[amitoj]

Originally Posted by drive_angry

58? Damn! how tall are you?

Haha in that case check out my size 60 SuperSix Evo

Originally Posted by amitoj

So here is my new-to-me bike.

[RiderZone]

So continuing my search for a Carbon bike, I looked into Cannondale SuperSix and Specialized Tarmac models, but they are very expensive in the used market here in Germany, well over 1000 Euros.

Found this Scott Foil, I assume this is the Foil 15 model, 2015 would be the year I believe. Frame size is 50 cm which should fit me (170 cm). Seller claims a weight of 7.1 Kg. Frame, fork, seat post, and stem are carbon, which makes me think there's more room for weight loss.

Seller is asking for 800 Euros. Please let me know your opinion. Also, I usually ride size 52 bikes, my CAAD5 is 54, but for these "race" bikes the guides I'm seeing online suggest size 50. Is that normal for race geometry bikes to run larger than endurance frame sizes? Thanks!

[amol4184]

Originally Posted by RiderZone

Found this Scott Foil, I assume this is the Foil 15 model, 2015 would be the year I believe. Frame size is 50 cm which should fit me (170 cm). Seller claims a weight of 7.1 Kg. Frame, fork, seat post, and stem are carbon, which makes me think there's more room for weight loss.

Seller is asking for 800 Euros. Please let me know your opinion. Also, I usually ride size 52 bikes, my CAAD5 is 54, but for these "race" bikes the guides I'm seeing online suggest size 50. Is that normal for race geometry bikes to run larger than endurance frame sizes? Thanks!

That is a sweet bike. Scott by all means makes good bikes. I have no personal experience with the brand but I can tell you a few things about aero bikes which this one is.

One look at it and you can tell this is one serious bike. Very purpose built and that purpose being to go fast in straight line on a flat surface. It is not trying to be comfortable, all-purpose, beginner friendly or light. It doesn't need to. Aero bikes are inherently weighty and not a good platform for weight weeny build if that's what you are going for. The first thing I will do is to put a 50mm or deeper wheelset on it.

That particular bike is Scott Foil 20 from year 2013. I did a quick search on this model and found that Scott didn't make size 50 in 2013-16 period. They made a 47, 49 and 52.
If this is indeed a 49, it is going to be (very) cramped for you considering you ride a 54 CAAD. If there are doubts, personally go and measure the tubing on the frame.
To tell you the truth just by eyeballing, it does NOT look like a small 49/50 sized bike but a bigger 52/54. Is there no sticker on it? 7.1kg is suspiciously light for an aero bike with mid range alloy wheels and Ultegra.

Generally the sizing guides that manufacturers put out are fairly spot on unless you are someone who has abnormally long arms, short legs and long torso or other combinations of those limbs. If not, just stick to what Scott says. I ride 56/57/58 in every bike regardless of the type with some minor adjustments to stem sizes.

The pricing is hard to nail down. All depends on your market and how many of the similar spec'd bikes are available right now around you. Do some research with bikes that have full 11 speed Ultegra R6800 and carbon frame. Since you are in Europe which is traditionally a better place for bike business, I would assume to have lower prices compared to anywhere else in the world. Shimano groupsets are also cheaper in Europe. Do make sure that it is indeed 11 speed 6800 and not 10 speed 6700.

On the cheaper side but still good, look for Fuji SL series of bikes. My 2017 Fuji SL 2.3 with 105 R7000 and somewhat heavy Reynolds wheels still weighed 7.4 kg. It was a pleasure to ride. A simple swap to higher end group and wheels would have brought it down to UCI limit.

[RiderZone]

Originally Posted by drive_angry

Mine is 54.

Could I ask how tall you are and inseam please? Help with my size confusion perhaps

Originally Posted by amol4184

That particular bike is Scott Foil 20 from year 2013. I did a quick search on this model and found that Scott didn't make size 50 in 2013-16 period. They made a 47, 49 and 52.

If this is indeed a 49, it is going to be (very) cramped for you considering you ride a 54 CAAD. If there are doubts, personally go and measure the tubing on the frame.

