n+1, a road bike edition

[Tania]

Starting to think about getting a true road bike – I have several drop bar bikes, but none work well for longer weekend rides. My cross bike is super light and has a more upright HT angle but it’s a 1x and the gearing isn’t great for flat sections (I spin out!) and not great for longer climbs (my legs die).

Wants:
Carbon
2x
Hydros
SRAM <-- and that's the kicker. Why is everything shimano? I have nothing against shimano but all of the rest of my bikes are SRAM and I'd rather stay with one shifting mechanism. I don’t want to do a frame only build. I don’t want to swap out the groupset. I’d rather not have eTap. I’ve looked at Jamis, Kona (oh the Zone LTD! But it’s tubular…why? WTH?), Felt (I gave up on their web site, I couldn’t figure out how to get to specs or get any details other than marketing fluff), Cervelo, Trek, Specialized. I’d be ok with a bike that comes as a SRAM 1x so long as it’s set up for a FD. There have been a few potentials in there but geometry wise they’re more like a CX bike and if I’m going to wind up with a bike like that, I’d just get a second of my CX bike since I love it and it can take a front derailleur. (Plus, it’s cheaper than a road bike.) Is this a unicorn bike?

Topic

[ian74]

I just tagged you in a sweet deal on the DC Used FB page for a nice BMC. Top tube is 52cm. I think that’s your size and it hits all your wish lists.

[TwoWheelsDC]

The Cannondale Supersix Evo can be had with SRAM Red HRD (non-eTap), but it’s spendy. The Synapse version is much more reasonably priced, but comes with a 1x crankset.

Also:

Canyon Ultimate WMN CF SLX Disc 8.0 Team CSR

Focus Paralane (1x though…)

[Tania]

Doh! Totally forgot to check out Cannondales.

Ian – I want disc brakes. No budging on that one. You’d be more likely to get me to buy shimano.

[Judd]

I’ve got a Trek Domane which I find to be comfy with a relaxed geometry, but the Treks all come with Shimano drivetrains. I don’t know that it would fit your style either.

[ian74]

@Tania 163966 wrote:

Doh! Totally forgot to check out Cannondales.

Ian – I want disc brakes. No budging on that one. You’d be more likely to get me to buy shimano.

Oh, I glossed right over the “hydros.” I respect that. Sorry, I saw that bike list this morning and it was a good deal.

[Tania]

@ian74 163970 wrote:

I saw that bike list this morning and it was a good deal.

It’s a steal!

[Harry Meatmotor]

@Tania 163962 wrote:

Starting to think about getting a true road bike – I have several drop bar bikes, but none work well for longer weekend rides. My cross bike is super light and has a more upright HT angle but it’s a 1x and the gearing isn’t great for flat sections (I spin out!) and not great for longer climbs (my legs die).

Wants:
Carbon
2x
Hydros
SRAM <-- and that's the kicker. Why is everything shimano? I have nothing against shimano but all of the rest of my bikes are SRAM and I'd rather stay with one shifting mechanism. I don’t want to do a frame only build. I don’t want to swap out the groupset. I’d rather not have eTap. I’ve looked at Jamis, Kona (oh the Zone LTD! But it’s tubular…why? WTH?), Felt (I gave up on their web site, I couldn’t figure out how to get to specs or get any details other than marketing fluff), Cervelo, Trek, Specialized. I’d be ok with a bike that comes as a SRAM 1x so long as it’s set up for a FD. There have been a few potentials in there but geometry wise they’re more like a CX bike and if I’m going to wind up with a bike like that, I’d just get a second of my CX bike since I love it and it can take a front derailleur. (Plus, it’s cheaper than a road bike.) Is this a unicorn bike?

What about building up from a bare frame? The hardest part for most home mechanics will be bleeding the brakes after cutting the lines to fit, if the frame runs internal housing/hoses. I really think you’re leaving some things on the table by not considering this!

I find building up bikes from scratch to be pretty fun – just finished my GFs 2018 S-Works Crux!

Edit – you can get Force 22 hydro for pretty cheap these days.

[Tania]

Building up from a frame is actually what Jan and I were just talking about. The Jamis Xenith ticks all of my boxes (except for the SRAM part). It’s sold out so I’m going to wait to see what they 2018 release is and if it’s frame only, that puppy is mine.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pqcMA5gxOgoK1GWeleOBB2w8Ow9acZX6gjZ_D5l5–w/edit?usp=sharing

^^ because I’m the Queen of Spreadsheets.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tania 163981 wrote:

Building up from a frame is actually what Jan and I were just talking about. The Jamis Xenith ticks all of my boxes (except for the SRAM part). It’s sold out so I’m going to wait to see what they 2018 release is and if it’s frame only, that puppy is mine.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pqcMA5gxOgoK1GWeleOBB2w8Ow9acZX6gjZ_D5l5–w/edit?usp=sharing

^^ because I’m the Queen of Spreadsheets.

