Bike shopping- help me narrow the choices for an upgrade to carbon, 105

[azfiddle]

I know there are a lot of threads on this topic already- so feel free to redirect me back to previous discussions.

I'd like to upgrade to a carbon frame and 105 components. My budget is around $2000, but could go a little higher ($2500 is the absolute max).

Current bike is a 44 cm aluminum Fuji Finest 2.0, WSD, with Sora/Tiagra components. I am 5'1" with a short-average torso so am focusing on WSD models.

I have been riding about 1 1/2 years, and try to ride 80-100 miles a week when I can, with my longest ride about 70 miles. I have no plans to race but would like to be faster keeping up with groups and would like to ride a century this year.

Possible restrictions: I am 54, and have had a 2 episodes of when my hip went out of alignment and created problems that affected my ability to ride for a significant time (1-2 months). I have arthritis in my lower back (L4-L5), however the arthritis so far does not bother me while cycling.

Bikes in my price range available locally- but not all in stock in my size:
Trek Madone 4.5
Specialized Ruby Comp
Giant Avail Advanced
Scott Contessa CR-1
Cannondale SuperSix
Cannondale Synapse


Questions-
What exactly should I be asking myself and paying attention to when comparing these bikes? What would I notice about how the "endurance" and "performance" bikes feel? Is there a good reason to drop any of these from consideration at this point?

I have test ridden the Madone briefly (about 5-10 minutes) and the Supersix for about 8 miles.

Both are clearly much better than my current bike, but I didn't ride the Madone long enough yet. The shop with the Supersix does not carry the Synapse. I liked their service and attitude overall, but they are oriented towards more performance type bikes. They spent quite a bit of time with me, measured my old bike and set up a 48 cm bike for me to ride, with all agreeing it was too big, but would give me a chance to see how it felt. They have said that it would be possible to set up the Supersix so it was almost the same as my current bike, and downplayed any reason to consider the Synapse. I didn't ask if they could special order one. I am not 100% sure that the Supersix is the right bike for me, even though I liked a lot of things about it.

I am arranging test rides as the other bikes become available.

Anything else I haven't thought about?

[limewave]

Sounds like you have thought about everything to me.

IMO with the back arthritis and planning on riding centuries and not so much racing . . . I would focus more on endurance bikes or one where you aren't down too low in the front. You don't want to put added stress on your lower back.

I say, test ride as many as you can and get the one you can't stop thinking about!

[azfiddle]

Saturday I am test-riding the Specialized Ruby- ordered in my size by a shop here (with no obligation to buy).

Still open to hearing any additional thoughts on what I should pay most attention to in testing it out...

[Miranda]

This is in your price range & requirements...

http://www.orbea.com/us-us/bicis/mod...ix_dama_t105/#

I own an Orbea Onix dama that's the next step up with the Ultergra group. I had to travel 5 hours round trip to get her... she was worth it, I love her. I ride a size 49cm. I'm 5' 5"(4-1/2"-ish) with shorter legs, and longer torso. It does also come in a 46cm which might work for you.

They did make the Diva dama, which is like Orbea's top of the line Orca. Never got to test ride her, but said to have more of a race feel. My Onix is heavy for a carbon bike, meh over 18#s, but more plush carbon ride.

I'm in my 40s but have arthrisits in my spine and degenerative disk disease. I love my carbon bike for distance riding as it sucks the rual road chip and seal right up. I also have a carbon bar. While the geo of the Onix is more aero than say the Cannodale Synapse's head tube, you could always have a angled stem. I do. Actually since I had a bad crash, I might hafta bring up my co-pit up if things don't resolve, but anyrate.

I think the Cannodale Synapse is very similiar geo to the Orbea. Just taller head tube in the Cannodale. Btw, I had to order my carbon Orbea sight unseen to get her from Spain. I was fortunate the shop has an alum ver left over from the prior year for me to test ride the geo.

You will love your new carbon bike for how you ride. You don't hafta be a racer to have carbon... it's about comfort... which equals a happier ride. Good Luck!

[Triskeliongirl]

Have you considered the cervelo RS. Its not marketed as WSD, but fits me better than any WSD since it has a 73 degree STA. Smallest is a 48 cm (w 650c wheels) but with a sloping top tube it may work for you. You mentioned hip/back issues, and it has a nice tall head tube so you don't have to have your bars too low.

When you ask what to look for on a test ride, when I test rode this bike I cried cuz I never felt so comfortable AND powerful on a bike in my life. It felt like I imagine a good custom should, handled well, flew up hills.

[azfiddle]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I haven't tried the Orbea, but am hesitant to go for something with 650 wheels as my DH and I typically share tubes, tires etc.. The 48 cm Cannondale was definitely too long of a reach. The shop that carries the Synapse and the Orbea did not offer to order either one for me to try....the shop with the Specialized Ruby ordered the 44 cm and said "We'll sell it eventually even if you don't buy it".

I don't know if the Cervelo you mentioned is available here- I'll check around.

[crazycanuck]

I've been drooling over a Focus bike www.focus-bikes.com

I have to save for most of 2011 before I buy another road bike. We're running out of room for all our bikes...

[zoom-zoom]

I have the Synapse carbon with 105 components. Great bike. And much more relaxed than the C'Dale Six. I also have lower back problems, and that is one reason I didn't consider the Six.

