newrider1969

Hi Everyone,

I would like to get into road biking. My current bike is a Trek 7.5 fx hybrid. I'm 50 years old in good shape and do a lot of running and weightlifting. I would like to incorporate bike training where I can ride 20-30 miles and have it be comfortable especially around the saddle area. The town I live in is very hilly. Either you're going uphill or downhill. There is almost no flat areas.

I would get a bike fitting when I get the bike. Here's the options I'm looking at with disc brakes....

2016 Cannondale Caad12 Disc Ultegra - $2000
2017 Trek Domane S 5 Disc - $2300
2018 Giant Defy Advanced 1 - $2350
2018 Giant Defy Advanced 2 - $1950

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

MRT2

Isn't the 7.5fx a flat bar road bike, with road components and road gearing? What is it about your current bike that is holding you back?

newrider1969

It's a 2010 and has a lot of wear and tear on it.

ColonelSanders

The Caad12 should be the raciest of those bikes as the Domane and Defy are both Endurance models.


The 2018 Defy Advanced 1 seems a bit of a rip off compared to the Advanced 2, as you are only getting Ultegra front and rear derailleur and different bottom bracket for your $425 extra dollars.


So unless you hate the colour of the Advanced 2 or love the colour of the Advanced 1, out of those two bikes, with so many shared parts, the Advanced 2 seems to be the better option of those two.


EDIT : I just noticed that the rear cassette of the Advanced 1 has a 34t cog vs the 32t cog on the Advanced 2

newrider1969

Colonel would you go for the Caad12 then. The components are superior to the Advanced 2, but will the racy built be uncomfortable for long rides.

ColonelSanders

Whether the Caad12 would be uncomfortable for long rides would largely come down to the individual riding the bike.


There is no doubt that many people would not find the bike uncomfortable on long rides, but how flexible and fit are they compared to people who might not be so comfortable?


Then it comes down to how long is a long ride?


I've recently read here that people have taken some road bikes for a 100km+ trial, to ascertain comfort levels, but I don't know if every bike shop would be happy to accommodate that request.


All the bikes you are looking at are great bikes, hopefully test rides give you some indication of what would suit you best.