so as per my previous posts I’m still weighing up options for my new bike, and based on replies and my own thought process I think realistically I need to build for comfort.
Was just hoping for a point in the right direction?
Now, previously I’d looked at Giant propel or Merida Reacto or something along those lines but being honest with myself, the bike might be the fastest on the market - but I’m not! so really any speed gains at this stage are a little, well, fake. I think the main way i’m going to get faster and cover more ground cycling is, by cycling! Once my weight is settled and my fitness has increased perhaps it’s worth having a special bike for events or something but really I just need something I want to ride (as was suggested)
so what are my go-tos? what should I be looking for?
just clearance?
relaxed geometry?
at the moment, my eyes are on a 2024 Cube Cross Race C:62 Slx Teamline. Fully Carbon, Fully integrated cabling, electronic groupset. Seems ideal and the price is pretty good too (just over £2,000) It’s specced as a cyclecross bike, with grippy tyres, but then that might be ideal over winter and when we come into better weather perhaps I could get another more racey wheelset?
Any thoughts? is cyclecross a good plan or is the geometry off (i’m thinking height of BB might be awkward)
I do not ride off road
don’t want to ride off road really, well maybe the odd event will have a bit of gravel but it’s not really an aim of mine.
Just keen to be comfy when out on the road, want to do the 50/60 mile events I’ve got planned and maybe do some time trials next year (which I understand I won’t keep up with the front runners but this would really just be to beat myself more than anything)
Think I’d be looking more at road bikes that are classed as all road or endurance. Trek Domane, Specialized Roubaix, Canyon Endurace, Cervelo Caledonia, those sort of bikes. Main thing for comfort being tyre clearance, I’d run at least 32mm, maybe 35mm depending on your roads. But go with road tyres if you’re not going offroad - I know you said comfort not speed but if you’re sticking to the tarmac then I think a nice wide, supple, grippy road tyre gives the best riding experience. For that kind of bike I also wouldn’t be particularly bothered about fully hidden cables - they look nice, they may have a marginal aero benefit, but they’re a pain to work with and they make it much harder to play around with your position which is important if you’re looking for comfort. So if the cables are hidden you’d at least want one with separate bars and stem where the cables run under the stem not through it so you can swap stem if needed without recabling the bike (unless you’re very confident in your position).
thanks for that, the cabling isn’t so much for aero, purely because I like how it looks really. Nothing more than that and beyond cleaning I don’t tend to do much to my bikes - I have a really good local mechanic who’s crazy reasonable with pricing so it’s just easier to send issues his way.
But adjusting position is a concern so take that on board.
I’ve got a full bike fit booked for next wednesday so i’d hope to be fairly confident in position etc after that.
I’m with @cartsman here and I’d also look for an endurance road bike.
The high BB on a CX bike isn’t going to ride the best on the road. A low BB will create a really planted, stable bike which is what you want when you want an easy comfortable ride. The stack and reach also aren’t designed with comfort in mind.
I always recommend the Trek Domane for people who are looking for a nice bike that is comfort-oriented.
The geometry is by far the most upright and relaxed that I know of, and it has room for really big tires which allows for more grip, confidence, and overall comfort as well.
As it sounds like you are UK based, my first place to look these days (if budget allows) is Fairlight, the Strael or Faran can both make decent all rounder bikes and there is an array of size options.
I’ve got a Faran that’s currently in winter road/commute mode.
If anything ever happened to my Canyon Endurace, I’d happily build up a Strael as my best bike.
IMHO you should forget about carbon vs. aluminum or group sets (Shimano vs. SRAM, etc.). Here is what I recommend:
Test ride as many bikes as you can. If possible, don’t just take them for a spin around the block, spend time on them. Even if an endurance road bike or gravel bike is probably the right solution, make sure to try more aggressive bikes, too. A few years ago, I thought an endurance road bike was the right solution for me — it was, on paper. I hated the geometry. My more aggressive road bike is more comfortable for me.
Test gravel bikes, too. Many will have endurance geometry with loads of tire clearance. Often, they come with easier gearing, too. See below. The added tire clearance will make your bike more versatile even if you have no plans to ride gravel now. Note that very soon I think 35 mm wide road tires will be the norm.
Once you know what you like, prioritize fit and feel over group set, frame material, etc. You will be much, much, much happier with a bike that fits than a bike that has great specs written on the box, but doesn’t. Forget about Ultegra vs. 105, electronic shifting at this stage. If you really like your bike, you can upgrade it later.
Invest in a bike fit at the shop.
Chuck the tires that came with the bike immediately and replace them with something good and probably wider. You can’t go wrong with Continental GP 5000s in 35 mm (assuming that will fit the frame). In fact, ask the shop to do it before they hand you the bike. This will be the biggest safety upgrade you will make to the bike. Tires are what connect you to the road. And what distinguishes a good tire from a bad tire is largely invisible (rubber compound and construction).
Get easier gearing. This will depend on your bike. Most road bikes are not geared for mere mortals or even very fit mortals. You will have the most freedom with SRAM 1x, but you can also get extenders for Shimano 2x.
Get good clothing. Invest in the basics: get a good pair of bib shorts. These will likely be more expensive than you may be comfortable spending. Get good shoes (there are great affordable options out there). Invest in comfortable, tight-fitting clothing.
Issue I have is finding a shop that allows any of that! Local shops are few and far between but I’ll ask about see what test rides can be arranged
I do like the idea of a gravel, especially 1 x setup more for ease than anything, and it f it has a dinner plate big ring on the back I might even get to the top of some hills haha
Clothing I’m fine with, already spent a small fortune! I try to support British manufacturing and lusso make awesome stuff - pricey but soooo comfy
I had that issue in Japan: even if you wanted to buy something, most shops wouldn’t allow you to test ride the bikes. Sometimes shops have events organized by one particular manufacturer, and they bring bikes to be tried out.
1x12 (and soon 1x13) is going to get increasingly popular. 1x13 has gearing that is good enough (read: great) in terms of steps between top-end (= hard) gears and large enough range to give you good climbing gears.
Unless you are using a gravel crank, it is easier and cheaper to get lower gearing on 1x, you just need to swap out the chainring. Still, it really depends on the terrain, if you don’t have any steep hills or climbs where you want to ride, then that doesn’t matter as much.
yeah I may well end up on 2x rather than 1x but not sure.
I’d like to do some 10 mile TT rides next year but then I’m not going to compete with the fastest people even on a TT bike so for next year at least i’m simply racing myself. The following year who knows, might fancy something more specialised at that point but the gravel would still be ideal for EVERYTHING else.
I’m liking the Canyon option at the moment, but I think i’ll buy used. Just get more bang for my buck
I live in the flattest part of the UK, so we have hills but nothing like the north of England. That being said, I like to take my bike when we go on holiday which generally includes hills - this year when I started cycling again I managed about 1/10th of a climb on my bike. Then gave up and came home lol, I’m lighter and fitter now but would be nice to be able to get to the top when we’re away. So I really like the 1x options, something I can still pedal no matter the gradient is great. I don’t need to fly up hills - just get there.
If you are not racing, I’m a big 1x fan for my do it all bike. I’m still on 11 speed (38 x 11-42) which has downsides but think the latest Shimano 1x12 groupsets looks super versatile (have it on my mtb) and it’s great that the GRX and mtb can share the same 10-51t cassette. Does somewhat annoy me that the 1x is easier to gear lower than the 2x GRX.
40t x 10-51 will help climb most tarmac in the UK.
