[Closed] What wow-factor Endurance road bike?

Get something Italian, be different get a Bianchi, people constantly ask me about mine even though it was relatively cheap

Personally, and this may just be me, but none of the mentioned brands (spech, Giant, canyon etc.) are exotic. An 'off the shelf bike' is a bit like a Porche, Lambo or Ferrari, nice but a bit, erm.... dull, unimaginative.

Now a custom fit and custom framed bike with a personalized mix of components etc.... They are the Koenigsegg of the super bike world.....

With a 5k budget, if you want 'wow factor' and to stand out in the road bike world with something no one else has. I'd get a custom frame that's going to last a life time, and drop the component sepc a little. The components will date very quickly and in 2 years time you'll want the next greatest thing. Alternatively I'd get a good / rare / special off the shelf steel frame and go high end components.

Any way the above is my preference, so ignore me. If you want to look at similar brands how about Orbea? You could go with the custom paint that they offer too.....

No experience of them (out my league) but 3T Exploro or Strada float your boat? Seem like they'd be pretty versatile.

I can only comment on the Roubaix as that's what I own. Mines the basic one but I like the frame and love the future shock.

You will probably get better spec for the price from a lot of other manufactures but I personally like how the Specialized rode.

Rose?

https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/rose-reveal-six-disc-dura-ace-di2-2685184?product_shape=Matt+Carbon%2FShiny+Laser+Gray

People would dispute that they're 'exotic' but then they are no less so than Canyon. Cheaper Reveal models come with some pretty awesome paint jobs but no d12. I'd be tempted to contact them and ask if they could mix and match.

Lots of other customisation available e.g. gears, tyres, saddle, wheels, crank lengths etc. Saves you having to immediately swap out stock components.

Constantly impressed by the quality and ride of my much cheaper Xeon model.

get a Bianchi

My very first choice was a Sprint Di2 in Celeste of course but I’m put off by the treatment I got after my Sempre chainstay broke - in warranty - a few years ago...

I sold my Defy Advanced Pro 2 last weekend and was going to go for the new Pro 1.

After a test ride last week, I have however ordered a Spesh Creo SL Expert and am collecting it in on Wednesday from the LBS 😁

My equivalent present to me was an Enigma Evoke. I've had it four years and I still just love it

Something special? How about a Pegoretti?

https://dariopegoretti.com/album/ciavete/

Boring list of bikes.
Why not Moots, FiftyOne, Sarto, Filament, Quirk, take a look at Cyfac.

Get something special, not the same old, same old l; go hand-built Rourke etc

Mason

A big birthday bike for me would be something like a Ti bike from a small independent manufacturer, Enigma for instance. https://www.enigmabikes.com/pages/enigma-etape

I've got a Defy Advanced Pro 0 (2017). I love it, but I wouldn't say it has wow factor - it's more unflashy but ruthlessly efficient.

How about a Reilly? I've got a Gradient, but one of their road bikes would be very tempting.

I'd be worried about dropping 5k on some boutique/custom frame that might handle terribly. I'd rather spend it on something tried and tested (and raced) from a big brand.

Is there a reason you want something with Endurance geometry? My race-style bike (Supersix) is better in every way than my Endurance style bike (carbon Synapse). It's just as comfortable, but a way more engaging ride. And faster of course. My Dad is 67 and every one of his road bikes has race geometry 😅

I'd be throwing my money at a new Supersix, Tarmac SL7 or new Trek Emonda.

Not super boutique-y but I always think Wilier bikes look lovely. Get a Superleggera built to your specifications with nice Campagnolo etc

The Wilier Cento10SL with SRAM FORCE ETAP AXS DISC 2X12 WIDE groups looks rather nice to me (if only for the 30x36 gearing!).

I've just got the Scott Addict 10.

Love it. Not flash. No gimmicky pivots or faux suspension. Stiff around the bottom bracket (it replaced a twangy steel frame) but comfy on long rides. Nice paint job. And a few hundred quid cheaper than the equivalent Trek/Spesh etc.

