bigcicero

Hi all,
I have a question about the Bianchi Infinito and the Intenso. I'm looking for my 2nd road bike, and I think I'm looking for something that is a mix between a 'race' bike and an 'endurance' bike. I want something a little more forgiving on long rides, but I want to keep as much as possible of that razor-sharp handling that my Caad has. Though they're great bikes, both the Domane and Roubaix have those pivots/zerts, which some people say supposedly puts them in the 'comfort' category. Bianchi claims that they are like a good compromise between race/comfort.

Is that just marketing hype, or is that real? And would you have another recommendation?

Thank you

rms13

Synapse? Pros racing that bike

dtrain

+1. The newer (2014+) carbon Synapse is a good mix. Earlier Synapses where more towards the 'comfort' side. I have one and own a CAAD 10, and I use the combo similar to what you are suggesting. I removed the ~25mm conical top bearing cover and run a mostly slammed stem on the Synapse. So my riding position is actually pretty darn close.

I'm sure the Bianchi is worth a test ride as well. I've owned two of their bikes in the past. These guys also suggest the Defy and BMC Team Machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnP3SeK3_jg

TrojanHorse

Pros race domanes and roubaix too.

hey @bigcicero - the thing that puts those bikes in the "comfort" category is a head tube the size of a phone pole.

Van Goghs Ear

Not to mention the defy won roubaix this year...well the rider mounted on it did 😁

bigcicero

Interesting... By "phone pole", did you mean the diameter of the head tube, or the height? I'm curious if diameter matters.

btw, I love the Roubaix! If I could have multiple bikes I would buy one in a heartbeat. However, since I only have the space for one, I think it has to be the bike I'm describing.

bigcicero

Wow, you're in exactly the same situation as me (since I own a Caad 10). So let me ask you a question. If you're in a similar riding position to the Caad, are you still more comfortable? i.e., if the same position, how does the Synapse feel better than the Caad? I'm going to ride a Synapse this weekend, but I'm really curious about what I should expect. Sounds like a great compromise solution.

TrojanHorse

The head tube is usually longer... putting your handlebars up higher. But really, I've seen people set up their racy bikes like a comfort bike and so-called "endurance" bikes with slammed stems like a racer, so you can definitely adjust the fit to suit.

dtrain

Carbon is likely to be more comfortable anyway - though the CAAD 10 is pretty smooth - and the Synapse has some nice little built-in extras for comfort. I'd say I prefer the Synapse anytime, and certainly for any ride over 90 mins. It might give up a touch of the racy handling/feel - but not too much. Lowering my hands down to a similar height (as the CAAD 10) made a nice difference. Still sporty, but long-ride comfortable (IME). The LBS ordered a 5mm headset bearing cover (from Cannondale) to replace the 25mm cone-shaped one (which I still have on the CAAD). I think that was only $10 plus shipping.

dtrain

Yup. My position is pretty similar on both bikes. Spacers/cone on the CAAD 10; nearly slammed on the Synapse.

bigcicero

Yeah, that's what I hear people say so I'm trying to understand. I was asking @dtrain how his Synapse feels compared to the Caad. I guess a lot of it must come down to stem height, but some of it must also be the vibration handling characteristics of the bike, which is endemic to both the bike's construction and its geometry.
I suppose a good ride actually would be to get a Roubaix and slam the stem. Though I have a friend who has a Tarmac and swears that since I love the Roubaix I should get a Tarmac and just keep the spacers under the stem. Sounds intriguing, but I would have to ask what benefit does the Tarmac give with a raised stem??

bigcicero

That sounds like a pretty good endorsement of the Synapse. I'll give it a try. I'm going to an LBS tomorrow to try out some different bikes to get the feel for what's what. On my list will be Synapse, Tarmac, Roubaix, Domane, and Emonda. Wish I could try the Bianchis I mentioned but this particular LBS doesn't carry them.

