Bike upgrade for racing

MM80

Sorry if this should be within some other thread....

Currently have a Trek 2.1 (Aluminium) with Shimano 105 which i've had for about 2 years, served me well to date but am going to start doing some racing this year and looking to upgrade.

Been looking around and the choice is seemingly endless and difficult to decide. Luckily enough I have a decent budget. What I'm kind of considering at the moment is a Lapierre Xelius 400 or a Canyon Ultimate CF SLX (kind of like Scotts and Storcks also but haven't researched enough yet to know....).

Would really appreciate anyone's thoughts or advice - been hearing mixed things on Canyons, kind of leaning that way though....

Cheers

colm_gti

While I would never put someone off buying a new bike, more bikes is always better, you don't need a top of the range yoke for racing, especially not in your first year.

I raced for my first time in 2012 on a bike with a similar spec to yours (aluminium frame, carbon forks, shimano 105) and got on grand.

The bike won't win the race for you, your training will.

Also bear in mind, you're more likely to crash in a race, would rather crash an inexpensive bike over an expensive one....

MM80

Thanks Colm,

To be honest its not just cause I'm starting racing that I'm upgrading - the Trek was my first road bike (was doing some adventure races and bought it for the cycling part) and had always planned on upgrading after a couple of years if got into cycling ... Willing to spend a bit now to get a bike that I will not feel the need to upgrade for a number of years

Taking your advice on board I might even use my Trek until I get a bit used to racing... Working on the training also...

Has anyone got any advice on the bikes I was thinking or alternatives (was also thinking of a Giant TCR Advanced 1 but gone of it a little)?

Merl1n

I got a storck scentron for Christmas and I have to say its one serious bike
If you want a good quality light bike you should look at the storck

Tomred13

MM80 wrote: »

Thanks Colm

To be honest its not just cause I'm starting racing that I'm upgrading - the Trek was my first road bike (was doing some adventure races and bought it for the cycling part) and had always planned on upgrading after a couple of years if got into cycling ... Willing to spend a bit now to get a bike that I will not feel the need to upgrade for a number of years

Taking your advice on board I might even use my Trek until I get a bit used to racing... Working on the training also...

Has anyone got any advice on the bikes I was thinking or alternatives (was also thinking of a Giant TCR Advanced 1 but gone of it a little)?

HI MM80

Its hard to choose a road bike, and it all depends on your budget? out of the bikes you have mentioned, personally id go for the Canyon and they do a deal for people who race with their frame, check their website. i almost bought a tcr advanced last year but was talked out of it, and a team mate told me that the lapierre bikes can be a bit soft/spongy. in the end i got a beast of a secondhand bike off a well known site. if i were you id do a bit of research on the net and look up reviews from people who have raced the bikes your into, dont trust manufacturer reviews. also look at Rose( german ) bikes and cannondale and if money is no object colnago, look pinarello...
best o luck with the search, its a process of elimination.
Tom

MM80

Tomred13 wrote: »

HI MM80

Its hard to choose a road bike, and it all depends on your budget? out of the bikes you have mentioned, personally id go for the Canyon and they do a deal for people who race with their frame, check their website. i almost bought a tcr advanced last year but was talked out of it, and a team mate told me that the lapierre bikes can be a bit soft/spongy. in the end i got a beast of a secondhand bike off a well known site. if i were you id do a bit of research on the net and look up reviews from people who have raced the bikes your into, dont trust manufacturer reviews. also look at Rose( german ) bikes and cannondale and if money is no object colnago, look pinarello...
best o luck with the search, its a process of elimination.
Tom

Was looking at Pinarellos at the weekend (just for the craic), best in my price range is the FP Quattro. Been advised that in my price range (up to €3500) I should aim for best frame, and FP Quattro is few models from Pinarellos top frame - so decided against it - does that make sense?

Someone recently told me Canyon frames are inferior to the mainstream brands - not sure I buy that... The guy was in a shop too so prob just talking down Canyons.... Just thought I would ask.........?

