Poll: Aero or lightweight bike?

[SDK^]

I'm interested in what the most popular choice is :
Given the choice of one bike would you go aero or lightweight and why?

E.g.

Canyon Aeroad : aero frame and wheels : 7.2kg
Or
Canyon Ultimate : standard lightweight wheels and frame : 6.4kg

 

[SDK^]

Depends on the type of riding you're going to do. But aero almost always wins out.

Aero. Even the pros were riding bikes above the mandatory weight limit in the mountain TT at the Giro today.

But few pro's ride aero bikes, even on flat stages (except the sprinters)

 

[SDK^]

Off the top of my head : Niabli, Contador, Quintana, Valverde all use lightweight bikes and some don't even use aero section wheels.

 

[SDK^]

Let's say you were riding LEJOG - aero or light weight?

 

[SDK^]

Looks like aero is the way to go.
I'm just waiting for the next edition Canyon Aeroad - with disc brakes and eTAP

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...0-A406-45E7-82B7-5D618E61324E_zps93ouekcy.jpg

n+1

Always.

Nice - there is always a showoff

 

[SDK^]

Is that confirmed? I thought I saw something on road.cc about a test bike.

I'd be so tempted by that.

I saw something about the disc version. There was an image floating around of one anyway

Disc brakes confirmed but eTAP with discs may be someway off.

[

 

[SDK^]

I might buy one and ride it with my unshaved legs

Me too, plus baggy clothes and panniers

 

[SDK^]

Lightweight wins

 

[SDK^]

Either way going aero with discs is just a disgusting choice.

This country warrants disc brakes.
I've done so many sportive rides in wet conditions meaning no/little brake stopping power when coming down hills. Having no braking confidence means I drag the brake all way down to maintain a controllable speed which is slow.

Also, riding through winter/wet gritty conditions destroys the rear calliper resulting in reduced rear braking performance.

 

[SDK^]

http://cyclefit.co.uk/uploads/Weight_vs_Aero_White_Paper_Cervelo.pdf

Edit - As people have said, you need the flexibility for an aero bike though.

An interesting article - thanks for posting.

 

[SDK^]

The Specialized Win Tunnel video series is helpful.

This one answers the slow speed aero benefit question.

Win Tunnel playlist link : http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcmaLnqmqDnmn_bCR0RJ-soSCDKCKR97t

 

[SDK^]

The problem for us non pro's chasing free speed aero gains is open roads.

A rider can spend lots of pounds changing to an aero frame, helmet, clothing, wheels and an aero position to gain several minutes over 40km, but if they hit a red light, traffic or junction at the wrong time then the aero gains are all lost because you are stopped.

 

[SDK^]

Indeed.
I was on a 100 mile Sportive yesterday with two friends. One on an Aeroad and the other using an S-Works Venge . With 30 miles to go they both ran out of fitness and drafted me back to the finish on my cheapy Spesh Alu Allez. My whole bike (including my PM) was cheaper than each of their wheel sets.

 

[SDK^]

You are missing the point!

You would have been faster at dragging their unfit arses home if your Allez was a Venge.

I was sand bagging the last 30 so the two on the 'fast' bikes could keep up - we wanted to finish together