I am looking for a newer (used preferably) road bike and was looking for some suggestions / feedback. I have a Cervelo R3 which has never felt that great (I find it too stiff), while my other bike a basic Fuji Sportif feels great on a comparative basis. I am considering various models in the $2K-4K range - Madone, Tarmac, Emonda, etc., but was looking for general feedback on the overall comfort of these models or other models in that range. I am a smart trainer rider in the winter (3x week) and will do a 50 mile group ride once a week in the summer. Thoughts?
First posting to the forum but have been appreciating the content since I joined. Thanks!
I’ve ridden a bit with an ex pro rider who got himself an emonda (this was in 2021, their entry level frame) with 105. Said it was plenty good for him and that the Madone was too stiff. Perhaps that’s an option?
Having said that the frame on the R3 isn’t too bulky or having a massive BB area so I’m not sure whether similar bikes like an emonda, TCR or Tarmac would be less stiff?
Is you Fuji an alloy bike? My first gravel bike was a Diverge E5 which (visible on the trainer) flexes a LOT when pedalling. It’s perhaps not as efficient as other bikes given that but it’s damn comfortable.
IMHO you should start by test riding a lot of bikes to see what you like and actually want.
You write your current bike is too stiff. That could mean a lot of things. If you are e. g. on 25 mm tires pumped up to very high pressures with an aluminium seat post, then most newer bikes will feel more comfortable simply on account of wider tires.
And what about the geometry? There are a lot of bikes, which are not remarkable or even seemingly unreasonably expensive, but are great. BMC’s Teammachine comes to mind.
Both of my bikes have similar setups in terms of tires and seating. However you raise a good point regarding geometry - in spite of being the same size they have a different fit so that adds to the overall difference.
I’ll start testing riding as many as I can.
Can you be more specific?
For example, “normal tire size” on road bikes is something that has shifted tremendously. I’d say these days 30–33 mm is considered normal and the 28 mm tires (which measure a little over 29 mm) which I run are narrow.
If the Fuji can take care of turbo duties and comfort is the priority a nice reynalds 853 or columus spirit steel frame is well within bugdet, Condor, Mason, Fairlight , Ricltchey, All city, Velo Orange and Crust all of the peg and not breaking the bank to much.
I recently bought an SL7 sport (the one with 12 speed 105 mechanical) and coming from a last gen Allez sprint it’s awesome. It feels just as stiff under power but the comfort and vibration damping is amazing. That’s even with going from 28s to just rolling the stock 26mm tires. I did upgrade the wheels to Roval Rapides (same as on the Allez) and the bars to Zipp SL80 Race’s (vs zipp alloy on the Sprint).
But I agree with others that bikes can be pretty individual and a feeling that one person likes will just rub another person the wrong way. So go out to bike shops and test ride as many as you can.
I have Continental 28’s on both bikes and have similar saddles. Setting aside the different geometry of the two I appreciate the feel of the aluminum bike. I’m just hoping there is something out there that is faster and relatively comfortable for a 2+ hour ride.
