Next Sunday, I’m going to a lbs to test ride the following bikes:
Cannondale Super Six Evo 3Cannondale CAAD10 3Specialized Tarmac SL4 Elite
I already tried a 56 cm Cannondale Synapse 5, but, felt way too tall in the front and too low in the rear (the seat post was set up correctly for my leg length). I’ve tried Trek Madone’s in the past (2012), but just couldn’t get dialed in. I currently have a Giant TCX 2 (medium cross frame) and a Trek 2.1 56 cm. Both bikes fit me well. Over time, I removed a couple of spacers from the stems because being lower in the front end felt better.
I’m curious to try a Scott Foil. The only catch is, I would have to travel an hour and half away to the store that’s selling it. Being without a vehicle, I would either have to use buses or rent a car for the day. The 2013 Foil 15 is $3200. My budget is $3K. The Synapse is the lowest of all the bikes I’m considering ($2099).
The thing is, I don’t want to get hung up on one brand over another, or even get taken in by a cool paint scheme. Ultegra would be nice, but, I’m willing to settle for 105 (both my bikes have this). The reason I’m considering C’dale and Specialized is due to this bike shop being very customer service oriented and it’s five minutes from where I live. However, I’m willing to travel further to get a bike that fits me like a glove.
Fwiw, I plan to use this newer road bike for group rides, training and two to four tris every year (from sprints to half ironman distance). Thanks!
How about he Venge…? It will be much better for the occasional Tri and fun on group rides. Without wanting to sound rude, you don’t sound like and all out roadie, so whilst the SL4 is a much more comfortable and better handling bike, you probably wont notice a huge difference.
The scott is awsome, but so stiff it will shalke your teeth out on poor roads…Brilliant for road racing though!
How about he Venge…? It will be much better for the occasional Tri and fun on group rides. Without wanting to sound rude, you don’t sound like and all out roadie, so whilst the SL4 is a much more comfortable and better handling bike, you probably wont notice a huge difference.
The scott is awsome, but so stiff it will shalke your teeth out on poor roads…Brilliant for road racing though!
Thanks for the tips. Considered the Venge, but after looking at various reviews, the Tarmac appears (on paper) to be an adequate compromise between it and the Roubaix.
Didn’t take it as rude at all. Not sure what you mean by “all out” roadie, though. Depends on what group you’re in I suppose. To some who don’t even ride a bike, I’m “all out.” But in the typical roadie group ride, I don’t exactly fit the stereotypical roadie mold. However, you got me thinking about training on the bike like a roadie, doing the runs like a runner, etc.
How about he Venge…? It will be much better for the occasional Tri and fun on group rides. Without wanting to sound rude, you don’t sound like and all out roadie, so whilst the SL4 is a much more comfortable and better handling bike, you probably wont notice a huge difference.
The scott is awsome, but so stiff it will shalke your teeth out on poor roads…Brilliant for road racing though!
Thanks for the tips. Considered the Venge, but after looking at various reviews, the Tarmac appears (on paper) to be an adequate compromise between it and the Roubaix.
Didn’t take it as rude at all. Not sure what you mean by “all out” roadie, though. Depends on what group you’re in I suppose. To some who don’t even ride a bike, I’m “all out.” But in the typical roadie group ride, I don’t exactly fit the stereotypical roadie mold. However, you got me thinking about training on the bike like a roadie, doing the runs like a runner, etc.
I meant road racer… The SL4 is a much more comfortable and arguably better handling bike, but coming from your current bike, You would still fing the venge a vast improvement. Have you considered Canyon really good quality and great value for money (at least in Eurpoe, dont know about US)
honestly, i think you are going at the shopping process a little backward. You really need to know your top tube length and how the bike will be set up in terms of drop and setback and make your decision based on the geometry charts. The last dozen bike I have bought I just picked up the phone and told the shop what to order after I figured it out online. Riding some bike around the block won’t really tell you what you need to know.
If the Scott is the bike for you, they can build it up then box it and ship it cheaply due to the distance.
If you have to pay someone to figure out your dimensions, it’s $100 well spent.
I’m too dense to understand stack and reach, but it seems like the way to go.
See what jordon said in previous post. Test riding really does not tell you much. I am not sure what you mean of “the rear to low” . Test rides can be a really poor way to find out something. If not set up right on your previous bike, the right setup will “feel” wrong. So many variables on a test ride. Hell 10 psi different and you think you have a more comfortable bike. How a bike feels in the parking lot is not the same 80 miles into a century.
Fit will work on geometry. Find that way
honestly, i think you are going at the shopping process a little backward. You really need to know your top tube length and how the bike will be set up in terms of drop and setback and make your decision based on the geometry charts. The last dozen bike I have bought I just picked up the phone and told the shop what to order after I figured it out online. Riding some bike around the block won’t really tell you what you need to know.
