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3.5k on a sworks roubaix frame in one of the amazing looking metallic finishes. Then If I alrrady had a set of wheels going spare spend the rest on a duraace group set.
Going custom may get you something unique but it may also be a bit rubbish. And id be pretty confident it wouldn't end up being as good a bike as the roubaix.
Somebody else said it earlier but a super bike today is just normal bike in a year or so.
What makes a bike wow is kind of personal too. For me it is more about look. Not necessarily having the latest frame design but little touches. Paint job, component choice and how it all fits aesthetically. I'd get a nice bike but look at option for custom paint and getting the finishing touches right to the right look.
So I'd look at bikes with custom paint options or look to see if you can get it done after purchase.
Trek Projectone is an option for custom paint. Ribble too but the frames might not have the wow factor you want. Not sure who else.
Speedvagen Ti disc Road.
I’m pretty much with Tpbiker on this one. I want a known quantity, a bike I could sell, and something that looks good. I’ve gone away from the “special” or “unique” desire and am quite happy to get a bike/frame that upgrades me to disks.
I had a look at the Scott Addicts RC and whilst I’m sure they are amazing bikes - and at least from a web perspective - they look a little drab. I also can’t get over the fact that Adam Yates looks awkward on his, maybe that’s just him. Maybe I need to see one in the flesh.
Factor and Ribble have an outlet near me so I may pop in there, but Factor are quite expensive.
ive got plenty of time. Some freestyle riding time in October which will be spent the road will likely take me back to what I have, as I keep admiring that in the mancave. At the moment the Bianchi Infinito and Orbea Orca in personalised colours are in the lead, both Ultegra builds.
No experience of them (out my league) but 3T Exploro or Strada float your boat? Seem like they’d be pretty versatile.
I really like my Exploro, it’s ‘awfully versatile’ and they’ve got the race max out if your after something more.
I’m a bit sceptical on the benefits of the ti custom route as a year down the line you’ll be wanting a change, bikes aren’t for life.
I’d get a nice set of wheels and group set and shuffle it over a few frames as you want a change as opposed to buying ‘the one’ make every few years the opportunity to have a change. 🙂
I agree with jonba its often the paint job and finishing kit that stands out to me rather than the name of the manufacture. If my Supersix could have had larger tyres fitted I probably would have kept it and just had it re-sprayed.
Joe, you've piqued my interest there. In the list of bikes builds "Jane" I know quite well, she used to ride for our club. I've seen that bike, its very very nice.
Hmmm....
Have we done a Cervelo Caledonia?
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/cervelo-caledonia-460297
I looked at that, and an R3. Looks a bit bland I thought.
Just feel a mass produced plastic bike is great...but its gonna date and Matthew really makes an effort to make the bike individual. Mine really does ride in a very special way and i've owned lots of high end road bikes. I think its a worthwhile investment.
I has a lovely albeit short ride yesterday on my existing bike, have a slight scare approaching a bend on a 12% decline with gravel on it and an HGV coming in the other direction.
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Aero - check
Light/Carbon - check
50 Carbons - check
Slightly unique enough to strike up a conversation - check
Fast - check
Comfy - check
£5000 cheaper - check
I think I've got to the "can't be arsed" point of this now. I might upgrade to Ultegra mechanical on that as a minor treat.
Ultegra wouldn't feature on a wow factor bike for me I don't think. Its a work horse groupset, I'd want Dura Ace, Red or Campag Chorus or above. Frame wise, if you want something bespoke feeling and really great to ride then I would have to recommend a Bowman, its my go to road bike now and I am considering a build with Palace 3 disc next. I prefer it over the 2 giants I owned (TCR and Propel) and the Cervelo R3 and even Mason definition, which is the only bike that fits the endurance category, but the Bowman is the better feeling bike. If the Palace is to racy you have the Weald.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49878472723_951c1b4ad7_4k.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49878472723_951c1b4ad7_4k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2iZAdcD ]Untitled[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/60401414@N00/ ]danjwilkinson[/url], on Flickr
I want a bike# that's won Paris Roubaix. Mine has. Same frame in the same size - OK Deg's had a longer stem. And he rode tubs. But that does it for me on the wow factor.
It's a bike. It may have slightly relaxed geometry compared to other race bikes. What more wow do you want?
