Weekender
pfm Member
Yes between the Boardman ADV 8.9 and the Cannondale Synapse at the moment.
Still open to suggestions...
Help me choose a bike.
- Thread starter Weekender
- Start date
Still open to suggestions...
Howdy
pfm Member
Boardman ADV 8.9 looks very nice. Shimano Tiagra should work mighty fine. It comes with hydraulic discs - which you can see as an advantage or disadvantage. Has a lot of tire clearance. But it has quick release wheels, which are pretty much out of vogue now, and for some good reasons.
Cannondale has very little tire clearance even with 28mm tires, and I don't think you could use any mudguards with 32mm tires. Even with 28mm you would be very limited in mudguard choice, probably to some proprietary model.
It has BB30 bottom bracket standard, which would put me off. Brakes are mechanical, in specs it says Tektro, not so good, although on pics I see TRP, which should be much better. Unfortunately again quick release wheels. It comes with Shimano 105 though, nobody that doesn't race for a living doesn't need anything better.
Of the two, I'd probably go for Boardman, but I'm sure, you can find better. Also look at Trek (Domane Disc, Checkpoint...), Marin, Canyon, Specialized (Diverge, Sequoia), Scott... even other Cannondale models (Topstone, CAADX). And nobody mentioned Kona yet.
Cannondale has very little tire clearance even with 28mm tires, and I don't think you could use any mudguards with 32mm tires. Even with 28mm you would be very limited in mudguard choice, probably to some proprietary model.
It has BB30 bottom bracket standard, which would put me off. Brakes are mechanical, in specs it says Tektro, not so good, although on pics I see TRP, which should be much better. Unfortunately again quick release wheels. It comes with Shimano 105 though, nobody that doesn't race for a living doesn't need anything better.
Of the two, I'd probably go for Boardman, but I'm sure, you can find better. Also look at Trek (Domane Disc, Checkpoint...), Marin, Canyon, Specialized (Diverge, Sequoia), Scott... even other Cannondale models (Topstone, CAADX). And nobody mentioned Kona yet.
Weekender
pfm Member
Thanks for that.
Why are quick release out of vogue?
This looks good:
https://www.evanscycles.com/cannond...PemjxB4yLAc5QNt-Wk_wx8rwnIxYEg_YaAt3wEALw_wcB
Why are quick release out of vogue?
This looks good:
https://www.evanscycles.com/cannond...PemjxB4yLAc5QNt-Wk_wx8rwnIxYEg_YaAt3wEALw_wcB
There's either something wrong with your back or your bike fit is wrong.
Howdy
pfm Member
Through axles offer better stiffness, and quick release could have problems with bigger forces by disc brakes. Doesn't matter if any of this is true or a real issue, its the direction industry is going to and the fact is that in a couple of years you won't be able to find decent disc brake wheels with QR, just like rim brake MTB rims are almost extinct today.
CAADX 105 look very good indeed. There's also CAADX SE 105 - same but with mechanical disc brakes, tubeless ready rims and tires, 48/32 instead of 46/36 chainrings and in appealing petroleum blue colour.
I would check this with the bike shop: "hidden fork mudguard mounts" - and make sure they are able to sell me mudguards that would fit.
Pay attention to front mudguard mounts with any model - also Boardman ADV and the Cannondale Synapse could be problematic.
Weekender
pfm Member
drummerman
pfm Member
The Dale looks good. 105 is bomb proof.
sean99
pfm Member
For commuting on questionable roads in all weathers this looks pretty good (if a lot less sexy):
https://dawescycles.com/product/super-galaxy/
I use an old Dawes horizon as my winter training bike, albeit converted from triple to double (compact) chainrings. Stable and bombproof if a little heavy.
https://dawescycles.com/product/super-galaxy/
I use an old Dawes horizon as my winter training bike, albeit converted from triple to double (compact) chainrings. Stable and bombproof if a little heavy.
SteveG
pfm Member
This is my Roadrat in sensible commuter mode (minus mudguards, which are something I only tend to use on wet club rides, and front rack which I only use for touring), although it does take them:
I got that on bike-to-work quite a few years back but Cotic still do a similar spec bike (Deore disc brakes, 1x11 Alfine, 700x37 tyres) for £1199. They also do a CX bike called an Escapade which can be had for the same price although with Sora gearing and mechanical disc brakes.
I got that on bike-to-work quite a few years back but Cotic still do a similar spec bike (Deore disc brakes, 1x11 Alfine, 700x37 tyres) for £1199. They also do a CX bike called an Escapade which can be had for the same price although with Sora gearing and mechanical disc brakes.