Very understated, bit of a stealth weapon. I really love it.

Local shop to me stocks Look, Ridley, BMC and Colnago amongst others. There's some lovely looking bikes there. I on the other hand have just received the new Planet X Pro Carbon. It's significantly less than 5k (yes I appreciate there's a reason for that!) But it's definitely enough road bike for me... For now 😉

Is there a reason you want something with Endurance geometry

Well to be fair, it’s comfort I want.

Good shout on Enigma’s, I have a 26er in the mancave.  Although I’m finding them a bit “plain” looking.  I’d love to own something Italian.

I’ve just got the Scott Addict 10.

I have a current Spark and the reason I’m drawn to the Addict RC is that I find the Scott bikes are somehow more than the sum of thier parts, a kind of Swiss quality. I’m finding it hard to get my heart racing about it though.   Now, that Willier in black with the red fade... wow.

Enigma do some lovely painted Ti

As much as I think he's a bit of a nob hambini has put me off certain brands. It's a fair point, all you have to do is make a round hole within tolerance and if you can't do that......

Also when he scans these carbon bikes there are voids everywhere. So probably something not on the C ish scale so probably a look bike.

But I'm with @monkeyboyjc. With a £5k budget I'd probably go for a professional bike fit and then have something built in titanium or steel if light enough. Carbon is nice but everyone has a carbon bike and they are not good for the environment and should probably be banned unless recyclable.

Why get a bike you can pick up 2 years later for £2500 when you can get a bespoke, one off, made to measure. Start the process now, go round for a coffee, a chat, look at his/her skills as a bike builder. Check out their reputation and some of the bikes they are building now. Maybe just get a frame and a fork and buy the rest in savy sales at christmas. These new riders won't be riding in January when it's minus 5 and raining sideways sleet.

Off the peg bikes date. A custom, made to measure bike doesn't. No one else will have one, everyone will ask, what is it? And you will say, its a custom bike made to measure just for me, its was my present to myself for making it to x years and I love it and I'd never sell it. It looks as good today as the day I bought it. It will make you more interesting then saying I bought the bike a magazine rated number one in 2020, oh yes, I bought one of those on ebay for £2500, used once its mint.

Just my ten pence if I had £5k to spend on a bike. Either that or one with a motor and battery like @iainc 😂

Enigma do some lovely painted Ti

@dpfr Titanium bikes should never, ever, be painted. That's the whole point of having a ti frame. No matter how good the paint job!

The boutique brands are pretty but the aren’t necessarily “better” than those form the big brands.
Also how much comfort do you need?
I have a Giant Defy Advanced and a Cannondale Supersix.
The Defy has endurance geometry which gives it gives it a more laid back demeanour but the Supersix is a much more invigorating bike to ride .
And it’s actually very comfortable , yes it has a more stretched out position than the Defy but it is still very refined ride and you’d still happily rack up the miles on it.

I’m loving this at the moment....
https://bossibicycles.com/collections/titanium-bikes/products/strada-ss-complete-builds?variant=32118825582686

I’m in new bike mode as well. I sold my Aeroad recently and Mrs W has agreed to let me buy a new bike next Spring (work dependent)

I can’t decide whether to get something metal but very good looking, or another carbon aero bike (Cervelo S5 Di2 is today’s leading contender in that debate)

My winter bike / current only bike is a Trek Domane, comfiest bike I’ve ever ridden, but it’s certainly not a wow bike.

@damascus It doesn't appeal to me personally and none of my three is painted. I quite like the stealthy look of brushed Ti but the OP seemed to feel Ti metal was a bit uninteresting and those Enigma paint jobs are lush!

I used to race.

I think that changes your view regarding bikes, because you end up viewing them as tools rather than jewelry and it influences your choices accordingly. I think buying a 'nice' or 'wow' bike is ...a waste.
As noted above, in 2 years it's a nice 'old' bike, in 5 years it's a nice bike, in 6 years it's just a bike.
Custom? nah... I know a few people with custom bikes and, again, after 2-5 years they're just bikes with odd geometry. Bicycles age even worse than fashionable trousers.

