BMC ALR01 or CAAD12
04-28-17, 08:00 PM
#27
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So the main thing about upgrading to 11-speed is ensuring that your rear wheel hub is 11-spd compatible.
The TCR SLR frame is light and stiff, so if you wanted to, you could upgrade to Dura Ace and make your bike quite a bit lighter (for a budget of $1500). Or you could upgrade to Ultegra 6800 and get a power meter such as the Pioneer one (https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/05/...em-review.html). I mentioned a power meter because you said you do a lot of climbing, so it would help you pace yourself up climbs, and would be invaluable for training. If you're not particularly serious about training (and you definitely don't need to, in order to enjoy your bike), then a power meter may not be worth the expense.
However, if you want better braking for the descents (i.e. discs), then you'd have to get a new bike.
The TCR SLR frame is light and stiff, so if you wanted to, you could upgrade to Dura Ace and make your bike quite a bit lighter (for a budget of $1500). Or you could upgrade to Ultegra 6800 and get a power meter such as the Pioneer one (https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/05/...em-review.html). I mentioned a power meter because you said you do a lot of climbing, so it would help you pace yourself up climbs, and would be invaluable for training. If you're not particularly serious about training (and you definitely don't need to, in order to enjoy your bike), then a power meter may not be worth the expense.
However, if you want better braking for the descents (i.e. discs), then you'd have to get a new bike.
04-29-17, 08:19 AM
#28
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with 105 groupset, both cost ~$1600 and both have alloy frames.
I ride up lots and lots and lots of climbs (I manage at least 30K vertical feet, many of those at >15%, each month) I also like to descend fast, very fast.
My ride for the last 2.5 years has been the Giant TCR SLR2, with upgrader giant p-slr wheels and ultegra brakes, and I am super happy with it. The bike has handled pretty much everything I've thrown at it, but I feel it could be faster through corners.
Which of these, CAAD12 or the BMC, based on your experience would be better suited to my needs?
Thanks in advance for your inputs!
I ride up lots and lots and lots of climbs (I manage at least 30K vertical feet, many of those at >15%, each month) I also like to descend fast, very fast.
My ride for the last 2.5 years has been the Giant TCR SLR2, with upgrader giant p-slr wheels and ultegra brakes, and I am super happy with it. The bike has handled pretty much everything I've thrown at it, but I feel it could be faster through corners.
Which of these, CAAD12 or the BMC, based on your experience would be better suited to my needs?
Thanks in advance for your inputs!
I'd get a 2017 TCR SL instead of either those bikes. If it wasn't going to get that, then I'd look at Trek Emonda or Cervelo R5.
Not me. I'd get a Trek Emonda ALR or BMC ALR01 over a CAAD12 easily. I have zero interest in straight top tube geometry of Cannondale, zero interest.
Last edited by zymphad; 04-29-17 at 08:28 AM.
04-29-17, 02:53 PM
#29
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TLDR
CAAD12 simple answer
CAAD12 simple answer
Last edited by evan326; 04-29-17 at 02:59 PM. Reason: caps
04-30-17, 09:29 PM
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Don't fix it if it ain't broke
I've decided to keep the giant, with which I've had a rekindling of romance, of sorts, and decided to give it a full ultegra makeover. My lbs has quoted me $1k for the deed, which would leave me with a badass aluminum frame, full ultegra kit, and strong, lightweight clinchers.
Thank you all for talking some sense into me!
Thank you all for talking some sense into me!
04-30-17, 09:34 PM
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I've decided to keep the giant, with which I've had a rekindling of romance, of sorts, and decided to give it a full ultegra makeover. My lbs has quoted me $1k for the deed, which would leave me with a badass aluminum frame, full ultegra kit, and strong, lightweight clinchers.
Thank you all for talking some sense into me!
Thank you all for talking some sense into me!
What does that include? I hope that includes a wheelset.
04-30-17, 09:50 PM
#32
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I've decided to keep the giant, with which I've had a rekindling of romance, of sorts, and decided to give it a full ultegra makeover. My lbs has quoted me $1k for the deed, which would leave me with a badass aluminum frame, full ultegra kit, and strong, lightweight clinchers.
Thank you all for talking some sense into me!
Thank you all for talking some sense into me!
