JNixon

I'm trying to find a good road bike for around $2k. I'm much more interested in being able to do 50 - 100 mile rides than racing so I want a comfortable bike. Here are the choices I've come up with:

Specialized Roubaix Apex Compact
Raleigh Revenio Carbon 2.0
Kona Zing Supreme
Masi Evoluzione 105
Giant Defy Composite 1

I've only been riding for a little over a year. My longest rides have been 65 miles but I'm looking to get to centuries and want a quality bike that will be comfortable over that distance. Any help would be great.

datlas 

If you have 2000 to spend you should be able to get a fine road bike.

Fit is most important so head out to a local bike shop and see what they have. Test ride. Discuss your goals and objectives, there may be tradeoffs between "comfort" and "performance."

generalkdi

You may want to look at Cannondale Synapse, other than that, I'd say to get at least 105 components. Test ride the bikes you want and see which is more comfortable.

Nick Bain

Nice raliegh I forgot about them. Did you check their steel bikes? THose are cool, I want you to be cool.

joshvelo

I'm in a similar situation and I've been looking at bikes all winter. I would suggest the Madone 5 series and the synapse too. I have narrowed my selection to these They are both going to be on sell everywhere soon.

JNixon

I know it's common advice to ride before you buy but the only two from that list I can actually try are the Specialized and the Giant. The LBSs that sell the Kona, Masi and Raleigh generally don't have a large selection in stock. I know the Roubaix is supposed to be a great bike but I wanted to at least consider some others without just landing on it. As far as components:

https://www.raleighusa.com/bikes/road...carbon-2-0-12/
https://www.konaworld.com/road.cfm?co...zing_supreme#1
https://www.masibikes.com/bikes/carbo...zione-105-2012
https://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-us/...te/9013/48850/
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...01&scname=Road

Hiro11

Save $500:
https://www.rei.com/product/827837/ca...:referralID=NA

look566 rider

My two cents worth.

https://www.lookcycle.com/en/us/route...-105-bike.html

I also endorse the C'dale Synapse choice. It was either the C'dale or the Look 566 for me. Look 566 was just as smooth or more so, but has better handling and acceleration in my opinion. I spec'd mine with with Sram Rival group. Both have the relaxed geometry you are looking for.

chado445510

This is a good deal, however

Buying online as a beginner (or anyone planning to learn a considerable amount about bicycles and repair) is a bad idea. Bike shops will be more happy to help you if you buy it from them, and if you're a regular customer, the savings made by buying online will quickly be overshadowed by the money saved at the shop.

Also, the CAAD frames are racing frames, so they are very stiff and have race geometries.

justfitme

https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...rtal_ice_x.htm
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...spirit7900.htm

and this is my favorite
https://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...mp_slti_xi.htm

WhyFi

...aaaaand like clockwerk, there's the CAAD recommendation to the fellow looking for relaxed geo.

And not every other rider in on a Look. Nice bike.

rjones28 

Just based on the spec sheet, I would lean toward the Giant.

IcySmooth52

I'd be leaning towards the Masi Evoluzione and Kona Zing because of the specs for the price. They're both pretty much 105, but you get great wheelsets for the cost! As for their riding style, they are both about half way between a racer and a full 'plush' bike. Endurance performance is how I'd describe them.

The Giant Defy and Specialized Roubaix are both definitions of 'plush'. So if you don't think you want a bike completely dedicated to that side of the spectrum, give Kona and Masi plenty of thought.

abstractform20

i dont know how much under MSRP they sell for, but consider Volagi for distance rides.

https://volagi.com/bikes/introducing-...or-msrp-289500

snowsubi

I was in the same situation last september. I wanted Ultegra groupo, as my previous Felt had that, but I also wanted to step up to carbon. I went with a Giant and have been very pleased. It's not the most eye-catching bike, but I found that it gave the most bang for the buck in that range. The 105 set kept costs down and haven't had any major issues thus far. Plus, my LBS offers lifetime adjustments and tune-ups, which is an added bonus.

a1penguin

That Volagi is Fugly. I'm guessing that new models don't sell for 30% off. I agree that for $2k, you should be able to find a nice 105 equipped bike.