TLDR: Buy the Scott.

@crikey you are probably right. Buy what ever has the best sale on in 18 months time.

A mate of mine wanted to buy a specialized recently at £5500. I couldn't see where the price came from, then I realised it didn't have 30% knocked off the price. Prior to covid has anyone ever paid full rrp for a specialized?

I sent him a link to a canyon and the spec blew it out of the water.

I'd rather go for a bike that personally feels nice to ride rather than one that has the best spec but rides like a dog.

I guess it depends on the riding you are going to do. I ride with quite a fast club - no one rides steel or ti bikes outside of winter - everyone is on race or aero bikes.

I would just test ride as many bikes as I could, and buy the one which feels right. I had no idea road bikes could all feel so different until I tried a few. Minimal changes in geometry make a big difference (to me).

I almost ordered a custom Curtis hardtail for my 30th. At the time it would have been a 26er, 69 degree head angle, non-bolt through, non-boost frame. That would have been an expensive ornament now 😅

If you want tried and tested from a global brand that’s fine, but at least factor in the cost of a snazzy, custom, paint job, as that is what will make folk go ‘wow’, rather than what brakes and gears it has, or whose name is written on the side (with a couple of $$$$ exceptions).

I’d throw some money at a Rourke frame, in fact I may just for that for this year’s significant birthday.

Ah Kryton.
I was going to say something cheeky about your other birthday bike, then I thought no, maybe this time you would like a custom build, but that means you talking through choice of designs and paint styles with a frame builder. Now that would just be too cruel and it might not be ready for your retirement. 😉 🙂 🙂

It makes me laugh all these guys buying aero race bikes, because saving 30seconds on your Sunday ride is important?

It's all about fashion at the end of the day, would you rather look cool on the latest aero rig, which most people will be able to recognise? But will ultimately fade away into obsolescence.
Or a custom bike from an obscure builder that no one has heard of that'll invite questions?

Tbh it amazes me that people still buy off the shelf bikes that cost more than 3or 4k for a full Sus, or 2k for a hardtail/road bike.

In a similar, slightly lower budget, position I’ve been looking at the Cervelo R-series, BMC Roadmachine and Bianchi Infinito.

https://www.raleigh.co.uk/gb/en/ti-raleigh-relaunch/

I missed the bit about it being a special birthday present. And whilst I live the understated Swiss efficiency of the Scott, I get that it isn't OMG gorgeous.

My belated Big Birthday present to myself is due to arrive end of October. A Laverack Jack. Loads of options to make it "yours", nice guys to deal with.

Fwiw, only Laverack and Enigma bothered to reply to my enquiries, which given what I was going to be spending I was pretty annoyed about. Went with Laverack as they are only 45 minutes from home, and they bribed me with a lovely flat white.

Mason Aspect frameset & self build would be my preference.

Lots off food for thought in here, thanks everybody.   FWIW £5k is max budget and factors in di2.  I’m not 100% sold on di2, and would happily spend less on something I want.  So far, I’ve never bought a bike without a significant discount, hence research now as I’ll like go for 2021 bike in 2022.

The bike I have at the moment serves me very well despite being relatively little known, 105 and with a hand built set of Chinese 50mm carbon rims/Hope RS hubs.   I really enjoy riding it and as above, quite a few people ask questions of it.  Its occurred to me to upgrade to Ultegra / Durace on that and stick with it as I have a cheaper winter disc gravel machine.

As much as the boutique bikes invite more looks/questions etc. I’d still go with a mainstream brand likely Giant defy they know there stuff and spent many years perfecting the ride.

Could you live with that stem on the Defy though? Really?

Personally I'd forget all that self-indulgent custom BS and get the best balance of performance/spec/looks I could in a mainstream carbon bike.