To tell you the truth just by eyeballing, it does NOT look like a small 49/50 sized bike but a bigger 52/54. Is there no sticker on it? 7.1kg is suspiciously light for an aero bike with mid range alloy wheels and Ultegra.

On the cheaper side but still good, look for Fuji SL series of bikes. My 2017 Fuji SL 2.3 with 105 R7000 and somewhat heavy Reynolds wheels still weighed 7.4 kg. It was a pleasure to ride. A simple swap to higher end group and wheels would have brought it down to UCI limit.

Thanks! I'll go check it out, then I can measure it and more importantly ride it. There are no visible stickers in the pictures the seller provided that specify the model number, and it's a couple hours away from me. I was also surprised by the 7.1 kg weight.

I'll check out the Fuji options available.

Found this Specialized Tarmac SL4 Pro for 900, as far as I understand this model ran from 2011 to 2015 but the listing does not specify what year this is. It has Di2 surprisingly. It's a size 54 however, so I will need to ride it to know if it fits, per the Specialized website I'm right at the edge of 52 and 54.

[amol4184]

^^^ first generation 10 speed Ultegra Di2 so that would place that bike as pre-2014. By late 2013 11 speed Ultegra was already out.

[amol4184]

My CAAD 10 rebuild is 90% done give or take. The stem is light but an eyesore. Tried to scrape off the branding but it won't come off easily. On another stem I managed to strip logos effortlessly with a little paint thinner and scrubbing pad, not sure what's up with this one. I also wonder if a steeper angle stem would look better, this one is 6 degrees. The fork steerer has to be cut too.

This is (was) a low end CAAD 10 model from 2014 with 10 speed SRAM Rival groupset and terrible Cannondale in-house alloy wheels. Stock build was close to 8.8 kg ~.

After the "work" its down to 7.34 with bottle cages, GPS and Varia mount, top tube bag and MTB style pedals that are 330 grams on their own. Targeting a bare weight of 6.8kg. Let's see.

[dearchichi]

Hello. I need some bike-buying advice.

Quick background: 46, M. I got into cycling this April (for the first time since school days) by buying the Decathlon Riverside 120.

I enjoyed it all though the time I rode it: it's hardy, has great tyres (no punctures), acceptable gearing (1x8) and absolutely reliable (no issues with the chain or shifting). I rode it for 4.1K KM across 6.5 months, including 14 metric centuries (172 KM being my longest).

As fate would have it, I crashed for the first time last week (I veered to the right on an uphill section to avoid a parked car, causing a passing heavy vehicle to brush my handlebar). The front tyre is bent out of shape and so is the handlebar (though no vehicle went over it). I'm not sure if this is fixable and am unsure of it's structural integrity. I hence have returned it to Decathlon (buy-back).

My long-term interests (more than a year away) are to participate in BRMs. I intend to ride 300KM a week, largely on roads. I have no interest in trails.

What kind of cycle do I need to go for next?

- the reliable Riverside 120 again for now and upgrade to a good road bike once my fitness is not the major limiting factor (~2 years)

- or a road bike like RC500 (the RC100 and RC120 seem to suffer from spoke deformities) to get me introduced to road bikes, which will delay the acquisition of a "better" road bike further down the line

Please guide me.

[RiderZone]

Originally Posted by dearchichi

- or a road bike like RC500 (the RC100 and RC120 seem to suffer from spoke deformities) to get me introduced to road bikes, which will delay the acquisition of a "better" road bike further down the line

I have no knowledge of the Indian bicycle market, but I own an RC500 here in Germany. It's a great value for money bike, but it's very boring, for the lack of a better word. It's kinda like the Dominar of cycles, or if you're into cars the i10 of cycles I guess. It will do everything well, I have the cheap Microshift version and even that's great. But whenever I have the choice I pick one of my other bikes, because they feel more special than this one. For the price though, It's unbeatable value.

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by dearchichi

My long-term interests (more than a year away) are to participate in BRMs. I intend to ride 300KM a week, largely on roads. I have no interest in trails.

What kind of cycle do I need to go for next?

- the reliable Riverside 120 again for now and upgrade to a good road bike once my fitness is not the major limiting factor (~2 years)

- or a road bike like RC500 (the RC100 and RC120 seem to suffer from spoke deformities) to get me introduced to road bikes, which will delay the acquisition of a "better" road bike further down the line

Please guide me.

