Hope you help me square the circle here.
I’m in the market for a new bike, and I need advice.
My current n1 is a viner perfect from 2009, equipped with Campag Centaur.
It’s a nice endurance frame, I got some decent light bicycles carbon wheels (R45) and generally speaking, I’m quite happy with the bike.
One of the main issue I have with it, is that I can’t go further than 25 at the back and 23 at the front (with these deeper rims, my old zondas accept 25 at the front too)
Having moved to Poland a year ago, I’m faced with tarmac that isn’t the most comfy to ride on, hence 23s are not ideal.
It’s not a reason to upgrade per se, but it’s A reason
Another reason is that I’ve now been on TR for 10 months, consistently, and I’m faster and fitter than ever.
This in turn, has led me to try my hand at racing, and I absolutely loved it, and I’m going to do more.
So, I want something more racy than I have.
With about 4 to 5k€ at my disposal, I’m faced with 2 options:
Go with the times:
Forget about rim brakes, forget about campag, get a new bike, with a modern frame, discs, something that can take 28s or more.
Do not be wasteful:
I will be keeping my perfecta, so why not get a VERY good frameset, build it in campag, so that I don’t need new wheels.
Everything compatible between all the bikes, my trainer, my wheels, my tools, etc.
Also, not needing wheels means more cash for the frameset and, obviously, to pay the Italian premium
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
If I had to give examples:
Option one would be, for instance, the Canyon Endurace Aero Di2 or a Canondale Supersix evo , option 2 would be to build something like that Noah Fast with an older v3 Campag super record ESP 11s, or, to keep the Italian flair, a De Rosa SK
I’ve gone full circle a few times on that decision making process. Please help me, Obi Wan Trainerroad, you’re my only hope
You never really need a reason to get a new bike, that new bikes exist is more than enough reason! The bikes yo’ve listed are all great - the supers evo is my favourite from a handling and ride feel perspective.
Campag’s disc brakes are lovely from a feel perspective. I’ve got Shimano discs on all of my bikes, and have ridden SRAM’s many times, but Campag’s feel nicer.
Being in Poland, take a look at Rondo bikes - they are based in Poland and their carbon HVRT bike is an aero race bike that can also do gravel through the clever use of a variable geometry chip in the fork and loads of tyre clearance. It’s a proper fast fun bike (not quite as rocket ship fast as something like the CerveloS5 I have, but when I tried it I found it was still ‘race-bike’ fast). If you have two wheelsets, you could have a 700c 28mm set up for fast road riding and a 650b 40mm set up for a bit of gravel.
That would be abandoning campag though
What bike would you be excited about riding? What would you look at and think ‘oooh yes’? That might be a modern aero bike with discs and electronic shifting, or it might be an Italian frame with mechanical campag and rim brakes.
My only caveats would be that it would have to accept 28s, and it must be a great fit.
I know that’s vague advice, but I think most of us should buy with the heart. This is about fun and enjoyment, so get what will make you smile a bit whenever you take it out.
Sorry if that was unclear, my old bike is still rim-brakes oriented.
It was built as a 100% Italian, hence the gruppo.
If I go down the new everything option, I don’t think I’ll go Campy. I do love it, but between the premium price and how restrictive it can be at times, I’m not sure I want to go down that path again.
I’ll defo give them a butcher!
Well, all of the aforementioned bikes get me quite excited, hence the challenge!
Great fit, I agree. 28s… yes, I suppose. Not a show stopper, but a very nice to have for sure.
I must admit, every time I’ve been tempted to go Campy, I’ve just realised how much of a pain it would be, and not bothered. Different freewheels, bb, most shops not knowing what to do with it, the price premium…
Well if you want Campy for whatever reason and a ‘future proof’ tire clearance, maybe sth like the 3T Exploro with the new Campy Ekar might be an option. It’s an aero gravel Campy Italian bike ;).
I would definitely go with the times! If you’re on rough roads and dealing with proper winters then I simply don’t know why anybody wouldn’t want the option to run wider tires. And the best way of having clearance for wider tires while still having a bike suitable for road racing is disc brakes.
Both your options are nice. Though I think the Canyon Ultimate would be more equivalent to the Supersix as a classic road racing bike. Endurace is more designed as an endurance bike and the Cannondale equivalent would be the Synapse.
Have to admit though that if I was getting a new bike around that price point I would be really tempted to go with one of the models where the cables are completely hidden. That Cannondale you linked to still has cables showing, though think there are Supersixes around that price point with hidden cables. Tarmac SL7 and lots of BMC and Trek models around that price point also have hidden cables. I’m fully aware that hidden cables likely save so few watts they’d be hard to measure, and may be a PITA when you recable your bike, but the superclean look is great!
