Results 1 to 18 of 18
-
10-29-2018, 08:12 AM #1Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
- Location
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Posts
- 612
Capable road bike with a more upright position
I'm looking at getting more heavily into road riding and am a little lost in the sea of bikes. I don't need anything special, just capable for general road and perhaps a little gravel on the side. My biggest caveat is that I have a messed up SI joint (the connective tissue between your lower back and hip) and have trouble in the forward riding position traditional to road bikes. The very upright position of my mountain bike is relatively safe, but obviously too upright for road.
I was initially thinking of trying to find something with flat bars on road-ish geometry, but I'm worried those bikes (usually in brands' "urban" or "comfort" categories) aren't really built for long, hilly rides in the Santa Cruz mountains. Is something like a modern Cross bike, perhaps with a shorter than normal stem, more what I should be looking for? I appreciate any help and advice.
-
10-29-2018, 08:28 AM #2
Have you looked at a Specialized Roubaix?
-
10-29-2018, 08:32 AM #3
I'd look at the Canyon Endurace.
https://www.canyon.com/en-us/road/endurace/cf-slx/
https://www.canyon.com/en-us/road/endurace/cf-sl/
Nearly every company has their "endurance" bike. Honestly, it's what most of us should probably be riding anyways. Until recently though, the endurance models were a "lesser" version of their flagship bikes. But they've stepped it up recently and the endurance bikes are largely on par.
My whole point is: everyone has one and most are good. Generally, head tube is a little longer for a more upright position. The wheelbase is a little longer and HTA a little slacker for a more stable ride.
EDIT to add: make sure it's a "gravel" bike with discs that can fit a 30 tire...b/c, otherwise you're not cool and your bike will explode.Last edited by smartyiak; 10-29-2018 at 08:53 AM.
It makes perfect sense...until you think about it.
I suspect there's logic behind the madness, but I'm too dumb to see it.
-
10-29-2018, 08:33 AM #4
"Endurance Geometry" road bikes have a taller head tube. Then add fork steerer spacers and positive rise stem. You can easily get your bars as high as your seat level.
There is a ton of adjustment that can be done. The key is starting with a frame with a tall head tube.
-
10-29-2018, 08:46 AM #5
-
10-29-2018, 10:02 AM #6
Depends how much off pavement riding you want to do. I do a pretty good amount of it on skinny tires. 28-32 is passable on most surfaces, but if you're spending a lot of time on gravel, especially loose gravel, 38-40mm tires are a lot nicer and give you more grip, stability, and comfort. How much tire fits is kind of the big difference between an "endurance" road and a "gravel" bike. So if you want to spend more time on dirt and gravel roads get something like a kona rove or cannondale topstone or whatever instead of like, a specialized roubaix or cannondale synapse.
-
10-30-2018, 09:11 AM #7
-
10-30-2018, 09:14 AM #8
I like much of what Rivendell does, but what the fuck with the threaded steerers and quill stems?
-
10-30-2018, 09:18 AM #9
-
10-30-2018, 09:22 AM #10
Ha, yup.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda
-
10-30-2018, 11:03 AM #11
Check out the Specialized Diverge. I test rode it and felt it was too upright for me - much more so than a Roubaix, but is still very much a road bike.
-
10-30-2018, 11:47 AM #12Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2006
- Location
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Posts
- 612
Thanks for the recommendations. The Canyons are really enticing. I'm going to take a gander at them when I'm down by their showroom in Carlsbad in a few weeks.
-
10-30-2018, 02:23 PM #13
I got on a Giant Defy last year. Got a shorter stem and flipped it on stacked spacers. Very comfy, and fast feeling bike. This year's fits some bigger tires too.
There's nothing better than sliding down snow, and flying through the air
-
10-30-2018, 03:17 PM #14
I got an '18 Defy that will fit 30mm tires. The '19 fits 32mm...but I wish mine fit 38mm.
Oh well.Forum Cross Pollinator, gratuitously strident
-
10-30-2018, 07:39 PM #15
-
10-30-2018, 08:12 PM #16
So many ways to get to the OP's goal. Personally, I'd go Synapse disc. Play with risers, stems, etc until I got it dialed.
-
10-30-2018, 08:27 PM #17Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2014
- Location
- Gaperville, CO
- Posts
- 5,852
If you're paying the premium for a Riv you're sold on the whole stick. Stems and threadless look prettier I agree. But they are a PITA to work on, adjust, replace, and lack stiffness of a threadless 1 1/8th steer.
Which is why you admire Grants bikes, then go buy a VO.
-
10-30-2018, 10:00 PM #18
Bookmarks