Here comes the what bike thread! ‘Dale vs Giant vs Sensa vs ?

Ok road.cc hive-mind, it’s time for 2016 planning/mild fantasising to start in earnest, with more than a little of this too: ~X(

Current ride: Giant Defy 0 – Aluxx frame, upgraded (light) wheels, mostly Ultegra groupset. It’s fine but it’s not the greatest handler in the world, bit too upright for me now and quite heavy.

Current riding type: 5000km this year, mostly rolling. Couple of sportives, fast racing chain-gang every week, occasional club TTs (hilly and flat), rolling solo rides.

Next year’s plan: 7500km, few more sportives, forget the sprints in the chain gang and make a solo break stick for once, win the hilly TTs (need to cut 4 minutes from a 45 minute time, doable if I lose weight), start actually racing, possibly take the bike to Majorca (or hire).

Me: 27 years old, 80kgs, ex-weightlifter, sprints are ok, rolling fine, I don’t mind hills but I know I can’t hang in with the light guys for long. Plan to start April at 75kgs, very achievable with winter cycling/running/football etc.

The shortlist:

Sensa Calabria – pros: it’s pretty, it’s fairly light, it’s aero. cons: I can’t really find anyone with experience of it
Sensa Calabria.

Giant Propel – pros: love the look, great pricing. cons: really quite common in my club, getting on a bit
Giant Propel.

Cannondale SuperSix – pros: light, possibly the most comfortable, 2015 bargains to be had, easier to buy with 52/36 chainset as standard. Cons: also common in my club, not aero, newer model already out, external cabling
SuperSix.

Unfortunately Canyon/Rose etc are out, as I’ll go via Bike to Work, so it has to be UK. Dolan, PlanetX and Ribble are ok, but to be honest I don’t really fancy any of the frames they have for sale right now.

So, if it were your choice, what would you pick from the above? Or would you go for something completely different? I’m super open-minded right now so I’m happy to entertain any notion really.