- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
forum
Race or endurance advice
Hi looking for some advice not overly clued up on road bikes/style , I’m fancying a upgrade current bikes a 2014 cube agree just unsure of what style to look for would I find a race bike too harsh ? What’s the majority usually ride? Endurance style? Most my rides are less than 30miles just a quick blast after work/ late afternoon mostly ,when I’ve got the time I get out on the mountain bike over the road bike . What would you recommend going off my current bike? Been looking at canyon bikes and cubes mostly due to the good value . Cheers for any tips
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
Latest Forum Topics
Latest Comments
- Rendel Harris 6 min 55 sec ago
Sadly this is the case with many comedians I think, Ricky Gervais certainly has the preening self-regard of David Brent, John Cleese has the...
- Jimmy Ray Will 11 min 5 sec ago
The scary thing with these robberies is that they are clearly being orchestrated by intelligent, dilgent thieves. ...
- Oldfatgit 18 min 27 sec ago
It's all quite quiet up here on that scumbag, Rendel....
- stonojnr 48 min 35 sec ago
I'd agree paint is the worst option for infra, but we used to have a busy road that had just paint as a cycle lane. It wasn't great, far from it,...
- MR P H SMITH 1 hour 25 min ago
@mtbtomo We're stoppping at Fodele Beach this Summer! I trust it was a good hotel? Moreover, I've booked my bike and would love to know if you have...
- Rendel Harris 1 hour 27 min ago
If you have lost height it will almost certainly be due to ageing curvature/compression of the spine, it's highly unlikely that your legs have got...
- mdavidford 1 hour 58 min ago
And that's before you get on to the confusing business of taking the new monthly cost and converting it to an annual one, and then comparing it...
- chrisonabike 2 hours 23 min ago
You may live in a place where 30s away from your locked bike is enough to see it gone or at least piranha'd. If so, my sympathies... In Edinburgh...
- Condor Andy 2 hours 33 min ago
Not sure I've seen a transfer fantasy game anywhere else. It's why a lot of people I've spoken to stopped playing this game, it was just too time...
Add new comment
14 comments
You lucky chap, lovely place to live, good shops and nice riding
Cheers yeah it’s a nice spot to live good for all kinds of cycling something for everyone
Just curious: What's wrong the Agree? It looks like a sweet bike.
nothing at all just fancy a upgrade and wanna get rid while i can still get alright money for it hoping I shouldn’t lose to much money wise bought it old stock was almost half price off Paul’s cycles at the time plus I kinda fancy discs
If you have an Evans Cycles near you, arrange a test ride or two. You could try a Cannondale Supersix and a Synapse, the race and sportive bikes from Cannondale to see how different they are. I'd also try a CAAD12 and maybe a CAADx to see all the differences.
I personally don't think there are massive differences between the two styles, and I struggle to feel these small changes. I could just be an insensitive old lump, but does half a degree here and a couple of mm there make a dramatic change?
When I was looking for my new bike 3 years ago, I did a load of research and tried a load of bikes. I then looked at the actual riding I do; whilst we all would like to disappear for a day and ride 100 miles or more, or go bikepacking for a week, my actual rides were mainly 1-3 hours. So I went with a Giant Propel, a so-called aero bike. I don't regret it, I still get moody if I don't get out on it for a few days, and I spent 27 hours on it doing an Everesting, so comfort wasn't that much of an issue.
If both bikes were on equal and/or near each other on price, geometry and handling -
Endurance if you prefer to ride more upright.
Race if you prefer to ride more aero.
You could get an endurance bike outfitted with an agressive handlebar with a drop of 150mm that will put in an aero position, but remain relaxed and comfortable on the hoods. You could do somewhat the opposite with race with a compact bar having a drop of 125mm. Move the bar higher by putting spacers below the stem. For those aero 'I want to go fast' rides you can remove the spacers.
This is an interesting question. i dont find my race bike anymore tiring than my sportive bike i think it's rare that a race bike beats you up these days technology has moved on. Maybe what should determine what bikes we purchase should be our flexibility? When i bought my race bike on paper it wasnt much different but i couldnt get into the drops for more than 2 minutes i knew i'd made a mistake but i knew i could get that flexibility back i'd lost over the years by working at it off the bike. If the weathers good no way i'd ride my relaxed bike these days if i can possibly help it they are just not as much fun.
If your rides are mainly short sub 50 miles then something racier in geometry would suffice. Your current bike looks quite racey in frame. Im >50 so much prefer a more relaxed geometry but do ride for longer.
thanks for the input yeh it’s rare I do more than a 3hour ride on the road bike however I’m getting more hours on the road lately (frequent short rides) over the mtb oh and for age I’m only 24 so guessing the slightly harsher geometry would be okay
I'm still a year or two younger than you and most of my rides are 30-40 miles at a really hard effort - so I think I might be able to give some useful advice.
I bought a Canyon Ultimate and I have the stem slammed (I also put narrower bar with a longer stem on), so it's pretty racey. It's also the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden, even with the aggressive position. I did a 100-mile ride on it and didn't feel at all fatigued after (ok my legs were a little sore after climbing Cheddar Gorge after 90 miles!).
Providing you are reasonably fit and you are reasonably flexible, you'll have no issues with a "racey" bike like a Canyon Ultimate, tbh, you'd probably be fine on even an aero bike!
cheers for the responses guys think I’m going to go for a racer going to try to get to a few lbs try a cube litening out for size/feel how do you find the canyon I’ve been looking at the ultimate sl how’d you find the sizing? They recommend a small for me apparently I’ve got short legs I’m 5’11
Oh my, I've finally found another slightly weird geometry body person like myself!
I'm 5'11 and have reasonably short legs (just under 32" I think - same length legs as my other half, but she's a couple inches shorter than me), I have reasonably gangly arms and good flexibility though.
I used the Canyon size calculator and it recommended a small - based on geometry, and tube lengths I realised I was between a small and a medium, so I chose a medium.
The medium fits me perfectly, I prefer the slightly longer top tube that allows me to get low and stretch out a bit more (my other half rides a small endurace and it feels like a kids bike to me!).
I realise I sound like a Canyon fanboy (and my username doesn't help!), but I was really blown away by my Canyon, way better than anything I've had before. My girlfriend wasn't convinced at first, until she tried out a couple Canyons and loved them
I highly recommend that you go to your LBS and try out a few different bikes and brands though. If you want a bike you can use all year round Canyon might not be the best option (they don't have mudguard eyelets - not even on the endurace).
The other caveat I would add is that I have no issues riding a slammed, low, long bike - owing to youth and fitness I guess! (though given that we sound reasonably similar in terms of age and size, I'd guess you'd be fine too).
yeah your pretty much size my legs 31.5 the cube I’ve got now is a 58 though think there sizings on the smaller side guess I’d be a 56 in a few other brands. Yeah think I’ll go to a few lbs this weekend got Evans,wheelbase and biketreks all around 20mins from me plus a few other small shops see what they have and advise the canyons still tempting though looks wise I like it most plus if I ordered it now it should pretty much arrive on my birthday
mudguards don’t worry me too much I’m used to being caked in mud on the mtb
This.
I also have a canyon ultimate and the same as above, its the most comfortable bike I've owned. Previous bike was a trek domane with front and rear isospeed decouplers - still not as comfortable for me and rode like a tank in comparision.
Bike fit is important, as long as its set up for you you should be fine