(And btw, I agree the Caad is smooth esp for an Alu bike. Unfortunately, as my first bike I really bought the wrong size, and actually I want to trade up to carbon, hence my research for my next ride.)

dtrain

When I say I'd clearly prefer it for rides over 90 mins, I'm rolling in how well it soaks up road imperfections that would still be felt on the CAAD. "Crush meets Plush" was the marketing term Cannondale used for the '14 redesign. It might feel very upright at first, but see if you can get the bars down a ways and give it a nice ride.

dtrain

Yeah, I've been happy with it. Lots of solid choices in this market segment these days though. Great that you'll be able to test several. Defy Advanced would be a good one too.

TrojanHorse

You should probably try both just to see for yourself. The SL4 Tarmac redesign apparently really nailed the design intent. It's a stiff, fast race bike that doesn't beat you up (reputedly, I've never ridden one).

Keep an eye peeled for new old stock - bike shops sometimes discount last year's model and we're right in the correct portion of the calendar for that.

bigcicero

Yeah perfect, that's what I was looking for. That sounds like a nice compromise to me. For as smooth as the Caad is, I find myself tensing up quite a bit over slightly rough roads, and that tenseness fatigues me over time. Eliminating that feel without eliminating too much of the racy ride would be a dream come true.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to post back tomorrow, presuming I follow through and hit the LBS tomorrow.

bigcicero

I was wondering about that... all everyone says about the Tarmac is how racy it is, but I was curious if they managed to iron out the road buzz. I'll give it a try and compare it to the Synapse. Can't wait to try both!

Also, thanks for the advice about the discounts. I really hope I can find something.

tangerineowl

Time Fluidity Activ $$$$

redlude97

And lars boom won the cobbles stage that blew apart the peloton in last year's tdf on an Infinito. Doesn't mean anything

Van Goghs Ear

uhm yeah, that's kind of the point...all these bikes can be raced on...

bigcicero

Just to follow up, I went to my LBS yesterday and tested out a few bikes: Synapse in a couple sizes (56, 58), Tarmac, and an unexpected contender: Cervelo R2. The winner for me was the R2 based on fit.

The Synapse felt like a surprisingly snappy, nimble ride, but for some reason I couldn't get the fit quite right and I kept dropping the stem to flatten my back. Thus, it wasn't quite for me, but I can see that it would be an awesome bike for someone who can make the fit work or who wants a slightly more upright ride.

The Tarmac was a cool bike but a through and through race bike... it too would be awesome for someone who wants to ride their entire ride in a race position (and who wants to race). But I'm not sure it was quite what I was looking for.

The Cervelo was an excellent middle ground between endurance and race, with slightly more reach / less stack than the Syanpse, but fit me better than the Tarmac. Still very much a race-bred bike. But clearly compliant in the right places. This is the first bike I've tried in a while that really fit me well, with room to move the stem down.

I've learned that, at least to me, fit is more important than components, colors, and personal desires. All those things are good after the fit is secured.

I wanted to ride the Treks (I might like the Emonda h2 fit) but didn't have time and this place didn't have Bianchis.

Not sure what I want to do. Part of me wants to ride way more bikes to get a feel for all of them, but part of me wants to take advantage of the available R2 that I know fits well.

dtrain

Yeah, nothing beats fit. That R2 might be a winner. As I mentioned, the Synapse was a little too upright for me as well until I removed that 25mm conical upper bearing cover. Still might be too much for some riders. I'm only hearing good things about the Emonda (besides some chain suck weirdness). Best wishes with the decision.

decosse

If you have time, and have a local dealer, try out the LaPierre Sensium and Pulsium ranges. I don't have a lot of experience to compare bikes, but I did ride this back to back with the "entry level" Roubaix, both at my fav LBS (I rented the Roubaix for a half day, was refunded). My "entry-level" Sensium came out better equipped for the price, and compared favorably in other ways. (ok, it's purtier, too) It is comfortable and relaxed, yet is lively and quick to respond. The higher level ones are more so. (All this despite my partiality to Specialized , I have a Vita) Lapierre Sensium 100 road bike review | road.cc

pacificaslim

I haven't ridden it but the Sensium is on major discount at Mikes Bikes. $1600 with 105 group.

gsa103

To answer the original question: Yes, the Infinito/Intenso is a mix of endurance and race. Not unique in that category any more, but still an excellent bike.