I’m getting older, and maybe wiser (though some will think I’ve gone off the deep end after this post). I’ve taken a look at my life and realized I have too much stuff. It’s years and years of accumulating and buying more and more. Stuff that I don’t use. Or stuff that’s literally collecting dust. And maybe it’s the climate of the world, maybe it’s just reached a breaking point. I need to purge.
It’s not just cycling stuff. I’ve started going through everything I own and thinking hard about whether it has value to me or whether it’s just occupying space. Clothes, books, electronics, that random box of cords that I swear I’d use one day. And unfortunately, bike stuff.
So with that in mind, I wanted to get your feeling on the perfect single bike if you had to. Basically pick one of these, or suggest what your one bike to rule them all would be. I realize that I am in a very first world problem position. I’m just curious what you guys would pick.
Specialized Crux 2022
Cannondale SuperSix Evo 2024
Scott Foil RC 2024
Scott Addict RC 2025
Cannondale SuperX 2025
The “obvious” choice is a gravel bike. Though I don’t find myself riding a ton of gravel anymore. I do race occasionally but it’s really just for fun, not for results anymore. These days I mainly just do solo road rides with maybe one or two gran fondos a year, and maybe a road race if it’s close or friends want to race.
Related, where would guys sell bike stuff? I don’t have Facebook so the only places I really know about are Craigslist or eBay.
Bikes aren’t to be included in any kind of ‘stuff’ category or decluttering experience. This is just outrageously wrong. Someone should delete original post.
(In all honesty I’d definitely keep two of them because one will break at some point and then you’ll have another to ride until it’s fixed/replaced)
I’m old. The “I’m the fastest”days are over. While I really like my Tarmac i find I’m riding my gravel bike more. Bad roads, lots of crap on the shoulder… etc. it’s much more comfortable and pretty flat proof.
I agree on the keeping 2 suggestion, I have something broken frequently enough that a second bike would keep me happier. If it was me, I love the geometry of the superx on road and off, so it would be that one. The one you like the best is more important though.
Like TrekCentury above, I’m old and it’s not about getting faster but rather slowing the decline. The road bikes are seeing very little use lately. The gravel bike is a smooth ride, more refractory to road asperities, and facilitates venturing off pavement when the opportunities present themselves. I currently mtb most often so at this point would go with that if it had to be only one, reserving the right to change it out for something else in the future.
If you own them already don’t you have opinions about which ones are valuable to your riding style already? That’s a lot of current model (or close) bikes to own at one time. I’d say pick one road bike, one gravel bike, and one endurance bike.
I like bikes. All bikes. Which is why I have so many. My problem is that I end up buying too many bikes. And I like them all for different reasons. I’m also very indecisive. As you might have guessed. I think I might just list them all for sale and see what sells first.
If you’re not in a hurry you could do a challenge. Whichever road bike gets the least miles in the next 3 months gets sold.
Personally I think I would take the two Cannondales. That would be a nice simple, matched stable. The Crux and the Foil would be easy to sell I’d think.
For me, the gravel bike (crux) would be the easy choice. Gives up very little as a road bike, I wouldn’t hesitate to use it for crits or road racing. My road race bike sits on my trainer, the gravel bike is a better ride and plenty fast.
No TT bike? What the….? Keep a gravel bike, get a TT or tri bike and love life. Wait a sec…where do you live? Tri or TT bikes make more sense in some places than others.
I’d think about retaining not one, but two complimentary bikes. Three bikes on the list are road race bikes, and I’d pick the one I liked the most.
But I gotta agree and say that the Specialized Crux would definitely be a keeper. You could easily get away with owning just this bike, especially if you don’t race often.
My stable consists of two bikes (a hard limit set by my wife), and I currently own a 3T Strada as well as a light XC hardtail. The hardtail also is my commuter. I unfortunately don’t have any mountains nearby, so when I replace the hardtail, I intend to build up a gravel bike with flat bars. In the farther future I will likely replace the Strada with an aggressive gravel bike.
The Foil is probably my least favorite (maybe surprisingly). Even though on paper it’s probably the best race bike. I just never liked how it felt to ride. And I live in a flat area so you’d think it would shine. But it just always felt kind of dead. I’ve never actually ridden a TT bike, but I imagine that the Foil rides like one. It’s super fast. Al my flat segment PRs are on it. It’s almost like it’s so fast and smooth at speed that it feels slow. But just lacked character. I don’t know how else to describe it but it was just boring. The only other bike I’ve owned that was more boring to ride was the Tarmac SL8. Same kind of feeling. I sold that one after 3 months. So the Foil is going for sure.
The Cannondale SuperX is likely the gravel bike to go. I just like the Crux better. Again, mostly just based on ride feel. I don’t race gravel so whatever aero watts I’m giving up who cares.
Between the SuperSix and Addict it’s a toss up. I really like both bikes. The SuperSix is more aero and more comfortable. The Addict is more responsive and snappy so it’s a blast to ride. Feels like driving a sports car. The SuperSix is plush, like driving a luxury car. I’ll probably alternate riding them and try to see which I like better.
Your bikes have a lot of overlap so I would probably start with getting rid of the two direct overlaps with the gravel bike and aero bike. That removes redundancy and you can try that for 6 months and then make the next decisin and get rid of one or two more.
Keep the SuperSix and the Crux. When you already have the bikes, I can’t see why to go to the extreme and cut it down to just one.
I just got myself a gravel bike along with my Merida Reacto. The gravel mostly for bad weather/winter and the Reacto for nice days. Then I also always have one for the trainer.