I got a 50 kph-capable electric unicycle instead. Gets the same job done effortlessly. Sadly, the government doesn't allow electric unicycles on the roads. :( Time to sell it away and get a proper road bike! :)
Darren Rider well there is also something about a mid range full suspension mtb that u can do anything with... From driving on the road climbing descending the alps and urban freeride
I spent the entire video watching the three guys in the background faffing around with their sailboat, sorry Si but you'll have to go over all that one more time
For the past few years I've wanted to get into road cycling, but never took the leap. Then I found GCN on CZcams a few months ago, and have been watching all the videos, even though I didn't even own a road bike, and didn't foresee getting one in the near future. I absolutely love these videos! Great hosts, great content, great entertainment! I liked watching these videos enough that I just went out and purchased my first road bike today! I've been looking for months, trying to decide on what kind of bike I want, and GCN has been extremely helpful in my research for what bike works best for me. Just wanted to say thanks for producing all of these great videos, and can't wait for more! Keep up the great work!
I can't decide, so I went with the n+1 solution. Well, almost, haven't found the money for an aero bike yet. Why yes, the missus does not have a key to the shed...
If you think that most riders will be drafting during the level part of the stages and the biggest differences are made on the climbs (where aero drag is less important), maybe the pro's preference for a climbing bike is well justified. Unless you are the team's workhorse, or you don't mind signaling (from the very start of the stage) that your are trying a breakaway on that stage. Cheers
I started with an endurance bike, then got a lightweight bike, and then finally bought an aero bike. I use the endurance bike for long rides on poor roads, the lightweight bike for climbing, and the aero bike for shorter and mostly flat riding. The latter is my preferred bike, but I still love the lightweight bike. The endurance bike mostly sits on my trainer nowadays.
For someone who is a racer but still wants an endurance bike - Fabian Cancellara has been riding the Trek Domane (the endurance bike) for a long time very successfully. If the roads are particularly rough, involve cobbles, or you enjoy gravel roads, then an endurance bike may still suit you.
Should be mentioned that the whole "comfortable" thing also comes down to the frame and and the materials used for, say, the handlebar. I made the switch from a Lapierre Sensium 200 to a BMC TimeMachine TMR02, and safe to say, the BMC is more comfortable. With the Lapierre I was troubled by the microvibrations from the handlebar, infact so much that it sometimes was difficult to even get a proper read off my Garmin. No such problems with the BMC as I get absolutely zero road buss transferring through to my shoulders. Also, the aero seatpost (aero seatposts has a bad rep for being uncomfortable) are way more comfortable than the Alu seatpost that came with the Lapierre. Zero tiring road buzz from the seat post as well. So, if you're agile enough, aero doesn't have to mean uncomfortable by any means (allthough I've been told that the Canyon above isn't actually that comfortable). With the TMR02 - and a few other aero bikes, they've made the front brake accessible, thus easier to service. Read up on your bikes before you buy them, and you'll be fine.
Light-weight all day, but only because Where I live in Canberra is quite undulating and we have some decent little mountains to climb about on. I wouldn't mind trying out an Aero bike though
I've been following GCN for nearly 2 years now and I love your Top 10, reviews and tips. I would like to make a request. Could you possibly do a comparison review on the 3 major brands of mechanical groupsets (i.e. SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo). I personally use the Shimano Ultegra on my Cinelli Unica but that is also because it is the most common brand here in Malaysia. SRAM is only just starting to gain a name in road biking and Compagnolo is still very uncommon among lower to mid-range bikes. I'm very curious to know how each groupset works in comparison to each other. Thank you and keep up the good work you are all doing.
Endurance or lightweight is best for the vast majority as it is either more comfortable or easier to climb with. My Trek Emonda classes as light but by inverting the stem I got an endurance-esque geometry out of it anyway.
I personally went with a Cannondale Carbon Synapse(equipped with full 105). It fits in the endurance category, but most reviewers mentioned that it wasn't the most relaxed or "slackest" endurance model out there. Like it doesnt have the full on aggressive nature of a lightweight or aero, but its still quite snappy and responsive. And I would say I agree with that based on testing as many bikes as I could before I landed on my carbon synapse. I mean, Im not racing, Im not competiting.. Im riding for enjoyment and healthy living. So I did like the idea of an endurance bike, to eeek out a little more comfort especially for those days when I felt like adding an entra 10 miles to the loop. And Ive got to say, the bike is wonderful. Its does what I think I want it to do, almost like I dont need to make the bike do anything. going downhill, I dont have to manuever the bike, I just see the line I want, and the bike tracks how I want it too track. And when I want to race my riding buddy to that random point down the road, getting up out of the saddle and accelerating, it doesnt feel like it takes any time for the bike to respond and get up and go. there is a reason why the Synapse is one of the bikes you'll see at Flanders and Paris Roubaix.. its comfortable, but its still plenty capable of beasting. And for me, thats EXACTLY what I was looking for.
"Listen to you bike, when it's calling for you. Listen to your bike, there's nothing else you can do. I don't know where you're going and I don't know why, but listen to your bike before you tell it goodbye."
