra and mid range DT Swiss wheels. My youngest brother has one and it rides lovely. Not that he'd know as he never rides it, the lazy little get!
I've got a Canyon cf ultimate slx and in terms of performance it's superb 😊. Grand tour wins countless pro tour race success's , you can't knock it's pedigree. But it's a tool for the job. Whatever the spin it doesn't have the sexiness of a boutique brand !! But I'd still get another one, the 9.0 canti braked model with mechanical dura ace, probably the peak of a functional road bike group set. Discs and electronic shifting might be fashionable, but for everyday riding.....MEH
Contrary to the above, if I were getting a new road bike I would makes discs a priority over electronic gears.
I don't have one, I just use my carbon cross bike which has Force CX1 hydros and pretty nice wheels DT CR1600 and weighs in at 8.2kg with cross tyres.
Have you thought about steel? (Steel is real).
For £4K I’d want discs (I currently have road bikes with both) as discs do make a considerable difference in terms of stopping power/confidence and rim wear (maybe not so much for advanced riders but for my level I prefer the feeling of discs).
I’d also be looking at 853 / 953 or Columbus tubing for the frame - light enough for most recreational riders, very durable and if the geometry is right then very comfortable (I have carbon and steel bikes).
Electronic shifting is the way forward especially wireless (I currently have mechnical Ultegra only) and I’d be thinking towards the future with a frame purchase that is going to be able to accept this.
£4K is a lot of money and I’d want to get exactly what I wanted. I’d probably go mechanical now (Ultegra) then later upgrade to electronic as for me the best frame set is important and the rest can always follow.
However im 50 and you may be 20 something - in which case a full carbon Canyon (lovely bike) or similar with full electric and disc etc maybe more up your street.
Something like this would be my choice:
http://www.donhoubicycles.com/signature-steel/dss1/
For four grand I’d build one I reckon.
I’d go rim brakes as for that money I assume you won’t be riding in the depths of winter?
Ultegra di2 groupset for just over a grand, jRA wheel £400-£800 depending on Alu or carbon, leaving about £2k for frame and bars etc. And you have the pleasure of building it!
Or get a canyon disc 🙂 they are excellent value but di2 all the way
I have a specialized Allez which I've ridden for years. Bought a canyon ultimate sl 9.0 aero last year. Mine has the aero bars and wheels but with mechanical groupset and discs. Paid 2,700 for it in the sale.
The ride between the two bikes is like night and day. The canyon is by far the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. I ride from holyhead to London on it just after I got it. Didn't feel too beaten up when I got back in it each day. Rode to Paris on the Allez a couple of weeks later and felt absolutely battered afterwards. I don't find myself dreading that long climb 70 miles into the ride anymore.
Never really bought into the disc brakes on road bikes argument, but they definitely helped me avoid a car that didn't spot me and turned right across me last year.
Have a look at the Ridley Fenix SL Disc and SLX Disc. Although it's their endurance bike it's still pretty racy and lovely to ride.
For 4 big ones, Id be demanding Di2 on a tasty titanium frame.
Van Nic Zephyr?
Tick.
(although ticking a thread is now pointless as you can't jump to threads you've commented on like we used to be able to).
However, I'm in a not dissimilar boat. I fancy getting myself a nice disc road bike. Currently looking at Giant defy or tcr with ultergra and discs but wondering what else is out there. I don't fancy trek or specialized. The canyon looks great but I don't want to go back there after utterly shite customer service in the past.
Canyon are/were selling the ultimate framesets at £1750. If you buy one of those then you have plenty of cash for building up a top notch bike.
Di2 is a waste of money, spend what you save on wheels.
I would buy the rim brake version. Can't see the point of disc brakes on a race bike. Winter bike yes, summer bike no.
OP! Is the 'dark side' in this instance:
racing?
sportive?
Winter/training/commuting?
I have a super six EVO and just got the canyon you are looking at. It’s a bit heavier than than the EVO but that’s the trade off for disc brakes. In all other areas it’s far superior. The new ultegra hoods aren’t as bulky in real life compared to the pics and are really comfy.
The cosmic wheels look better in the flesh as well and though a bit heavy, they spin up nice and quick. Can’t fault them at all.
The integrated aero bars look bloody immense imho as well. Very happy with it.
If I had the money at the time I’d have gone for the Aeroad, but only for the looks of it!
on the basis of recommending what you've got, a decent Ti frame with mechanical Ultegra.
like this http://www.enigmabikes.com/bikes/echelon/
I had a similar budget at ended up with a TCR pro somethingor other (the black and Fluro orange one) My list of must haves were:
carbon frame,
carbon wheels,
di2
discs
must look good
I ended up spending £3100 and is an amazing bike. No way would I go back to mechanical gears and non disc brakes. The tcr won over other options as I have already ridden one and know how good they are and I could buy it from my lbs who are excellent.
Canyon are excellent bikes if you're confident about fit and sizing (or really lucky). I bought mine a few years ago just as I was getting into more serious riding - I had it for a couple of years before getting a proper fit and that was by far the biggest improvement I've felt in any bike upgrade ever. If you do go for a canyon just beware that stems are a bit of a faff to source if you need to change position.
If you have a good bike shop nearby with experienced bike fitters then spend your money there and get an excellent bike that will fit you almost straight away.
If not then the canyon disc would be my choice at that price. The wheels that come with it are excellent and disc brakes are great. Di2 is nice but I don't think it's worth the extra cash.
Road bike???
BURN HIM!!!!
For that money I would want to future proof it as much as possible so disc brakes would be a must , apart from the fact that they work better you won't be grinding the rims on your expensive wheels away when braking . Di2 works and it's really good but mechanical Dura-Ace works very well too and for me I just like the mechanical connection that you can feel when changing gear . Many may disagree but both systems are here to stay . Personally if I went for electronic shifting it would be Sram E-Tap as the idea of doing away with gear cables or wires appeals to me and so far it seems reliable and works well . As Malvern Rider has said what you want to do with your road bike will have some bearing on which to go for .
The canyon would also be top of my list, and I think they are about the best looking carbon road bikes out there.
I'd definitely want to try one before dropping £4k though.
Not looked at the pricing but I'd aim for the top end frame at the expense of di2. Or even sacrifice discs to get the SLX frame.
I agree with neilsonwheels, above. Just get an excellent carbon frame and good wheels. At the money you're talking, I would expect you can get both together with a very nice groupset.
As for electronic shifting, though - and I suspect I'll be in the minority here - I couldn't be arsed. Work on the engine (your body) and the basics, and enjoy the riding. Batteries and bikes don't belong together... 😮
As for the 'darkside' reference, I have no idea what you're on about.
As for electronic shifting, though – and I suspect I’ll be in the minority here – I couldn’t be arsed. Work on the engine (your body) and the basics, and enjoy the riding. Batteries and bikes don’t belong together… 😮
Nah not in minority.
DI2s nice but IMHO it’s not in the league of game changers like dropper posts and err disc brakes.
Synchro shift front and back shifting from just up and down button is nice but mechanical shifting got so good nowadays and you don’t need to charge battery/batteries
I’m a real heretic as I’ll probably eventually go 1x11 road 🙂
I have a Defy advanced pro 0 - carbon, carbon wheels, Ultegra Di2 and a mate has the Defy Advanced SL 1 - better carbon, better carbon wheels, carbon bars and stem but Ultegra mechanical. They both had the same list price. I'd say his was the better bike, and Pedalon have them in stock in most sizes at a silly price. If it's a large you are after, Winstanleys have mine at a silly price too. Coming from an Allez you would probably be more comfortable on a Defy than a TCR.