Upgrade to a carbon bike from my Scott Speedster S50...Thoughts?

[Liamsles]

Hi All,

I'm looking to upgrade from my Scott Speedster S50. No particular reason other than I'm wanting to go carbon as I'm looking to do a few more sportives.

My only prerequisites are a good frame, Shimano 105 groupset and internally routed cables.

My budget is around....£1600

So far these 2 have caught my eye...
https://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3239#tab-reiter2

http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bikes/road/tarmac/tarmac-sl4-sport#specs

I was in a LBS and they were really pushing the Cervelo R3 for £2000. This is obviously over the budget but I was just wondering where the 2 above rank against it. Obviously there are big price differences.

At the moment, I'm really swayed to the Canyon but ordering over the internet is something that puts me off. Does anyone have any experience of Canyon? Are the bike's generally a good fit after inputting your measurements on the net?

Finalllllly,
does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts? Really needing help as it seems buying a new bike is like a minefield.

Cheers.

Liam

 

[MrGrumpy]

Canyon seem to be popular just now. Tarmac is a decent bike but imo you don't get the same value for money. At that price I think I would want to sit on one and not just buy off the net. Cervelo from what I've read have some quality control issues but again I think you pay more for the name. I'm sure there will be someone along to tell you to buy a planet x bike. However spending £1.5k to £2k I'd want to see one in the flesh.


Btw there was a thread on here asking the same questions. Have a search for it.

 

[uclown2002]

I love the canyon bikes and they get great reviews but at that sort of dosh I'd want to try one for sure.

 

[vickster]

This is a good spec for the money I think, although quite basic wheels, 10 speed ultegra

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBGUCARULT/guerciotti-cartesio-shimano-ultegra-road-bike

 

[uclown2002]

That is great value @vickster

 

[derrick]

If you can afford a Cervelo buy one, there ain't nothing that compares.

 

[Liamsles]

Thanks for all the replies people,

When I was out on a ride today I actually saw a Planet X road bike and wondered about it. I've never heard of them before but without sounding ignorant...how are they so cheap? Are they decent? @vickster

Also been thinking about Dolan and Ribble but not too sure?

I'm still thinking the Canyon will be the way to go but just unsure about ordering off the net. The amount of kit you got for the money compared the Spesh is what's winning me over. Do you have a Canyon then @uclown2002 ?

@derrick Yeah the LBS owner certainly put a good argument in for the Cervelo. It was a nice a bike and he was going to throw in a professional bike fit and some store credit.

Cheers.

Liam

 

[jowwy]

spesh tarmac sl4 is an awesome bike and the frameset alone is worth the price tag. look at the bike as a package, not as just a group of components and the tarmac cannot be beaten.

also the sl4 is a thing of beauty

 

[Peteaud]

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/super-6-evo-105-6-2014-road-bike-ec054394

 

[vickster]

Or the Synapse, Cycling Plus bike of the year? http://www.swiftcycles.co.uk/projects/2014-synapse-carbon-5-105-1849

 

[DooDah]

Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5 105 was given bike of the year award 2014 by Cycling Plus recently after testing 50 bikes. List price is 1850 quid but I am sure there will be some deals.

 

[DooDah]

@vickster pipped me by a whisker

 

[uclown2002]

Do you have a Canyon then @uclown2002 ?

No but I was seriously tempted. I would have got one if I could have been certain of correct size.

 

[Whiz]

I was going to suggest the cannondale too after reading the mag... Not that I know what I'm talking about though :-)

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

I would take the SL4 above both the Cevelo and the Canyon even if it was vastly the least cost effective option.
The SL4 is a bike with class, finesse and extensively used within the pro-peleton. The bike has won pretty much everything from stage races to the olympic road race.
The SL4 is unique in the mass produced world of cycling in as much as it uses a different carbon layup respective to frame size to give the desired characteristics required for a small, lighter rider and the same for a larger heavier rider.

I personally think the SL4 is a better bike than a Pinerello Dogma (I have owned two) its a better bike than the Specialized Venge (I own three) its a better bike than the Scott Foil (my mate is selling his to buy a Tarmac after riding mine for a day) in fact I would go so far to say that its the best mass produced frame set I have ever ridden so far.
Personally I think people look at specification or the amount of kit you get on a bike far to much. Unless your going for real high end kit which by large offers a weight advantage all the low/middle range stuff is up to the job.
For the same money as a Mercedes Benz you can get a far higher specification Lexus (Toyota) or Infiniti (Nissan) yet they lack the ride quality and detail.

Bike Radar in their review of the £1600 SL4 Sport stated "The best mid-price Tarmac to date - and one of the best rides of any bike at this price"
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/...cycles-specialized-tarmac-sl4-sport-14-47849/