Which of these would you pick?

[NotAGolf]

I’m looking at getting a new bike but I’m really struggling to pick one! I’ve narrowed it down to the following options:

Due to various discounts/vouchers etc, I could get the following options for roughly the same price:
- Canyon Ultimate CF SL Disc 7.0
- Vitus Vitesse Evo Cri
- Wilier Cento 1 AIR Ultegra
- Vitus Venon Disc Cri

Or the following I could get for ~£350 less than the above
- Vitus Vitesse Evo CRS Disc
- Vitus Venon Disc CRS

I can find plus and negative points for all of them. I’m coming from a 10 year old Specialized Allez so they’re all going to be a massive step up. One problem I have is that I won’t be able to test ride any of them, so I’m not sure how I’ll get on with the more aggressive geometry, or if the more relaxed geometry of the Venon would feel too upright (I'm not really sure if my Allez is aggressive or relaxed; I've never ridden another road bike!).

Which would you pick, and why?

 

[Shadowness]

What are you using it for?
Do you really need disc brakes? (if you're using it throughout winter I'd say maybe)

 

[NotAGolf]

What are you using it for?
Do you really need disc brakes? (if you're using it throughout winter I'd say maybe)

I’m a bit of a fair-weather cyclist, so am unlikely to go out in the rain unless I get caught in it. I don’t think I have a preference over either option.

I’m not intending to race, but I’d perhaps look at joining a club in future. I definitely do more short sharp smashes of 20-40 miles rather than 60+ mile slogs, so I’m leaning towards the more aggressive bikes, but I don’t want them to be so aggressive that I couldn’t do a longer ride or sportive without being in crippling discomfort.

 

[XE11]

I have a Cento1 Air (see the road bike picture thread). This is my most familar/loved bike because i commute with it. but compared to other newer offerings, it is showing its age abit like heavier frame weight, cable management, headset design, brake caliper mounting design, tyre clearance, di2 options.

out of that list i would take Canyon. i think aero frame is...abit overrated....

 

[NotAGolf]

I have a Cento1 Air (see the road bike picture thread). This is my most familar/loved bike because i commute with it. but compared to other newer offerings, it is showing its age abit like heavier frame weight, cable management, headset design, brake caliper mounting design, tyre clearance, di2 options.

out of that list i would take Canyon. i think aero frame is...abit overrated....

Thanks for the feedback. Not sure what it is, but there's something about the wilier that I'm not sure about.

I definetly think the canyon is the nicest looking out of that group, but it's 105 and average wheels up against di2 (in some cases) and better wheels.

I've also snapped my gear cable on my current bike which is the last straw, so I'm looking to buy sooner rather than later so would appreciate any quick feedback!

 

[area51]

I’m looking at getting a new bike but I’m really struggling to pick one! I’ve narrowed it down to the following options:

Due to various discounts/vouchers etc, I could get the following options for roughly the same price:
- Canyon Ultimate CF SL Disc 7.0
- Vitus Vitesse Evo Cri
- Wilier Cento 1 AIR Ultegra
- Vitus Venon Disc Cri

Or the following I could get for ~£350 less than the above
- Vitus Vitesse Evo CRS Disc
- Vitus Venon Disc CRS

I can find plus and negative points for all of them. I’m coming from a 10 year old Specialized Allez so they’re all going to be a massive step up. One problem I have is that I won’t be able to test ride any of them, so I’m not sure how I’ll get on with the more aggressive geometry, or if the more relaxed geometry of the Venon would feel too upright (I'm not really sure if my Allez is aggressive or relaxed; I've never ridden another road bike!).

Which would you pick, and why?

Hi what sort of riding you going to do? if something that can do a mixture even gravel paths etc then would look at likes of Cyclo cross/Gravel bikes(Gravel bike is fetish/fad name for cyclo cross type) plenty of clearance can stuff wide tyres in there which roll nicer with option of changing to narrower or treaded if want to venture away from the roads.
More relaxed postion also but has the benefits of drop handle bars opposed to daft hybrid flats! another marketing fad!(just wish they could charge them with medical bills for Carphal tunnel and other wrist/hand injuries!)

