Cycling UK Forum

I have decided to look for a new bike next year, I have a Ridley Icarus 105 which is a few years old and I enjoy riding , but living in a hilly bit of Scotland I would like full mudguards and disc brakes, as mucky fast road descents can be a bit hairy.
So I am looking for a comfortable, reasonably light (9kg ish) bike with hydraulic disc brakes, full midguard fittings, not too bothered which frame material! Price up to £2k ish.

The problem is there are so many bikes out there described as endurance but with no weight details or any hint of whether they fit mudguards! How do you choose!

Welcome.

I no longer understand other people's categorisation of bikes.

What's the closest to your needs that you've found so far so that we can start from that?

Jonathan

VinceLedge wrote:The problem is there are so many bikes out there described as endurance but with no weight details or any hint of whether they fit mudguards! How do you choose!

I) be honest with yourself - what do you enjoy most about the cycling that you do? What do you enjoy the least?

II) be honest about the bike you have - what is it good at, where do you feel that if could be better

III) read bike reviews even if you don't like the bike (but remember such reviews are often written by people who scored highly in their English exams rather than engineering exams - so believe the feelings that the writer has when describing riding the bike, pay less attention to their knowledge of anything too technical)

IV) if you cycle in a group (and with a nod to covid restrictions) ask if you can borrow other people's bikes to ride

V) visit bike shops and ask (politely) if they allow test rides before purchase

VI) while a bicycles initial appearance may attract you, don't let it sway your opinion too much, because (a) you don't see it when you ride it (b) if you've made the right choice its going to be covered in mud, scratches, dings, stickers, protective tape and everything else that a well ridden, much loved bicycle attracts

VII) if you can't find the bike that you are looking for, never be afraid to build it

So far the Ribble Endurance bikes , Orbea Avant, Trek Domane and Whyte Weesex look promising!

I'd think about frame material first

Alu - steel - carbon - titanium

Brand - online - low level - high level.

Groupset tiagra - 105 - ultergra
The more you spend on one area the lower spec you will get on another.

If you like Ridley how about another Ridley?

I like there latest gravel bike.

cheers James

I think the mudguard requirement will narrow the field down considerably.

Someone will be along soon to recommend the Spa Elan, which comes in either steel or Ti, though I suspect they may be on the heavy side for you. The Ti Elan is 10.1 kilo’s, with hydro discs and an Ultegra groupset, according to the Bike Radar review.

Thanks, will have a look at the Spa bikes - hadn't come across those!

VinceLedge wrote:Thanks, will have a look at the Spa bikes - hadn't come across those!

They are one of those companies who will put the bike together as you want it, with a bespoke spec that meets your needs. And they believe in mudguards.

TrevA wrote:I think the mudguard requirement will narrow the field down considerably.

Someone will be along soon to recommend the Spa Elan, which comes in either steel or Ti, though I suspect they may be on the heavy side for you. The Ti Elan is 10.1 kilo’s, with hydro discs and an Ultegra groupset, according to the Bike Radar review.

I've a Spa Aubisque arriving on Saturday. With the upgrade in wheelset it will be around 12kg with guards they tell me. I am a big steel fan and I need a bike that can also have a carrier and carry a little when I need it. I'm 45 and it will be my first experience of discs. We'll see.

Sounds good, let us know what it is like! I have got hydraulic disc on my mtb and they are way better then cable or rim brakes.

Spa Aubisque arrived yesterday and squeezed in a tiny loop before the rain came again. First impressions are really pleasing. I am of the understanding that I need to bed in the brakes before they will perform to their best. In just those first few miles, I would currently put them below the Campagnolo rim brakes on previous bike. Wheels are divine (Bitex/Kinlin/Sapim). I have the 60cm size as I'm 6'4" so the headtube is long - no badge which looks a little odd. I may get a decal made. Anyway, well chuffed. If anyone would like a review when I've done some proper miles, I'd be happy to. All the best. Robert.

My Evans Pinnacle Arkose R2 seems to fit all that criteria.
Disc brakes ( flat profile )
Mudguards
Rack mounts everywhere
Weight about 9.5 kg
Good climbing gears
Robust 32 spoke wheels
105 group set
It's even got a badge
Carbon forks
Internal cable routing
Was on offer on my budget of £1000

I'd say the D2 would be similar but with lower gearing as far as I remember.

VinceLedge wrote:So far the Ribble Endurance bikes , Orbea Avant, Trek Domane and Whyte Weesex look promising!

My first thought, reading your original post, is that setting a weight limit of 9kg is a bit unnecessary with an "endurance" bike. To endure something you normally want to minimise discomfort, all the aches and pains that come from long hours in the saddle, and that usually means accepting a slightly higher weight of bike. It might cost you a minute or two over the first fifty miles of an endurance ride, but by one hundred miles a slightly heavier bike with a bit more comfort built in could see you ahead of cyclists on slightly lighter bikes simply because you are not suffering as much.

I would raise the target weight by at least 1kg to give yourself more wiggle room with the rest of your requirements.

I bought a Dolan GXA a couple of years ago, and I'm quite happy with it. I bought just the frame and built it up myself, but they also sell it as a ready-to-ride complete bike. You can definitely fit mudguards, and a pannier rack if desired. The prices for a complete bike start around £1400 upwards depending on what level of components you choose. Mine, built up (56cm frame), weighs about 10kg, but that's complete with pedals, pump, full mudguards, three bottle cages, saddlebag rack, and lights. Stripped of all those, which is how bicycle weights are normally given, it would easily be under 9kg.

Looks like the price for complete machines starts from around £1400 and go upwards from there, depending on what level of components you choose.

https://www.dolan-bikes.com/gxa-2020/

If I were looking at Dolan I think I would spend a bit more and go for one of their nice titanium frames.
https://www.dolan-bikes.com/adx-disc-2020/
£2.3k with 105, and will take rack and full length guards.
Depends how much you want to spend of course.