A canyon roadlite by any other name?

fat bloke

I never thought I'd be contributing to the litany of "duh, me like bike, me got 1000 euro" snooze threads :rolleyes:

But (duh) here I am. My brother, though I'm disowning him now because he point blank refuses to listen to me, is doing the bike to work scheme and .... get this right...he says he doesn't "need" anything fancy, and "all" he's "going to be doing is cycling in and out to work a bit and the odd longer spin" (seriously who is brain-washing the masses with these tired old cliche's????)

Anyway, I'm blathering on here. What he should buy, as we all know, is a canyon roadlite for 999. But the scheme won't allow him to (Please don't argue with me here, I'm telling you that it doesn't, and it doesn't, so just leave it at that, that's they way they roll in the department of education).

SO:

It has to be an Irish bike shop, preferably in Dublin. Does anyone offer a bike that matches the canyon pound for pound?

That is:
-decent aluminium frame and carbon fork
-full 105
-mavic aksiums (or similar)
-nice finishing kit etc
-race geometry preferably.

Don't waste your time with "but why" arguments, I've been around the block with him on it. He's like every other btw zombie - not a penny over 1000 euro etc etc.:rolleyes:

As far as I can see, none of the usual suspects - specialized, felt, trek, etc offer as complete and uncompromising a package as the Canyon, so either prove me wrong or show me the best approximation.

Oh and no Giant defy's. I hate the sight of em and I just won't have it

Lumen

Cube Peloton Pro Triple Bike 2012
https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=35&idproduct=48061

10sp, carbon fork, Easton wheels. Even has an extra chainring included. :pac:

Hungrycol

g0g has a good thread going on €1000 bikes:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056584708

fat bloke

Lumen wrote: »

Cube Peloton Pro Triple Bike 2012
https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=35&idproduct=48061

10sp, carbon fork, Easton wheels. Even has an extra chainring included. :pac:

Sorry guys, can we move this from adverts, my mistake.

Yeah Lumen, that's pretty close and a good start. I'd forgotten that new Tiagra was 10 speed. But I'd rather steer him away from the "relaxed touring" geometry. I'm hoping he'll get the biking bug, he's got a good cyclist's physique on him already despite having not cycled much at all .

Anything else? Seems to me you need to add 20% really and go up to 1200 before you really start seeing 105 bits.

What about the boardman road comp?
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_777727_langId_-1_categoryId_212536
What's sram apex like?

Lumen

fat bloke wrote: »

But I'd rather steer him away from the "relaxed touring" geometry.

I wouldn't call that touring geometry. The head tube on the version with the 56cm effective top tube is 175mm, which is only about 10-15mm more than a race bike of the same length. And you can always slam the stem.

fat bloke wrote: »

What about the boardman road comp?
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_777727_langId_-1_categoryId_212536
What's sram apex like?

Decent enough but there have been a few reports of shifters wearing out quickly. It's also got a heavier claimed weight that the Cube which is quite an achievement for something with SRAM.

fat bloke

I tell ya, the more I look, the more the canyon stands out. -Specialized allez elite looks well but it's tiagra, and lesser quality wheels and it's 150 quid more (list). Felt f75 is close too but cheaper wheels and 250 quid premium for the pleasure.

Incidentally, what's the new tiagra 10 speed like? Too early to tell? The 105 is astonishingly good.

Beasty

fat bloke wrote: »

Sorry guys, can we move this from adverts, my mistake.

Done

Mycroft H

fat bloke wrote: »

Sorry guys, can we move this from adverts, my mistake.

Yeah Lumen, that's pretty close and a good start. I'd forgotten that new Tiagra was 10 speed. But I'd rather steer him away from the "relaxed touring" geometry. I'm hoping he'll get the biking bug, he's got a good cyclist's physique on him already despite having not cycled much at all .

Anything else? Seems to me you need to add 20% really and go up to 1200 before you really start seeing 105 bits.

What about the boardman road comp?
http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_777727_langId_-1_categoryId_212536
What's sram apex like?

Relaxed touring my backside; this is a real relaxed touring bike




That Cube is more of an audax bike then a real tourer. I would imagine its fine, looks to be good, though I've never used the new Tiagra stuff...

fat bloke

In fairness, their own description of it reads "Comfortable, reliable touring bike with a pleasant character".

Hardly the tarmac snorting monster a young fella might lust after. Maybe it's for the "bike to the retirement home scheme"

So basically, if you could find me something uncomfortable, unreliable and unpleasant for 1000 euro, job's a good 'un

Lumen

fat bloke wrote: »

In fairness, their own description of it reads "Comfortable, reliable touring bike with a pleasant character".

Hardly the tarmac snorting monster a young fella might lust after. Maybe it's for the "bike to the retirement home scheme"

So basically, if you could find me something uncomfortable, unreliable and unpleasant for 1000 euro, job's a good 'un

The Cube Attempt is cheaper and has an alu fork. That'll learn 'im.

https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=35&idproduct=40641

Mycroft H

fat bloke wrote: »

In fairness, their own description of it reads "Comfortable, reliable touring bike with a pleasant character".