I would go visit a decent bike shop(not sure where you are residing)they could build you a bike up to what you need but even your specialised could be refettled as decent frames.

trouble with those you have listed is the daft gearing with those crap Faddie compact/semi compact another marketing BS exercise!

50/52-36 to 11-30 casstte is sh!te on a road bike too many gaps in ratios and if need 36-30 better get off and walk! because either going so slowly verring all over or have to spin at such a high rate and unless super fit will soon be very tired.

Mind guess have to shift the old MTB cassetes now there being lobbed out with 42 plus bottom sprockets.

The benefit of going to a real bike shop is getting the right kit on the bike for you not everyone else! ie crank lengths/Handle bar widths/stem lengths and more all important for efficent riding.
you could be 5.4 yet very broad chested/wide shoulders so need a smaller frame but wide bars like 46's.Where as could be tall but taller in the torso than legs so need a longer top tube/Stem/shorter cranks or could be a mixture of any of them so your expensive pride and joy just got needs changing.

For road riding esp with the gearing there pushing on you need short cranks like 170's or can't keep the cadence up as start going 175's and head into knee issues. as each equal has an opposite.

I spent many many hours tweaking my postion on my racing/MTB/Track bikes to get a decent postion and like when did a 25 mile time trial on my track bike(Fixed wheel) was commented by someone from my club out on course watching said nothing was moving on you only your legs! which is the perfect postion! no wasted energy! as no prizes for dancing with the bike only getting over the line first.

But most bikes buy complete are a compromise plus what is the in Fad at the time.
Ive bought a few new years back but all the other ive built my self even my MTB's and have 2 specialised one came new years back but been rebuilt many times even had bits brazed on other got as a sort of bike but had issues! so needed to rebuild as chainset was not right and forks wrong for frame type.

Cable on your Spez is a few pounds which one is it?

If your wondering how i come about it? I used to run Lee Valley/Eastway cycle circuit we did coaching sessions there also.Even Bradley wiggins cut his Teeth there!

 

[XE11]

Thanks for the feedback. Not sure what it is, but there's something about the wilier that I'm not sure about.

I definetly think the canyon is the nicest looking out of that group, but it's 105 and average wheels up against di2 (in some cases) and better wheels.

I've also snapped my gear cable on my current bike which is the last straw, so I'm looking to buy sooner rather than later so would appreciate any quick feedback!

I personally think it's the thick tube profiles in combination with low-ish headtube length that gives the wilier a very racey feel. Few things to note when i say it's slightly outdated:
1, no direct mount brakes. on one occasion, when i did a emgency brake, the brake caliper gone out of alignment, i cant imagine the same can happen with direct mount.
2, Wilier did this bike without any windtunnel/CFD modelling (as far as i know), so it was very much...Italian freehand sculpture. Certainly looks beautiful, especially the original paint scheme, but later on when they design Cento 10 Air, they admit the downtube cut out actually create high pressure points behind the front wheel which actually dont do aerodyanmic any good. (See cento 10 air front wheel position in relation to down tube).
3, tyre clearance, the most i managed to fit is a Vittoria Corsa 25mm. Any wider/taller tyres will have too little cleaance.
4, it's one of those first generation aero bike, frame is quite heavy and they dont know how to optimise the carbon layup. For example, the toptube is fully solid, where on Colnago V1r the top part fo the top tube is soft because it's not high stress area. All this means that the bike is quite stiff, one way to look at it is it's very engaging, but also can be tiring over long distance.
5, the bottom bracket is 386EVO, so it's uses a 30mm spindle, for some people thats good, for some not so much. but i like how stiff it is, so no complains from me.
6, The rear brake cable routing is not the best. The cable enters on the side then have to leave the top tube at the top, so in my opinion it creates unnecessary bends/stress on the cable.

I wouldnt worry too much about 105 vs other groupset. a nicely tuned 105 will be just as good as the rest. plus, that gives you excuses to upgrade later. same goes to the wheel. (When R8000 was released, the 6800 di2 set was going for 400 quid! so you can always wait for next gen release and R8000 di2 will take the same drop).

 

[Drollic]

Get the geometry for your bike and compare it with your choices. Reach and stack being key points. It also depends what your body can hold position wise and the type of riding you intend to do.