Could be the latter but I have no probs with any of my 4 bikes with flat bars.
foxwelljsly
Me too, I ate one sour too.
Tommy Saxondale.
Howdy
pfm Member
If you get a chance, try something completely different, e.g. Salsa Fargo. Drop bars spectrum is extremely diverse, from typical aero machines to the likes of Fargo.
SteveG
pfm Member
A lot of drop bar bikes are set-up for comfort these days. I have both drop bar and flat bar bikes but for longer rides it's the drop bar bikes that are more comfortable, especially my Specialized Roubaix which is the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden.
Weekender
pfm Member
Shortlist:
BMC Roadmachine RM03 2017.
30% off. 105. No mudguards. Hyd brakes. £1,300
Trek Emonda AL4 2019
Hyd brakes. Tiagra. £1,300
Specialized Roubaix 2018
30% off. Great frame. Tiagra. Mech. brakes. £1,200
Cannondale Synapse 105 2019
105. Mech brakes. £1,100.
Tempted by the BMC.
BMC Roadmachine RM03 2017.
30% off. 105. No mudguards. Hyd brakes. £1,300
Trek Emonda AL4 2019
Hyd brakes. Tiagra. £1,300
Specialized Roubaix 2018
30% off. Great frame. Tiagra. Mech. brakes. £1,200
Cannondale Synapse 105 2019
105. Mech brakes. £1,100.
Tempted by the BMC.
Howdy
pfm Member
You're all over the place.
Trek Emonda is a race bike, specialized for climbing. No option of comfortable tires, no option for mudguards, no disc brakes, no carriers.
Made for people in their twenties or (early) thirties (with their spinal flexibility and pain threshold) for mountain stages of grand tours.
Specialized
Roubaix is a race bike, specialized for comfort, virtually no option for mudguards, no really comfortable tire option, no carriers.
Diverge would be much better, on paper it is not a race bike, but a gravel bike. In reality, it's very much a race bike with an option of slightly wider tires, mudguards, front and rear carriers and more... It could actually replace both your road bike & hybrid and serve as a great commuter.
Sequoia is a truly comfortable bike, real gravel bike (that really means trail, doesn't it?), with all the options. Still rides great on roads. Find 2018 Elite model at a discounted price.
BMC Roadmachine is a roadmachine.
Cannondale Synapse - we've been through this before.
You should figure out what you actually want. You already have a road bike after all. Test ride could help you with this. Or just use your hybrid for your commute.
I'd rather buy speakers without audition, than buy a bike without a test ride.
Trek Emonda is a race bike, specialized for climbing. No option of comfortable tires, no option for mudguards, no disc brakes, no carriers.
Made for people in their twenties or (early) thirties (with their spinal flexibility and pain threshold) for mountain stages of grand tours.
Specialized
Roubaix is a race bike, specialized for comfort, virtually no option for mudguards, no really comfortable tire option, no carriers.
Diverge would be much better, on paper it is not a race bike, but a gravel bike. In reality, it's very much a race bike with an option of slightly wider tires, mudguards, front and rear carriers and more... It could actually replace both your road bike & hybrid and serve as a great commuter.
Sequoia is a truly comfortable bike, real gravel bike (that really means trail, doesn't it?), with all the options. Still rides great on roads. Find 2018 Elite model at a discounted price.
BMC Roadmachine is a roadmachine.
Cannondale Synapse - we've been through this before.
You should figure out what you actually want. You already have a road bike after all. Test ride could help you with this. Or just use your hybrid for your commute.
I'd rather buy speakers without audition, than buy a bike without a test ride.
SteveG
pfm Member
I'm a long term Roubaix owner and most certainly wouldn't call it a "race bike" (although I know they are raced in some specialist events where the roads are very rough) unless you're very old school and refer to anything with drop bars as a "racer". It's marketed as an endurance bike mainly - great for longer sportives for example or if you just want a reasonably fast roadbike that's also comfortable. A lot of folks in my club have them, including some folks (like me) that have racier road bikes but actually find the Roubaix faster over longer distances (60+ miles for example) due to its comfort.
I've used mine with raceblade mudguards and a seatpost mounted rack and while it won't take really wide tyres - when fitted with 25c's it's by far the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden (including bikes with much wider tyres).
Having said that it wouldn't be my first choice for a daily commuter unless it was for a particularly long commute - in which case it'd be ideal.