This is why when I upgraded my road bike two years ago I purchased a used Titanium. Rim brakes. Mechanical Shifting. External cables. Affordable and I can do all the mechanics myself.
The easy answer to the sustainability conundrum is simply to stop buying new shit. Stop chasing marginal gains on your cafe run, stop pandering to the marketing guys and the review sites, and stop throwing money at stuff you just don't need. Get a bike, ride it and be happy.
The first bike I was lent was a early 90s Bianchi. I loved it! The 2013 diamondback carbon bike they gave me was a huge downgrade. Unfortunately that is all I got for now.
I just built a brand new TCR. Put as much "out-of-date" tech on it, as possible. Mechanical groupset, Rim Brakes, skinnier tyres (with tubes!) non-integrated headset....and it looks amazing.
Good words on sustainability - keep bikes for longer, be happy with your 10 or 11 speed gearing... refuse to buy anything you can't fix yourself... be good to see you do more on things like footprint of frame materials versus lifetimes and so on. It's not just the bikes, it's actually the cycling that is fun :-)
This is the best comment on the industry and it's direction product wise. I hope that some brands will listen and make these changes to their products. It will help their bottom line and help us everyday cyclists. Thank you
I used to be a bikefitter. Every bike our shop sold was customised to a full bikefit, which usually meant changing stem, bars or cranks - and sometimes all three. This was simple with external cables, rim brakes, etc. Customisation of every bike would have been absolutely impossible with modern bikes. Most top end bikes are probably now not fit optimised to the rider. A proper fit is more beneficial than any tech features. New bikes are heavier, more complex. less reliable and WAY more expensive. Buying into the latest kit is a mug's game. It's only the latest for a short time. Not giving a mechanical alternative is simply a way for manufacturers to lever more money out of the consumer. These are businesses interested only in the bottom line. You, the consumer, are no more than a source of revenue extraction. Don't get mugged.
Even on my current build project, I'm not having mechanical anything. too much hassle. But I'm not having all integrated cables so I easily can change stem and bar. Don't knock everything new I'd say. I love discs and electronic shifting is the answer to all my problems. (This project has etap, my other has di2)
@@GeirEivindMork All of my road bikes (about twenty in number) are fixed-wheel. All of my mountain bikes (about eight) are singlespeed. All of those have rigid forks. All of my frames, road and MTB, are steel. I seem to be rather stuck in my ways!
I work on environmental governance internationally, and your concern honors you, David, but the truth is that to save our ecosystems - the planet will be fine, we and many other species will not be - we need to radically cut down on consumption. No more new bikes every two or three years, no matter the materials used, which makes your job a lot harder as you are part of the consumption economy. I don’t blame you but that’s the inconvenient truth, most everything else is greenwashing. I am no holier than thou though and I enjoy your content. Cheers P
@@rantingwrench”yes, but” in my mind. Two things: you can’t expect people to make those adjustments on their own. You need to price the costs of production to our ecosystems adequately and that’s a regulatory = government responsibility. The other thing is that all this environmentally friendly production thing is mostly BS designed to make us (and the producers, they are not monsters) feel better about our unnecessary purchases. I am highly critical of that. Nobody can tell you what to buy or not buy but you need to have adequate information about the consequences of your consumption: greenwashing will make you feel better about it. That’s very problematic and that’s why I commented.
You nailed it here, buddy! I was about to pull the trigger on the new Canyon Grail, just this morning. Stopped when I realized they have integrated bars that you can not request an upgrade on. Also, it's very chinzy that at the consumer level you get none of the frame integrations. One more season on the Giant Revolt, I guess.
One thing is that external routing with hydraulic disc brakes is a recipe for disaster. If we went back to mechanical rim brakes, sure. But while we are at it and if we did, ban all carbon wheels. Very few non-professional riders know how to properly stop on a rim/carbon combination in anything other that pristine conditions. As to one-piece handlebars, trash them. There's no "aero" benefits and the downsides are many.
Couldn’t agree more! The marketing hype machine is huge, but for those of us who are no longer racing or never did, the best bike for us is the one that puts the biggest smile on our faces. It may well be a totally bling race machine, but it could equally be a 2nd hand bike that fits you like a glove and connects you with the world in a perfect way. It’s probably why a good chunk of us have more than one bike…
Bike trends which I don't like. 1) Frames that have built in container units or " stash boxes " Think about losing a key or when these ware out ( and they will ). 2) Internal cable routing 3) Manufacture priority specific parts such as head sets, bottom brackets, seat post etc. 4) Electric shifters. Okay if you're a sponsored pro or have a disability in which this might be able to befit form this tech these are perfectly reasonable exceptions but, for most of us we don't need the added cost.
