2 bikes

[daveydavey]

So, I've been looking for my first road bike, had a budget in mind of around 2k so wanted to get as much bike for my money as possible. Having done a bit of research, I like the Tarmac, Emonda, and maybe the synapse.

Been to 3 local bike shops, told them what I wanted out of the bike, budget, etc and they have all talked me out of spending so much on a bike and tried to sell me a bike of around £900 ish, for winter, and wait to buy a more expensive bike next summer. Do they not want my money haha! Or are they maybe talking me out of the wanting a bike they probable can't get hold of due to low stock!?

I understand that winter is more harsh on a bike, do most 'roadies' have a cheaper winter bike and more expensive summer bike?

[pwa]

What sort of cycling do you do at the moment? How far, how hard? What sort of cycling do you dream of doing? What sorts of surfaces do you intend cycling on, and how far do you want to go? How much stuff do you want to carry? You should be trying to get the answers to questions like that to focus in on your ideal road bike.

2K is not a silly price for a good bike, so long as you know you are getting the right one. Getting the right one is a lot easier when you have some experience. But if you are after something racey I think you would be best advised to avoid something that puts you in a too aggressive low position, since few of us can ride in that sort of position for very long without getting very uncomfortable. So sportive rather than race. Roubaix rather than Tarmac. Just a thought.

[Brucey]

So, I've been looking for my first road bike, had a budget in mind of around 2k .....

if you are new to road bikes, think of something else that you know about (another hobby for which you need some equipment, say) and you will probably realise that you wouldn't advise someone starting out in that hobby to spend over a certain amount on their equipment in the first instance; there is a law of diminishing returns in any event and beside which a newbie isn't necessarily know for sure what will suit them best, and will often buy what turns out to be the wrong thing.

I think the LBSs may be trying to do you a favour here; they may have other reasons but if you want a decent road bike to start with - that will later become a winter/training bike perhaps- then a budget of £500 to £1000 would be more appropriate.

I understand that winter is more harsh on a bike, do most 'roadies' have a cheaper winter bike and more expensive summer bike?

winter bikes lead hard lives and a lot of equipment that is OK on a summer bike will not survive well in wintertime, and any 'performance advantage' there might be is not worth having once you are riding on mucky roads with heavy tyres, mudguards, lights, dressed up like a Michelin man, etc. If you are going to ride in the wintertime all consumables (tyres, chains, cassettes etc) will have a very much shortened life so again it doesn't make sense to have expensive ones; I'd suggest a 9-s cassette -equipped machine would make a sensible winter bike these days.

If you want a decent starter road bike something like the Btwin triban 540 is a sensible choice;

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-540-road-bike-105-red-blue-id_8364452.html

and it will (unlike a lot of similar bikes) accept mudguards.

cheers

[daveydavey]

Great replies, thank you.

My heart was set on a tarmac, I'll be honest I just love the look of it, and that will make me want to go out riding even more. I initially thought it might be a bit too uncomfortable. But with a bit of research I figured with a set of slightly wider tyres and set up properly I could be fine on it.

I do actually really like the Canondale Synapse too.

The bike all 3 shops recommended was the Trek emonda, which I do actually quite like. Can't remember exactly which model it is. About a grand, Matt black, rim brakes, 105 group set.

I'm going to mainly be riding for 2-3 hours after work and at weekends for a good workout more than anything. Mainly going for speed due to time constraints so probably lesser miles but getting faster and faster and adding more hills in etc. Occasionally doing bigger distances on weekends.

To give an idea of fitness, not great but It took me roughly 1hr40mins to ride my first 30 miles on my mountain bike. That's quite a hilly route too.

[Gattonero]

Mind you, any bike of any price won't survive if not regularly cleaned and serviced.

I can't ride a "cheap" bike, it annoys me. Also I don't get in the logic of "buy cheap-thrash it quick-buy another one soon"; instead I like my bikes to be of good spec and I keep them well so they last me long.
I've some bikes that have over 15 years and heaven knows how many tens of thousands miles on them, yet looking pretty new. My everyday "commute" bike does not have a scratch although is locked several times a week outside the shops.
Magic? Not at all. When finances are limited, you ought to keep your stuff as best as you can.
So my advice is: nothing wrong if you want a nice bike with 105 groupset as "everyday bike", as long as you give it that quick wipe-off after every ride in the wet, and once a month in winter wash the wheels, lubricate all the pivots, scrub the chain, etc. Then, of course, salt/grit on the roads call for immediate action, there isn't an escape from this.

[daveydavey]

Mind you, any bike of any price won't survive if not regularly cleaned and serviced.

I can't ride a "cheap" bike, it annoys me. Also I don't get in the logic of "buy cheap-thrash it quick-buy another one soon"; instead I like my bikes to be of good spec and I keep them well so they last me long.
I've some bikes that have over 15 years and heaven knows how many tens of thousands miles on them, yet looking pretty new. My everyday "commute" bike does not have a scratch although is locked several times a week outside the shops.
Magic? Not at all. When finances are limited, you ought to keep your stuff as best as you can.
So my advice is: nothing wrong if you want a nice bike with 105 groupset as "everyday bike", as long as you give it that quick wipe-off after every ride in the wet, and once a month in winter wash the wheels, lubricate all the pivots, scrub the chain, etc. Then, of course, salt/grit on the roads call for immediate action, there isn't an escape from this.