If you’re going to build, I wonder if it might be cheaper to buy a complete, base-level bike with the frame you want, then sell the unused stock parts and replace with the ones you want. These days, standalone frames aren’t that much cheaper than complete bikes. That would also moot the Shimano/SRAM from-the-factory issue. You mentioned this as a non-starter in the OP, but now it seems like building is on the table, so swapping groupsets might as well be too!

[Tania]

I’d really rather NOT do a build but after talking with Jan it sounds more reasonable and would get me almost exactly what I want. This would be a winter project so I do have the time to buy parts when I find a good deal. And that means building another bling-y wheelset.

We’ll see – the 2018 bikes are all just about to come out so maybe I won’t have to build up from a frame.

[hozn]

@Tania 163962 wrote:

…I’d just get a second of my CX bike since I love it and it can take a front derailleur. (Plus, it’s cheaper than a road bike.)

Just to throw out there, have you considered wider range cassettes and some road wheels for the cx bike as an alternative here? A SRAM 10-42 with a 42-46t ring is massive range (more than you’ll get on a typical 2x compact road setup). The gaps are a bigger, but I really don’t notice on my road bike. Not anymore, anyway; I have nothing to compare it to.

I’m going the other direction, having decided the geometry (72.5° HTA, 430mm chainstays are probably the relevant dims) on my “CX” bike (really more of a gravel bike) is really enjoyable to ride on the road (it certainly setup more comfortable for long rides than my road bike) and I’m not entirely sure I see the point of also owning a road bike. But I would replace the cassette with a 10-42 to pair with the 46t ring so I wouldn’t spin out in races or fast rides. And I’d build some deeper carbon wheels dedicated to road. Of course, every time I get on my road bike I think of how fun it is to ride a twitchier bike. (Really any time I get on any of my bikes I think of how fun they are to ride, so that probably doesn’t have a lot of meaning.). But if I need space in the shed I’m pretty sure I know which bike is going on Craigslist.

Otherwise, though, your list sounds good. You’d save a lot not building that. SRAM groups are expensive (unlike gray market Shimano that are dirt cheap). But I agree with going SRAM. Or do Shimano Di2 hydro of you want to try Shimano?

And the Domane is a nice bike. But I would look at geometry. To me it feels a lot like the CX bike I like so much. I think you’ll find a lot of the endurance road (disc) bikes will have angles and chainstays lengths that are pretty close to gravel (or CX) bikes. Race bikes definitely feel different, but those aren’t where I’d turn for a more comfortable ride.

[Harry Meatmotor]

@Tania 163983 wrote:

I’d really rather NOT do a build but after talking with Jan it sounds more reasonable and would get me almost exactly what I want. This would be a winter project so I do have the time to buy parts when I find a good deal. And that means building another bling-y wheelset.

We’ll see – the 2018 bikes are all just about to come out so maybe I won’t have to build up from a frame.

I’m geeky for obscure bike parts and build spreadsheets are no stranger to me, BUT, it’s often to only way to get the bike you want if you’re willing to give it some time. I’m sure Jan would be willing to work with you on a build over time. There’s a big difference between showing up with a box of parts and a bare frame and expecting a built bike in 2 hours, versus working with a long-time customer to piece together a build, when it comes to billing out the labor. In other words, it’s a lot easier to throw a derailleur on here, a set of brakes on there, etc., and eventually have a complete build for the same, or less, money than a built bike from a box.

I say go for it! Build the bike you want, not a list of compromises.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Tania 163983 wrote:

I’d really rather NOT do a build but after talking with Jan it sounds more reasonable and would get me almost exactly what I want. This would be a winter project so I do have the time to buy parts when I find a good deal. And that means building another bling-y wheelset.

We’ll see – the 2018 bikes are all just about to come out so maybe I won’t have to build up from a frame.

This applies to pretty much everyone here, but my tools/workspace/help are yours to use whenever you’d like if you want to do the wrenching yourself but don’t have everything. I have pretty much everything you’d need to do a ground-up build (except for a wheel build, but I’m willing to learn!).

[ginacico]

@hozn 163986 wrote:

Just to throw out there, have you considered wider range cassettes and some road wheels for the cx bike as an alternative here?

I second this idea, is it possible to trick out your cross bike to be multi-purpose? Seems like if you work out the gear range, you’d only have to swap out wheels to accommodate different terrain.

I have a “road” bike. Frankly it seems like a one trick pony, and I don’t do that one thing very often so it gets ignored. The Salsa is just more comfortable and capable.

Another idea, have you looked at Volagi (which I think are being sold again)? Those frames can be built into some pretty amazing bikes.

[hozn]

I’ll also throw out that I’m happy to help with trimming and bleeding the hydro brakes should you decide to build up from frame or replace brakes on a bike you buy. I think I’ve got this hydro thing pretty comfortably now.

Generally I agree with HM, but I also think that any bike is a set of compromises and you might discover something you didn’t think you’d like if you try something new. But who am I kidding, I’d always build up from a frame. And at this point I’m unlikely to even start with an off-the-shelf frame (except maybe MTB where I have less developed opinions on what I want — since I just don’t ride MTB enough).

[Author]

Replies