Canyon, Trek or Rose (Help me choose my bike!)

I would go for the Rose. But why CRS 2000? I've been just there the other day because I want to make a similar decision. I'd recommend go RS 3000. It's 100g heavier, as stable and you'll get the Ultegra group. Is there any reason why you want carbon? I'll ride an aluminium bike from ROSE for 8 years now. Excellent choice so far.

P.S.: If you go for the lacquered RS frames (white and black/red), they even look like a carbon one. No visible seams. Everything smooth.

Canyon Ultimate AL SLX 9.0

7.2kg

1,500 GBP

with full Ultegra groupset

Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels

You can't get much better than that for the price. The only downsize (which it not really a downsize depending on your priorities looks vs functionality and durability) is the frame being aluminium. This bike is however very comfortable to ride

I think it's am understatement to say Canyon has had a few delays over Xmas. 1 in 7 orders have not been fulfilled with people waiting for delivery of orders since late summer and still waiting until April! Much more here:http://road.cc/content/news/174360-canyon-responds-storm-customer-critic...

Hi Phatum, hopefully I can be of some help!

I would reccomend looking also at the Endurace CF or AL as the geometries are a little more forgiving and the frame is designed for a more relaxed riding position.

https://www.canyon.com/road/endurace/

I would reccomend a Small (52) you will likely find a 54 too big at 168cm. However it is hard to say how quickly you will grow out of this frame size!

We have been extreamly busy over the christmas period which has cause a few delays in response and delivery but everyone is working flat out to ship bikes as quickly as possible.

If you want any futher info then get in touch with us via our chat function on our homepage.

I've read some terrible things about poor Canyon delivery, with many people cancelling their orders after months of waiting for bikes that don't arrive. Do a quick web search and you'll see lots of these experiences.

I also wouldn't obsess over bike weight unless you are going to be a hill climber. A heavier more aero bike will be better for long distance rides, especially on the flat or rolling terrains.

Some good bikes here - I second what OmuGuy says in that you may outgrow the frame. I own an Emonda SL 6 which I'm very happy with and the SL 5 can be found on a lot cheaper on some websites. If you can go for an SL as opposed to an S as the frameset is much better. Remember as well, it isn't all about weight - handling and stiffness are just as important! 

Quote: I am 14, and my height is 167 cm

You don't mention how wealthy you or your parents are.

Maybe you can afford 250,000 yen for a couple of years during which you're likely to outgrow your bike as your height increases by four or five centimeters. 

I don't know how much experience you've had of cycling so far but, if you are a novice, I would recommend something more crashable than carbon. A friend fatally damaged the frame of his Canyon when he struck one of those squeeze points they have to prevent scooters and motorbikes from entering the riverside cycle paths. Canyon eventually agreed to replace the frame under there replacement scheme, but it took a lot of time and hassle and he had to rebuild the bike himself.

You don't necessarily need something that weighs 8 kg or so. Gears are there to let you pedal more easily up to speed. You aren't competing, yet. Maybe a training bike now and something lighter in a year or so or when your height starts to level off?

You also mention that you want to cycle long distances, so perhaps you should be thinking about an endurance bike, such as a BMC GF, Cannondale Synapse, Trek Domane, Giant Defy, Merida Ride, etc. Or a cyclocross or 'gravel bike' that can take wider tyres. Any bike will give you cardio exercise, particularly if you ride it uphill. In Japan, you can soon being doing that. 

When you get a new bike, after a while, it'll need some tweaking. If you buy from a local bike store, you'll get more goodwill, and probably a few free services during the first year. None of that will be a problem if you, or someone you know, can tighten stretched cables and make other adjustments. You will also need to change the chain and cassette sooner than you think.

You should also budget for lights, and a GPS cycle computer. If you're serious about cardio training, get a heart rate monitor, too. A cadence meter also very much helped me to understand how counterproductively I was cycling. Then there's functional clothing. Uniqlo Dry or DryEx make great baselayers, but padded shorts or tights (for winter) are a boon over those long distances.  You probably won't need a huge lock in Japan, but you need something to discourage a casual thief. All these things add up.
If you're on Facebook, check out what 'gaijin' cycling groups may be in your vicinity. There are a couple in Tokyo and another in Kyoto, at least. People on the lists may be willing to offer advice. Canyon is very much in favour with Kyoto riders, but ordering from them is not as easy as it should be. Recently, one guy gave up and got a nice bike from Rose. 

The problem with mail order is that you can't try before you buy. I'm sure that you are itching to get on saddle and on the road. You are going to get more confidently fitted and more quickly on the road if you buy locally. 

Anyway, good luck and happy trails!

I was in Japan on holiday this year and went to an excellent bike shop in Osaka that stocked Trek, Specialized and Cannondale among others. Why not buy from a Japanese shop?

I also read complaints about Canyon and the long waiting times and delivery deadlines not being met. The post above seems to back this up.

I'm 14 and of similar height. I ordered the Canyon to come for Christmas and plan tho use it for racing, however still hasn't arrived. Dunno if this helps