Looking to upgrade from my entry-level road bike to an endurance bike

I currently ride a Triban RC 120 which I've had for the last 2 years & have clocked around 20,000 km on it.

BHPian goandude recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi Guys, with the present dearth of road bikes available in India at the moment, upgrading my entry-level bicycle has become a dilemma.

Background

I presently own a Triban RC 120 for the last two years and have clocked about 20k kms totally @ approx 800 kms a month. I normally ride 30 kms a day and 80 to 100 on weekends. Completed 4 x 200 kms brevets but the last 50 kms of these have been less than enjoyable so sticking to rides less than 150 kms now. My rides have climbs where I use the rear 34 sprocket occasionally.

My 16-speed (11-34) RC 120 has been a sturdy, all-round performer, but the weak points are the shoddy gear shifts (Microshift FD, RD and shifters) and poor brakes. It weighs in at around 11 kgs.

Have been looking around for endurance bikes and a few that I found in my S size (176 height, 80 in-seam) are the Polygon Strattos S4 with Tiagra groupset, short cage RD and rim brakes for 1L, Strattos S5 with 105, and rim brakes for 1.26L, Scott Speedster 10 with 105 and hydraulic disc brakes for approx 1.5L (stock is not available at present but should be there by end of this month thus pricing is not exactly known). All the above are on the alloy frame and carbon forks and weigh approx 9.6 kgs. Then I have the Scott Addict 40 with carbon frame, hydraulic discs, Tiagra groupset, weighing in at 8.6 kgs for 1.86.

The S4 has a 12/28 (max it can take is 30), S5 has 11/30, while the Scotts have 11/32.

As usual, you get what you pay for and of these, I feel the Speedster ticks all the boxes, especially the pocket. I will not be looking to upgrade from here, so upgradability is not a factor.

I'm starting this thread to invite suggestions and alternatives which I may have overlooked.

Thanks

Specs are here:

• S4
• S5
• Speedster 10
• Addict 40

Here's what BHPian varunanb had to say about the matter:

Check out Merida Sculthura, one of the most comfortable bikes I've ridden. If you can find Fuji bikes, Sportif is a good model to consider too. The last time I checked, Sportif was retailing at a much lower price point too.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.