If the Scott is the bike for you, they can build it up then box it and ship it cheaply due to the distance.
If you have to pay someone to figure out your dimensions, it’s $100 well spent.
I’m too dense to understand stack and reach, but it seems like the way to go.
Thanks for the feedback. So, how do I go about figuring this out. Here’s my measurements taken without shoes last year (when I was considering a Blue Triad, but didn’t get it):
Height: 67 3/4"Sternum notch (from the floor to the base of the throat): 57"Inseam: 30"Arm length: right - 24", left - 23 1/2"Shoulder width (from the inside of one armpit to the other): 15"
See what jordon said in previous post. Test riding really does not tell you much. I am not sure what you mean of “the rear to low” . Test rides can be a really poor way to find out something. If not set up right on your previous bike, the right setup will “feel” wrong. So many variables on a test ride. Hell 10 psi different and you think you have a more comfortable bike. How a bike feels in the parking lot is not the same 80 miles into a century.
Fit will work on geometry. Find that way
Thanks for your feedback, too. I just posted my measurements from last year.
As far as being too low in the rear of the Synapse. That could have been due to being too high in the front for my tastes. Seems I need to flip them the stem, or keep the stem where it’s at and remove the four spacers.
honestly, i think you are going at the shopping process a little backward. You really need to know your top tube length and how the bike will be set up in terms of drop and setback and make your decision based on the geometry charts. The last dozen bike I have bought I just picked up the phone and told the shop what to order after I figured it out online. Riding some bike around the block won’t really tell you what you need to know.
If the Scott is the bike for you, they can build it up then box it and ship it cheaply due to the distance.
If you have to pay someone to figure out your dimensions, it’s $100 well spent.
I’m too dense to understand stack and reach, but it seems like the way to go.
Thanks for the feedback. So, how do I go about figuring this out. Here’s my measurements taken without shoes last year (when I was considering a Blue Triad, but didn’t get it):
Height: 67 3/4"Sternum notch (from the floor to the base of the throat): 57"Inseam: 30"Arm length: right - 24", left - 23 1/2"Shoulder width (from the inside of one armpit to the other): 15"
I am the same size as you and I am riding a 52cm Cannondale Evo HiMod with DA di2.
you need someone to help you out with this. the best means is one of those contraptions you sit on that allows adjustment so they can figure out the key dimensions. It doesn’t need to be overly complicated, but it depends on how your body folds at the waist and the length of your various levers. You can’t base ot on what someone else rides. Once you start buyingg stems and bars and such, you burn up a lot of money trying it using hit and miss
You really sshould have a good fitter. Its worth it. All guys the same size will not necessarily fit on the same bike. Age, injuries, flexability and other factors all go into a fit. If you can be picky finding a fitter. The good news with that is once you have been fit you never have to agian.
Hey if the CAAD10 is on your list, you should consider the Specialized Allez. From what I’ve heard, it’s got a good ride quality, stiff, and people on WW have built it up (down?) to be crazy light. I like my older Allez and it seems like the newer E5 models have really upped their game. Worth looking at IMO. You also get better price-points than the CAAD10 for comparable builds.
one nice option is an aluminum Guru, they can work with the dealer that does the fit to make you a full custom frame for a real good price. An off the shelf bike might fit you fine also. I ride an old heavy steel frame with real relaxed geometry that I would not trade for anything.
I spent four hours today test riding the SS Evo and Synapse and the Tarmac and Roubaix. I didn’t need to ride the CAAD10 because it was similar in geometry to the Evo.
Between the two brands, I prefer the Specialized. For me, the Cannondale, though light and nimble and tracked straight as an arrow, it felt too twitchy for my taste. It felt like I was pedaling a pencil (if you can imagine that). The Specialized felt very solid underneath me, through corners, up and down hills and on the flats. It really felt like an extension of my body. Very solid feel, like there was more girth to the bike, more contact with the ground, so to speak. Not twitchy like the C’dale. Also, I felt more pitched forward on the C’Dale that wasn’t comfortable for the long haul. I felt right a home on the Specialized, like these are the bikes that I could ride all day long. Within 10 minutes of riding both, I was like, “I love this bike!” I didn’t have that experience with C’Dale. After 35 minutes on them, I just wanted to end the ride. On the Specialized, I was having a blast and didn’t want to stop riding.
Now I just need to decide on which of the two Specialized to get. The Roubaix feels like it would very comfortable on very long rides (up to four or five hours). However, I’m sorta of leaning toward the Tarmac because it’s a bit more agressive, and the cockpit (saddle to handlebars) feels tighter. I feel a bit more stretched out on the Roubaix. But, I know I would be happy on either bike. I’m VERY impressed with Specialized now (never ridden their bikes before). Makes me wonder what a Shiv or Transition would feel like.
Thanks to you and everyone else in this thread for chiming in! I’ll make a final decision next week when I go back to the bike shop for test rides again.
