[Rilkal47]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking at spending around the £1500 mark, at this range should I be looking for a Carbon frame or Aluminium? I am torn between the Canyon Endurace AL 7 Disk or the Ribble R872 Disc. Both weigh about the same, both have the Shim 105 groupset.

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-r … ano-105-1/

https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road-bikes … ection-tab

https://99spokes.com/compare?bikes=cany … z.LG|w.700

The main trade offs seem to be the Canyon has better wheels and an 11-34 cassette vs the Ribble having a 11-32 cassette with a carbon frame.

I’d prefer disc brakes however this caught my eye and I’m astounded that o could afford Ultegra

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/edr-af-endurance-road-bike-white-black-ultegra-id_8569095.html

It would mainly be for proper riding with a club and events like London to Brighton over commuting as I’ve got a gravel bike for that so I am not worried about the fragility of CF

Is CF at this price point a bad Idea or is it better from an upgradability standpoint?

Topic

[joeegg]

Depending on your size,
Depending on your size, PedalOn have the Giant TCR advanced 1 on sale at £1350 in m/l.

[Rilkal47]

They are beautiful but I’m

They are beautiful but I’m not looking to build my own. 

edit. I’d like to at some stage but not currently. 

[Rilkal47]

That’s too dear but the super

That’s too dear but the super professional looks amazing. My favourite combination of colours. 
 

I’ve not heard great things about Planet X though. 2 year warranty is a little measly too. 

[Welsh boy]

Let me throw this one into

Let me throw this one into the mix, i have a rim brake version (frame only) which i built up around Uletgra Di1, it rides very nicely.

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXPCEDULTR8000/planet-x-pro-carbon-evo-disc-shimano-ultegra-road-bike

[Rilkal47]

If I find a used one perhaps.

If I find a used one perhaps. The £1500 is already higher than I originally planned to spend. 

I did spend some time looking at the Synapse though 

[joeegg]

I think if you have a winter
I think if you have a winter bike then I wouldn’t narrow down my choice by going solely for discs. Any chance of a Cannondale Caad 13 within your budget ?

[matthewn5]

The old adage is that

The old adage is that expensive alloy is better than cheap carbon… cheap carbon is damp and smooth, but can lack the brilliantly exciting stiffness and directness you get from a good alloy frame. I’ve had a Cinelli Experience for the last 3 years, and with a carbon seatpost the ride is actually brilliant, sharp and direct handling and exciting when you get the speed up. Whereas the cheapo carbon Planet X I had a decade was just a soggy noodle. Maybe cheap carbon has got better!
Always worth taking bikes for a ride, find a friendly bike shop and test, test, test (to adopt a phrase).

[Pilot Pete]

I think if I were considering

I think if I were considering aluminium I would certainly look at a Bowman Palace R or 3. I think they look lovely compared to many of the other frames out there.

https://bowman-cycles.com/collections/frame-archive/products/bowman-palace-r-frameset
https://bowman-cycles.com/products/bowman-palace-3-frameset

PP

[Pilot Pete]

I don’t get all this about

I don’t get all this about swapping out an 11 for another ratio being more useful in the middle of the block.

I’ve never felt I needed something extra in the middle of my cassettes and I run 11-28. I have on occasions thought I could do with something lower than a 28 after 6hrs in the Peak District!

At the other extreme, the 52/11 combo is well used on downhills in the Peaks. Quite often then I think I could do with something higher! But the reality is I can spin out and then tuck in to keep accelerating up to 50mph+ so don’t need anything bigger.

So it’s horses for courses really as it depends where people ride.

PP

[Pilot Pete]

Yes, but it makes little

Yes, but it makes little difference when it comes to deciding which of the two bike to buy.

PP

[Stebbo]

It’s not just 11t sprocket is

It’s not just 11t sprocket is over rated and under used. It could be replaced with a 16 or 18 if the cassette started at 12t. 16 or 18 are much more useful. 
 

 

 

[Tbike]

I wouldn’t say a 32 or 34

I wouldn’t say a 32 or 34 cassette is extreme just the way things have changed over the years.  I’d say riding up a steep hill into a head wind most people woud be pleased to have larger cassette as it’s easier to spin a higher cadence and hopefully reduce the strain on you muscles.

I agree Road Cycle Exchange definitely worth a look.

[Rilkal47]

The wait is approx 21 days on

The wait is approx 21 days on each but I’m not ordering until my work has completed the GCI sign up so it won’t be soon. 

My gravel bike is AL and I do feel the slow down over rough terrain. 

[pablo]

What’s the wait on the Ribble
What’s the wait on the Ribble and the canyon? Personally I’d probably go Ribble I think they are smashing it at the moment and every time I’ve looked at a canyon which are fantastic bikes the wait has been months. A good AL frame is great and generally you get a better spec of components compared to a Carbon bike I would and do ride an AL bike for loads of my ridding and have no issues but I also have the same bike in carbon and the ride is better. The Aluminium frame is less compliant at the back so when the road gets rough you feel it more which can slow you down slightly although honestly I could do the same ride back to back and probably get exactly the same average speed. I’ve also done my longest ride on the AL bike at 140 miles and didnt think much of it. Carbon generally is better but Aluminium can be brilliant as well.

[Rilkal47]

Having a decent LBS would be

Having a decent LBS would be great but mine aren’t great. One fobs you off if you’re spending a serious sum of money on a racing bike and the other doesn’t carry bikes over £500 or any high end components but is a wizard when it comes to mechanics so I will get him to service it. Weirdly my Halfords is really good but only service and discuss bikes you buy from them. 
 

I didn’t know those gear ratios were so extreme. I don’t know too much about that but everything comes with roughly those if it’s 105 so I didn’t look too much in to it. 

[Author]

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