xuv500

My profile : I have hybrid Trek and I ride centuries often. Lately I am thinking of saving time on the rides and go longer in the same time. So there comes the road bike. (Not that I am convinced of either pure race geometry or endurance, but I am 40 now so thinking of endurance. Correct me I am wrong and I can switch to Race, I rode the Specialized Allez and liked that too.)

I saw a Lapierre Sensium 100 ( Full Carbon, Full Tiagra with SHIMANO WHR 501) which is around $1650. I liked the bike too. (Lapierre Bicycles - Sensium 100)
And there is the Specialized Roubaix 2014 which will cost around $2350 with Shimano Sora.


I also checed Trek madone 2.1 but the price for that is around $1700 and its alu frame. And in that price I am getting full carbon from Lapierre.

I am thinking of Lapierre Sensium due to the value and tiagra. But to be truthful I did not know the brand until recently. ( my bad) Should I go for that?




(The price is converted to USD from INR. ) In US

zymphad

You ride centuries often on your Trek hybrid? Really?

xuv500

Yes I do. And may 70 to 80 % of century rides. I was thinking of a BRM of 200 KM on that trek in Dec 1st week.

zymphad

Ok... Good luck with your bike hunt.

Campag4life

If you can't test each, then compare stack and reach via geometry charts to a bike you can fit and test at your local bike shop. Fit is the most important thing. A Madone will fit a bit more aggressive than the other two. It really takes 2-3 road bikes to start to understand your fit. So spend a lot of time testing bikes to determine best frame size and ask the shop tech if you can ride the bike on a trainer and have them take a look at you.
You will enjoy the speed of a road bike versus your hybrid provided your fit suits you. I will tell you that a Roubaix on a century ride is a very good thing.

mcours2006

Roubaix with Sora parts for that price doesn't seem right to me. The older models used to come with 105's.

I compare my Giant Rapid 2 hybrid to my 2011 Roubaix, and with a more racy setup on the hybrid (inverted stem, lowered and shortened handlebar) and the difference in feel between the two is miniscule. I've gone 3+ hours on both. The Roubaix is only marginally faster, so don't expect too decrease in your ride time.

xuv500

The LBS here is telling me that price and that is with SORA. I compared his price with net, they are cheaper on net, but only one LBS sells Specialized.

So if its not going to help in speed should I consider Race geometry?

Campag4life

Just having the multiple hand positions of a drop bar alone is worth the price of the Roubaix if riding position is close to a hybrid.
A Roubaix to me is a much better bike to ride on a century. My experience.

rick458

You might look at a Trek Domane, you get a much nicer groupset for the same money, and a very nice riding bike, also look at a Giant Defy, and the new Trek Emonda.

mcours2006

I do have bar ends on my hybrid which I used most of the time. I will admit I prefer to ride the the drop bar more than the flat bar.

The Roubaix is also more than 2x the price of my hybrid.

OP, I don't know if a 'racier' geometry will help with you speed, but it might not be so comfortable for a 5+ hour ride, especially if you are not used to the position. As I said, if you do notice a difference in speed it's not going to be a huge jump. I went from my 27lb Bianchi hybrid with a very upright riding position to my racy hybrid (21lb) and gained about 1.5km/h on a 2hr ride. I went from my hybrid to my 18lb Roubaix and gained perhaps 0.5-1.0km/h on a similar ride. There is no difference in speed between my Roubaix and my Gardin. But I love riding the Gardin as this was the same bike I rode as a 17 y/o.

The Gardin has a more aggressive geometry than my Roubaix, but I've had to get used to the position. It feels fine now, but I hadn't ridden in this position for almost 25 years.

xuv500

Humm. So it seems was assuming that I will gain 4 to 5 KM per hours seems to be wrong. The LBS guy too was saying I will gain 4 easily.

How about that Lapierre? I checked out Domane too. It will cost same as Lapierre. The latter has carbon frame. Both have Tiagra.

txags92

At the ~$1.5 to 2K price point, most of the carbon frames are going to be pretty soft and squishy. At that price, I would strongly consider an aluminum frame with 105 or ultegra components. I would figure out a firm budget and then go ride bikes within that budget with 105 or ultegra components and buy the one that fits you the best and feels best riding it. If you can go that high, the Trek Emonda with 105 group is a really nice ride and should be around $2.5K.

mcours2006

The only time when I might see a 4-5km/h difference between my hybrid and my drop bar bike is when there is a very strong head wind, but even then I don't think the possibility is remote.

I would look for a bike with 105 or better, even if it means compromising for aluminum rather than carbon. You'll notice the difference with the better component, but not necessarily with a carbon frame.

xuv500

I was all set for 105 with Alu. And was trying to find a bike in that range. But I saw Lapierre for cheap and was thinking for carbon.

In that case I have following choice with Alu
Giant Defy 1 105 Possibly 2015 (Endurance)
Scoot Speedster 20 ( Full 105 )

I have not yet seen the Bianchi, but the salesman is going ga ga over it. He said, go for 2013 model with 105 so I save money.

Confused.

CNC2204

Wanted to buy the Roubiax disc with sora group but was buying into the zerts/disc marketing.

Bought this instead, very happy.

Specialized Bicycle Components

xuv500

Congrats ! I wish I have some bike, so I will get myself rid of the confusion and anxiety of buying a road bike.

Latif

Just checked spesh's 2014 catalog, and Roubaix with sora lists for 1800. I'd think perhaps even better deals should be had for a leftover 2014. $2300 would get you the 105 level.

MikeD1

You should be able to find 013s or 014s in many different models at excellent prices. I recently bought a 2013 Madonne 5.2 list $3650 for $2350. I was looking at "endurance" bikes but am glad I went with the Madonne. It is a superb ride and I don't find it too be harsh or overly aggressive. I did swap out the 23mm tires for my tried and true 25mm.

xuv500

Thanks Guys. I finalized on Canondale Synapse 105 6 2015. Rode 1600 KMs so far. Just loving it.