10:50 Aluminium has one more advantage. The frame can be safely used with a smart/direct-drive trainers. A big "no, no" (at least "not recommended") for carbon bike frames.
I built up a new bike in 2020 with internal routing, electronics… I had to spend a bunch of money on service recently… but it was tires, brake pads, chainrings, chain, and cassette - all of the traditional wear and tear parts. The new tech is still going strong. Time for me to get out on the road and wear these parts out again!
If we're forced to use internal routing, then we need zerk fittings so we can grease bearings more easily. 2 hours to pop a bearing in and out vs 15 minutes is insane.
Canyon refused to change handlebar length and even refused to provide me spare part of a different size. I told them I perfectly understand the standardization and logistic constraints but I was willing to change it by myself without their help (even if this is a nightmare with internal cable routing). Canyon France said that spare part are reserved for crash replacement and not sold separately. What do you think? Am I an alien to want an adapted length for my cockpit, I know my position and wanted to reproduce exactly the same. Few years back Canyon did propose an exchange for free and today it is not even possible, even fully charged (I read 500€ minimum for crash replacement a full cockpit when only center part is needed - not good for the planel).
There is a reason they are cheaper. However, nowadays even the value is not there since they have raised their prices. Once you pay to have everything sized correctly, you might as well have bought a bike through a shop with walk-in service. The promise of low-cost, pro level bikes just doesn't work unless you fit the default setup and have no problems with shipping or warranty.
I can only advise to buy a frameset and fit the stuff you want. It is more expensive at first glance. But in the end you don’t have to replace crappy or unfitting parts like handlebar, handlebar tape, stem, saddle, wheels, tires and tubes. Which is why you should end up saving whilst having you dream bike. I paid 6500 Euro for a bike that would have cost me more than 9000 Euro if purchased as a complete bike and then swapping almost everything. Well ok, I would have a crappy OEM saddle, some "training wheels" and a low end handlebar lying around, all pretty unsellable anyway.
Integrated bars and stem with internal cabling looks so sleek. Giant have got the right balance of good looks and ease of maintenance on the TCR (even their £10k TCR) which has separate bars and stem, and internal cabling that exits the bars, bypasses the headtube then disappears into the downtube. If you want colour choice, buy an Elves (I have). For a very reasonable price you can practically have any colour scheme and design you want. With Elves you can choose to either have an integrated cockpit where you specify the bars width and stem length or you can have separate bars and stem.
100% agree with handle bar comments having just had a professional bike, fit I will never buy a bike with carbon headset bar integrated. also 100% agree with aluminium bikes.
A colleague who has been riding since the 90s has had a gravel bike with SRAM eTap for a couple of years. He says it's the bike which he has to work on the least, it just works.
Right, electronic shifting and hydraulic brakes are more or less set-and-forget. On the other hand it gets more complicated when there are problems. So in the end you may spend the same amount of time and headache, but differently spread out over time.
@@SrFedericoexactly, I have to two bikes with mechanical shifters, one works great and for 10 years very few problems. the other i have problems, indexing is not right, even after taking it to several mechanic (Ultraga) and it seems there are several minor problems that are hard to adjust out... Got a 105-electronic shifter and they have been fine. what you know always works, new stuff can be frustrating when one does not know how to adjust it or find the root cause of the problem.
Hi David, this was a great video, I really enjoyed it, especially as a bike fitter, it has become increasingly more difficult to adjust the front end of these modern bikes, a decent amount of my clients have to replace integrated handlebars for various reasons, which can cost hundreds of pounds plus the fee for a mechanic or similar to do the work. They do look nice, and if they work for the client, fantastic, but there are downsides. Hopefully the manufacturers will listen 🙏💯👍
I've never bought a bike that came with the perfect stem length. I usually get the shop to put on the right stem length before the bike leaves the shop.
Aethos, mechanical Ultegra, classic cockpit and 45mm carbon wheels. This is my daily ride and I love it. I build it myself (as always) so I can choose what I really want.
@@niklaskristensson2231 Don't know - realy 😃 It is around 7 kg with pedals and 30 mm tyres. Size 54. A wanted light bike but with normal parts. The frame is not S-works because it is not compatible with mechanical groupsets. I wanted the SS cage so the cassette is 28t. I am old school - if there will be a chance to have this frame with rim brakes I would buy one and then Campa will be my choice. Love disk brakes on gravel or winter bike with mudguards. But I really don't need them on my summer fast bike - I really like the feel of rim brake hoods.