Well am I now better informed, not sure. I live in the South Pennines/ Peak District, not many flat bits around here. I do not want disc brakes but just a good, lightweight bike and at a reasonable price, I'm not far off seventytwo and don't make long term investments. I can not remember when choosing a bike was such a decision, back in the fifties you bought a lightweight bike or frame and that was it, my first bike was a Jack Hateley bet there's not many who remember them. I do need a new bike but I still don't know what.
I'll help you out. You said you live in hilly areas and not many flats, so Aero is out of the equation right there. That leaves Endurance and Lightweight. I (Like everyone), have a bias and would say endurance all the way, but for you, a bike with decent components, such as Tiagra, Claris or Sora, that is not Aero, should suit you just fine. Also, on those flats, you aren't missing much in terms of speed. 1-2 kilometers an hour is all you will be missing, which equates to about .4 to .8 miles an hour.
I agree and would also go for the endurance bike. Have you seen the seating position on the aero bike? I cannot imagine a 72 year old in that position. I cannot even imagine myself in that position, and I am only 32... :-D Or you can consider a gravel bike / cyclocross bike with 35mm tires. That would even be more comfortable and also suitable for non-perfect roads and gravel.
+Blake Ra Be careful, its such great ride you may increase your time away from, well, everything! I did 57 miles on Sunday, 26 yesterday and the day is young here. I want to be on it all the time!
Haha. That's exactly the reason I need this bike! Nothing better than being out and about all day enjoying the fresh air and exploring new areas. Got a pretty cheap alloy atm so it'll be a big improvement. Its midnight here and finding hard to sleep thinking about my next ride haha
Used to race an evo hi-mod, now I race a caad12 (with 105 components mixed with dura ace brakes.) Mostly race crits anyways. I just want a stiff workhorse of a bike, nothing fancy. I imagine I wouldn't need an aero bike in road races if I was good enough anyways since when the pack is getting strung out in the climbs it is already too slow to care anyways.
Nice job of highlighting the differences, lightweight sounds like it can offer some of the advantages of the other two. If more pro's are leaning that way it's saying something, but yes follow your heart.
Most of the aero gains on a bike come from your position anyway so if you could get the same position on a lightweight bike you won’t be losing out that much. I’m guessing that the pros still prefer lightweight bikes because they ride in a bunch all day, which renders an aero frame a bit pointless, and once they get out in the open, on a climb, they much rather not carry those extra 500g
If you got the coin buy one of each. Seriously the most important thing is the fit. Si is right most of us can adapt to any one of these bike over time. I bought Giant Defy Advanced1 last year love the bike. I less concerned about the type of bike than the material it is made of as long it a road bike. For 2016 it will be a CAAD12 as long I can get a good fit.
Hey Si! I think you should update this video now. Since most of the brands nowadays mix Aero and Lightweight (e.g. Tarmac, V3RS and Emonda only to name a few)
Thanks for your detailed suggestion. For me it would be an Argon18 Nitrogen, which is an Aero Bike. Weight is never problem for me as I am currently riding a Aluminum TT frame converted Aero Bikes which comes to about 12.5kg in total.
how about cyclo-cross bike and travel bike (with the mounting for back and front baggage)? I would still consider them as road bike with the same form factor
I have an endurance and an aero road bike. I'm not sure what's considered light weight, but my aero bike is about 16.5 pounds. I think there's much to be said about a light weight bike, I think it's just easier to manipulate, responds to you better. It definitely isn't the smoothest ride, but like he said, wider tires. But no matter what, a bike takes a lot of practice and hard work. I'm sure I don't do my aero bike justice at all as far as it's capabilities, I just appreciate it's ride quality.
You mentioned the lightweight bikes have some unquantified advantage over aero bikes. I would suggest that many of them are stiffer in the right places (since the tubes are more rounded), and the combination of light weight and stiffness makes them feel very fast and responsive. I'd also like to point out that the weight penalty of aero bikes is not only relevant when climbing - heavier bikes are also more difficult to accelerate (by Newton's laws). Given that the critical points of road races typically climbing and/or accelerating, this is also relevant. Having said that, it's not much of a penalty at all when your bike is at the UCI weight limit...
All three please! Never have enough bikes, ha ha joking a side ask yourself where do you do most of your riding. Thanks for the video all the best Andy
+Jeremy Sweeten YES! I've modded my Trek Alpha 1.9 to have a ghetto 1x9 setup and chain guide + 28mm tyres, now I get to ride off-road along with those CX bikers :D
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think on a tight budget, lightweight is the way to go while at the higher end, aero is the way to go for max. performance on rolling terrain.
For people starting to ride or coming back to the sport, perhaps a hybrid bike might actually be a better option. I see a lot of people that seem to be suffering on roads bike with aggresive geometry and narrow saddles.
What about stability in cross winds? I would say the Aero bike would be a handful, especially for a beginner? That might be the reason the pro's choose a lightweight?
hi gcn I'm actually going to buy my first-ever racing bike and am getin plenty of very useful tips of ur channel an I am only 12. and it's my birthday on Saturday and I am getting my race bike and I love this chanal 2
Which non-mainstream roadbike brands do you like or think are worthy of consideration for sportive purposes? I can think of Condor, Boardman and Neil Pryde.