It’s a tricky one. Intellectually I know discs stop better and provide better clearance. I also love the clean looks of Etap with no cables. But there is something about the look and feel of rim brakes and a top end mechanical groupset which just appeals to my soul, I suppose. It also makes it fairly easy to build a sub 7kg bike on a reasonable budget if you’re not afraid of second hand components and doing most of the work yourself.
But if I was the OP and in his situation, then wide tyres and discs all the way!
Would the Cervélo Caledonia 5 fit the bill? It seems to have been designed with that kind of brief in mind.
Completely agree. If I used my brain (unlikely to happen, my wife would say) the modern bike does make more sense.
Fully integrated? I’m not so sure it’s worth the pain, but yes, they do look good.
Nope, no thanks sir-ee. Been there once and probably won’t do it again
Also, I already have a steel CX bike, for the rougher terrain, so I don’t really feel the need to go THAT wide
Exactly. That’s why I keep going around in circles.
For that kind of money (obviously) I can get a gorgeous modern bike.
But also, for that kind of money, I can either get a not-so-modern top of the range frameset with top of the range components… and I don’t even need to go second hand. Clearance on Campy 11s for instance seems to be pretty common (since I’ve found without looking… i wasn’t looking, I promise!)
it seems a very nice bike, but I’d rather have a proper race machine than something more middle ground. My CX bike gives me all i need in terms of commuting and off-roading. Hence the versatility of the Caledonia would be likely wasted on me.
Completely agree. If I used my brain (unlikely to happen, my wife would say) the modern bike does make more sense.
These were more options out there. I have yet to whittle it down from the 20 odd bikes that I lust after, to a top 5
Fully integrated? I’m not so sure it’s worth the pain, but yes, they do look good.
Yeah, this article was a starting point when looking at alternatives in terms of frameset, to go down the self-build road. Loads of lovelies in there, but if i go modern, I’ll stick to Shimano
As I was considering exactly the same budget and we are living in the same city maybe my types will help:
Dream option: BMC Roadmachine Two. Not fully integrated, DI2, medicore wheel but that look the dealership is wrocław is the best dealership from all the brands.
Rational: New Giant Defy Advanced 1 - way below budget, 35s clearance, mechanical ultegra but a lot of cash to upgrade in the future. Very comfortable bike and good LBS.
Racing 1: Trek Emonda SL6 Pro. Mechanical, only trek emonda with small logo, lovely look. Poor dealership locally.
Racing 2: Tarmac SL6 didsc comp di2. Classic.
Race 3: Orbea Orca M20iTeam. On a paper looks awesome, ability to customize color and components, build compliance, 35s clearance.
And one thing about Canyon - after extensive research, if going D2C I would go rather with Rose Reveal. I think it is a better value for a bike.
And they are all beautiful bikes! The Orbea might be the closest thing to ticking all the boxes, but in all honesty I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. I think there is something a bit ‘meh’ about mechanical Ultegra at that price point, but I know it doesn’t bother a lot of people.
One of our local dealers has just started selling BMC, and they look lovely, but there’s a definite price premium (even over Specialized, which is saying something).
Yes BMC’s are always premium and lower models have the most boring painting job ever but I love the overall lines of the bikes - for me the best looking bikes on the market. On the other hand if going Italian with flare and panache - new Wilier Cento 10 Pro in Ramato paintjob looks truly amazing.
Orbea like you said has everything but I have read some poor reviews of customer service. But from features standpoint it is almost a perfect bike if you want something racy for poor roads.
I feel these are more in the region of what I already have, geometry-wise. Albeit, of course, a lot more modern and with a lot more clearance.
The BMC looks lovely, but neither of those gets my juices going.
I’ve been looking at this one. The “21” model does have the massive logo though
My experience with PM Rider here has been pretty good so far, and being able to test the bike is a big plus
I just can’t gel with Spesh. No idea why. I loved my Allez, and thoroughly regret selling it, but none of the new models really do it for me
Well worth looking into, thanks!
Other bikes I really like the look of:
Scott Foil 10
And the new Lapierre Aircode DRS.
I really lust after those 2.
Otherwise, a lot more racey, and, I fear, too harsh for the roads around here, the Madone SL6, and the Merida Reacto LTD
Has the benefit of being customizable, too. Hence could get better wheels while still remaining in budget.
And I’ve had my bike fit at Olimpius, who are reseller if I’m not mistaken. Worth investigating!