Let’s just say it. Most “new features” are nothing but gimmicks. Gimmicks to make you think you are missing out and must buy that new thing. It’s so ridiculous and bike mechanics know this better than anyone. Most “new features” evoke an eye roll.
I have one piece stem/bars on both my Canyon's and I love them. I'd never go back to a separate stem/bar option. Thing is, if your cockpit fits you, you don't change it, you don't need adjustability. It's just the initial setup where you might play around a bit. But even then, when you are buying a one piece carbon cockpit, it's not likely to be your first bike so you already have measurements from your existing bike to go on and that's what I did, I measured up my previous bike and ordered a stem/bar length that replicated those measurements and it worked very well.
I suppose internal cable routing is more environmentally sound, since the cables are protected from damage and can be built from less material. Less welding external cable stops too, just a hole in the frame.
I love the Cannondale Caad series and have plans to build something on a budget next year. Looking at an aluminium frame,deep carbon wheels. I already have a Sram eletronic groupset on my gravel bike to use. There are some great options for framesets out there including Specialized,Trek,Kinesis and Cannondale. I work in the trade and still cannot afford the high prices of the bikes we stock even at trade prices! 😥
Fully internal housings and cables and whatever is just not necessary neither are electronic gears. If that's what you want to have on your bike because you think the pros do it and so you got to have it, for some reason, go ahead but the market should not be so controlled or dominated by these frivolous sorts of products. It's all making up solutions for problems that didn't even exist just to sell insanely expensive bikes!
Bikes are overengineered. The aftermarket counts on this. Most people don't enter competitions. Regular riders don't need all this over-engineered and over-marketed hype. Rechargeable battery-operated shifters seem unnecessary and overcomplicated. Carbon Fiber bikes, bars, and forks are seeming to have a much shorter life. We need regular bikes for regular people...🙂
You can get 105 di2 (new) for 500 USD in some shop in the US. Tiagra was on sale for 361€, 105 mechanical 12 speed was 600€. Not so expensive for a really good groupset.
Electronic shifting on bikes only make sense if they are powered by our pedaling, in which the technology isn't up right there yet. Also hoping we get to see more aluminium bikes from mainstream brands
Bought a ti ribble endurance with mechanical ultegra, pretty lucky I pulled the trigger when I did on that, also got a TI Elan from Spa cycles, that's same spec, great bikes for the money and no more than mid range carbon. You can still get something like a TI Holdsworth Helm from planet x with mechanical campy chorus for about three grand. Campagnolo seem to be the only manufacturer that offer both electronic and mechanical options of their groupsets at present. Time for to switch back then maybe, even though I've never owned a campag bike.
Are you in the EU? I was going to buy the Ti Ribble to replace my Planet X all pro carbon, but being in the EU , I would need to pay 1250€ in taxes. I ended up getting a Ti frame local French manufacture from a local dealer, picked the parts, and he put it together. I love it, put 300+km so far before my surgery. looking forward to getting back on it.
For those of us that have bikes with mechanical group sets (I have the Dura Ace 9100 on one of my bikes) I wish Shimano would at least make replacement parts instead of having to search online and no I don’t want to mix and match with 105 or lower if I happen to need parts.
I agree with all of them. The color one is definitely annoying. Especially with Giant because they have so many dull, boring paint schemes. The issue there is related to inventory complexity. They have many different models (heck, the TCR has so many it's hard to understand and) so to manage inventory of every color of every model gets crazy. To resolve it, they'd probably need to shift to some kind of partial assembly process, or painting and assembly done in a more on-demand fashion, which means lead times.
I wouldn't be optimistic about the promise of cheap chinese group sets. Just look at what happened in the phone market, they were cheap as long as they just copied bigger brands, but once a manufacturer started to go the way of quality, prices jumped up to the same levels as the other brands they were supposed to be competing with.
I don't have the money for more than one bike, however I would get into road and gravel races. I'm ok with 1x, but worry about any downsides if you went with a frame that allowed 47-50mm tire clearance in a road race with 28 or 32mm tires? I would consider 2 different sized chain rings/length chains, and two sets of wheels with the different tires equipped. Is this plausible or is the aero issues that big of a deal for a road race? I would be a Cat 3 and 35+ rider in the US.
Is it me or is the battery issue a sram thing. I've had di2 on both my bikes for many years and I never have to think about charging. It's never runs out. It's never failed. Once per 1000 miles when the garmins beeps at me. Done
SRAM eTap groupsets stay electronically active whenever there's movement detected, thus draining the batteries if they're left connected to the derailleurs. For this reason, those who are aware remove their batteries whenever they're transporting their bikes.
