Road bike recommendations

Perfect winter trainer, BTW. Why change? If you eventually managed to keep up on that, imagine the joy when you switch to your summer bike.

I am getting dropped later and less often on this or my Steamroller.

There will be a massive smile when I change to my summer bike - also it will look nicer than those who have been punishing me on their carbon through the winter.

Storck
Canyon
Colnago
Argon
Koga
Willier

They all do large carbon frames which should be big enough, probably not going to get a carbon bike for that much though, more looking at just the frame in that price range.

Winter's not about keeping up with spring burn-outs with their race set-up anyway.

True. I guess my ego is somewhat fragile. Thanks for the big picture.

Have a bump, a friend of mine is looking for the same thing, though he's just over 6'. Any overflow of suggestions welcome!

The difference between 6' and 6'6" is large. In the US nearly 18% of 20-29 year old males are of height between 5'11" (the average height in the US is just over 5'10", 1/2 an inch taller than average UK males) and 6'1". 6'6" males are below the statistical threshold. If we include the 30-39 year olds (which are, on average taller) we get a not insignificant market for ~6 foot tall males.

ShannonBall how much are you looking for for the bob?

Lots

Sounds like you just need to ride with more civilised people.

:)

You'll only notice the weight/stiffness differences in a sprint up a hill, of which you wont be doing any of all winter if you're sticking to low hr steady efforts.

[]You don't need as big as possible. You need what fits
[]Carbon is not the greatest material for a touring bicycle
[*]1500 for a complete bicycle is not terribly much.
Starting point is, as always, to measure your inseam and compare that to the averages for you height. Michael Phelps is 6'4" but has short legs and slightly larger feet. The bicycle frame that would fit him would need to have an oversquare geometry. Most European bicycles tend to, in larger sizes, be designed for riders with comparatively shorter torsos.

Carbon? With very few exceptions its all from 3-4 Chinese factories and targeted for riders of average morphology, none of it for riders 6'6".

Thanks for your reply, I appreciate I need a bike that fits, not 'as large as possible, but without getting into specifics what i was really looking for is advice on where does sell larger frames. I'm 6ft 6 and quite clearly need a larger frame, which can be hard to find, so any suggestions for brands would be great!

In terms of the carbon, it is not essential. If you have a better suggestion then please do let me know.

Storck
Canyon
Colnago
Argon
Koga
Willier

They all do large carbon frames which should be big enough, probably not going to get a carbon bike for that much though, more looking at just the frame in that price range.

Great! Thanks for your help. In terms of price I could actually look up to £2k-2500 as I can get a friend to buy the bike at wholesale prices and don't mind spending a bit more.

I'll check these out. Thanks.

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBBAC13U/battaglin_c13_carbon_ultegra_complete_bike
is a pretty hefty off right now.

Canyon outlet

Yeah, when out on my own on my full-guarded tank bike with an ancient set of Conti Top Touring 2000s (actually 26mm), I'd only average around 2mph less than the summer bike for a committed solo ride of 50-75 miles on undulating (but not hilly) terrain. And some of that's probably down to the difference between atmospheric/road conditions in summer vs late autumn/early spring.

As for the winter, I've been chugging along on 800g studded 30mm tyres, so clearly don't give a shit about much other than staying upright.

Braker got a Canyon did he not?

He's an outlier, in many ways to be honest, but in this case I refer to his height.

Giant size XL is recommended for those over 6'3 - there are TCRs and Defys in XL at cycle surgery Holborn (thought possibly not built/on display) that fall into your price range. As mentioned above, definitely explore your options a bit, and try to make your choice fit with your intended usage. Carbon might not be right for big tours but its definitely a great choice for day rides, club runs, cycling holidays (with accommodation) and shorter light/creditcard touring. You might get a bit more help here if you go into more detail about how you want to use it generally, and what you envisage yourself doing in France.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/_en/outlet/article.html?o=A1035364

Giant size XL is recommended for those over 6'3 - there are TCRs and Defys in XL at cycle surgery Holborn (thought possibly not built/on display) that fall into your price range. As mentioned above, definitely explore your options a bit, and try to make your choice fit with your intended usage. Carbon might not be right for big tours but its definitely a great choice for day rides, club runs, cycling holidays (with accommodation) and shorter light/creditcard touring. You might get a bit more help here if you go into more detail about how you want to use it generally, and what you envisage yourself doing in France.