Icyseanfitz

you have a budget of 3500 yeah? im a bit of a cannondale fanboy so id buy a supersix if i where you, savage bikes, this is serious bit of kit for 3000ish

Icyseanfitz

MM80 wrote: »

Was looking at Pinarellos at the weekend (just for the craic), best in my price range is the FP Quattro. Been advised that in my price range (up to €3500) I should aim for best frame, and FP Quattro is few models from Pinarellos top frame - so decided against it - does that make sense?

Someone recently told me Canyon frames are inferior to the mainstream brands - not sure I buy that... The guy was in a shop too so prob just talking down Canyons.... Just thought I would ask.........?

bs in my opinion, most brands these days are very similar to each other performance wise once you hit a certain budget

MM80

Thanks Sean - thats kind of what i was thinking....

Where in Dublin area sells Cannondales?

Anyone else familiar with Storcks or Scotts that can provide any tips..?

fat bloke

There's no doubt at all but that 3500 euro buys you something very very tasty indeed from Canyon.

colm_gti

MM80 wrote: »

Thanks Colm,

To be honest its not just cause I'm starting racing that I'm upgrading - the Trek was my first road bike (was doing some adventure races and bought it for the cycling part) and had always planned on upgrading after a couple of years if got into cycling ... Willing to spend a bit now to get a bike that I will not feel the need to upgrade for a number of years

Taking your advice on board I might even use my Trek until I get a bit used to racing... Working on the training also...

Has anyone got any advice on the bikes I was thinking or alternatives (was also thinking of a Giant TCR Advanced 1 but gone of it a little)?

Sorry, I didn't mean to come across so harsh in my initial post, I just wouldn't like to see you shell out 3500 yoyos on a tasty carbon bike, end up in a tangle in your first race, and make sh1te of the frame

But at the same time, if you have the money to spend on a nice bike, by all means get the best you can, I know I would!

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

you have a budget of 3500 yeah? im a bit of a cannondale fanboy so id buy a supersix if i where you, savage bikes, this is serious bit of kit for 3000ish

Another cannondale fanboy here, supersix evo would also be top of my list, or at least very very close to it!

MM80 wrote: »

Thanks Sean - thats kind of what i was thinking....

Where in Dublin area sells Cannondales?

Anyone else familiar with Storcks or Scotts that can provide any tips..?

Cycleways always have a few cannondales in stock any time I pass.

Icyseanfitz

MM80 wrote: »

Thanks Sean - thats kind of what i was thinking....

Where in Dublin area sells Cannondales?

Anyone else familiar with Storcks or Scotts that can provide any tips..?

well i bought my caad 10 from that site no bother, and you likely wont find that supersix with that level of components for that kind of money in ireland, a lot of guys like to support their lbs's though, if you do go down the online route just ask on here for some advice size wise and do a bit of research.

storcks are very nice bikes as well, never ridden one but ive seen a few and they are stunning bikes, pricey though, as for scotts, i know guys who ride their downhill bikes and they are savage, their road bikes are also very tasty.

couerdelion

MM80 wrote: »

Anyone else familiar with Storcks ?

Base2Race in Ballymount stock them. I love mine:o

pprendeville

You'll need a good set of wheels. Don't blow all that precious money on a top frame, group set and get average wheels.

yop

Thats a fine budget for 1st year of racing!!! Seen a few Felts around and they are a lovely looking bike as are the pinerello.
As Colm said though the training will make the bigger difference than the amount spent on your bike if this is your first season of racing. You could pick up a nice Trek Madone for around 1600 euro which is a good spec bike and that would do you for sure in your first year or 2 of racing, then if you want to step it up again in spec/price or upgrade the parts on the bike.

Make sure you insure the bike though, the amount of newbies racers is increasing and some of them are just chaos on a bike, was clipped last year by a newbie and it could have been carnage if I didn't manage to stay up on the bike.

Good luck with your racing.

jmoore50

Just built up a Scott Foil myself and very impressed by how sharp it is. It is a race machine, but not too aggressive geometry, so works well as an all rounder too. Did a little climbing and is comfortable. Not as stiff as some reviews make out. Steering very sharp. Looking forward to racing it later in the year. Highly recommended from my side.

MM80

Thanks for all replies - going to go for the Canyon i think - was very tempted by a Storck Fenomalist but Canyon just shades it.....