New road bike. What's your desire ?

[g-boaf]

Mine looks a lot better built than that, but I can’t see inside it which freaks me out.

Half considering a new Chapter 2 Tere disc frameset - old colours are available NOS pretty cheaply.

Any other good options? Factor O2 maybe? Would prefer it under $3k though.

I’ve seen a Chapter 2 Rere (not tere) and they look great and its owner reckoned it was decent. Other than that fairly unknown to me.

Factor bikes are really nice for sure, the price also nice unfortunately. You could look at a Canyon frame set?

[Mr Purple]

Mine looks a lot better built than that, but I can’t see inside it which freaks me out.

Half considering a new Chapter 2 Tere disc frameset - old colours are available NOS pretty cheaply.

Any other good options? Factor O2 maybe? Would prefer it under $3k though.

You are light. You should be good if the welds look good externally.
Ask the bike shop that built it for you what they think.
They may be able to whip the headset bearings and bb out and have a look for heat marks if they are concerned.
It is a nice looking bike you have.
I don't reckon one profanity bound video of another frame with dodgy welds means yours is.
I am no expert, just my opinion.
Hope it's all good anyway

I was on holidays riding an Emonda rental and gave my Bowman a good lookover and ride when I got back.

Mine looks nothing like the one in the video. You can clearly see it is also hand welded but the weld quality externally on mine looks immaculate, the alignment is perfect and there's no signs of wear despite having 6200km under some pretty abusive conditions.

I figure it was a quality control issue rather than a general issue. And if mine hasn't gone 'pop' by now it's unlikely to do so until such a time when I want something lighter, more aero and faster anyway.

[warthog1]

I was on holidays riding an Emonda rental and gave my Bowman a good lookover and ride when I got back.

Mine looks nothing like the one in the video. You can clearly see it is also hand welded but the weld quality externally on mine looks immaculate, the alignment is perfect and there's no signs of wear despite having 6200km under some pretty abusive conditions.

I figure it was a quality control issue rather than a general issue. And if mine hasn't gone 'pop' by now it's unlikely to do so until such a time when I want something lighter, more aero and faster anyway.

Good to hear

[g-boaf]

This one is very elegant actually:

https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/stories/raphacanyon

The paint scheme is quite nice. But the black Canyon Ultimate CF SLX bikes that some of the Rapha clubhouses had on display with subtle Rapha branding were also extremely nice. Those were quite a few years ago.

[MichaelB]

This one is very elegant actually:

https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/stories/raphacanyon

The paint scheme is quite nice. But the black Canyon Ultimate CF SLX bikes that some of the Rapha clubhouses had on display with subtle Rapha branding were also extremely nice. Those were quite a few years ago.

Not bad. Have to snigger at the marketing that just because of the paint scheme, it's suddenly become a "supercar" ...

Getting some training wheels for yours when you get on the road again ..

BTW, how's the recovery going ?

[g-boaf]

This one is very elegant actually:

https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/stories/raphacanyon

The paint scheme is quite nice. But the black Canyon Ultimate CF SLX bikes that some of the Rapha clubhouses had on display with subtle Rapha branding were also extremely nice. Those were quite a few years ago.

Not bad. Have to snigger at the marketing that just because of the paint scheme, it's suddenly become a "supercar" ...

Getting some training wheels for yours when you get on the road again ..

BTW, how's the recovery going ?

The older bikes were nicer, I don’t know what happened to them when Rapha Sydney closed.

As for recovery, it’s slow. At 3 weeks ago roughly it was 30% healed. Now is all the physio to get my muscles freed up and trying to build up some strength in the leg, but not overdoing things because that left leg is so weak.

When I sit down everything tightens up again which is bad because I’m working again. I just have to get up regularly and stretch along with a few other exercises.

I can get on the kickr bike and do 15-20 minutes once per day. I don’t do that every day however. It takes a bit of fuss to get on it because I’m still on crutches but I can manage. I am feeling like I can turn the pedals in a proper circular manner, not restricted movement at 12 o’clock position. As with everything, slowly and carefully.

I don’t know what I’m doing with my bikes after this. I have plans, but first all I care about is walking normally. There will be a lot of things to do before getting on the real bike. I want back, but do it right. Good that I have plenty of help around me.

[MichaelB]

I don’t know what I’m doing with my bikes after this. I have plans, but first all I care about is walking normally. There will be a lot of things to do before getting on the real bike. I want back, but do it right. Good that I have plenty of help around me.

Keep up the progress !!

[LateStarter]

Dreams & plans keep us all going and help fill up forum pages. I think I have managed to get off the new bike treadmill and am just concentrating on a new me where there is a lot of work required.

Took the Cannondale off the garage wall where it has been resting for about 5 years and it goes quite well ("considering"), might dig out a few bits I have had stocked up for a similar time and get them installed and put back some wider tyres and it can become "gravel bike". Have found myself thinking the N-1 heresy , do I need 3 bikes 2 of which hardly ever come out of the garage, maybe an Audax bike & a Gravel bike are enough, I haven't done any heavy touring for years, maybe the Vivente would be happier in a better home where it will get used?

[warthog1]

I would like to go disc road bike eventually.
Was up at the local giant shop yesterday.
A tcr with ultegra was there.
That'd do.
It had carbon wheels and will take 32mm wide tyres.
It's all I'd need.
Going to have to wait though.
Not keen on all black colours anymore and what I currently have is working.
I reckon I can strip the cervelo though. It just doesn't get ridden anymore.

[MichaelB]

Finally, an aero bike that tries something different !

Not sure if I like it, but it certainly is different .....

https://road.cc/content/tech-news/radic ... ine-293363

[g-boaf]

Hmm, don't like it - preferred the old Madone which was a very nice looking bike.