Danns: Thanks for your help. Basically it will be used for day rides. I'll hopefully take it to France with a bunch of friends, but won't be carrying much on it each day as we have a van to carry all equipment. I was thinking carbon simply because I know that is what the others use.

Thorn cycles in England is specialised in touring bikes (steel) and they do very large frames on some models if needed. http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/models.html

They do Audax bikes that carry light loads and are comfortable all day that may work for you :) Carbon forks can be fitted to those.

I got one they're very good/comfy and come with a fan forum of experience touring people.

Ridgeback Panorama is another touring options, so is Dawes and so is Spa Cycles. But never used any of their brands.

One note on carbon: Don't use if you can't park bike safely as knocks can damage it more easily than steel. If you want to ride this all year round for commuting and don't have a safe parking area it might not suit your riding.

I think for my winter bike I am going to end up using a cross fork- requirements list is:

• full carbon
  
• tapered steerer
  
• disc brake
  
• mudguards
  
• clearance for 25c minimum
  
  

You know Argonaut do custom carbon right?

Carbon might not be right for big tours but its definitely a great choice for day rides, club runs, cycling holidays (with accommodation) and shorter light/creditcard touring.

Why is carbon a "great choice" for day rides? The weight difference between a modern steel, alu and carbon frame is not enough to make a big difference. Carbon is not even always lighter. Carbon bicycle frames tend to have some different acoustic and resonant properties their metallic brothers but don't ride "smoother". The failure modus, however, of carbon is not the best. Its not easy to tell when carbon is damaged. Catastrophic failure of carbon fibres is also nastier. That's why alu replaced wood in rims.
The biggest problem, however, with carbon is that is quite difficult to detect quality.

Let me quote Pat McQuaid from 2011

"Most of the bikes available today, in the professional peloton, the frames are made in China, by a just a couple of plants.

"And they're turning out thousands and thousands of these carbon fibre or Kevlar or whatever frames, at a cost of maybe $30 or $40 a piece, and that same bike is ultimately being sold as a bike on the market for four or five or six thousand Euros.

"Our problem is, this initial frame, of twenty or thirty or forty dollars, where are the safety aspects? Where are the safety parameters in the making [of that frame]? That's something we're going to have to address with the industry as we move on. We have to bear in mind the safety aspect of the sport. There's a whole change that has happened which is making racing less safe and causing more crashes."

There have been loads of problems with parts and frames in the pro-peleton. Given the current nervousness about sponsorship people just speak less about it.. but the problem did not go away...

I was thinking carbon simply because I know that is what the others use.

Didn't your mother ever say "and if everyone would jump off a bridge..."

As for the winter, I've been chugging along on 800g studded 30mm tyres, so clearly don't give a shit about much other than staying upright.

And still dropping me on every hill ffs.

Either lay off the pies, or ride with people who can't climb.

Personally I wouldn't believe anything Pat McQuaid says, that quote is so that they can make money getting frames registered with them as safe to race and they can make money off it.

Saying carbon is crap or amazing is pointless as its both depending on how its designed and manufactured. A bike made of carbon can be designed to feel like a steel bike or aluminium, its a very versitile material that can be tuned way more than metal frames

You know Argonaut do custom carbon right?

Stock Geometry, Custom Layup $6K FUCK OFF!
Custom Geometry, Custom Layup $6.5K FUCK OFF EVEN MORE!

^ We had a mamil in the office a while ago waxing lyrical about his custom frame. Although I think I would do that and more if I ever convinced myself to pay $6.5k for a biek.

^^ It's probably a fair reflection of how much it costs to make. Whether it makes sense is a moot point.