Hiro11

So go into an REI store (or any LBS) and buy it for the same price.

This is a better point, I missed the fact that the OP was looking for a comfort-focused frame. My mistake.

X-LinkedRider

Volagi's are about 2500 for the frameset alone my friend. However, CHECK THIS OUT for like 700 dollars if you are shorter than 5'9". I would buy one in a heartbeat and upgrade the crap out of it. Really would just need 105 Shifters, and some sweet wheels.
https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0_10000_203322

dtrain

Good find! Those shifters would be fine. I'd do brake calipers (or at least Kool Stop pads) and wheels.

Pistard

I was at a Lbs last week and saw both the Masi Evo and Raleigh Carbon 2.0, Masi looks and feels a bit more racey , like you I am looking for longer rides in comfort, that Raleigh is a jewel man! Definitly on my very short list, I am also looking at the Jamis quest @ $1850, Chromoloy steel, you would be wise to check one out if possible.

lesdunham

For $2,100 (minus) the bottle cages and saddle. Got the frame on aliexpress (640), Ultegra 6700 compact group on ebay (890), Soul S3.0 wheels from soul wheels (420). A seat post, saddle, and front derailleur clamp - viola!!

ivan_yulaev

$2k will get you a nice bike. I think an important question to ask is, what is your current bike? What do you like / not like about it? Some people are pretty comfortable on a "race" bike with a long reach and a big seat -> bar drop for a hundred miles or more, while for some a more touring-oriented bike is in order.

Also how handy are you with wrenches? I remember building up my own bike (minus headset / fork install) at 16 with some minor mechanical knowledge. I enjoyed the experience immensely, I now feel comfortable performing basically any repair and adjustment on my bike. Took me about 5 hours to put everything else together and another few to dial it all in. YMMV but I feel compared to cars and motorcycles, bikes are much, much easier to work on.

X-LinkedRider

From what it sounds like. is he wants a 2k dollar bike to sit on his trainer in his basement. Hence, Not getting a 2k dollar bike.

JNixon

Thank you for all of the help. Just to answer some questions that have been raised: I am 6'2". I currently ride a 1995 Diamondback Prevail, chromoly with 600 gruppo. I found it at a yard sale and had it cleaned up with new brake cables and pads, grip tape, new tires and tubes, a new saddle, and Forte pedals for $300. I have been riding it for about a year and my longest ride on it is 65 miles. It was a good bike to get me back into riding after years off. I currently have it on a trainer in my garage, not my basement, so I'm definitely not looking for a new $2k bike for that purpose. Since I've been riding I've found that I prefer a more upright position so that's why I was looking for a more relaxed geometry instead of a stretched out race style bike. I do not have a lot of experience building or tuning a bike. It's something I want to learn but I don't know how much I would trust myself to buy parts online and assemble it myself, although I do have a friend who would probably help me.

Seems like there's at least one vote for everything I threw out there except the Specialized. I had never really considered Cannondale because the local shop that carried them stopped in favor of the Masi - which is why I looked at them. But I will take a look at their site to see if where the closest dealer is. I don't know a lot about Look, no one in town sells them, but it looks like a nice bike. And the Dogma looks amazing, but again I think I would need help trying to get it all together. Also, I'm not looking to buy until probably May. I don't know if that makes a difference in the advice you'd give but I do know a few people have messaged me to tell me they're currently selling bikes.

And I'm not opposed to steel since I ride one now, I actually considered the Masi Gran Criterium: https://www.masibikes.com/bikes/steel...criterium-2012 I know they're plusher but they seem to be much heavier at that price point and I didn't know how much of a difference that will make on long rides. I've seen people argue weight helps over the long haul but I've also seen people argue the other way that comfort will keep you able to ride longer and weight only really matters over a long ride if you're climbing a lot. Like I said, I've only been back in this for about a year and I was never this serious about it before, and it's a lot to take in. But all of your suggestions are appreciated and they give me different directions to look in and things to consider.

X-LinkedRider

https://www.superiorlitebikes.com/201...bikes-cat3.php
The 105 level is like 2300. Won't even find a lot of frames THAT nice for 2k.