I am a proud owner/rider of an Orbea. I am in love with the machine, and truly believe it is the bike for me. In watching this video, I am intrigued to see a video review about the Orbea I see in this video, as well as a couple others I believe. Is it Matt's? Is there a review video in the works?
Looking a getting a newer upgrade on my old road bike. Now I’m planning on doing some hill rides like Hardknott Pass and would love to give the Fred Whitton a go too. Which type of bike is best for me?. Any help would be great. Thanks.
Thank you for the tips. Im about to buy a road bike and I learned a lot. Looks to me that the endurance bike is more classic and suitable for general all round use
@gcn hi, im here a bit late 😅 ...but want to know ..if we are speaking about longer rides ?? What are those in your head ?? Or better to say overall... I love the look of aero bikes...I have now corratec spirit 2005 full carbon lightweight bike ... and choosing between aero or endurance ... as I'm still new ( 2months) to roadbikes ... I'm doing mostly 30-40 miles per session ... is that considered as longer ride ...or short one ? And yeah ..I love speed ... but I have quite some smaller hills around.
It's important to add a bit of realism to this video. None of these bikes are really going to help the average person who almost certainly will not have the flexibility or the strength to ride these bikes efficiently. All of these bikes are "slammed" and the average rider will not be happy with the rather extreme differential between the height of the saddle and the height of the handlebars. With regard to the endurance bike, the gearing is much too high for endurance. A 52/39T chainring combination is irrelevant for endurance riding. Endurance riders get their speed from pedal RPMs, not gear inches. One of the most sensible things would be to replace the chainrings with something like a 48/42 or 46/40 when using a triple (with a 28T or lower for the inner chainring) that these bikes can't handle or a compact double crank with something like 46/30 rings. The cassette on these bikes is also too narrow. Disc brakes are also a no-no. While a disc brake will stop a bike faster than a rim brake or a cantilever brake, this advantage is largely useless and even detrimental to endurance riding. This is because the fork has to be made stiffer than a regular fork to handle the stresses a disc brake places on a fork. This compromises one of the most important features of a fork in that the stiffer the fork, the more shock the rider will experience and the greater amount of shock the rider experiences, the greater the amount of fatigue and loss of strength that will be experienced. And even a 28 mm tire is a bit too narrow for endurance riding. A really serious endurance bike should be able to accommodate at least a 35 mm tire and it also should have the fittings necessary to mount a rack on both the front and the rear of the bike.
You can make a race bike with a more aggressive racing geometry into something more comfortable and endurance friendly. I used a 40mm stack of spacers, a short 70mm stem and, importantly, compact bars, which not only raise the drops but also bring the lever hoods nearer. All these changes together made a huge difference.
Errrm. Seeing as the accepted law of cycling is that the number of bikes you should have is n+1 where n = the number of bikes you already have, then one of each would the correct and temporary answer!
+Kefuddle But you mustn't forget that n should not be greater than s-1, where s equals the number of bikes owned that would cause your partner to depart. Unless of course this is a deliberate strategy.
+methunshow Check out the detailed review by Steve at intheknowcycling.com/2015/05/28/best-road-bike-tires. While the review is focusing on tires, it discusses the aero aspects of having tires that are too wide for the rim
I'm aiming to be an all rounder or a climbing specialist one day, and I'm currently fucked with my budget(just a few grands more xD), and I'm still in the dilemma of picking a Scultura or a Defy? I'm aware that Defy is an Enduro-Bike, but I'm not sure with the Scultura? Is it a Lightweight? And if it is, I guess I'm all for it then since it has a more race-y feel to it? Haven't actually raced, but once I get one, I'll start me some Weekly Criteriums!
I bought a ‘18 Roubaix Sport and didn’t like it at all. I felt top heavy, and like a novice. I ride 25-30 miles consistently, and for my type of routes a Tarmac is the perfect bike. Nevertheless, there’s something to be said for an endurance bike as a daily commuter. I strongly think people (who don’t race) buy “aero bikes” just for social status. They want to be seen on a $10k+ piece of art. For me, $6K is my absolute limit, naturally the ‘19 Tarmac Expert Disc fit the bill. My wife is on a ‘18 Ruby Elite, w/ my old C38’s... she loves it. Cheers from NorCal.
the thing with the aero vs lightwieght is that sure an aero is faster becuase in most cases aero > weight, but they're in a pelaton so the aero effects would be less important when you already save 40% on aerodynamics anyway?
Discs make riding bikes safer, why you may ask? Because they fucking work as advertised is the answer. The peloton ride what they're given, when campag are up to speed, watch the uci ban calliper brakes.
curious how much faster the aero option is (vs lightweight) on flats and rollers (all other things being equal, including rider and the wheels)? might be a cool test for a future GCN episode.