One doesn't need a road bike to do brevets; in fact my personal opinion and preference is to do it on an hybrid.

Question for you to figure out is if you feel the requirement to upgrade to a road bike on a general basis. If yes, then go for one that you enjoy riding. Test rides are the way to figure that out.

The Triban bikes are quite popular on the forum with @doc and others recommending it in the past. My personal opinion - they are good if you find riding them enjoyable. So test ride and decide accordingly. You seem to still like your Riverside so if the RC500 doesn't work for you, you can always fall back to the 120.

On the other hand, if you have the budget, then I would suggest doing trials on better brand options - Cannondale, Specialized, and so on. It's never a wrong decision to put (more) money on something that makes you fitter. These bikes will come with better components and will be on a different league. Like @RiderZone put it - if your RC120/RC500 are your Altos & i10, the similar options from these brands are your Cretas and Kodiaqs.

[amitoj]

Originally Posted by dearchichi

As fate would have it, I crashed for the first time last week (I veered to the right on an uphill section to avoid a parked car, causing a passing heavy vehicle to brush my handlebar). The front tyre is bent out of shape and so is the handlebar (though no vehicle went over it). I'm not sure if this is fixable and am unsure of it's structural integrity. I hence have returned it to Decathlon (buy-back).

My long-term interests (more than a year away) are to participate in BRMs. I intend to ride 300KM a week, largely on roads. I have no interest in trails.

What kind of cycle do I need to go for next?

First of all, glad that the crash has not deterred you from riding and you seem to have bravely brushed it aside. Kudos to you for getting back on the bike.

For BRMs, like Ninjatalli said, you dont *need* a road bike. The biggest advantage that a road bike has for brevets over a hybrid is the multiple hand positions that the drop bars offer. That can also be mitigated by installing bar ends on a flat bar. Having said that, there are a few *nice to have* features on a bike when riding brevets:
1. Clearance for wider tires. I would say 32mm is the least, 35-40mm would be ideal. Wider tyres provide the ride comfort needed to do long hours on the bike, and contrary to the old school of thought, they do not slow you down.
2. Fenders. You'll most likely be riding in rain at some point. Fenders help keep you, your drivetrain and riders behind you relatively clean.
3. Consider options for bags. You can get away with frame bags, saddle bags and/or handle bar bags. A handle bar bag is ideal for grabbing a quick bite of a snack without stopping, which is something you'll greatly appreciate as you look to spend a long time on the bike.

Happy riding!

[amol4184]

Originally Posted by dearchichi

My long-term interests (more than a year away) are to participate in BRMs. I intend to ride 300KM a week, largely on roads. I have no interest in trails.

What kind of cycle do I need to go for next?

If you are planning BRMs and riding 1200kms+ in a month on the roads, no harm in getting something nicer than Decathlon brand bicycles. They are good no doubt but at that kinda mileage you are already a serious cyclist and deserve more than a big box store bike.

Road bikes and variations of them offer multiple sitting/hand rest positions and can be really comfortable. Definitely look for wider tire clearance as Amitoj said above. They don't slow you down and offer other benefits.
There's a newish category now a days called Allroad bikes that slot between endurance and gravel with tire clearance of upto 38c - that according to me is a perfect bicycle for India.

Cannondale Synapse and Trek Domane both clear 38c even though they don't officially call them Allroad but work the same. Those two will be my top pick but there are others too like Canyon which are somewhat cheaper but equally good. Basically look for a good endurance type bicycle that don't put you in extreme sitting position.

[dearchichi]

Originally Posted by RiderZone

It's a great value for money bike, but it's very boring, for the lack of a better word...I have the cheap Microshift version and even that's great. But whenever I have the choice I pick one of my other bikes, because they feel more special than this one.

Thank you. Very interesting observation. Can you expand a bit on why you consider the RC500 boring as compared to your other bikes?

The Riverside 120 also has a Btwin branded Microshift RD. It is clunky but does it's job well.

Also, is the RC500 comfortable enough for long rides (>200 KM) (assuming the saddle is sorted and a bike fit done)?