Having perused tons of reviews when buying a new road bike myself this year, many say that current "race" bikes are as comfy as "endurance" bikes from a few years ago. And nearly as aero as "aero" bikes.

So I'd try to demo the Supersix or Tarmac kinda bike as suggested above, alongside the Roubaix, etc. (and there will surely be a new Synapse soon).

Some of the Spesh bikes with the fancy paint jobs like early nineties Kleins have wow factor. No idea how much they cost, just more than I can afford!

This is a dangerous game to play with mountain bikes, but road bikes?
if it has through axles and post mount disks, and whatever holes and ports are needed for electric gears; then it should be fairly future proof...

What's your planned use? I know you are a decent XC racer, and therefore not a fat pudding MAMIL looking to impress at the coffee shop; but is this bike for training, touring, competing/sportives?

but is this bike for training, touring, competing/sportives?

Its for training, sportives and fast club runs.  But also - lets be honest - because its nice to own something glitzy with a nice paint job if you can.  As you pointed out I'm competitive and currently in good shape so I'd like to stay near the pointy end of any ego-driven pace lines. 😀

The Enigma Evoke appealed more than the Etape.  "Fast Endurance" I guess is my sub category.

I made the mistake of watching Paton's video.   It seems the best value bike I can own id the 7.3kg carbon rim braked 105 equipped bike that I've already got, well that'll save me £5000 anyway....

I'd be looking at either the Trek or Orbea custom paint jobs. Either that or one of the smaller more boutique brands, Pinarello or Willier or whatever.

What I wouldn't get would be a Canyon, despite being the very happy owner of an Endurace, it's not got a lot of wow-factor to it 🙂

Yeah, I was looking at an Orca:

That's a lovely looking bike!

Clean isn't it.   £4300 for all that, Di2 and Vison CF SL 40's.  And you don't see too many on the road, so a little different.

Looks nice, and the cable-hiding stem is better than the Defy's one.

Is it a decent spec carbon?

If I had the cash I'd be looking at a custom carbon Epoca. Boutique, made in Italy, lovely-looking.

https://www.epocabikes.com/48/en/about-epoca

Is it a decent spec carbon?

I've no idea, its Orbea's OMX - https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/road/orca/cat/orca-m20iltd

As much as I think he’s a bit of a nob hambini has put me off certain brands. It’s a fair point, all you have to do is make a round hole within tolerance and if you can’t do that……

Also when he scans these carbon bikes there are voids everywhere. So probably something not on the C ish scale so probably a look bike.

If I was buying carbon I'd watch a few Hambini videos first. He's a bit of a child though.

Laverack look lush, and from memory £5k would get you Ultegra/ maybe Di2??

I thought your new mindfulness and focus had made you realise that you don't need to spend all your disposable income and had put an end to these what new car/bike threads.
:-S

What about a Parlee Altum Disc? You should be able to custom spec one for your budget. Give the guys at Push in Ambleside a call and i am sure they'll be able to help.

In a similar situation.
Will hopefully be going for the Boardman gravel bike.
That Orbea is a good looking bike.

If I had £5k to spend on road bike, I'd spend £1k on the bike and £4k to take it to some nice places*.

*maybe not this year...

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Krypton be wary of those wheels on the Orbea. I don’t know the correct terminology, but just make sure they’re not just made for full built bikes. I have a set that came with my Trek and they’re not the same as shop bought wheels. Same stickers and name but mine are about 300 grams heavier than listed and the hub needs servicing at least once a year (3000 miles).
Hope that makes sense.

Yes woodster you mean OEM vs aftermarket.  A good point thanks.

Orbea, custom paint, jobs a goodun 👌

I made a cross between the Orbea and the Willier during my Tea break...

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Liking the Parlee a lot, but jumped onto the push website to see a set of wheels on the front page for £7,700.   I think I'm shopping above my budget there 😀

I've had a good think about this for a while.   I don't want Ti as I feel it looks a little bland, and I'm not actually fussed about electronic gears either, as I can maintain a mechanical system whilst still remaining a DIY luddite.