Alright, I need advice. I have a 5mile ride every day to school. It isn't long, but I have to carry a 20-30 pound backpack. Also, there is a huge hill I have to climb, almost a full mile, and it is really steep. I go a different way home, where I have a longer downhill, very windy, and then a pretty long, slow uphill. Recently, I have been riding a vintage lotus to school, and want to upgrade. What bike type would you recommend? I am also considering spending around 1-2K. I love the look of aero bikes, but am not sure if that is right for this type of commute. Before I go to a shop and try out some of their bikes, any advice? Thanks
I was in a local bike shop yesterday and looking at new bikes, and the gentleman I was working with tried hard to sway me from an aero bike and on a endurance bike. Currently I ride a Trek 1.2 and I have it set up rather aggressively, and like the way it feels. However, I am getting ready to do my first triathlon and he was saying I would be hard pressed to find a comfortable enough aero bike for that task. What are your thoughts? To me it seems like a good trade off between a TT bike and a roadbike but maybe I am wrong. Also, a good tri saddle i thought could help with a longer race...
I wonder if you could make a similar video for Endurance vs Gravel vs Cross ? There are so many niche models out there nowadays I'm not sure where the "lines" are...
A triathlete who specializes in 20km timetrials cause that’s the cycle in a sprint triathalon but not getting a TT because I also race in some draft legal races
i prefer aero bikes even though I'im a climber because even while climbing i go over 20 mph so aerodynamics play a role and i like aero positions anyway.
This was a great video but i was wondering if GCN can go a step further on helping consumers by doing test ride on viewer specified bike or bikes comparison? I so have great respect on GCN presenters' opinions.
I recently got myself a Specialized Tarmac SL4 Sport 2019. Just for me to understand, in which category does it fall? It’s light but not so light, aero but not so aero... it’s like a bit of everything but not, hem, “specialized” in any of the categories you describe.
I ended up getting a unicycle
what because you couldn't afford two wheels ha ha just kidding mate
Dat Zebra with the current price of wheels, can you blame him?
imagine being able to lean forward 30 degreess from the path for aero
Yo-yo was it an aero unicycle?
I got a 50 kph-capable electric unicycle instead. Gets the same job done effortlessly. Sadly, the government doesn't allow electric unicycles on the roads. :( Time to sell it away and get a proper road bike! :)
Could you make a new version of this video for 2021? Curious how things have changes with all the new models
Yes please @gcn
Yeah, they're heavier now with the disc brakes and even more expensive...
And the prices and availability as well:(
@gcn
@gcn make a version for 2022
It is hard to beat the beauty of that stealth looking Canyon
imagine it withe brown leather seat and bar tape it would look so sick
I got a Red one
Gotta swap out that bright crankset though
So for 90% of the people watching - the only bad choice is not getting any bike!
+kir ga the mistake is getting a road bike
+kir ga N+1!!!
+Tucker Steward WRONG, the mistake comes in the ugly shape and horrible feeling mountain bikes! Cross bikes are good in every way!
Darren Rider well there is also something about a mid range full suspension mtb that u can do anything with... From driving on the road climbing descending the alps and urban freeride
@@miyabe_k195 but they are slow
"You gotta listen to your heart, or in fact"... ' your wallet' I literally thought he was gonna say wallet.
I like how when Simon said " inexperienced riders" Dan popped up riding
+Mukymoo Davison He's clearly in disguise. Rumour has it that he actually rode for the Cervelo Test Team! Now that's a very well guarded secret!
Indeed
Danial Arif no grand tour wins = inexperienced
I spent the entire video watching the three guys in the background faffing around with their sailboat, sorry Si but you'll have to go over all that one more time
Rs feva is made 4 smaller people like young teens not old people
For the past few years I've wanted to get into road cycling, but never took the leap. Then I found GCN on CZcams a few months ago, and have been watching all the videos, even though I didn't even own a road bike, and didn't foresee getting one in the near future. I absolutely love these videos! Great hosts, great content, great entertainment! I liked watching these videos enough that I just went out and purchased my first road bike today! I've been looking for months, trying to decide on what kind of bike I want, and GCN has been extremely helpful in my research for what bike works best for me. Just wanted to say thanks for producing all of these great videos, and can't wait for more! Keep up the great work!
what road bike did you get
I got a 2016 Specialized Roubaix SL4 Comp!
I can't decide, so I went with the n+1 solution. Well, almost, haven't found the money for an aero bike yet. Why yes, the missus does not have a key to the shed...
If you think that most riders will be drafting during the level part of the stages and the biggest differences are made on the climbs (where aero drag is less important), maybe the pro's preference for a climbing bike is well justified. Unless you are the team's workhorse, or you don't mind signaling (from the very start of the stage) that your are trying a breakaway on that stage. Cheers
I started with an endurance bike, then got a lightweight bike, and then finally bought an aero bike. I use the endurance bike for long rides on poor roads, the lightweight bike for climbing, and the aero bike for shorter and mostly flat riding. The latter is my preferred bike, but I still love the lightweight bike. The endurance bike mostly sits on my trainer nowadays.
For someone who is a racer but still wants an endurance bike - Fabian Cancellara has been riding the Trek Domane (the endurance bike) for a long time very successfully. If the roads are particularly rough, involve cobbles, or you enjoy gravel roads, then an endurance bike may still suit you.
