Feel free to correct me if I am mislabeling something here, but can anyone direct me towards some road bikes that are considered more “Comfort” bikes than aggressive “Race” bikes…but that are still meant to go relatively fast on? (In other words, I am not looking for a “touring” bike.)
Cannondale’s Synapse and Trek’s Pilot come to mind (or am I way off on either of those?) Could you suggest any others? I would be interested in anything that is a current model to maybe 5-7 years ago…
Thanks, ST!
Are you looking for comfort in terms of vertical compliance of the frame, or frames that support upright positions?
The Specialized Roubaix, Trek Domane, and Cervelo R series (and maybe S3!) all have the vertical compliance going on but are still performance bikes.
The Cervelos have pretty high stack too!
Feel free to correct me if I am mislabeling something here, but can anyone direct me towards some road bikes that are considered more “Comfort” bikes than aggressive “Race” bikes…but that are still meant to go relatively fast on? (In other words, I am not looking for a “touring” bike.
Cannondale’s Synapse and Trek’s Pilot come to mind (or am I way off on either of those?) Could you suggest any others?
Thanks, ST!
Are you looking for comfort in terms of vertical compliance of the frame, or frames that support upright positions?
Thanks for your suggestions!
To answer your question, I had a slightly more upright position in mind. Pretend though, just for a second, that I don’t know what you mean buy “vertical compliance…” It sounds like there is something else for me to consider?
Some bikes likes the ones I listed try to design some ‘give’ in the frame, so that bumps are absorbed more readily.
Perhaps more important if you are looking for that, is a frame that lets you run wide 25 or 28mm tires, since tires tend to have much more impact on smoothing out road bumps than frame features. You can run a lower pressure the wider the tire is.
So look for frames that have a lot of stack for a given reach, and that will accept bigger tires.
Are you looking for comfort in terms of vertical compliance of the frame, or frames that support upright positions?
Thanks for your suggestions!
To answer your question, I had a slightly more upright position in mind. Pretend though, just for a second, that I don’t know what you mean buy “vertical compliance…” It sounds like there is something else for me to consider?
x2 on the R3. It’s very comfortable, climbs well and goes fast enough for me. I don’t race crits so I can’t comment on it’s racing abilities. I hear others have done well on it though… :O)
x2 on the R3. It’s very comfortable, climbs well and goes fast enough for me. I don’t race crits so I can’t comment on it’s racing abilities. I hear others have done well on it though… :O)
It did win a grand tour, seems ok.
Jamis has a few that are virtually identical to their “race” line, except in the height of the head tube.
I’ve got a Trek Domane with 25c tires on it (it looks like it might take 28c tires). It is like riding a recliner down the road but it can be plenty fast.
I’ve got a Trek Domane with 25c tires on it (it looks like it might take 28c tires). It is like riding a recliner down the road but it can be plenty fast.
Schleck has been racing the pro tour on one.
He doesn’t move that decoupler like I do though! 
Some bikes likes the ones I listed try to design some ‘give’ in the frame, so that bumps are absorbed more readily.
Gotcha. So let me ask you one question (and thanks for all of your time): It seems like that would have a negative effect on energy return? Would that make the bike “slower”? Or, is all of that marketing hype?
They try to design them so that the frame is just as stiff laterally, just not vertically. For instance the R3, and new S3 have super super thin seat stays that deflect a bit vertically, but fat chain stays that don’t deflect easily left and right.
In practice it doesn’t even matter, among any decently designed frames nobody is able to detect any energy lost to the frame while pedaling, even in huge sprint efforts. People have tried to detect it by using crank and wheel based power meters at the same time, for instance.
So no, no substantive power lost due to features like that. I can’t really even tell that these bikes feel any different comfort wise though (at least on the R3), I’m highly insensitive to that stuff. But many many people love them. I can tell when you have a nice fat comfy tire though =)
Some bikes likes the ones I listed try to design some ‘give’ in the frame, so that bumps are absorbed more readily.
Gotcha. So let me ask you one question (and thanks for all of your time): It seems like that would have a negative effect on energy return? Would that make the bike “slower”? Or, is all of that marketing hype?
The Felt Z-series match what you are looking for. Not as aggressive as the F-series but still fast,
http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA/2014/Bikes/Road/Z-Series.aspx
The 2011/12 BMC SLR01 is very comfortable but fast, the 2013 version is stiffer though.
Love my Specialized Roubaix + 25mm tires + Hed Belgium rims.
I’m a 240# guy and it rides really nice. Easily handles everything I can throw at it…
I’m amazed no one has mentioned the Giant Defy. Bicycling magazine and Cycling news has ranked it as the best bike, regardless of classification, a few times over the last few years. I have the TCR SL, and have also ridden the Defy, and can attest that it is a fantastic bike, and is quite fast, with really good power delivery and the wonderful Giant handling (the overdrive system is just incredible). Cannondale Synapse is also a lovely bike, that is plenty fast.
I’m amazed no one has mentioned the Giant Defy. Bicycling magazine and Cycling news has ranked it as the best bike, regardless of classification, a few times over the last few years. I have the TCR SL, and have also ridden the Defy, and can attest that it is a fantastic bike, and is quite fast, with really good power delivery and the wonderful Giant handling (the overdrive system is just incredible). Cannondale Synapse is also a lovely bike, that is plenty fast.
+1 I ride a Defy Comp 1 and love it. Fast, stiff and comfy.
I’ve got a Trek Domane with 25c tires on it (it looks like it might take 28c tires). It is like riding a recliner down the road but it can be plenty fast.
Schleck has been racing the pro tour on one.
So has some dude named Fabian.
Really? That is nuts. Almost as nuts as Tony Martins 110 mile breakaway on NOT A VENGE.
Schleck I figured it was for his broken hip and stuff.
So has some dude named Fabian.
I ride a Specialized Roubaix for my road bike. It’s very comfortable and plenty fast.