Endurance bike (n+1)

[nezumi]

This is a speculative post, as I am certain I will win the prize from the Great Cycle Challenge. :p

Having bought a CX bike as a commuter, I now want to lust over a road specific bike for the 3-peaks/Around the bay/High Country Challenge etc.

I am thinking carbon frame, internally routed cables and Ultegra groupo.

I must stress that this is mostly a hypothetical steed - for now I will just struggle along on the CX bike - hills or not!

[thecaptn]

Roubaix?

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/road/roubaix" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like mine

[RonK]

A Specialized Roubaix would be hard to pass. Ultegra and internally routed cables you say? That would be the Roubaix SL4 Expert. Start saving your pennies.

[Duck!]

Also Giant Defy Advanced 1, or the 0 with Ultegra Di2.
Bianchi Intenso or Infinito CV (Save quite a few more pennies for that one!)

[rjk]

start saving you money the trek domane 5.9 ultegra di2 is on my shopping list, endurance frame with a new type of shock absorption on it. here is the write up as well as a nice pic

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... p=18146743" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[briztoon]

What size bike do you ride?

Talk to anyone who test rides bikes, i.e. magazines and the first bike they'll say is a Focus Cayo. O.K. my experience is limited to one such discussion.

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /102255641" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... 2-12-46278" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My other choice would be;
http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /102152357" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... sl10-36942" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[briztoon]

start saving you money the trek domane 5.9 ultegra di2 is on my shopping list, endurance frame with a new type of shock absorption on it. here is the write up as well as a nice pic

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... p=18146743" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /102295857" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /102298712" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[rjk]

start saving you money the trek domane 5.9 ultegra di2 is on my shopping list, endurance frame with a new type of shock absorption on it. here is the write up as well as a nice pic

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... p=18146743" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /102295857" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.bikeexchange.com.au/bicycles ... /102298712" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

the 2nd one is a madone not a domane got to be careful when checking, the madone is a pure race beast and not endurance oriented at all

[robbo]

also have a look at the Cannondale Synapse, I bought one over the specialized roubaix. Much more comfortable than my Fuji SST

[singlespeedscott]

What's wrong with the cross bike?

[nezumi]

What's wrong with the cross bike?

Nothing wrong and I'm sure it will serve me, but the exercise of taking off the rack, mudguards, lights etc and changing the tyres for weekend to weekday stuff would get arduous. Better to have one ride for events and another for the commute.

I should ride a 54cm based on most fittings. My CX4 is a 55cm because that's what Merida make.

[briztoon]

the 2nd one is a madone not a domane got to be careful when checking, the madone is a pure race beast and not endurance oriented at all

Yeah I wasn't sure which category it fell in from reading Bike Radards review. Sounds like it was meant to be a sportive bike but flopped some what.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 9-11-42513" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I got to ride a Ui2 Madone 5.9 in France and I wouldn't call it a race machine. I actually thought it was a sportive bike. It was fine for 50km to 90km rides up and down the Alpes. We didn't do any longer rides so I don't know how I would have felt, but it was fine for being in the saddle for 4 hours plus.

[nezumi]

Hmmm, how would this rate in comparison?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Carbon-Road- ... 102wt_1328" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[thecaptn]

Looks nice.

[nezumi]

A Specialized Roubaix would be hard to pass. Ultegra and internally routed cables you say? That would be the Roubaix SL4 Expert. Start saving your pennies.

What's the difference between the Expert and the Compact?

I am using Ultegra as a spec level mostly because I know of it, and it sits one step above my CX bike. Specialized also do a SRAM Apex Roubaix with Disc brakes - worth looking at?

[thecaptn]

Specialized do good mark downs on old stock which is how I got mine, Bike Exchange is a good way to find a good price on what you want and then check with the local dealer to see if they can get the bike in and match the price. I dont need to do that though because my LBS always does a good deal anyway.
Pete

[thecaptn]

A Specialized Roubaix would be hard to pass. Ultegra and internally routed cables you say? That would be the Roubaix SL4 Expert. Start saving your pennies.

What's the difference between the Expert and the Compact?

I am using Ultegra as a spec level mostly because I know of it, and it sits one step above my CX bike. Specialized also do a SRAM Apex Roubaix with Disc brakes - worth looking at?

The Expert has a better frame and brakes than the compact. I'd deffinately be looking at the SRAM Apex Disc version but that's only because I think it'd be cool.

[CoffsGal]

My first bike was a Specialized Roubaix Expert 2008. A very smooth ride, but I hadn't much experience with other bikes with which to compare it at the time.
Second was a Madone 6.9 2010. Very racy and light but a much harsher ride, but I was racing in the local club races so comfort wasn't the main criteria.
Recently (3 weeks ago) bought a new (old stock) 2011 Specialized S-Works SL3 Roubaix frame from the LBS, and then bought these items...
Ultegra 6800 (11 speed) groupset
Dura Ace WH-9000 C24 wheelset
Deda carbon bars.
I put them all in a dark room, sacrificed a goat, chanted some secret incantations and got this.

S-Works Roubaix SL3 2011 (poor quality image from phone)


The ride is great on the rough Coffs roads, and soooo much smoother than the Madone.
I specifically wanted the pre 2013 frame, as it appears the 2013 frame is much stiffer and may not be as vertically compliant. I suspect this may be partially due to the straight forks on the 2013 model as compared to the more curved forks on the 2012 and earlier.

I can definitely vouch for the excellent ride that the Specialized Roubaix delivers.

Roubaix Expert 2008

[MichaelB]

I'd plunk for a Voalgi Liscio, but then I'm biased

[grantw]

Cervelo r3 the cables are on the outside though

[nezumi]

Routed cabling is more for aesthetics than any delusions of performance.

I guess I need to actually ride an endurance road bike of some sort and see if I really need one, or can survive with the shorter gearing of my CX bike.

[TMjpn]

Bianchi Infinito? Everyone raves about counter veil and it makes a solid racer too!

[cyclotaur]

I'd plunk for a Voalgi Liscio, but then I'm biased

[img]imagedeletedtosparemyeyes[/img]

Off to the ugly bike thread, I say !!

...each to his own, I guess ...

[thecaptn]

I'd plunk for a Voalgi Liscio, but then I'm biased

[img]imagedeletedtosparemyeyes[/img]

Off to the ugly bike thread, I say !!

...each to his own, I guess ...

You could put it to a vote....

[briztoon]

I'd plunk for a Voalgi Liscio, but then I'm biased

[img]imagedeletedtosparemyeyes[/img]

Off to the ugly bike thread, I say !!

...each to his own, I guess ...

You could put it to a vote....

+1