But I do want something with a bit of cycling heritage and went back to Bianchi but not to the Sprint - behold:

Something like that - an Infinito CV Ultegra - would be very lovely.   Maybe if the saving plan goes well upgrading to Campag might be a treat.

For something special it'd be in Ti from Enigma, however I bet the Roubaix is better in practice.

upgrading to Campag

LOL!

If you like the infito, you should try to test that alongside the Oltre xr3. I have the rim version and it really is very comfortable probably due to the countervail carbon mix but also running fairly wide rims with 25 tyres.

It feels very stiff and comparing to my TCR (also known for their weight to stiffness) climbs punchy short hills and moderate gradients, probably anything upto 8/10% a little easier, just feels like you can ride faster in a harder gear.

On my standard 45/50mile 2300/2800ft climbing loop, I would say it’s 1.5 to 2mph faster on average and the only bike I’ve achieved a 19mph over this loop. A loop with a lot more climbing and the balance starts to swing back towards the tcr faster. Comfort wise though if both bikes were set up the same, I have the oltre slammed and giant a little higher, then there wouldn’t be much in it at all. not bad for a pretty aero bike.

If you want to ring out a bit more free speed from the bike and ride something with a bit of wow factor, heritage and pedigree I would give the Oltre a look. Xr4 obviously is the bees knees but the Xr3 probably as 95% of the performance for 50% of the price. (Roughly speaking).

My own "attainable fantasy bike" these days is a rourke 853 disc with ultegra Di2.

https://www.rourke.biz/custom_framesets.html

Not that I have the spare cash right now. But in a few years and having done plastic bikes already a bit of semi-custom steel bling is appealing...

My prettiest bike is a Genesis CDF in 'copper'. Thin steel tubes and nice paint look so much more classy than carbon in my opinion. Rides beautify too.

I have a 2019 Cervelo R3 disc and I absolutely love it. It's plenty fast enough and good for long rides too. However, they have recently launched this and I have a bad case of N+1

Nobody has mentioned Look or Time yet? They seem to be very well-made bikes (see Hambini) with plenty of heritage that are just a bit different. I've got an Enigma Evoke and it's a lovely bike to ride but perhaps somewhat staid (or classic might be a nicer way of putting it). I rode a Roubaix a couple of years ago with the old FutureShock and hated it so much. But the new shock is excellent.

View this post on Instagram

Do what I did, custom carbon?

One point of note on all the people suggesting Rourke etc is that steel frame + discs = >8kg weight unless you throw a lot of money at it.

Tbf I quite like the Bianchi but I fear they are neither artisan nor developed with a sizeable r&d budget (eg specialized/ trek) So kind of have the worst of both worlds

True but they don't appear to hold Jumbo Visma back.

An ex team bike can feel kinda wow! I've got a Ridley cx frame from the Telenet team 2013-14 season. It's even got a half worn off Tom M sticker on it. It came with a fair few scratches and gouges but I raced it for two seasons and put a load more onto it. It's fun to watch races from that year and see identical bikes under the the likes of Pauwels and Meuseen. Only cost £600!

I'd love a Liquigas Cannondale Supersix.

I had Supersix, though not the Liquigas colours. It was a lovely bike even over long distances and rough roads, though the max tyre I could fit was 25mm especially in the fork.

True but they don’t appear to hold Jumbo Visma back.

That’s not really true tbh, jumbo are forced to pick rim brakes to make their bianchi’s competitive with other teams disc bikes, see link

Cyclingtips

I’ve not long bought an Addict RC frameset to build up, still buying bits to decorate it with so can’t comment on how it rides but I wouldn’t classify it as endurance geometry...low stack and long reach.

Also worth noting the frameset prices have rocketed for 2021 although off the peg builds are relatively stable.

Foil has seen a few tweaks this year too, now shares the integrated cabling designed for the Addict...believe the geometry is very similar, some nice paint jobs on them too...