That's my thoughts exactly. I can't be bothered to buy a bike I'm never really gonna be truely happy with, because I know that as soon as I buy it I'll want the more expensive, better bike. (That's just the way I am)

I totally understand where the others are coming from, with me being a total road noobie, spending a decent chunk of dough on my first road bike and not really knowing if it's exactly what suits me best. That's something I'm gonna have to find out the hard way with I suppose haha

If anyone can recommend any bikes they think may suit my needs, I'm all ears.

I like the look of the Canondale super six and caaad too

[Gattonero]

Shops are usually helpful in giving the chance of a test-ride, something you don't really get when buying online

[daveydavey]

Shops are usually helpful in giving the chance of a test-ride, something you don't really get when buying online

Only problem is, I'm gonna need a 60 frame and all the shops I've been in don't stock that size

Evans can get them in for me to test ride if I ask them but only 1 at a time.

A good thing about buying from Evans is that if I'm not happy with the bike, I can swap it for another bike within 30 days of purchase. They also have stock of all the bikes I like, unlike every lbs I visited.

I'd rather use a lbs but they just haven't got any stock unfortunately

[Dave W]

I have a Synapse, and a BMC granfondo, both good handling bikes. The Cannondale is a dreadful winter bike with a poorly designed bottom bracket and difficult to fit mudguards to. Hopefully it will be off my hands soon. I've just bought a Specialized Diverge with full mudguards. I can honestly say I think for our potholed roads it's an ideal machine. Bigger tyres and lower pressures are a bit of a fad but I think it's the way to go. One bike could do all.

[daveydavey]

I have a Synapse, and a BMC granfondo, both good handling bikes. The Cannondale is a dreadful winter bike with a poorly designed bottom bracket and difficult to fit mudguards to. Hopefully it will be off my hands soon. I've just bought a Specialized Diverge with full mudguards. I can honestly say I think for our potholed roads it's an ideal machine. Bigger tyres and lower pressures are a bit of a fad but I think it's the way to go. One bike could do all.

Really. I've read nothing but good reviews about the Synapse! i have heard about the bottom bracket though. Is ir squeaky!?

[the snail]

If you're going to Evans, they will do test rides, which would be a good idea so you could see if the more aggressive riding position on the tarmac suits you vs. the roubaix, synapse etc.

[ossie]

I have a Synapse, and a BMC granfondo, both good handling bikes. The Cannondale is a dreadful winter bike with a poorly designed bottom bracket and difficult to fit mudguards to. Hopefully it will be off my hands soon. I've just bought a Specialized Diverge with full mudguards. I can honestly say I think for our potholed roads it's an ideal machine. Bigger tyres and lower pressures are a bit of a fad but I think it's the way to go. One bike could do all.

Really. I've read nothing but good reviews about the Synapse! i have heard about the bottom bracket though. Is ir squeaky!?

If it has the BB30 then yes there are instances of them creaking etc. Both mine did eventually but I resolved it using Loctite bearing fit.

Like you I had the budget to spend decent money on a road bike (up to 3k). Instead I purchased two a CAAD10 for £1100 and 18 months later a Cannondale Supersix for £900 (ex display). That was 5 years back and I still use both, the CAAD10 in mucky weather, winter etc and the Supersix in decent weather. For some reason I always tend to lean towards the CAAD10.

If I get an issue with one, or I'm working on it the other is always ready to go and its always nice to have a choice .

[Dave W]

The Synapse has a little door under the bottom bracket under which the cables run inside the frame. In winter this becomes rammed with grit and the frame fills with dirty water which seeps into the bearings. I had a CAAD 12 fo a while, dreadful. The creakiest bike I ever owned with a headset that contantly became looseit went straight back to Evans who swapped it for the BMC which is a nice bike.

[mjr]

My heart was set on a tarmac, I'll be honest I just love the look of it, and that will make me want to go out riding even more. I initially thought it might be a bit too uncomfortable. But with a bit of research I figured with a set of slightly wider tyres and set up properly I could be fine on it.

Others have made excellent points but I'd just like to say that I think the above is a perfectly fine reason to spend a bit more on a bike despite it being not a sensible option. For me, it's tended to work the other way, with me spending a bit more money and a lot more time renovating and maintaining bikes than they're probably honestly worth just because I enjoy how they ride.

Test ride it. Looks are nothing if it's uncomfortable.

Oh and I dislike Specialized... Bianchi is my idea of pretty. Or The Light Blue's more retro models.

[daveydavey]

mjr, I'm not looking for pretty, I'm after the mean look, haha

I've got a test ride on the weekend on the Specialized tarmac. They've also got some Canondale and some bikes with a more relaxed riding position in the shop so I can try them out too. I'm gonna fill my boots and try a load out

I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for the replies everybody, all very helpful.