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

One doesn't need a road bike to do brevets; in fact my personal opinion and preference is to do it on an hybrid.

Test rides are the way to figure that out.

You seem to still like your Riverside so if the RC500 doesn't work for you, you can always fall back to the 120.

On the other hand, if you have the budget, then I would suggest doing trials on better brand options - Cannondale, Specialized, and so on.

Thank you. Yes, I know a few folks who have earned their SRs on hybrid bikes. WRT test rides, do showrooms allow one to go on extended test rides on roads? At Decathlon, I've only test ridden within the store. A few friends have done so in the parking lot.

Yes, I still like the Riverside 120 since it's price-to-performance metric seems unbeatable. I am thinking of getting another one and taking a year to finalize on the road bike that would replace it. AFAIK, Decathlon's buy-back policy for a bike that less than a year old is at 60% of it's price. So, for Rs. 4K, I get to keep the Riverside 120 for a year while I test others. Do you have any suggestions?

Originally Posted by amitoj

The biggest advantage that a road bike has for brevets over a hybrid is the multiple hand positions that the drop bars offer.

Thank you. My hands used to go numb on the stock grips (cyclist's palsy), but I got a pair of Ergon GP4 grips that offered multiple hand positions. Problem solved to a great extent. I also have the saddle, top tube and frame bags to carry tools and nutrition.

Originally Posted by amol4184

Cannondale Synapse and Trek Domane both clear 38c even though they don't officially call them Allroad but work the same. Those two will be my top pick but there are others too like Canyon which are somewhat cheaper but equally good. Basically look for a good endurance type bicycle that don't put you in extreme sitting position.

Thank you. I'll certainly take my time and try all of those options out.

[RiderZone]

Originally Posted by dearchichi

Thank you. Very interesting observation. Can you expand a bit on why you consider the RC500 boring as compared to your other bikes?

Also, is the RC500 comfortable enough for long rides (>200 KM) (assuming the saddle is sorted and a bike fit done)?

My other choices include a 1982 Bertin C220 with friction shifters, tubular tires, uncomfortably curvy saddle, and old style bars where the only usable position is on the tops where there's no access to brakes. It's just stupid and full of character and forces you to enjoy the ride rather than get sidetracked by speed.

Then there's a 2002 CAAD5 with clunky 3x9 gearing and GP5000s, which weighs a couple kilos less than the RC500 and goes like stink. When the weather is good and I want to go fast and far, this is the obvious choice.

The RC500 would probably be much less boring with better tires, the stock rubber feels quite bad, but the whole "boring" thing is only in comparison to other better choices. I ride only for pleasure, always alone, and don't push myself hard too much, so my choice in bikes is rather illogical. RC500 would be the smart no-nonsense selection.

The mechanical disc brakes on it are better than all the rim brake bikes I have, and I purposely chose it over the RC520 because of that, don't want to mess around with brake fluid.The max I've done on it in a day is 100 something kms, and it was reasonably comfortable for that, even on the stock saddle. Changing that out to something better would make a huge difference I'm sure.

[dearchichi]

Thank you for your prompt response.

Originally Posted by RiderZone

The RC500 would probably be much less boring with better tires, the stock rubber feels quite bad, but the whole "boring" thing is only in comparison to other better choices. I ride only for pleasure, always alone, and don't push myself hard too much, so my choice in bikes is rather illogical. RC500 would be the smart no-nonsense selection.

I missed asking two more questions.

1. Have you heard of the RC500 having issues with spokes like the RC100 (and probably the RC120) does?
2. Would you have any suggestions for alternatives to the RC500 that I could check out (even if they are not sold in India)?

Thank you.

[amol4184]

The boring thing is hard to pin down but it's there and becomes glaring in company of other interesting options as mentioned above.

Nothing wrong with boring really, after all we all want a Toyota that runs for decades without complaining but it lacks the drama and excitement. It's like the Samsung washing machine that you turn on and forget about it until it makes the annoying sound to let you know it finished it's work. It does the said work year on years like it's supposed to without any.. fun.

I would like my bicycle to stir some emotions and not act like an appliance. Can't afford dramatic cars so bicycles it is.