Should be mentioned that the whole "comfortable" thing also comes down to the frame and and the materials used for, say, the handlebar. I made the switch from a Lapierre Sensium 200 to a BMC TimeMachine TMR02, and safe to say, the BMC is more comfortable.
With the Lapierre I was troubled by the microvibrations from the handlebar, infact so much that it sometimes was difficult to even get a proper read off my Garmin. No such problems with the BMC as I get absolutely zero road buss transferring through to my shoulders. Also, the aero seatpost (aero seatposts has a bad rep for being uncomfortable) are way more comfortable than the Alu seatpost that came with the Lapierre. Zero tiring road buzz from the seat post as well. So, if you're agile enough, aero doesn't have to mean uncomfortable by any means (allthough I've been told that the Canyon above isn't actually that comfortable).
With the TMR02 - and a few other aero bikes, they've made the front brake accessible, thus easier to service. Read up on your bikes before you buy them, and you'll be fine.
two days too late i just got a giant tcr composite with ultegra i love it!!
Light-weight all day, but only because Where I live in Canberra is quite undulating and we have some decent little mountains to climb about on.
I wouldn't mind trying out an Aero bike though
I've been following GCN for nearly 2 years now and I love your Top 10, reviews and tips. I would like to make a request.
Could you possibly do a comparison review on the 3 major brands of mechanical groupsets (i.e. SRAM, Shimano and Campagnolo). I personally use the Shimano Ultegra on my Cinelli Unica but that is also because it is the most common brand here in Malaysia. SRAM is only just starting to gain a name in road biking and Compagnolo is still very uncommon among lower to mid-range bikes. I'm very curious to know how each groupset works in comparison to each other.
Thank you and keep up the good work you are all doing.
i have an aero bike with new full carbon wheels 50mm high and ultegra. iam very happy with it and i think i ride it at least 4 years
Endurance or lightweight is best for the vast majority as it is either more comfortable or easier to climb with.
My Trek Emonda classes as light but by inverting the stem I got an endurance-esque geometry out of it anyway.
I personally went with a Cannondale Carbon Synapse(equipped with full 105). It fits in the endurance category, but most reviewers mentioned that it wasn't the most relaxed or "slackest" endurance model out there. Like it doesnt have the full on aggressive nature of a lightweight or aero, but its still quite snappy and responsive. And I would say I agree with that based on testing as many bikes as I could before I landed on my carbon synapse.
I mean, Im not racing, Im not competiting.. Im riding for enjoyment and healthy living. So I did like the idea of an endurance bike, to eeek out a little more comfort especially for those days when I felt like adding an entra 10 miles to the loop. And Ive got to say, the bike is wonderful. Its does what I think I want it to do, almost like I dont need to make the bike do anything. going downhill, I dont have to manuever the bike, I just see the line I want, and the bike tracks how I want it too track. And when I want to race my riding buddy to that random point down the road, getting up out of the saddle and accelerating, it doesnt feel like it takes any time for the bike to respond and get up and go.
there is a reason why the Synapse is one of the bikes you'll see at Flanders and Paris Roubaix.. its comfortable, but its still plenty capable of beasting. And for me, thats EXACTLY what I was looking for.
"Listen to you bike, when it's calling for you. Listen to your bike, there's nothing else you can do. I don't know where you're going and I don't know why, but listen to your bike before you tell it goodbye."
+Lireoec How long have you been hearing voices?
The Prophet - Listen To Your Heart
I ride for club rides and exercise, hopefully a century. I'm guessing thats 90% of us so I would say a reasonably priced endurance bike.
Could you do a video of where you compare cheap carbon wheels to expensive carbon wheels?
Thanks
Well am I now better informed, not sure. I live in the South Pennines/ Peak District, not many flat bits around here. I do not want disc brakes but just a good, lightweight bike and at a reasonable price, I'm not far off seventytwo and don't make long term investments.
I can not remember when choosing a bike was such a decision, back in the fifties you bought a lightweight bike or frame and that was it, my first bike was a Jack Hateley bet there's not many who remember them.
I do need a new bike but I still don't know what.
I'll help you out. You said you live in hilly areas and not many flats, so Aero is out of the equation right there. That leaves Endurance and Lightweight. I (Like everyone), have a bias and would say endurance all the way, but for you, a bike with decent components, such as Tiagra, Claris or Sora, that is not Aero, should suit you just fine. Also, on those flats, you aren't missing much in terms of speed. 1-2 kilometers an hour is all you will be missing, which equates to about .4 to .8 miles an hour.
I agree and would also go for the endurance bike. Have you seen the seating position on the aero bike? I cannot imagine a 72 year old in that position. I cannot even imagine myself in that position, and I am only 32... :-D
Or you can consider a gravel bike / cyclocross bike with 35mm tires. That would even be more comfortable and also suitable for non-perfect roads and gravel.
Endurance, 2016 Canondale Synapse. Love my bike.
+Michael Albany Nice, picking up mine tomorrow! Haven't been more excited for a bike in years
+Blake Ra Be careful, its such great ride you may increase your time away from, well, everything! I did 57 miles on Sunday, 26 yesterday and the day is young here. I want to be on it all the time!