My previous bike was an aluminum Synapse (WSD). New bike is a unisex SuperSix. They feel REALLY different. I know I am going to love my SuperSix once I get more accustomed to the different feel and I wanted a more performance-oriented bike. But if I had ANY back issues I think I would have stayed with my Synapse. That bike felt pretty easy to ride right from the start and I was very comfy during the one century I rode (aside from the chip-seal vibrations, which was a big factor in me switching over to carbon).

One thing to consider is SRAM Rival, over 105. My previous bike had 105 components, new bike has SRAM. At this point I have 0 interest in ever going back to Shimano. I find the SRAM to be much more intuitive and reliable, so far. I think the hoods and adjustable reach brakes fit my hands even better than the short-reach brakes/shifters on my Synapse did.

[LivetoRide]

The bike one should buy is whichever one that fits them. If more than one fits, start looking more closely at componentry (did they skimp somewhere, compare stock wheelsets, etc.) and which you like the looks of more.

Try not to worry so much about "endurance" vs. "race" bikes as it's mostly a marketing thing. It's smart to look at each bikes geometry charts but remember that flipping a stem or swapping out stems could turn a more race oriented bike into a more endurance oriented bike with less saddle-to-bar drop.

You may even feel that it'd be worth it to do a fitting on a fit bike to dial in what geometry you should be looking for in your next bike.

Also, although harder to find, I wouldn't rule out Sram quipped bikes. Apex is their lower end (think 105) but Sram componentry is also cheaper so you may even find Rival in your price range. I've not been inpressed with Shimano's "new 105" (or really, any of their stuff these days and I was totally a Shimano person before) as the plastic shifting levers require quite a bit more power to move, and becasue the plactic is so thin now (cost-saving I guess) which even resulted in a fairly sharp edge. Unlike Shimano, Sram shifters can be rebuilt (like Campy) and they can be adjused to better fit those who have trouble shifting due to having smaller hands. All one with smaller hands can do with Shimano shifters is to insert a small "shim" but with Sram you can adjust the entire lever setup. My next bike will most defiantly have Sram (I have the "old style" 105 right now).

Have fun finding your next bike!

Crazycanuck- I too, have been drooling over a Focus bike or two!

[Eden]

I've been drooling over a Focus bike www.focus-bikes.com

I have to save for most of 2011 before I buy another road bike. We're running out of room for all our bikes...

Focus is our bike sponsor for this year - they are lovely and super light, the people who've got them so far really love them, but for the OP.... probably way too big.... They don't go down very small. If she needs a 44cm in a Specialized (like me) it's unlikely she'd fit one.

[sundial]

This will sound oversimplified but the bike that is the most comfortable will allow you to spend the most time in the saddle. And if you spend more time in the saddle and train you'll become stronger and swifter. So listen to your body and go with your gut when choosing the bike.

[Desert Tortoise]

When I first went shopping for my road bike I really knew very little. I had been riding my mountain bike on the road (with city tires) for a year and just knew I needed a road bike to continue road riding.

I went to about 12 shops, from casual riding style to performance bikes. The higher end bike shops were a little intimidating to me. But, I wanted to get a feel for what, I don't know. By trying out lots of bikes is how I found mine.

Yes, I knew some about components, carbon, alum, mix of the two but geometry and stuff. Nothing. What I found by testing so many bikes was what felt wrong or at the very least, not quite right. I found things I liked, but the overall feel still wasn't quite right.

Then I saw him. Black with a little red, very boring looking. The price was more than I wanted to pay. The salesguy didn't push it but my husband did. He said if the bike calls, go try it. I did and it felt right from the beginning. It wasn't the WSD I wanted but it rode beautifully, shifted effortlessly, the carbon ride was so different from anything else. I even purposefully rode over uneven surfaces to compare. Sweet. I knew this was the one. It was comfortable, nothing felt painful or out of place.

I still can't tell you much about components, geometry, types of carbon, etc. Just try lots and lots of bikes. Oh and if you do, keep notes of what you think. It's like wedding dress shopping, after a while they all look alike and you can't remember an individual thing.

Good luck!

[bluebug32]

I love, love, love my Synapse hi-mod carbon bike. It's super comfortable on long rides and has more relaxed geometry than the supersix. The SuperSix is a sweet bike, but more for those who are performance-minded.

I test rode a few bikes before I rode the Synapse. I was luke warm about the others, except the Orbea, but knew the moment I pedaled the Synapse that that was the bike for me.

[macski]

I've just bought a Synapse 3 (today in fact) and it is a very comfortable ride. I'm going to sell my performance bike - an Amira expert - because although I love the bike and its responsiveness, it is a much less forgiving ride. My experience is that performance vs endurance is not just about geometry but also how vertically rigid the bike is. I notice small bumps much less with the new bike and also rough surfaces are smoothed out a lot more. This adds up to less fatigue over a long distance.

So, azfiddle I'd strongly advise you to go down the endurance pathway - I don't notice a huge difference in riding position but I do in comfort level.

I think the Ruby is a beautiful looking bike but the Synapse was a better fit for me. If the Ruby had fitted as well then I would probably have gone with that because it has gorgeous lines.

[macski]

And I forgot to mention that here in Australia at least, the Synapse was better specced for the same money. So I got the Ultegra running gear, a carbon crank set and Shimano RS 80 wheels for the same price as the 105 specced Ruby would have been.