Poll: Aero or lightweight bike?
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Soldato
Depends on the type of riding you're going to do. But aero almost always wins out.
Soldato
Aero. Even the pros were riding bikes above the mandatory weight limit in the mountain TT at the Giro today.
Soldato
I bought the ultimate over the aeroad because it's supposedly a much more comfortable and practical bike, but the aeroad would be faster in nearly all situations
But few pro's ride aero bikes, even on flat stages (except the sprinters)
Soldato
That's not really true any more, the few teams that still have both an aero bike and a lightweight bike only end up using the lightweight one on incredibly hilly stages, and even then only with a hill finish as the aero bike can give you an advantage on a descent. Most teams just ride bikes which are a mix of both now though, with aero technology but light enough to be within a few hundred grams of the weight limit.
collett's point could be important. And difficult to tell as you can't ride them first. Are you set on Canyon?
collett's point could be important. And difficult to tell as you can't ride them first. Are you set on Canyon?
Caporegime
Aero is more advantageous on all but the hilliest courses. It's pricey, though.
Suspended
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To be fair though, the Pros could ride a Raleigh Chopper and still beat any of us to the top of a climb
Personally, lightweight. Because you can always chuck some aero wheels on it and it'll perform brilliantly.
Soldato
Pros change wheels all the time depending on parcours, elevation, wind conditions... and even their shallow wheels are probably more highly engineered than anything you'll ever ride. As has been said, what you have to answer more than anything is what sort of riding will you be doing, and what's actually the most comfortable to ride?
Caporegime
That's an odd scenario to envisage. First and foremost, are you supported or are you carrying your gear with you? If the latter, then both are utterly irrelevant because panniers are neither light nor aero, so let's assume you're supported. That being the case, you're still talking about doing the thick end of 1000 miles in two weeks, or a week if you're nails. That's 100 miles a day, give or take, day after day after day. Under those circumstances I doubt you're going to be pushing it, again assuming you're not double hard, so aero advantage isn't really in play, and a kilo off the bike isn't going to make that much difference when the main goal is getting over the hills at all, never mind how fast.
You know what I'd be worrying about if I was doing LEJOG? A really comfortable saddle.
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Soldato
Get the aero bike and lose a kilo, win win.
Soldato
Apart from Valverde, they are all climbing specialists and are protected riders. Not much need for aero sitting behind a whole team whose whole job is to pull you along all day. To be fair, the Movistar guys listed, ride Ultimates which have aero elements anyway.
Soldato
Might just be me, but I'd consider both of those bikes to be lightweight!
Man of Honour
Soldato
Aero trumps weight!
Anyway, there is barely any difference in weight between the bikes. 300g is probably the Aeroad's deep rims. Also, once you've fitted pedals, tools, water bottles, garmin etc neither bike will be that light.
As Bear said, just lose a bit of bodyweight or buy the top of the range Aeroad which is 6.7kg.
EDIT: Poll is missing the n + 1 option of both?
Anyway, there is barely any difference in weight between the bikes. 300g is probably the Aeroad's deep rims. Also, once you've fitted pedals, tools, water bottles, garmin etc neither bike will be that light.
As Bear said, just lose a bit of bodyweight or buy the top of the range Aeroad which is 6.7kg.
EDIT: Poll is missing the n + 1 option of both?