What (aero) road bike?

berto2cj · January 17, 2019, 12:41am

I have a 2016 venge and 2017 emonda. Pass on he venge IMO. I ride it 5 times a week and that’s my take

I have heard the 2019 is much improved but can’t speak to it personally.

Kuttermax · January 17, 2019, 12:45am

If you can find a good deal on last year’s Madone (ie. prior generation), it may be worth it. However fit is critical and the one piece integrated bar/stem on it would be expensive to swap out. It was a very good bike and you may find someone who needs the latest and greatest swapping out for the new Madone.

Similar to @DMC I’ve got an Emonda SLR Project One with disc brakes. For me the brakes were the deciding factor when I bought it in late 2017 and I absolutely love the bike. It’s super comfortable, light, and handles great. However the new disc equipped Madone would make me think hard if I was walking into the shop today.

Majoeric · January 17, 2019, 12:58am

I love my Aeroad. Bang for buck it’s tough to beat.

luvlysmiler · January 17, 2019, 3:59pm

Given you’ve used £ I assume you’re in UK.
To maximise your budget you could go for one of these https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-aero-883-disc-shimano-ultegra-di2/
They have a showrooms in Preston and Brum so you could swing a leg over to get an appropriate size.

firemunki · January 17, 2019, 4:55pm

Bianchi Aria is a lovely choice, mine is the rim version but still an brilliant ride.

Partly driven by my heart as I’d always wanted a Bianchi, I’m sure I could have better spec for the money but I just love it, which I bet makes you ride more than having that Ultegra rear mech over a 105.

Also good for tri usage as Bianchi do advertise it as being a good starter tri bike.

DingleTower · January 17, 2019, 5:30pm

Same reason I bought mine. I bought the 105 version but it was a lot more money than an equivalent 105 bike. But I’m finally at a point in my life where I have a bit of extra money so l went for it. I basically payed a huge surplus for some celeste paint

AdamJ · January 17, 2019, 7:21pm

I got a ribble aero 883. I wanted a full carbon road bike that I could add clip ons if I did a try or TT, which I have now done. For half your budget I got a full 105 11 speed with internal cables and future ready for DI2. For what I paid you could add some deep aero wheels and get a bitchin ride.

You build it yourself basically on their website

purgatos · January 17, 2019, 7:46pm

I think a Bianchi is worth the premium for just how pretty they are.

DMC · January 17, 2019, 7:48pm

That is slick. Will keep this in mind

DMC · January 17, 2019, 7:50pm

Mine is rim braked - got it before the disc version came out and I’m the second owner. no way I could afford the SLR at retail! But, light, corners and handles very well, and stiff. I really do enjoy it for crits. And paired with my aelous 5 tubulars, thing rips.

GHetherington · January 17, 2019, 9:11pm

OreoCookie:

I think this is the most important piece of advice, and why I don’t think you should buy a mail order bike unless you know exactly your size and geometry preferences. Go to a good store, try several bikes yourself and get a bike fit. To test them, play dumb and ask what size they think is good for you. (It helps to roughly know the answer already.) If they don’t know, go to another store.

Good bikes can be a bad fit for you. And if you see people with their steerer tube uncut, stem angled upwards, then you know they are probably in unnecessary discomfort, because they haven’t had a bike fit. Currently, I have an endurance road bike. The bike is actually not bad, but I don’t like the endurance fit. I know now I prefer something racier. Coming from a MTB background, though, I thought it would be alright to get something more upright.

Aero road bikes tend to have a very aggressive position, and having tried two aero road bikes, I know now that I love how that felt. But YMMV, and you may not actually get along with such an aggressive geometry.

So yeah, fit >>> components, weight, frame material, wheels.

Thanks this is great advice.

GHetherington · January 17, 2019, 9:14pm

Nice

Rob_Griffin · January 17, 2019, 9:19pm

I’ve just been looking for something similar and have bought a Scott Foil 20 disc. If you can find a 2018 model in your size theres some good deals to be had and even some spare cash for some reasonable carbon wheels.