Haha. That's exactly the reason I need this bike! Nothing better than being out and about all day enjoying the fresh air and exploring new areas. Got a pretty cheap alloy atm so it'll be a big improvement. Its midnight here and finding hard to sleep thinking about my next ride haha
+Blake Ra Get some sleep, you'll need the rest if you're going to be out riding all day tomorrow!
Alright no more binge watching cycling videos. Take it easy mate
Used to race an evo hi-mod, now I race a caad12 (with 105 components mixed with dura ace brakes.) Mostly race crits anyways. I just want a stiff workhorse of a bike, nothing fancy. I imagine I wouldn't need an aero bike in road races if I was good enough anyways since when the pack is getting strung out in the climbs it is already too slow to care anyways.
this is a special video because of the leap year
Damn, I was a little late
Nice job of highlighting the differences, lightweight sounds like it can offer some of the advantages of the other two. If more pro's are leaning that way it's saying something, but yes follow your heart.
I ride an endurance bike (2013 Specialized Roubaix ) . I'm not fast I just do my best . 8000 miles so far.
where's the rear break on the endurance bike?
+Thomas Svane Hansen below the chainstays just in behind the bottom bracket.
+Thomas Svane Hansen Hopefully there is no "break," but rather a, "brake!"
+Global Cycling Network what is the endurance bike, looks like a canyon but ????????
+smithy smith Scott solace
grit on the pads is not fun when riding in poor conditions isn't it?!
Most of the aero gains on a bike come from your position anyway so if you could get the same position on a lightweight bike you won’t be losing out that much. I’m guessing that the pros still prefer lightweight bikes because they ride in a bunch all day, which renders an aero frame a bit pointless, and once they get out in the open, on a climb, they much rather not carry those extra 500g
If you got the coin buy one of each. Seriously the most important thing is the fit. Si is right most of us can adapt to any one of these bike over time. I bought Giant Defy Advanced1 last year love the bike. I less concerned about the type of bike than the material it is made of as long it a road bike. For 2016 it will be a CAAD12 as long I can get a good fit.
That Canyon is real badass!
I've opted for a Giant Contend SL1 disc. Love it. Comfy and ideal for my needs
Hey Si! I think you should update this video now. Since most of the brands nowadays mix Aero and Lightweight (e.g. Tarmac, V3RS and Emonda only to name a few)
Thanks for your detailed suggestion. For me it would be an Argon18 Nitrogen, which is an Aero Bike. Weight is never problem for me as I am currently riding a Aluminum TT frame converted Aero Bikes which comes to about 12.5kg in total.
Thankyou this video was very helpful. I’m looking at getting a ‘road bike’ but unsure what to go for, this has made it very clear Thankyou again.
should have gone for your lightweight or endurance t shirt for standing up for that long rather than your aero one
i liked the last bit about listening to your heart
how about cyclo-cross bike and travel bike (with the mounting for back and front baggage)? I would still consider them as road bike with the same form factor
Simon, do they make that T-shirt in a mens size?
I have an endurance and an aero road bike. I'm not sure what's considered light weight, but my aero bike is about 16.5 pounds. I think there's much to be said about a light weight bike, I think it's just easier to manipulate, responds to you better. It definitely isn't the smoothest ride, but like he said, wider tires.
But no matter what, a bike takes a lot of practice and hard work. I'm sure I don't do my aero bike justice at all as far as it's capabilities, I just appreciate it's ride quality.
I prefer a lightweight bike with aero tube shapes and deeper wheels :)
I've got a Scott CR1 and I really like it!
You mentioned the lightweight bikes have some unquantified advantage over aero bikes. I would suggest that many of them are stiffer in the right places (since the tubes are more rounded), and the combination of light weight and stiffness makes them feel very fast and responsive.
I'd also like to point out that the weight penalty of aero bikes is not only relevant when climbing - heavier bikes are also more difficult to accelerate (by Newton's laws). Given that the critical points of road races typically climbing and/or accelerating, this is also relevant. Having said that, it's not much of a penalty at all when your bike is at the UCI weight limit...
Love it great video!!! Keep'em comming!!! Well done GCN!!!!
I am thinking what you call a Endurance bike would be a like a touring bike. Front fork angle longer rake ext.
Aero-endurance is the way.. I'm waiting for my new cube agree :)
All three please! Never have enough bikes, ha ha joking a side ask yourself where do you do most of your riding. Thanks for the video all the best Andy
It depends on what you want to do with a bike. And your local cycle shop should be able to help. If they get knowledgeable staff 😊
IMO, the do-all-bike will always be the lightweight climber. With the right tires, it can even handle dirt.
+Jeremy Sweeten YES! I've modded my Trek Alpha 1.9 to have a ghetto 1x9 setup and chain guide + 28mm tyres, now I get to ride off-road along with those CX bikers :D
Though I like the look of sleek aero bikes more, the all rounder(light weight) is the way to go !! i believe most pros choose it for a reason.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think on a tight budget, lightweight is the way to go while at the higher end, aero is the way to go for max. performance on rolling terrain.
