New Endurance bike for £3k ish

[rob r]

Hi
Due to back problems I need a bike with relaxed geometry and comfort for 60-70 mile rides on the hills and in the wet at a decent pace and sportives.
As I ride in the pennines and in all sorts of weather, I've decided on a disc bike and and found reaching the brakes is a problem with a 105 group set. I have therefore chosen an ultegra.

I have been advised and following research, have narrowed it down to these that are on offer this time of year :-
Trek domain sl6 disc
BMC road machine 02 ultegra disc
Roubaix 2017

It is getting very difficult to be given much time to road test bikes sufficiently anywhere I am finding and one of my local shops actually refused to build up the trek to see if the fit was correct unless I bought it beforehand?!

I would therefore appreciate any advice on your experiences as this will be my last bike purchase, is a lot of money for me and will have to keep me happy for many years
Cheers for any advice
Rob

 

[vickster]

Evans should enable you to testride all three assuming they stock them £60 refundable deposit IIRC, then you can testride as long as you want (on a dry day)

Assume you are working with a physio too on the back issue? If not, it's worth spending some of that budget on a physio who works with cyclists and getting him or her to do a proper bike fit once they've diagnosed and worked with your back they'd be best placed to advise you on bike choice too. This is key for your forever bike

 

[Grant Fondo]

Hi
Due to back problems I need a bike with relaxed geometry and comfort for 60-70 mile rides on the hills and in the wet at a decent pace and sportives.
As I ride in the pennines and in all sorts of weather, I've decided on a disc bike and and found reaching the brakes is a problem with a 105 group set. I have therefore chosen an ultegra.

I have been advised and following research, have narrowed it down to these that are on offer this time of year :-
Trek domain sl6 disc
BMC road machine 02 ultegra disc
Roubaix 2017

It is getting very difficult to be given much time to road test bikes sufficiently anywhere I am finding and one of my local shops actually refused to build up the trek to see if the fit was correct unless I bought it beforehand?!

I would therefore appreciate any advice on your experiences as this will be my last bike purchase, is a lot of money for me and will have to keep me happy for many years
Cheers for any advice
Rob

Rob I saw Evans had Cannondale Hi Mod Synapses on sale a few weeks back 2016 model but helpful guy in shop said 2017 had lower spec from memory around £2700.
I had one three years ago and v comfy.

 

[Grant Fondo]

Hi
Due to back problems I need a bike with relaxed geometry and comfort for 60-70 mile rides on the hills and in the wet at a decent pace and sportives.
As I ride in the pennines and in all sorts of weather, I've decided on a disc bike and and found reaching the brakes is a problem with a 105 group set. I have therefore chosen an ultegra.

I have been advised and following research, have narrowed it down to these that are on offer this time of year :-
Trek domain sl6 disc
BMC road machine 02 ultegra disc
Roubaix 2017

It is getting very difficult to be given much time to road test bikes sufficiently anywhere I am finding and one of my local shops actually refused to build up the trek to see if the fit was correct unless I bought it beforehand?!

I would therefore appreciate any advice on your experiences as this will be my last bike purchase, is a lot of money for me and will have to keep me happy for many years
Cheers for any advice
Rob

Even cheaper...
http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Ca...gclid=CLijtfWWotECFY8V0wodmr4DPg&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[rob r]

Cheers for that chaps - there are discounts all over the place including a very slightly soiled BMC RM 02 available with £500 saving which sounds about right and in my short size so its a buyers market in Jan!
I'll ask about the cannondale as well at Evans - prefer to use Harry Halls but they've not been very helpful
Cheers and happy new year

 

[bozmandb9]

Lot of money to spend on a bike, so forget carbon, and get a really nice bike! Handmade steel, lovely smooth ride, last you a lifetime, and will never age, just acquire a patina which enhances it!

http://officinabattaglin.com/marosticana-1

 

[vickster]

Or titanium?

 

[S-Express]

I've decided on a disc bike and and found reaching the brakes is a problem with a 105 group set. I have therefore chosen an ultegra.

Why do you think that would make a difference?

 

[vickster]

Why do you think that would make a difference?

Better hood shape?

 

[S-Express]

Better hood shape?

May or may not affect the reach though - I doubt it.

 

[vickster]

May or may not affect the reach though - I doubt it.

Makes a big difference to me, hence my choice of SRAM over Shimano. I'm presuming the OP has determined the same

 

[craigwend]

The Ultegra version of this has just a jolly good review in cycling plus 4.5 / 5 stars - ultegra = £2399)

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s21p3553/SPA-CYCLES-Elan-(105-11-Speed-Hydraulic)

 

[smutchin]

I did LEJOG on a Domane SLR 6 Disc back in September. Loved it. Very comfortable bike.

The Isocore handlebars are fantastic and make a real difference - the old Domane felt slightly unbalanced with all that flex at the rear but none at the front. (I did a 600km audax on the 2015 Domane 4.)

The 32mm tyres are a major benefit too.

The main difference between the SLR and the SL is that the SLR has the adjustable seatpost slider, but frankly I found that a bit of a gimmick - I would be just has happy with the non-adjustable seatpost.

 

[S-Express]

Makes a big difference to me, hence my choice of SRAM over Shimano. I'm presuming the OP has determined the same

But he's not talking about Shimano v Sram - he's talking Shimano v Shimano.

 

[vickster]

But he's not talking about Shimano v Sram - he's talking Shimano v Shimano.

The hoods are still a different shape 105 to ultegra