#Defy Advanced SL if you are interested, in Medium. Now with Dura Ace, but none of those disc things. Handmade by the same small group in Taiwan that made Degenkolb's frame.
but the Bowman
.. only Aluminium? I know theoretically that shouldnt matter and it makes for a cheaper build...
Another vote for Filament here. I already have a 953 Rourke, which is superb and dare I say it rides nicer than the Storck Scenario CD0.9 it replaced. The Storck was from an era where it was special yet before it was smashed in two by a car driver not looking i overhead some juniors t talking about it at a cafe; one remarked it was lovely, the other moaned it was too old and had round frame tubes 😄 Both framesets were/are used for racing and long rides. I was very impressed by the work that Filament do, and the chap has been good on email discussions.
Oh and @TiRed Defy looks 👍
And a Rourke pic for @TiRed
https://flic.kr/p/2jEA9XM
If you want something special, order a nice steel Rourke. I was considering a TCR-geometry fixed wheel road bike, but am now thinking to go Lizzie's Flying Gate instead (she makes them for TJ cycles), also with fixed wheel. Bikes are bikes, get something that's a bit different. You are chasing the central (and over-priced) tendency - think orthogonal if you don't want to get tired of it.
.. only Aluminium? I know theoretically that shouldnt matter and it makes for a cheaper build…
I guess it depends on what you view as adding to the performance and feeling of a bike
for be Bowman with dura ace, deep carbon bling wheels > Cervelo with ultegra and alloy wheels
That Rourke looks lush!
Come to this thread after the OP has decided against the idea, but Fairlight Strael would be on my shortlist if I was a moneybags. But would probably get a Rourke if possible.
And a Rourke pic for @TiRed
Thanks 🙂 They are happy to build me a 953 compact frame TCR geometry fixed wheel road bike. As I said, something that's a bit different from the norm. The Defy has been raced on road and circuit before I bought an alloy TCR and then a Propel. It replaced a (stolen) Merlin Cyrene in etched titanium. That bike was a work of art.
only Aluminium
BTW, I have the cheapest of the cheap alloy Defy as well. It's about 85% of the performance for 15% of the price. But, but... Paris-Roubaix!
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.
The Only trouble looking at Filament is that you're looking at ~3x the price for custom carbon Vs a Rourke frameset and the OP's budget is £5k. By the time He's fitted Tiagra and Aksiums to his Filament frame to keep the cost down, the weight is probably going to be about on par... How much lighter is a Filament going to be Vs a Rourke 853? 750g maybe?
We're all different of course, for some minimal weight is a big factor on a "Dream Bike" for others the fit and having nice parts, but the thread title says "wow-factor Endurance road bike" to me that puts durability/reliability, fit and comfort ahead of weight saving...
Somebody else said it earlier but a super bike today is just normal bike in a year or so.
I dunno, road bikes have got to a pretty good place now - discs, wider tyres, aeros, comforts.
I reckon a super bike now will still be pretty awesome in 2030.
Not that I believe in "dream bikes" myself, as I know dreams are subject to change.
See I'm with chakaping a little here. Sadly or not - and I'm struggling to put this into words - I'm not as attracted to a bespoke bike as am I am to the shiny shiny Bianchi. Maybe I'm just shallow in that regard, but also I can't see why a disk shod Di2 Bianchi wouldn't be relevant in 5 years time.
FWIW, I didn't chose/like my current bike which I posted up there. It was an off the shelf free Warranty replacement from Wiggle in 2016, after the chain stay on my then Bianchi Sempre snapped. As I started to realise its capabilities - particularly when I changed wheel set - I really started to appreciate its virtues. Even if I could sell it, I'd be reluctant.
I've read the glowing reviews of the Bowman now and I like the colour scheme of DJGlovers bike but not the off the shelf colours, so the cost would allow shinier kit to add to it. At the same time, I like the Defy Advanced Pro 1, the Cervelo Caledonia 5 Di2 which is over budget, the Orbea Orca, TarmacRoubaix. I think I just like modern "pro peloton" bikes, I'm not really attracted to skinny steel, or randomly obscure bikes.
You had a Defy. An Advanced Pro will be like that with added niceness (you really need the SL though). My Alloy one really shines when the posh wheels go on. And for special I wanted something "pro peleton". A frame genuinely ridden by a pro. Bikes are bikes, but they have to make you smile.
Geometry is a bigger factor than material.
Thats now my Turbo bike 🙂
Anyway this is nice:
Or the mechanical dura-ace version which comes with a PM
