New £1000 Road Bike Quandry

[videoman]

Hi all,
Sorry for another new bike question but just wondered if any of you had experience of the following bikes.

I'm approaching mid fifties and trying to get a bit fitter and I am looking at completing a few charity rides etc so after a comfy road bike. Anything has to be quicker than my Dawes Sardar and an old Giant steel framed mountain bike converted for road use.

Been looking at the following:
Trek Domane 2.0 with a triple and Tiagra
Giant Defy 1 with 105
Cannondale Synapse 105 with discs

Any thoughts would be most welcome.
Thanks

 

[Peteaud]

Hi all,
Sorry for another new bike question but just wondered if any of you had experience of the following bikes.

I'm approaching mid fifties and trying to get a bit fitter and I am looking at completing a few charity rides etc so after a comfy road bike. Anything has to be quicker than my Dawes Sardar and an old Giant steel framed mountain bike converted for road use.

Been looking at the following:
Trek Domane 2.0 with a triple and Tiagra
Giant Defy 1 with 105
Cannondale Synapse 105 with discs

Any thoughts would be most welcome.
Thanks

I have the Synapse 105 disc.

The giant is a good bike, (i had a defy 2) but to me the Dale just beats it. However, if you dont need discs, then it really is a difficult choice. I would try to ride them.

The dale is a good all year round bike, i love mine. Its comfy, fast and has a good spread on the gears (12-30) but it is heavier than the giant.

 

[JoeyB]

I'd make sure I test rode both a triple and a compact equipped bike to be sure that I was happy with the gearing on offer, specifically with hills in mind.

 

[Ste pt1]

I'm pondering with either getting a giant defy 1or a cube petolon race
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/...ad-bike-2014?gclid=CPjUo9CRo70CFanjwgodwU4AsA

 

[DooDah]

I'm pondering with either getting a giant defy 1or a cube petolon race
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/p/...ad-bike-2014?gclid=CPjUo9CRo70CFanjwgodwU4AsA

I thought you were after a carbon bike??????

 

[SteCenturion]

I would have thought (from reading reviews) the Trek Domane 2.0 to be the comfiest - the Giant Defy 1 (great bike but only partial 105) to be the best handling & the Emmer-Dale to be over a grand with discs.

How about another option ?

The Cube Peloton R Ace (see what I did there) ?

£999 - available on C2W & in very patriotic White/Red/Blue colour scheme.

Did I mention it has FULL 105 groupset & Mavic Aksium wheel tyre system ?

Lighter than all the other 3 fine choices too & has a 12-30 cassette (triple & compact available).

As always - try b4 u buy.

 

[Ste pt1]

I did look at the carbon cube but because of the admin fee that the bike shop wants it takes it over the £1000 cws budget that I'm allowed so it's back down to the defy1 and the peloton race

 

[videoman]

I would have thought (from reading reviews) the Trek Domane 2.0 to be the comfiest - the Giant Defy 1 (great bike but only partial 105) to be the best handling & the Emmer-Dale to be over a grand with discs.

How about another option ?

The Cube Peloton R Ace (see what I did there) ?

£999 - available on C2W & in very patriotic White/Red/Blue colour scheme.

Did I mention it has FULL 105 groupset & Mavic Aksium wheel tyre system ?

Lighter than all the other 3 fine choices too & has a 12-30 cassette (triple & compact available).

As always - try b4 u buy.

I can only find a Cube Peleton Race in a compact double for this year at £999 and comfort is more important than speed. Unfortunately no Cube dealers near myself and have Rourkes and Swinnertons within a few miles.

If you mention a trial ride or discounts I think it is looked upon as a dirty word and not to be mentioned again.

 

[Custom24]

If you mention a trial ride or discounts I think it is looked upon as a dirty word and not to be mentioned again.

Do you mean that bike dealers are not keen for you to trial ride the bike? That's not what I found.

 

[videoman]

Correct as you get their nice new clean tyres dirty.

 

[Ste pt1]

I've been to ribble,leisure lakes and buy a bike and only ribble didn't let me have a test ride

 

[Custom24]

Correct as you get their nice new clean tyres dirty.

It depends on where you go. All the LBS shops I went to, bar one, were keen for me to get out on the bike. Phone in advance, and try to choose a dry day. Don't do what I did a few years ago and get the bike really mucky I bought a bike off them, so it was OK, just embarassing.
Also, ask them if they can set the bike up in the turbo for you. That way, you can have their opinion of whether the frame size suits you.

 

[vickster]

Avoid weekends too, much easier to build rapport when the shop is empty

 

[SteCenturion]

The Cube Peloton Race is very much like the Giant Defy in terms of comfort, I.e plenty comfortable.

A compact chainset is absolutely no problem if you have a wide range rear cassette 11 or 12-30 or even up to 12-32 gives plenty of gearing.

Giant - Trek & Cannondale are probably available at more stores than Cube to try out though.

Can wholly recommend Giant Defy as I owned one for 12 months but as a newbie got the wrong size (big mistake) so I sold it on and lost very little in cash terms.

 

[DooDah]

Cube eveyday for me even after trying out the Giant Defy. However, everyone prefers a different bike in terms of fit and looks, so go and try a few and buy the one that fits well and makes you smile.