Hardly the tarmac snorting monster a young fella might lust after. Maybe it's for the "bike to the retirement home scheme"

So basically, if you could find me something uncomfortable, unreliable and unpleasant for 1000 euro, job's a good 'un

here you go

petethedrummer

fat bloke wrote: »

Incidentally, what's the new tiagra 10 speed like? Too early to tell? The 105 is astonishingly good.

The old tiagra is fine, so imagine the new is fine too. I'm racing on it till I can find where I left my ultegra cassette.:o

wersal gummage

fat bloke,

I'm in a similar position at the moment. i need a commuter bike. I've been cycling a few years though and know what i'm looking for.

For me, you cant come close to the canyon really for that money. Cons - you cant fit proper mudguards or pannier rack on it as far as I can work out... - for me that is a major negative as someone who commutes all year round.

Don't be so fast to rule out the Giants. I've had a rapid 1 for about two years now - and for the last year or so it has been converted to drops with 105 shifters - so similar to a Defy 1. It has never let me down, very reliable bike and takes mudguards and panniers etc...

Ideally, I'd buy a green bianchi but the prices on those for anything even comparable to canyon are just crazy. Am finding it hard to find a real alternative to the Defy 1 I have to say.

Bunnyhopper

Lumen wrote: »

The head tube on the version with the 56cm effective top tube is 175mm

In contrast, the 554mm top tube Roadlite has a 190mm head tube.

Lumen

Bunnyhopper wrote: »

In contrast, the 554mm top tube Roadlite has a 190mm head tube.

Good point.

Kav0777

http://www.eurocycles.ie/Road-b/Corratec/CORRATEC_DOLOMITI_105_AKSIUM/4854_p.aspx

If they have any left.

fat bloke

Kav0777 wrote: »

http://www.eurocycles.ie/Road-b/Corratec/CORRATEC_DOLOMITI_105_AKSIUM/4854_p.aspx

If they have any left.

They don't . It's not the prettiest of bikes either though.

Icyseanfitz

ktm strada 1000's are pretty decent value, mostly tiagra but you do get a 105 rear mech, all the components such as the stem and seatpost etc. are all made by ritchey as well which is nice, nice looking bike too

g0g

Link to list......

fat bloke

Well, a lot of cheek chewing, chin scratching and web scouring later and the answer to my original question is.

No.

The Canyon roadlite stands alone.

In fact, when you see the roadlite 7.0 at 1249 with full ultegra and aksiums it really puts it into perspective. Really cracking value.

But the brother can't get one of them, so that's that. The good news though is that through a systematic bombardment of emails and pics and specs and bike shop links and bike radar reviews I've gotten him thinking about his purchase and have edged his budget ever so slowly and slightly over the 1000 euro parapet. Some much nicer machines to be had if you're willing to spend even up to 1300 or so, or wangle a deal on nearly a 1500 euro bike down as far as you can.

Top of the list now is the F75 still



A leopard trek scheme trek 2.1


and a Giant TCR composite 3 - which is the only full carbon option, but with a tiagra and 105 mix as a consequence.


Woah! big pic! Sorry

I think I'd be most tempted by the Giant myself. I do like the tcr giants, I'm not such a fan of the defy's and such, though it seems the new defy is lovely too.

Apparently new tiagra is just rebadged old 105 so that's not such a massive game changer anymore.

Lumen

That Giant looks fantastic.

It's 10sp so can be upgraded piecemeal in future.

Hungrycol

Yeah trickle down technologies. The main cost savings I have seen on bikes at this level are the wheels and chainset. Whatever about the chainset I'd be less inclined to scrimp on wheels so I would say get the one with the best wheels of the three. Overall it's a hard choice and IMO it's a toss up between the Giant and Felt.

Hungrycol

Lumen wrote: »

That Giant looks fantastic.

It's 10sp so can be upgraded piecemeal in future.

^^^ what he said

Arequipa

Hey Fat bloke! Are you sure the Dept of Education will not go for Canyon bikes?
Did u check with Payroll section?

colm_gti

I got my BMC streetracer SR01 for €1300 (though I was paying cash) if he'd go for something like that...

105 compact groupset, apart from brakes, shimano R501 wheels, Easton EA30 seatpost, stem and handlebars. Looks a little different too..

fat bloke

colm_gti wrote: »

I got my BMC streetracer SR01 for €1300 (though I was paying cash) if he'd go for something like that...

105 compact groupset, apart from brakes, shimano R501 wheels, Easton EA30 seatpost, stem and handlebars. Looks a little different too..

Where did you buy that in the end Colm?

colm_gti

fat bloke wrote: »

Where did you buy that in the end Colm?

Got it in Thinkbike in Rathmines, but from what I've heard Joe Daly stocks BMC as well.

fat bloke

Nowt as queer as folk. I'd have jumped at the Giant, but the young fella has plumbed for the trek 2.1 in the leopard colours. He didn't like it at all from the pics but saw it in the shop, took it for a spin and it was his favourite of the lot.

In fairness, it's probably the best thing to do at the end of the day. Take your head out of the spec sheets and buy the one you like! .