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Some advice needed from seasoned bikers

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  • January 3, 2016 at 2:38 pm #25201
    Bundy

    Hi all,  I am relatively new to Road biking and looking for some of your experience and advice about what bike to get using the cycle to work scheme £1000.  I need comfort more than speed due to back issues and will be using the bike to commute and do some charity rides and the odd C2C.  I bought an old defy 5 to evaluate wether or not Road riding was for me.  I was surprised how comfortable the defy was so started researching alternative bikes and have a short list of : defy 1 disc or 0,Cannondale  synapse 105,  B’twin ultra 720 af and a Ribble sportive with similar spec.  

    Thank you in advance yes

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  • January 8, 2016 at 4:55 pm #864465
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    darrylxxx

    I have a B’Twin Alur 700 alu

    I have a B’Twin Alur 700 alu bike with 105s. Great bike for the money. I’ve found it very comfortable with over 5,000 km in the past year to prove it. The Ultra 720 af has a terrific specification and is in many annual Top 10s – fabulous value too.

    January 6, 2016 at 9:16 am #864463
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    flyingpitman

    Hi Bundy,I noticed you

    Hi Bundy,I noticed you mentioned the Merckx EMX- 1.I can vouch for Merckx bikes as I have the EMX 3.My racing days are long gone and now I just ride for pleasure, and often do 100 mile rides.Merckx frames in this series are built  more for comfort and long miles than racing.I did have back trouble hence my decision in going for a longer head tube.People have commented on it saying it’s heavier than theres(Scott,Storck,Colnago etc).That doesn’t bother me as I was up to 100 kilo and weight isn’t an issue in a bike,not with carrying a bag of cement around my middle.I don’t think it’s heavy anyway.It is worth going on a test ride and you will be pleasantly surprised how good it is.The power is transfered at the first pedal stroke,it handles really well and downhill is a thrill.I often hit just on 60mph and the bike is solid.It climbs well,shame I didn’t 🙂  but great value.A comfortable ride,and as you said they look the dogs danglies.

     

    I originally bought mine to be a winter bike.When it came it was lighter and more comfortable than my Pinarello Dogma Magnesium and carbon,(2005 edition Fassa Bortolo one) That is now my winter bike and the Merckx my good one.Mine came all campag.centaur but I notice they use shimsham now 😉 

    never mind still a good bike lol.

    January 5, 2016 at 8:57 pm #864461
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    Bundy
    keirik wrote:
    ive also got back problems (in fact I havent been out over christmas because of it), but I bought a synapse105 as a winter bike and I have to say I have found it to be excellent and helps my back rather than hurting it – although having a bike fit is essential in my opinion.

    it is obviously heavier than my summer domane, but it also has disc brakes and mudguards as compensation, but it is the most comfortable alu bike ive ever ridden

    im very happy with it, and suspect you would be too 

     

    That’s very helpful,  keirik,  thanks.  

    January 5, 2016 at 5:29 pm #864459
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    keirik

    ive also got back problems

    ive also got back problems (in fact I havent been out over christmas because of it), but I bought a synapse105 as a winter bike and I have to say I have found it to be excellent and helps my back rather than hurting it – although having a bike fit is essential in my opinion.

    it is obviously heavier than my summer domane, but it also has disc brakes and mudguards as compensation, but it is the most comfortable alu bike ive ever ridden

    im very happy with it, and suspect you would be too 

    January 4, 2016 at 8:09 pm #864457
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    Bundy

    Thanks Martyn.  One of my LBS

    Thanks Martyn.  One of my LBS sell cannondale and also have a Merckx EMX -1 which looks the dogs danglies with very similar spec, (except it’s carbon) so will have a try on that also when the weather dries up. 

    January 4, 2016 at 9:34 am #864455
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    Martyn_K

    I’m sure that the Synapse won

    I’m sure that the Synapse won a couple of magazine bike of the year awards last year. I have not ridden one personally but have heard great things about it. There are several Synapse being ridden in my club and all owners love them to bits. Where we hire bikes in Majorca the shop is stocked by Cannondale and 18 of the 20 riders had a Synapse last year. All were very impressed and we were doing solid 8-10 hour days in the saddle.

    If you have (or had) back / neck issues then make sure as a minimum you get a basic bike fit done too. You could buy what is reviewed as the most comfortable bike ever but setting it up wrong will cause massive issues.

    January 3, 2016 at 3:53 pm #864453
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    Bundy

    Thanks for the reply bechdan,

    Thanks for the reply bechdan,  much appreciated.  Have tried the synapse and found it as comfortable as the defy.  It may come down to looks at the end of the day,  synapse would win hands down,  I think both are around the same weight. 

    January 3, 2016 at 3:08 pm #864451
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    Anonymous

    its worth looking at a steel

    its worth looking at a steel framed bike if you are after comfort and regular use, Ribble cycles and Spa cycles both have lots of options.

    Certainly a 105 groupset will put you in good stead, Tiagra is a tad cheaper but works fine, might just not last you as long.

    Again for comfort look in to 700×25 wheels as you can run a slightly lower pressure than 23.

    In terms of actually choosing a bike, im not going to suggest anything specific as its a fairly personal thing and I wouldnt buy a bike of that price without going to a shop and trying it myself.

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