05-01-17, 08:26 AM
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Price seems a little steep, but I get it. Not a small job to replace the whole set.
05-01-17, 08:31 AM
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05-01-17, 02:30 PM
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SO i asked around a couple different LBS's and $1k is the best price I can get. I could probably buy the hardware online and take it the shop for installation, which would probably save me $100 or so, but I'd rather support my LBS than amazon.
05-01-17, 02:42 PM
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I would buy the parts from a U.K. shop, the required tools from your LBS, and do the work myself.
There's nothing really difficult about swapping components, and there are plenty of videos showing how to do the work.
There's nothing really difficult about swapping components, and there are plenty of videos showing how to do the work.
Last edited by noodle soup; 05-01-17 at 02:45 PM.
05-01-17, 04:10 PM
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I just put together a mini ultegra group with take offs from ebay for about $300.
All depends on how willing you are to be cheap I guess.
All depends on how willing you are to be cheap I guess.
05-01-17, 05:56 PM
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Don't forget that your LBS likely has to pay more for their Shimano parts than the big online websites. If you haven't changed a groupset before, I say support them. It's a terrible feeling to muck up the installation of a shiny new groupset.
https://cyclingtips.com/2016/08/all-...onent-pricing/
https://cyclingtips.com/2016/08/all-...onent-pricing/
05-01-17, 06:37 PM
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Don't forget that your LBS likely has to pay more for their Shimano parts than the big online websites. If you haven't changed a groupset before, I say support them. It's a terrible feeling to muck up the installation of a shiny new groupset.
https://cyclingtips.com/2016/08/all-...onent-pricing/
https://cyclingtips.com/2016/08/all-...onent-pricing/
Proper cable adjustment(and setting up the front derailleur height) is probably the most difficult part.
Buy the tools, and watch the videos on YouTube.
05-01-17, 06:52 PM
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CX ZERO ALU ULTEGRA | Colnago America
Looking at the site, I'd guess this would be the more race-geometried version of similar
https://shop.colnago-america.com/p/strada-sl-105-1?pp=24
Last edited by Sy Reene; 05-01-17 at 07:05 PM.
05-02-17, 06:16 AM
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You still support your local LBS by paying them to install it all for you.
05-02-17, 05:22 PM
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Alea iacta est. I needed the bike before saturday’s cycling trip, so handed it over to my LBS.
Also discovered on Monday’s climb that all these years my saddle has been about 6cm too far back.
Anyhow, looking forward to the shiny new build, and (hopefully) many more PB’s.
LBS agreed that bike still has plenty of life left, and is probably more frame than I can handle.
Next step (whenever that is) has to be a power meter.
Anyhow, thanks, all, for your enriching perspectives. One of these days i need to get over the reluctance I have for working on a bike.
Also discovered on Monday’s climb that all these years my saddle has been about 6cm too far back.
Anyhow, looking forward to the shiny new build, and (hopefully) many more PB’s.
LBS agreed that bike still has plenty of life left, and is probably more frame than I can handle.
Next step (whenever that is) has to be a power meter.
Anyhow, thanks, all, for your enriching perspectives. One of these days i need to get over the reluctance I have for working on a bike.
05-08-17, 05:01 PM
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FWIW I'd like to update the forum about my bike.
I got the full ultegra swap, and it feels snappier than the 105 (which was smoother) but not much of a difference there. SO was it $1k well spent? Not sure.
--However--
When adjusting the saddle the mechanic noted that my fit was all wrong. I moved the seat ~3cm higher, moved the saddle back a few mms, straightened the saddle out (used to be nose-down) and got a longer 110mm stem. Also, moved from a 172.5 to 170mm crank
**I can't overstate** how significant an improvement this-not the groupo swap- has been for the bike. Feels like a new bike altogether. On climbs i can spin faster while pushing more power. On descents it's on rails. there's a road near my house- that loses about 2100ft (650m) in 6.2 miles (10km) and it has over 100 turns- previously my average speed on this descent was 24mph (38.6kmh). Yesterday i averaged 28.7mph (46.2kmh)! And most importantly- i wasn't trying to push hard. The bike just inspired confidence!
Mind you, i had the same tyres as before, and i've done this road countless times. but to have such a precipitous increase in performance is something I can only attribute to bike fit and geometry.
