Road bike recommendations

But there's mudguards for the Grail? I remember something about proprietary mudguards

Anyways, I do some winter riding with my 1x gravel bike. If road is all you ride I'd go double front, 1x feels a bit limited. Just get an Arkose

The new CAAD 13 takes guards. Older Cannondale fans hate them for some reason but I think they look alright.

Edit - Jesus Christ. They’re £1,900 with 105!

Yes crazy! I’ve not bought a bike for about 5 years, when did they all get so pricey for mid range groupsets?

Thanks for the suggestion @skinny.

I’ve ordered some compressionless housing to try to get my brakes working better and avoid dropping a grand on a new bike....

Dolan do a reasonably priced winter bike with 105 hydro for about £1,200 I think.

If it’s just got braking, I wouldn’t bother personally. I now have discs on my best bike and stopping is still limited by tyres and surface.

It’s certainly more predictable and I’m not trashing rims, but I can’t stop all that much faster.

#dbad

I'm looking at a few different options after having to return a second-hand SuperSix Evo that had some issues. Maybe a Tarmac, the 9r entry-level model: Seems quite heavy, but as mentioned on the previous page it's not always about weight. I'm a 58 size in Cannondale which is right in the middle of the 56 and 58 Specialized sizing. Will probably go down to a 56 and then use 20mm or so of spacers (ie the standard cone headset cap) and a 130mm stem.

What’s your budget and what will you be using the bike for?

You’ll probably find the weight of the Specialized is in the finishing kit and wheels rather than the frame. That’s all stuff that can be upgraded.

I don’t know a huge amount about Cube but I’m sure they’re good bikes.

I’d buy whichever will make you want to ride most and make sure it fits well.

Something for fast and short training rides, and maybe some longer ones mixed in too. I loved my previous SuperSix, but BB30 and rim brake.

Looking to future-proof and be able to maintain it myself as much as possible, so that means 12mm axels and discs, and threaded BB. Have been drawn to the Specialized models because they have that one which ticks those boxes, and the models above (too pricey) come with pre-installed Praxis Shimano adaptors.

I can gradually upgrade parts, and if I ever want to upgrade the frame, I can just move everything over. If I go for rim brakes again, then I have to change the wheels, shifters, and brakes later if I change to discs. Also I like the idea of not wearing down rims, and could even try carbon for the first time as fancy training wheels.

See the attached pic for the kind of thing I would aim for, but just with 105 mechanical to begin with, and maybe Zonda disc wheels. That's a 58 and looks big, coming from the more traditional geo and shorter HT of the SuperSix. I'm 189cm and could go 56 or 58.

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I’m also 189cm and have always ridden a 58 specialized - Allez, Langster and now an Allez Disc Sprint. Always been a perfect fit for every type of riding.

You won’t get a properly light bike with discs unless you spend insane money on components. Somewhere around 8kg seems to be the norm.

I’d have a look at the CAAD 13 or the Giant Propel if you want something with a racy position.

The Tarmac SL6 with 105 hydro is a really good bike, you can find the 2019 discounted in many places. It's light if you compare it with similar bikes from other brands, but going from rims to discs will add about a kilo.
The BB is not threaded, only decent ones I can think of is Bowman palace disc and Trek emonda ALR, but these are alloy frames.

@Bezzin
This is my Bowman Pilgrims Disc, since replaced by the Weald. It feels not a million miles away from my summer bike and very handy on rough roads in winter conditions.

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...

CAAD is BB30, and the Giant is a full aero and hurts my eyes (that cable routing, ouch), but thanks for the suggestions.

Ah that's what I thought yes. Seems like the best option right now. I had a look at the groupset weights and discs add very little. For 105, apparently only 25g more. A little extra wheel weight too, for example disc Zonda is 135g heavier.

https://ccache.cc/blogs/newsroom/2019-road-groupset-weight-comparison

I'm sure with this particular bike it's the lower grade carbon that adds some weight. And it does have a threaded BB. See photo below and the spec sheet and reviews.

Even for an aero bike the Giant is a pig.

I’ve not heard a creaky BB30 for ages tbh.

Yet if you get a bike with the exact same spec but rim or disc you'll get over half a kilo on the disc. As for the lower carbon grade is not a massive difference, maybe 200-300gr over an S-Works.

Mmm not sure how you worked out 500g+ for disc versions of the same models. Surely more like 150-200g?

I assume because wheel and groupset weights don't account for the discs themselves? Them shits are heavy.

FWIW I have a disc Road bike as my only bike. It's great and does absolutely everything I need perfectly. That said, if I were to do it all over again I am not convinced I would go discs. There will be some mad rim brake bargains over the next few years as everyone sells up and goes disc too... #savetherimbrake etc

Just an example https://bikerumor.com/2015/07/09/2016-cannondale-supersix-evo-caad12-road-bike-lineup-actual-weights/
TBF I did exactly the opposite and got a rim brake road bike. It's light, but I have to swap wheels when the roads are dirty, and that's 75% of the time here.

That weight comparison does not include rotors, hoses and fluid?

Assume an additional 500gr minimum, going from rim to disc on an otherwise identical build. Beefed up fork, full length housing (hoses), rotors(assume approx 180-200gr), rotor bolts/lock rings, heavier shifters (like 150gr heavier straight off the bat), likely heavier wheels.

I'm afraid you are simply underestimating this by quite a long shot.

Hope that helps

Why are you so worried about weight? It's not a hill climb bike and this isn't the tour.

Get the bike that looks nicest that is also a great ride.

You'll get more of a weight difference if you half fill a water bottle.

Canyon Endurance? 105 disc etc.