First road bike

[annirak]

I'm on the hunt for a road bike. I'm a long-time hybrid user; I even did the London to Cambridge on it. I ride with aerobars on my hybrid, so riding in the drops doesn't seems like a big stretch to me. I have a preference for triple cranks and I want eyelets for a rack/mudguards, since I'll be commuting on this bike.

I'm mostly interested in endurance bikes, but this is because I'm mostly into distance rides. I would consider any geometry, as long as I thought I could ride 100km on it.

I went to the LBS today and tried a Cannondale Synapse 8, a Giant Defy 4, and a Specialized Roubaix (I asked about the Secteur, but they didn't have the right size for me to try in the showroom).

I liked the responsiveness of the Synapse. I pushed and it just took off! It was comfortable enough. I know it's mostly aesthetic, but I love the internally routed cables.
I felt like I fit the Defy a little better. The handlebars seemed further forward, rather than down. It may be that the Defy's seat had been adjusted further back.
The Roubaix seemed pretty similar to the Synapse from a position standpoint.

I would be ready to pick between the Cannondale Synapse 7, the Giant Defy 3, and the Specialized Secteur Triple, but I can't help wondering about some of the own-brand options like the B'TWin Triban 500 or the Vitus Razor, which have similar specifications to the Synapse 7, the Defy 3, and the Secteur Triple.

Is it worthwhile looking at some of the own-brand bikes, given the cost difference? Out of these 6 bikes, which would you pick for endurance rides?

• Giant Defy 3
• Cannondale Synapse 7 (Sora)
• Specialized Secteur Triple
• B'TWin Triban 500

• Felt F95

• Vitus Razor

The last two are slightly problematic in that I can't try them before I commit to them, and returns policies may not apply since I plan to get this bike through a cycle to work scheme.

In case it crops up, I'm not interested in attempting to turn my hybrid into a road bike.

 

[vickster]

Cannondale for me from that lot. Does it have eyelets for rack and guards, surprised at that

 

[annirak]

Yeah, I was surprised too. It seems to have eyelets for a rack and clearance for guards. Look under Technology.

 

[SteCenturion]

Ultimately the decision will be yours so I don't wish to push one particular bike.

You have listed 4 good bikes there in the Giant, 'Dale, Spesh & Felt.

I don't know enough about the other two to give an informed opinion other than to say I have seen the B Twins in Decathlon & although they have many fans on CC they seem to be built to a budget with not the prettiest welding I have seen.

I can tell you that the Giant Defy is a fantastic bike having owned one myself & the Cannondale Synapse was BOTY in Cycling Plus magazines annual awards.

Another bike to consider is the Trek Domane (not the Madone) which uses a unique to the brand Iso Speed decoupler design to give all day comfort & is one of the best regarded distance machines.

Try www.paulscycles.co.uk or www.ashcycles.co.uk for discounted 2013 models if you want to save a few £££.

 

[RebornBumbler]

It's easier to eliminate bikes that don't have features you want, so I'd be tempted to eliminate those without triple chainsets, and built-in mudguard fittings (I think that might eliminate all except the Triban and Cannondale).

If you don't find any other candidates that you can try locally, try them and go for the best 'feel' - or if you can't decide there, the best colour!
(There's often very little difference between bikes - and you can easily change bar tape, seatpost, saddle, pedal, stem etc. as you go).

I love my Felt F95 but don't feel any need to evangelise; my requirements were 9 gears and around 10kg for less than £500 - yours are quite different.

 

[Cuchilo]

I think the Defy 5 is the only Defy with rack mounts .

 

[MikeW-71]

All the Defys including the 2 have rack mounts, the 1 and 0 do not.

 

[SteCenturion]

I think the Defy 5 is the only Defy with rack mounts .

Slightly surprising Cuch, but then I dont remember if my Defy 2 had them or not (I never use them) & it was a 2009 model.

I do know that Giant sell there own Defy mudguards though & probably racks too.

 

[vickster]

I think up until 2012 the 2 had mounts, my avail did (still does but it's not mine anymore)

You can fix a rack to any frame with p clips if have the mudguard eyelets but no rack points. Just had this done on my genesis

All much harder with a carbon frame, like the trek domane. You'd be stuck with a seatpost rack

 

[annirak]

I don't know enough about the other two to give an informed opinion other than to say I have seen the B Twins in Decathlon & although they have many fans on CC they seem to be built to a budget with not the prettiest welding I have seen.
.

That's what I wondered. I plan for this bike to take me through at least the next 5 years, so a good frame is the key point. Shifters, drivetrain, etc. can all be changed, but if the frame isn't up to snuff, it's awfully hard to find a new one without a whole new bike. That's why I've drifted away from finding the best groupset I can for the money and towards the best frame, no matter what components it has.

Unfortunately, SOME method of mounting a rack is my single largest requirement. Even if that means a seatpost rack, I guess that will do, though I do really prefer the traditional sort. This bike has to be used for commuting and I really don't like cycling with a bag. I don't mind fitting a rack to the mudguard eyelets, so long as there's a solution for mudguards too (again, commuting).

 

[SteCenturion]

Give a Giant store a bell @annirak & ask which Defy models take a proper rack & guards.

The wheels that come on B Twins are bobbins too.

The frames on all of those main brands you listed will be of very good/high quality.

You might try Genesis too, they are a quality brand & will have a model or two that suits & in budget.

Dolan can build you a bike to the spec you want from one of there aluminium frames, have a look for the thread.

Sorry, I do all this from my phone & not good at links or other computery type of stuff.

 

[Cyclist33]

Or just have a look at some pics via google. Simples.

For what It's worth my 2013 defy 3 has rack and mudguard mounts altho I use neither.

 

[jowwy]

my 2013 defy 4 came with rack and guard mounts too

 

[DCLane]

Secteurs can take a rack; mine does.

If you've tried a Roubaix then they're basically the same except one is carbon the other aluminium.

 

[Slawek]

@annirak looks like you are on the hunt with similar budget to mine. Though I'm not after any mudgards or rack mounts I too want to make sure I can get the best frame.

From what I have so far learnt, @SteCenturion is right about that and it's just a question of picking up a bike that feels most comfortable and meets your requirements. I have road 4 different road bikes so far and apart from cube peloton, all of them (giant defy, trek 1.2, forme longcliffe) felt quite the same. So perhaps will have to choose going by colour of the frame. In your case, you might have actually bit easier decision to make with rack/mudgards.