[Hawkranger]

Dear All,

I would be most grateful for the advice, guidance and wisdom of the good people on this forum.  I’m in the market for a new bike but as I am now into my 51st year I have decided that this will be my last ever (yes I know… never say never)!  In an attempt to buy out an element of ‘future proofing’ I have set the budget at the 5/5.5k mark.  I narrowed the options to the following:

Cannondale Synapse HM Disc RED eTap 2018 – (Tested) Over budget but may be tempted given the ride quality and reputation.  Only rode it for about 30 mins but really impressed.
Giant Defy Advanced SL 1 2018 – (Tested) Groupset Ultegra Di2.  Would have preferred top end but I suppose I could get an upgrade to Dura Ace.  Rode for 2 very comfortable hours. Super efficient ride quality and a little more agile than the Synapse.
Canyon Endurace CF SLX DISC 9.0 SL SRAM ETap – (Not Tested) Spot on the budget and a lot of bike for the money.  Some really positive reviews across the Net.    

A couple of issues for consideration:

I’m a hobby cyclist and nothing more.  I ride 4-5 times a week with one of those rides being as long as I can make it within the time allowed.   My ageing back is starting to resist aerodynamics hence the choices are all based upon Endurance bikes. I think electronic shifting will be the norm going forward which opens the ETap/Di2 discussion.  The Defy and Synapse I tested both had mechanical groupsets so I have no idea of what is the better of the 2 high end electronic shifting groupsets.  For whatever reason (and I suspect it may be budget) I am leaning towards the Canyon although clearly I have yet to try it.

Again, grateful for your views on my short list or indeed any other contenders that are out there.

Best

ALH     

Topic

[hawkinspeter]

Go for the Cannondale. It

Go for the Cannondale. It really impressed you and they are a solid brand and it’s only a bit over budget.

[Stratman]

I think that Welsh Boy is

I think that Welsh Boy is right, buy with the heart, the one that excites you the most.  

I’ve thought about bespoke, but never been able to justify it.  I believe (but have no evidence), that unless you’re a funny shape, or have particular needs, you should be able to get an off the peg to fit perfectly, but it would be special, and so pass the ‘heart’ test.

I’ve enjoyed my carbon Defy, it is fast and comfortable.

I’ve had a steel (Equilibrium disc, 725, so a bit low end compared to your budget) commuter, and although I’ve had my fastest rides on it, it’s not as stiff, or as comfortable as the Defy.

 Last year I came across a Kinesis GFTI Disc for sale, but decided that it was too expensive for no 6.  I still kept looking it it though, and when the price was reduced I went and tried it.  As soon as I did, that was it.  I use it pretty much daily on long commutes, and I’ve done a few longer rides (one 200k+) as well, but I can’t bring myself to sell the Defy either!

So (as always) it depends what you want.

The Defy is great for unloaded rides, with an Arkel Radonneur can carry a bit of stuff, and Crud Catchers do mudguard duty.  The GFTI is probably more comfortable and feels as stiff and responsive, but I’ve a (Ti) rack on the back, so I can carry a reasonable load as well, and I’ve full guards, which I am regularly grateful for.  If I had just one it would be the Kinesis, and in your shoes I’d also look at Laverack and Reilly as they get good write-ups.

Electronic shifting is on my list for a forthcoming upgrade to the Kinesis.  I’m leaning towards Shimano, but only due to battery life as I’ve found Sram and Shimano equally easy to use.

Good luck with your search.

 

[sergius]

don simon wrote:

Agree with Davethegraveraver, custom titanium all the way for me with plenty of Campagnolo hanging off it.

 

I’m in a similar situation for my 40th birthday, titanium bikes look so boring that I can’t bring myself to consider one though.

 

The only reason I haven’t pulled the trigger on a Canyon Ultimate already is that the model I want only comes in black – which is rather dull.

 

I find it amazing that no-one like Bianchi attempts to compete with Canyon at the 4-5k mark.  An XR3 with some decent wheels and Ultegra Di2 (when they release a disc brake model at least) would be a real head turner – but no, it’s either 2-3k with shit wheels and mechanical shifting or 8-9k with ridiculously high-end components like Enve wheels.

[don simon fbpe]

Agree with Davethegraveraver,

Agree with Davethegraveraver, custom titanium all the way for me with plenty of Campagnolo hanging off it.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Last ever bike? 5 grand plus
Last ever bike? 5 grand plus budget? Has to be titanium or a custom build. The bikes you mention are all great, but a bit ubiquitous. I can’t really tell a 1500 quid Synapse from a 5k one, if it was my money I’d want something a bit different, a bit special.
You should also look at Trek Domane and Spesh Roubaix if you’re looking at Synapse and Defy.
Evans are a good retailer for demos, you’ll have to book it and leave your details, but they have a bigger range than most retailers and were happy to let me try several different machines

[The Gavalier]

Yeah for that money and for a

Yeah for that money and for a “forever” bike, I’d go hand built bespoke. So something titanium or high end steel. That way it’ll never look dated and you can just update any componentry as the tech changes (12 speed?). You could have a couple of nice wheelsets and not blow half your budget on the groupset. 

[DoctorFish]

Nice list, I’m sure you would

Nice list, I’m sure you would enjoy any of those :-).  Personally if I buy a forever bike it will be titanium have have loads of tyre clearance and mounts for gauards and a rack.  Then I’d probably have a couple of wheel sets, one for road and one for tow path/mild off-road.  Then I’d probably never use the road set anyway as the others are likey to be more comfortable.

[Boatsie]

Tyre clearance? Opens
Tyre clearance? Opens possibly of routes with bump bumps yet also allows thinner tyre usage.

[peted76]

I echo all of the above I don

I echo all of the above I don’t think you’d have buyers regret getting any of them.. however I’d suggest as you’ve suggested that this bike should last you for a bit then get the best frame possible for the money. To me that looks like the High Mod Cannondale or the Defy Advanced SL.

You can get 10% off the price of the Giant by being nice to my local LBS and I suspect if you haggled hard enough you could upgrade the SLR1 wheels to SLR0 wheels and come within your budget.(Giant’s top end wheels are VERY VERY good and you’ll save £ in the long run if you upgrade from the oft).

 

[Canyon48]

They are all very good bike

They are all very good bike (the Canyon and Cannondale especially). Welsh Boy is right, go with whichever excites you the most!

 

[Welsh boy]

Buy with your heart, which

Buy with your heart, which bike makes you want to ride it even when the weather is poor.  A bike which was bought on the recommendation of a total stranger on an internet forum which sits in the shed because you dont really want to ride it is a poor purchase.  The bike which makes you want to go out even in the wet, miserable, cold British summer and return with a smile on your face is  good purchase.  Go with your heart, not a stranger’s recommendation (and I predict that all the recommendations you get for one bike over another will be made by people who have not made a direct comparison of the 3 you mention so how much use is that opinion anyway?)

[Author]

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