Since they broke the seal with the adoption of disc brakes, most of the new 'upgrade' designs aren't upgrades at all for the normal rider. There is one nice bike shown in these clips, the Colnago C50, so elegant, classy - well made, rides brilliantly, in reality no casual rider ever needed anything better than that.
How do you travel with a bike with internal routing? All for aero gains ridiculous idea! Lets hope the next iteration of the TCR cabling stays away from the handlebar / headset ...
Very easy I assure you....I have traveled with my fully integrated gravel bike around the world ridden it in Canada, Spain, Poland and Germany. It's just fine. Same people that bitch about bikes without internal routing probably don't know how to lube their chain anyways so who cares.
@@toshman696969 is that in a ‘soft’ case ? Seen many snapped frames with people you have used those cases. Bike Box Alan and Velo Vault with the anti crush pole is the safer option for me which means handlebars off .
Gimmicks sell more bikes, make it disposable, proprietary, unfixable...Its not what we have, it's how much you enjoy using it. Costumer is always right, make the companies listen.
great video! about the colours. one of my road bikes is a koga-miyata gentsracer from 1982. i know that only because they had that colour only in 1982 and only for that model.
Don't overlook that aluminum frames can be recycled. Carbon frames go to the land fill. In fact all the other frame materials can be recycled fairly easily.
Talkin sustainability, less environmental impact and longevity (hopefully), your review of the magnesium Vaast R/1 last year is part of the reason I purchased one.
These issues along with disc brakes are being forced upon cyclists by manufacturers despite no-one asking for them. It's harder and harder to get a good rim braked bike now should you want one. There's this narrative that all new tech is bigger and better and it's often driven by media outlets who promote such tech. What us consumers want is CHOICE.
The market is responding to what sells, so if more people shopped more sensibly, some of the industry’s excesses might be curtailed, both high-end and low-end.
David, your videos are great. Please don’t stoop to the stupid facial expressions to try to attract people to your videos. You don’t need to use those stupid expressions.
I ride steel, titanium bikes with mechanical no internal routing and I love them 😊 ref colours I totally agree so fed up of matte finish and black bikes, to be fair to Ribble they offer colour selection.. Pete
I agree, David, I have zero interest in the one-piece bar and stem combos. And I'm fine with semi-integrated cables and hoses, mostly hidden and so much easier than completely hidden. And mechanical drivetrains, yes, and what's up with Shimano's labor problems, I thought they were manufacturing their fine products in Japan, not Malaysia or anywhere else. And c'mon, David, we are not mere mortals. We are riders and we count in life as much as any young pro with hours and hours to ride like a hamster on the wheel and get paid to pursue victories on public roads in Europe in exchange for sponsor promotion and representation. And it doesn't last long for them, a decade or so and then hopefully they become advocates of cycling for the health and fitness of their fans and neighbors and, these days, competitors in gravel events, too.
If you buy a 'bespoke' bike you can choose all the bits that are changeable....in the end this is more sustainable as you get the bike you want and fits first time!.....go titanium.....no issue on bike colour!
I actually love the one handle bar stem. It came with a couple mount. My setup has it to where I have multiple lights on it plus a mount for my gopro. I prefer they stick to it. I know my fit and reach.
Another bike trend that i wish would die (or be banned by the UCI) is wheels with internal nipples. while modern carbon rims are admittedly very good, the ability to flip your bike, turn a few nipples and true your own wheel(s) is priceless. this is a flawed and frankly ridiculous design, requiring unnecessary and excessive effort for the most basic service, similar to one piece carbon handlebar and stems with internal cable routing. who needs to remove and reinstall tires, tubes, and rim tape, to peel off and re-glue tubs, or to mess with tubeless setups just to true a rim???
I agree on almost everything. Most of all the lack of sustainability. It's a bit confusing hat halfway the video you shift from naming trends you are critical about to naming the change you would like to see. That's a bit inconsistent. But hey, I just really like consistently.
Hi David, compliments of the season and thank you for an interesting video. At the end of the day if buyers dont buy whats being peddled by manufacturers then these products will disappear! Sadly there are still enough people out there with deep pockets that can afford the new tech, electronic this, carbon that etc. Ideally it needs a "mass protest" by the global cycling community to stop buying superflous tech to revert back to mechanical shifting/ aluminium frames etc. To an extent the market is being driven by some influencers as well. I myself am looking to upgrade my new carbon Giant Tcr i bought last year to electronic Ultegra, even though im happy with its mechanical Ultegra! Curiosity, or, the fact that your 😁😁😁 (et al) favourable reviews of electronic shifting has switched my subliminal messaging centre on to splash even more cash!?😂😂😂
Totally agree. I've no intention of buying a new bike. I have a selection of good quality components which I move around from (used) frame to frame when one takes my fancy. Anyway no point buying a £12k wind tunnel tested bike if your fat and weigh a 100kg.