We need an updated version of this video please!
Awesome, I have a SCOTT Solace. I want that red color scheme though.
For people starting to ride or coming back to the sport, perhaps a hybrid bike might actually be a better option.
I see a lot of people that seem to be suffering on roads bike with aggresive geometry and narrow saddles.
What about stability in cross winds? I would say the Aero bike would be a handful, especially for a beginner? That might be the reason the pro's choose a lightweight?
hi gcn I'm actually going to buy my first-ever racing bike and am getin plenty of very useful tips of ur channel an I am only 12. and it's my birthday on Saturday and I am getting my race bike and I love this chanal 2
I have a bianchi aria and i love it
Which non-mainstream roadbike brands do you like or think are worthy of consideration for sportive purposes? I can think of Condor, Boardman and Neil Pryde.
giant tcr advance
I am a proud owner/rider of an Orbea. I am in love with the machine, and truly believe it is the bike for me. In watching this video, I am intrigued to see a video review about the Orbea I see in this video, as well as a couple others I believe. Is it Matt's? Is there a review video in the works?
Looking a getting a newer upgrade on my old road bike. Now I’m planning on doing some hill rides like Hardknott Pass and would love to give the Fred Whitton a go too.
Which type of bike is best for me?. Any help would be great. Thanks.
Thank you for the tips. Im about to buy a road bike and I learned a lot. Looks to me that the endurance bike is more classic and suitable for general all round use
Have fun! Yep endurance bikes make a lot of sense for the day to day rider 🙌
@gcn hi, im here a bit late 😅 ...but want to know ..if we are speaking about longer rides ?? What are those in your head ?? Or better to say overall... I love the look of aero bikes...I have now corratec spirit 2005 full carbon lightweight bike ... and choosing between aero or endurance ... as I'm still new ( 2months) to roadbikes ... I'm doing mostly 30-40 miles per session ... is that considered as longer ride ...or short one ? And yeah ..I love speed ... but I have quite some smaller hills around.
It's important to add a bit of realism to this video. None of these bikes are really going to help the average person who almost certainly will not have the flexibility or the strength to ride these bikes efficiently. All of these bikes are "slammed" and the average rider will not be happy with the rather extreme differential between the height of the saddle and the height of the handlebars.
With regard to the endurance bike, the gearing is much too high for endurance. A 52/39T chainring combination is irrelevant for endurance riding. Endurance riders get their speed from pedal RPMs, not gear inches. One of the most sensible things would be to replace the chainrings with something like a 48/42 or 46/40 when using a triple (with a 28T or lower for the inner chainring) that these bikes can't handle or a compact double crank with something like 46/30 rings. The cassette on these bikes is also too narrow. Disc brakes are also a no-no. While a disc brake will stop a bike faster than a rim brake or a cantilever brake, this advantage is largely useless and even detrimental to endurance riding. This is because the fork has to be made stiffer than a regular fork to handle the stresses a disc brake places on a fork. This compromises one of the most important features of a fork in that the stiffer the fork, the more shock the rider will experience and the greater amount of shock the rider experiences, the greater the amount of fatigue and loss of strength that will be experienced. And even a 28 mm tire is a bit too narrow for endurance riding. A really serious endurance bike should be able to accommodate at least a 35 mm tire and it also should have the fittings necessary to mount a rack on both the front and the rear of the bike.
You can make a race bike with a more aggressive racing geometry into something more comfortable and endurance friendly. I used a 40mm stack of spacers, a short 70mm stem and, importantly, compact bars, which not only raise the drops but also bring the lever hoods nearer. All these changes together made a huge difference.
So slamming the stem on an endurance bike is designed to put me in a more upright position?
Which brands have world wide warranty? And worldwide presence? Singapore, China, India, Costa Rica, etc?
Can we ride endurance bike on competition?
Really great video guys, this kind of consumer advice is exactly what GCN is great at!
can you actually test how quicker is aero bike on flat terrain in comparison to endurance and lightweight?
Dear Sir, as I am a diabetic and 48 yrs old what type of food items should I carry as I can not eat sugar
Are all road bikes endurance bikes? Is there a magical cut off that determines when to use an endurance bike over a race or aero bike?
If you have to flip the stem and a stack of spacers on the aero/lightweight bike - then get the endurance bike.
Would it be possible to make a video explaining stack and reach on a frame and how it affects choosing a bike?
Very good advices. Good job, as always :)
Brilliant vid Simon. Really well explained.
Errrm. Seeing as the accepted law of cycling is that the number of bikes you should have is n+1 where n = the number of bikes you already have, then one of each would the correct and temporary answer!
+Kefuddle But you mustn't forget that n should not be greater than s-1, where s equals the number of bikes owned that would cause your partner to depart. Unless of course this is a deliberate strategy.
Wider tires are generally (but not always) faster. If you don't pair wider tires with equally wide rims, the mismatch can actually be less aero.
That's how I'm trying to understand it....good to point that out.
+methunshow Check out the detailed review by Steve at intheknowcycling.com/2015/05/28/best-road-bike-tires. While the review is focusing on tires, it discusses the aero aspects of having tires that are too wide for the rim
+Rixter Nice article and I understand it, GCN did a video with a explanation of similar results.