The other one that was nice was the classic Canyon Aeroad CF SLX with rim brakes that Mavic used to use as their neutral bikes - those were very decent - I was fortunate to have ridden one in the mountains, not just a short ride around the block but many hours.

[open roader]

I actually never thought I'd post to this thread but as they say, never say never.

So as I quietly put some distance between myself and that big pile of stones over there, I must now admit to several nights worth of online researching .................... an eBike

I've recently discovered the so called 'gravel bike'. Mine is really an all road bike and makes a lot of sense to me living on a gravel road in the countryside surrounded by lots of mixed bitumen/gravel backroads, all of which are pretty quiet traffic wise.

I've also recently had an upswing in my health after medical complications compounded with an overly busy work life during covid forcing me off the bikes (and my kayak) for a couple of months whist I get some treatment but now my body is working like it did 5 years ago.

Riding home into a 45km/hr headwind on the last ride as the available light was fading fast (do not want to ride in the dark under any circumstances) I thought a little pedal assist would be more than handy for me to end my ride not requiring half a day to feel human again.

Sounds like I'm talking myself nicely into this.........

I think something sleek and modern but horridly overpriced like a Wilier Jena hybrid or the Orbea Gain M20 would suit nicely.

At least researching the current Mahle X35 and the Fazua Evation motor systems is interesting over these long dark winter nights....... and waiting to see how long before anything like these come back into stock.............

https://wilier.com/en/my2021/int/endura ... ena-hybrid


https://melbourneelectricbicycles.com.a ... -gain-m20/

[trailgumby]

Just ordered this:



It shipped today.

[MichaelB]

Just ordered this:



It shipped today.

Nice colour !!

[g-boaf]

Just ordered this:



It shipped today.

Beautiful bike, they are very good - make sure yours doesn't have the head set issue. Should be fixed already.

[trailgumby]

Beautiful bike, they are very good - make sure yours doesn't have the head set issue. Should be fixed already.

'
Thanks for the heads-up. Looks like it is no longer a current issue, but I will check when getting my bike fit done.

[Mububban]

I haven't done any heavy touring for years, maybe the Vivente would be happier in a better home where it will get used?

I reckon it'd get snapped up pretty quick if you put it up for sale

[grt046]

I think something sleek and modern but horridly overpriced like a Wilier Jena hybrid or the Orbea Gain M20 would suit nicely.

At least researching the current Mahle X35 and the Fazua Evation motor systems is interesting over these long dark winter nights....... and waiting to see how long before anything like these come back into stock.............

https://wilier.com/en/my2021/int/endura ... ena-hybrid


https://melbourneelectricbicycles.com.a ... -gain-m20/

In September last I was fortunate to get my hands on an Orbea Gain M20 in my size as an 80th B'Day treat with the aim of continuing to ride with a group of mates who are younger and faster particularly on hilly rides.
Like you I researched bikes with Mahle X35 (Gain) Fazua Evation (TREK) and Specialised Turbo Creek E5. I managed to test ride the Specialised and had a short ride around the carpark on a new Gain M20 before settling on the Gain.

Main reasons for decision were:

!. It was the lightest
2. It looked like a conventional bike with no exceptionally large down tube to house the battery pack
3. It was c'f as against alloy for the specialised
4. The fit suited me and similar to mt Defy Adv which I have retained.
Interestingly the recommended retail price at the time was around $1000 cheaper than current.

Now 6,500 km on I am totally happy with my decision

https://www.orbea.com/au-en/ebikes/road ... t/gain-m20

[davehirst]

Just ordered this:




Excuse my ignorance , super six evo?

[trailgumby]

Excuse my ignorance , super six evo?

'
That's the one.

[MichaelB]

Excuse my ignorance , super six evo?

'
That's the one.

One thing I also like, apart from the colour, is the classic and muted graphics.

Gone are the days of HUGE stickers and all sorts of acronyms and useless self-promotion of 'features'.

[davehirst]

'
That's the one.
[/quote]

Tasty, congratulations

[g-boaf]

Excuse my ignorance , super six evo?

'
That's the one.

One thing I also like, apart from the colour, is the classic and muted graphics.

Gone are the days of HUGE stickers and all sorts of acronyms and useless self-promotion of 'features'.

Love my Canyon for that reason, it has no obvious logos or graphics except for the subtle brown stripe and small name on the top of the top tube. Usually nobody knows what it is. The ones that do know what it is, their reaction is always classic.

The S5 on the other hand has Sunweb all over it, but no Shimano stickers which is good because this one has SRAM everything.

[trailgumby]

That's the one.

One thing I also like, apart from the colour, is the classic and muted graphics.

Gone are the days of HUGE stickers and all sorts of acronyms and useless self-promotion of 'features'.

'
The other colourway that was available was quite nice too, but on the top tube was the word "Rapha". Since I think of them as overpriced pretenders, and I liked the metalflake of the alternative, I went with the alternative.



Interestingly, I discovered during the week a Rapha storefront has opened a few doors south of me in George St Sydney. 4 bikes hanging on the wall, and a lot of really expensive cycling kit on the racks. No coffee.

[open roader]

One thing I also like, apart from the colour, is the classic and muted graphics.

Gone are the days of HUGE stickers and all sorts of acronyms and useless self-promotion of 'features'.

Amen to this becoming a main stream trend.

As much as I love/d my Colnago paint work, the brand painted onto every tube, every stem, every surface was simply daft.

Giant also drove me nuts with oddball paint schemes and Giant plastered all over. Now I actually take to time to look at some of their models as they have lifted their game lately esp. with the use of black on black style designs.

+1 to the Cannondale look - smooth, flowing and the furthest thing from a rolling advertisement. I love my Topstone C2 for this reason - even the 'Cannondale' logo is barely visible on my frame's colour scheme (Sabre)