All fair points.
I've only been riding a few years in this guise (ie not up and down the road as a kid). Started with a 2012 Wilier Izoard XP. Thought it was a great bike and suited me for everything I needed; carbon, compact Ultegra, looked great, slightly leftfield etc Had previously borrowed an alu Spesh Allez with Tiagra so was def a move up in my book.
End of last year I got the chance to buy the frame of a Cento1 SL - the one in the avatar. Built it up by buying all the components myself. Ended up as 7.6kg so light but not a complete featherweight. BUT. Pick that up with the old one, makes it feel like it's made out of pig iron. Stunned at the difference but there we go, lack of experience.
I rode them on consecutive days thinking the new one would be like riding air and the old one like pushing a Lorry up a hill; but having done so, I don't think its the weight that really makes THE difference for me, I think it's flex around the bottom bracket. When you're on the move, motoring along, I don't really see a difference; the new one is more spritely to respond to upping the pace, but where I really noticed was getting out of the seat and putting power down - either sprinting or climbing.
So, without rambling on too much, the point is, just because these models have some aero design doesn't make me think they're going to feel like lead on anything over 4%. You're only going to know if you either try to borrow something for a ride or get something for a test ride.
Oh, yeah, out with a mate the other day - he had a Canyon aero thing; aluminium, not carbon. I half expected to need 2 hands. Felt about as heavy as the Izoard but I bet the BB was decent. In fact, it made me think that if I needed to replace the frame, as a direct replacement wouldn't be available, I'd go for a Cento1Air to have a tad more aero.
Some other slightly off-radar brands that tickle my tastebuds - Look and Orbea; not sure what they have frame/price wise but just something else to window shop for.
Problem is, with the more random brands, you're just going to struggle a little more on finding places to stock them in a shop.
Ok, I'll shut up now
Please don't, this is all good information from real world experience.
I'm starting to realise bikes are like tools, you don't fix a computer with a monkey wrench and you don't drill a hole with a hammer. Each tool has is suited to a purpose and so seems to be the case with bikes.
As I mentioned, I'm not massively unfit. I teach Taekwondo, have reasonably strong legs but will be the first to admit I'm not as young as I was. The bike I'm on feels light to me coming from a hardtail MTB which again, when I bought it, didn't feel particularly heavy but the road bike is light years faster than it.
I like a left fielder too, i do like to root for the underdog but the range of bike shops in Northern Ireland seems to sell either mainstream big brands, bike shaped objects or there's
Halfords and the Boardman range which are well represented alongside Chain Reactions Vitus brand.
Ok, instead of me suggesting the Giant Propel I shall list my wish list of requirements and hopefully someone will know the bike which fits most of the criteria?
Carbon - because, carbon and I already have an Alu bike.
105/Ultegra or the Sram equivalent.
Race geometry, I have the synapse for longer ride "comfort". Ideally suited to shorter blasts and climbs where I'm doing 30 miles or less.
Normal sizing, I don't want someone saying buy brand X but go a size up because they're small fitting or whatever.
£1500 ish
Could be this years or last years model, I'm not terribly fussy about it.
Any brand considered, I will have to like it aesthetically because I'm as deep as a puddle and I won't be buying any more bikes after this without selling one to make room.
Any thoughts based on that?
Thanks all, I realise I'm being a pain in the derriere......
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. The post is cut to size.
