Torn Between Two Bikes
10-29-15, 08:03 AM
#26
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Ask yourself what kind of riding you do most. shorter spirited rides? Get the supersix. all day weekend type rides, get the synapse. I got something in between but If I were to do it over again I'd get a racy geo bike. I find myself doing weeknight rides which dont allow for more than 40miles of distance so. I did a total of 2 metric centuries this year. much less than I anticipated since its hard to simple take 3-4 hours out of my day and just cycle
10-29-15, 09:27 AM
#27
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Ask yourself what kind of riding you do most. shorter spirited rides? Get the supersix. all day weekend type rides, get the synapse. I got something in between but If I were to do it over again I'd get a racy geo bike. I find myself doing weeknight rides which dont allow for more than 40miles of distance so. I did a total of 2 metric centuries this year. much less than I anticipated since its hard to simple take 3-4 hours out of my day and just cycle
10-29-15, 09:30 AM
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If you leave the 1" spacer-crown thing on top of the head-tube, it's not a "race geometry" in terms of reach.
A set of 23 or 25mm tires on an 18mm inside-width wheel at <=90psi is pretty comfortable on my Evo, and with the stem on a 5mm cap it's nowhere near "twitchy". I don't ride over enough dirt, light gravel, or cobbles requiring 28mm rubber so I will keep my Evo. I would like to do the Rouge Roubaix though, want 28mm rubber for that.
A set of 23 or 25mm tires on an 18mm inside-width wheel at <=90psi is pretty comfortable on my Evo, and with the stem on a 5mm cap it's nowhere near "twitchy". I don't ride over enough dirt, light gravel, or cobbles requiring 28mm rubber so I will keep my Evo. I would like to do the Rouge Roubaix though, want 28mm rubber for that.
10-29-15, 03:21 PM
#30
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If you leave the 1" spacer-crown thing on top of the head-tube, it's not a "race geometry" in terms of reach.
A set of 23 or 25mm tires on an 18mm inside-width wheel at <=90psi is pretty comfortable on my Evo, and with the stem on a 5mm cap it's nowhere near "twitchy". I don't ride over enough dirt, light gravel, or cobbles requiring 28mm rubber so I will keep my Evo. I would like to do the Rouge Roubaix though, want 28mm rubber for that.
A set of 23 or 25mm tires on an 18mm inside-width wheel at <=90psi is pretty comfortable on my Evo, and with the stem on a 5mm cap it's nowhere near "twitchy". I don't ride over enough dirt, light gravel, or cobbles requiring 28mm rubber so I will keep my Evo. I would like to do the Rouge Roubaix though, want 28mm rubber for that.
10-29-15, 03:40 PM
#31
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I think he is saying that his Evo doesn't feel twitchy even with just a 5mm cap under the stem. Most Cannondales come with a 25mm conical cap and a few other spacers. That set up is fine (for me) on my CAAD10 - but I traded out the 25mm for a 5mm on my Syanpse to get my hands lower (and my position is 'fairly' similar on both bikes now).
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"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
10-29-15, 04:33 PM
#32
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I think he is saying that his Evo doesn't feel twitchy even with just a 5mm cap under the stem. Most Cannondales come with a 25mm conical cap and a few other spacers. That set up is fine (for me) on my CAAD10 - but I traded out the 25mm for a 5mm on my Syanpse to get my hands lower (and my position is 'fairly' similar on both bikes now).
Removing this which came with the bike:
To this:
Suddenly the bike tracks like it should in corners, doesn't ride like a chopper. My point is simply that leaving the gigantic spacer under there is not "race geometry", you're still not leaning that far forward with it.
11-01-15, 04:08 PM
#36
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I've wondered if a bike handles differently with a bunch of spacers. I guess you answered that.
11-02-15, 08:53 PM
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11-03-15, 10:23 AM
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Great post I've been eyeballing both of these bikes myself to go test ride. I plan on doing some racing but much like you also would like to do anywhere from 30-100 mile bike rides and race locally
11-03-15, 11:44 AM
#39
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Not sure why everyone thinks that the EVO is uncomfortable on long ride. EVO is super smooth, and extremely comfortable.
It's all about how you set up your cockpit to make it comfortable for your own liking. I came from a FELT Z2 "endurance frame" and I prefer the EVO.
It's all about how you set up your cockpit to make it comfortable for your own liking. I came from a FELT Z2 "endurance frame" and I prefer the EVO.
11-03-15, 11:44 AM
#40
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My first road bike, eventually swapped out all of the 'comfort' bits, save for the elastomer insert fork, and enjoyed it a lot more.
11-03-15, 12:02 PM
#42
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OP, if you are torn between these two bikes, than I would go to another shop or two and try some different bikes. Maybe one of those will speak to you more. You may try some others and then come back to one of the originals as well. In my experience it is usually pretty obvious which bike I like the most. My first road bike, I was torn between a Cannondale and a Specialized. I was given the advice to visit another shop and try something else. I tested a Giant and then a Felt. The Felt just felt better by a long shot.
11-03-15, 12:09 PM
#43
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Easy answer is buy both bikes . You will have one for the short ride and one for the long ride . Problem solve .
11-03-15, 12:14 PM
#44
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Shuffleman in post #42 has the best advice
if you don't know which to buy, you likely will buy one and question your choice until you cannot enjoy it---even if it was the best choice. Try different bikes, in and out of your price range, feel different things, see how your thinking develops.
Don't pull the trigger until you are absolutely sure of your target.
(Unless you could afford to buy another pretty soon, in which case, definitely buy both. You can always sell one---and buy yet a different bike.)
Don't pull the trigger until you are absolutely sure of your target.
(Unless you could afford to buy another pretty soon, in which case, definitely buy both. You can always sell one---and buy yet a different bike.)
11-03-15, 01:08 PM
#45
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The endurance bike fad got started by Specialized with the release of the Roubaix. It was designed as a road bike for rough roads, not as a race bike for old inflexible fat guys. After a few years other manufacturers caught on that stiff and fat MAMILs were buying them because they could get more upright on them, they found a way to market them that wasn't offensive to fat old guys that were buying them. If you have the flexibility and core strength of a fat old man, an Endurance bike with an upright position might be best for you.
I have no problem with long rides on a race bike with lots of saddle to bar drop. My back is flat when in the drops, and my neck never bothers me.
I have no problem with long rides on a race bike with lots of saddle to bar drop. My back is flat when in the drops, and my neck never bothers me.
11-03-15, 01:16 PM
#47
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If a bike doesn't excite you, then you won't ride it. I'd get the Supersix Evo if that's the one that gets your heart racing.
11-03-15, 01:44 PM
#48
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Most of my rides are under 50 miles so I went with the Supersix EVO. It has done just fine on century rides as well. In fact, I was not even tired after the century rides. I think all of the endurance geometry talk is just a marketing gimmick. Get the Supersix. It's a blast.
Last edited by series1811; 11-03-15 at 01:54 PM.
11-03-15, 02:12 PM
#49
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I just measured my road bike and it has 5" of drop(I thought it was 6"). I can comfortably get a flat back position when needed, but it's also fine for all day rides. I don't think my position is aggressive compared to what I see here, but it's not upright either.