I'm aiming to be an all rounder or a climbing specialist one day, and I'm currently fucked with my budget(just a few grands more xD), and I'm still in the dilemma of picking a Scultura or a Defy? I'm aware that Defy is an Enduro-Bike, but I'm not sure with the Scultura? Is it a Lightweight? And if it is, I guess I'm all for it then since it has a more race-y feel to it?
Haven't actually raced, but once I get one, I'll start me some Weekly Criteriums!
Aero bike with disc brakes would be very nice combination.Drive it efficiently during all weather conditions!
please make a video of flat bar road bikess
Si, you forgot the Cyclocross, gravel bike and Hybrid/flat bar road bikes.
We've got another video on gravel vs cyclocross here 👉 czcams.com/video/S8B-rqqHIEg/video.html
I bought a ‘18 Roubaix Sport and didn’t like it at all. I felt top heavy, and like a novice. I ride 25-30 miles consistently, and for my type of routes a Tarmac is the perfect bike. Nevertheless, there’s something to be said for an endurance bike as a daily commuter. I strongly think people (who don’t race) buy “aero bikes” just for social status. They want to be seen on a $10k+ piece of art. For me, $6K is my absolute limit, naturally the ‘19 Tarmac Expert Disc fit the bill. My wife is on a ‘18 Ruby Elite, w/ my old C38’s... she loves it. Cheers from NorCal.
Ah ah ah. If I were to buy an aero bike, it's because I prioritise aero over weight savings since I'm no weight weenie.
Should I buy a Canyon Ultimate CF SL 7.0 or a Canyon Ultimate AL SLX 8.0 ?
Isn't it hip flexor flexibility that allows lower positions, not hamstrings?
the thing with the aero vs lightwieght is that sure an aero is faster becuase in most cases aero > weight, but they're in a pelaton so the aero effects would be less important when you already save 40% on aerodynamics anyway?
Great video. Disk will never catch-on in the peloton soon. Most riders are afraid of heat/cuts and loosing a finger in a crash.
Bollocks
+Thelma Viaduct Is that your area of expertise?
Let's no be sexist. I'm just stating my opinion from reading what the pro teams riders are saying.
Discs make riding bikes safer, why you may ask? Because they fucking work as advertised is the answer. The peloton ride what they're given, when campag are up to speed, watch the uci ban calliper brakes.
+Jason Smith Can you add the article for this statement please?
curious how much faster the aero option is (vs lightweight) on flats and rollers (all other things being equal, including rider and the wheels)? might be a cool test for a future GCN episode.
Hi nice video. Benelli full carbon, Shimano 105 everywhere, interior cable routing. Has you heard about it? It is good? Around $2000.
I was somewhat distracted by the seamen in the background...
James Nickless “
One of each of course.
Any chance of test of aero vs good light bike. Same rider, route etc.
Hi Simon
What about a endurance bike made out of titanium what would you recommend ?
Keep up the good work 👍
Alright, I need advice. I have a 5mile ride every day to school. It isn't long, but I have to carry a 20-30 pound backpack. Also, there is a huge hill I have to climb, almost a full mile, and it is really steep. I go a different way home, where I have a longer downhill, very windy, and then a pretty long, slow uphill. Recently, I have been riding a vintage lotus to school, and want to upgrade. What bike type would you recommend? I am also considering spending around 1-2K. I love the look of aero bikes, but am not sure if that is right for this type of commute. Before I go to a shop and try out some of their bikes, any advice? Thanks
What’s the best light weight bike for road racing. I got $500 to spend maybe $600. I’m new to cycling but I want to go with the light weight kind.
I was in a local bike shop yesterday and looking at new bikes, and the gentleman I was working with tried hard to sway me from an aero bike and on a endurance bike. Currently I ride a Trek 1.2 and I have it set up rather aggressively, and like the way it feels. However, I am getting ready to do my first triathlon and he was saying I would be hard pressed to find a comfortable enough aero bike for that task. What are your thoughts? To me it seems like a good trade off between a TT bike and a roadbike but maybe I am wrong. Also, a good tri saddle i thought could help with a longer race...
I wonder if you could make a similar video for Endurance vs Gravel vs Cross ? There are so many niche models out there nowadays I'm not sure where the "lines" are...
A triathlete who specializes in 20km timetrials cause that’s the cycle in a sprint triathalon but not getting a TT because I also race in some draft legal races
i prefer aero bikes even though I'im a climber because even while climbing i go over 20 mph so aerodynamics play a role and i like aero positions anyway.
This was a great video but i was wondering if GCN can go a step further on helping consumers by doing test ride on viewer specified bike or bikes comparison? I so have great respect on GCN presenters' opinions.
I recently got myself a Specialized Tarmac SL4 Sport 2019. Just for me to understand, in which category does it fall?
It’s light but not so light, aero but not so aero... it’s like a bit of everything but not, hem, “specialized” in any of the categories you describe.
A 2019 SL4?? 4th-gen Tarmacs are a number of years old now.