The reason i was toying with the idea of a new bike was precisely because i felt the handling could be better. With the new fit, the handling is razor sharp and so much fun that I'm going whee on all my corners!
I got the full ultegra swap, and it feels snappier than the 105 (which was smoother) but not much of a difference there. SO was it $1k well spent? Not sure.
--However--
When adjusting the saddle the mechanic noted that my fit was all wrong. I moved the seat ~3cm higher, moved the saddle back a few mms, straightened the saddle out (used to be nose-down) and got a longer 110mm stem. Also, moved from a 172.5 to 170mm crank
**I can't overstate** how significant an improvement this-not the groupo swap- has been for the bike. Feels like a new bike altogether. On climbs i can spin faster while pushing more power. On descents it's on rails. there's a road near my house- that loses about 2100ft (650m) in 6.2 miles (10km) and it has over 100 turns- previously my average speed on this descent was 24mph (38.6kmh). Yesterday i averaged 28.7mph (46.2kmh)! And most importantly- i wasn't trying to push hard. The bike just inspired confidence!
Mind you, i had the same tyres as before, and i've done this road countless times. but to have such a precipitous increase in performance is something I can only attribute to bike fit and geometry.
The reason i was toying with the idea of a new bike was precisely because i felt the handling could be better. With the new fit, the handling is razor sharp and so much fun that I'm going whee on all my corners!
Last edited by Nibbles; 05-08-17 at 05:04 PM.
05-09-17, 07:30 AM
#46
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FWIW I'd like to update the forum about my bike.
I got the full ultegra swap, and it feels snappier than the 105 (which was smoother) but not much of a difference there. SO was it $1k well spent? Not sure.
--However--
When adjusting the saddle the mechanic noted that my fit was all wrong. I moved the seat ~3cm higher, moved the saddle back a few mms, straightened the saddle out (used to be nose-down) and got a longer 110mm stem. Also, moved from a 172.5 to 170mm crank
**I can't overstate** how significant an improvement this-not the groupo swap- has been for the bike. Feels like a new bike altogether. On climbs i can spin faster while pushing more power. On descents it's on rails. there's a road near my house- that loses about 2100ft (650m) in 6.2 miles (10km) and it has over 100 turns- previously my average speed on this descent was 24mph (38.6kmh). Yesterday i averaged 28.7mph (46.2kmh)! And most importantly- i wasn't trying to push hard. The bike just inspired confidence!
Mind you, i had the same tyres as before, and i've done this road countless times. but to have such a precipitous increase in performance is something I can only attribute to bike fit and geometry.
The reason i was toying with the idea of a new bike was precisely because i felt the handling could be better. With the new fit, the handling is razor sharp and so much fun that I'm going whee on all my corners!
I got the full ultegra swap, and it feels snappier than the 105 (which was smoother) but not much of a difference there. SO was it $1k well spent? Not sure.
--However--
When adjusting the saddle the mechanic noted that my fit was all wrong. I moved the seat ~3cm higher, moved the saddle back a few mms, straightened the saddle out (used to be nose-down) and got a longer 110mm stem. Also, moved from a 172.5 to 170mm crank
**I can't overstate** how significant an improvement this-not the groupo swap- has been for the bike. Feels like a new bike altogether. On climbs i can spin faster while pushing more power. On descents it's on rails. there's a road near my house- that loses about 2100ft (650m) in 6.2 miles (10km) and it has over 100 turns- previously my average speed on this descent was 24mph (38.6kmh). Yesterday i averaged 28.7mph (46.2kmh)! And most importantly- i wasn't trying to push hard. The bike just inspired confidence!
Mind you, i had the same tyres as before, and i've done this road countless times. but to have such a precipitous increase in performance is something I can only attribute to bike fit and geometry.
The reason i was toying with the idea of a new bike was precisely because i felt the handling could be better. With the new fit, the handling is razor sharp and so much fun that I'm going whee on all my corners!
Great news! Glad your bike has been upgraded to your liking.
I've been toying with the idea of going with shorter cranks and raising my seat also on my CAAD 10. Unfortunately, I recently purchased a new 105 crank and rings for it, and I'd hate to now spend more $$$ so soon on the same part (different size).
Sorry that your $1,000 on Ultegra isn't all it was cracked up to be, but at least your bike is now a sweat ride.
