another bike advice thread!

bad2dabone

So lads i've recently gotten back into cycling after a couple of years absence and the addition of a couple of stone in weight. I have a Litespeed Sirius that's about 10 years old. It's a compact frame, Aluminium with a carbon fork and Carbon-Ti stays. I've got an Ultegra double on it at the moment, and it have Mavic wheels.
In 2005 I had a spill and nailed the top tube off a lamp post so it has a nasty ding on it, I pretty much didn't cycle it from then till a few months ago. Then I had a spill thanks to a kid cycling out in front of my and damaged the brake hood - only cosmetic. So the Litespeed is looking a little beaten up.
Thanks to a combination of Bike to Work and other sports injuries all my friends have picked up new bikes and started to cycle, and well, I think i'd like a new bike too.
I'll never enter a race but I'd like to do some sportives and enjoy going for spins with my friends, would love to hit the mountains in europe over the next couple of years.
I'm thinking I've got 3 options now.
1) keep the litespeed and upgrade the wheels, and switch out the double for a compact (i'm not fit enough for a double anymore)
2) put my savings into a Canyon Roadlite for sportives and use the Litespeed for winter/commuting
3) put my savings into a Canyon Ultimate AL .

Now the AL is 2lbs or so lighter than the Roadlite. However I'm carrying a shedload of lbs and don't want to look out of place - a fatman on an expensive bike.
The other consideration is cost, would my mosy be best spent upgrading the Litespeed, or on a new bike?
I'm leaning towards the Roadlite as it's a good compromise, it means I get a new bike and dont break the bank. But if the extra 600 euro that the ultimate Al costs would be justified i'd consider it too.

I'd like your opinion and advice lads,

Thanks!

bad2dabone

anyone got any thoughts?

Icyseanfitz

will you be using the b2w scheme? if so you might have trouble going the canyon route

SWL

bad2dabone wrote: »

anyone got any thoughts?

I too am looking at buying an ultimate AL 8.0 I will make the final decision in the next couple of weeks, holding off as I may be out of the country for a few months working and don’t want to buy a bike and not get to use it.
There is a difference in the geometry of the roadlite and the AL, the roadlite is a more relaxed ride the AL is in the middle and then the race bikes are more aggressive.

I picked the AL over the roadlite for the following reasons

1. I want a nice bike.

2. The geometry is as close to perfect for my body composition in terms of seat tube and corresponding top tube length.

3. I love Campagnolo group set and the value for money it appears a good deal right down to the tyres. If you have the cash spare go for it, it could be a good investment for your life and fitness and life is too short to worry about €600 in the grand scheme of things

bad2dabone

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

will you be using the b2w scheme? if so you might have trouble going the canyon route

I'm afraid that ship has sailed, the bike I got on my B2W scheme was nicked after 2 days.

SWL makes an interesting point, and yeah when you think about it 600 quid isn't much if i factor in how much i'll be using the bike. Is the Ultimate AL a balls-out-racer? I mean, would I be more comfy on the roadlite over long spins?

SWL

bad2dabone wrote: »

I'm afraid that ship has sailed, the bike I got on my B2W scheme was nicked after 2 days.

SWL makes an interesting point, and yeah when you think about it 600 quid isn't much if i factor in how much i'll be using the bike. Is the Ultimate AL a balls-out-racer? I mean, would I be more comfy on the roadlite over long spins?

Check out the bike radar review on the 2012 AL, there is a paragraph on the geometry could be used for both racing and long spins IMO, it’s not like you will be out riding all day

bad2dabone

Cheers I'll check out that review.

SWL

bad2dabone wrote: »

Cheers I'll check out that review.

Here is the link its not bike radar as I first thought



http://road.cc/content/news/42299-first-ride-canyon-ultimate-al-2012