Endurance bikes

Kildafornia

Seems to be the new trend in road bike design. Are cyclists willing to accept a little performance loss for more comfort (I would be), or it it more that the manufacturers have hit a wall in terms of stiffness to weight and aero bikes, so they need to pursue another marketing strategy? It does seem like a sensible approach.

It reminds me of how motorcycles moved away from racing bikes a little after the likes of the Ducati 1098 and MV Agusta F4 peaked, and people started looking for supermoto, vintage cafe racers and nakeds for a change.

doozerie

Manufacturers have been producing different bikes for racing and non-racing for years, it's just that marketing is now catching up. Not every manufacturer produced both types of frameset, and perhaps that is changing, but as an example Specialised's Roubaix frame has been marketed at those looking for a less aggressive ride for as long as it has existed (Tarmac was/is marketed at racers) - people race on both though, perhaps proof that the distinction is a lot more grey than the worst marketing would have you believe.

I see that Canyon have now released their "Endurance" frameset too, but I don't think that's evidence of a new trend, they have just been slower than some to exploit a "distinction" that has existed for a very long time.

Kildafornia

BMC too - they unveiled the granfondo only last year, marketed at the same level as their time machine and team machine, not a cheaper version.

The monuments seem to getting more popular, maybe they are exposing people to different road surfaces and race styles.

I actually wonder why they are not more popular - if you feel fatigue from a very stiff unforgiving bike it will slow you down on a longer ride. Comfort = speed in some situations?