Internal routing will go the way of the dodo on high end bikes as they move to wireless only brakes and shifting. Personally for my casual cycling mechanically shifting is fine and same is true for braking. As for colour, completely agree with David but it requires a bike manufacturers to go to a build to order system for everyone
I just bought a bike with traditional handlebar and stem, which is good, because I have to adjust the position. I has also Shimano 105 mechanical with absolutely great disc breaks and that for 2499 -€ (600 price reduction) full carbon frame and carbon wheels.
absolutely agree with all points, especially about electronic groupsets which are absolutely unnecessary for 90 percent of riders, and these bastard colors, sometimes it feels like the designers are joking
6:55 But there is a 105 12-speed, mechanical to be released, as well (if hasn't been so yet - I might be uninformed). I'm about to stick with 11 speed anyway. Currently running on 9s. :D Not in a hurry. Ha, ha...
Good idea to go review bikes, parts, and services that more environmentally friendly. Agree the Chinese parts makers are coming along fast. Challenging the low end to middle of the big three drivetrain makers. Power meters need to be cheaper, easy to service, and not throw away after a short term. Thinking of using ratio technology cage extenders to standard mechanical RD and 12 speed rear shifter part instead of going electric due to the charging and cost issues. There are other frames made out of other materials then the standard 4 (C, Ti, Al, steel) now with bamboo , magnesium, other wood,. etc. Heard of company that still makes wood wheels that had website I looked at a couple years back.
If people with buying power just stopped buying all these things - the problem would go away. Sadly there are still plenty of people who always seem to want the latest no matter what, and to be fair, as much as I like watching this channel - it (and many like it) are complicit. Especially with brand influencing etc. I did just buy a new bike but that’s my first in years and to be fair it’s mainly because exploring more off-road/gravel stuff and my road bike had been pushed to its limits (including my safety!). But did I 100%need it? No. Was I probably swayed by seeing others around and watching RUclips, definitely.
Another thing I don't agree with: complaining about the high prices for bikes. First, GC Performance did a video demonstrating that adjusted for inflation prices haven't really gone up. Everything is more expensive, not just bikes. Secondly, the actual quality of entry level bikes has never been better. Specialized's Allez, Giant's Contend, Trek's Emonda ALR, Cannondale's CAAD, the lower end Canyons etc are all fantastic options and better in many ways than the top end bikes of only a few years ago. Lastly, prices have moderated significantly this year and that trend does not look like it's going away any time soon.
Can't wait for them to come out with wireless hydraulic brakes. With that together with di2, there is no such thing as internal cable routing anymore. Customer is free to choose any one piece handle bar they like and from different supplier from the bike brand. 😁
@@blinzi69 Ah, you're on 1x with mid-section wheels and the fact that the frameset is now lighter. From memory, I remembered that for a first-generation Allez Sprint Disc to go sub-8 with 50 mm wheels, it has to be fully specced with carbon parts (minus the groupset), but not to the extent of using über lightweight carbon (Darimo, MCFK, Schmolke Carbon, THM, etc.). For me personally, low to mid-8s on a first-generation should be good enough.
Unfortunately hoping for reasonable prices might be a pipe dream. Eg: Trek are projecting 2025 to be a bumper year and are loading up on inventory. Have to agree wholeheartedly about customisation. Im a skilled painter so for me it is not an issue but it would be great if a custom paint job was a standard option
".. custom paint job was a standard option" These mofo's don't even want to make more than t-shirt sizes...and you think they should offer "custom" paint options? Dream on!
This is why when I upgraded my road bike two years ago I purchased a used Titanium.
Rim brakes.
Mechanical Shifting.
External cables.
Affordable and I can do all the mechanics myself.
The easy answer to the sustainability conundrum is simply to stop buying new shit. Stop chasing marginal gains on your cafe run, stop pandering to the marketing guys and the review sites, and stop throwing money at stuff you just don't need. Get a bike, ride it and be happy.
This is why I ride alone
Yes buy a titanium and be done with it.
A gentleman on my group ride still uses the same 80s steel race bike and is just as fast as all the others with super light weight aero bikes.
The first bike I was lent was a early 90s Bianchi. I loved it! The 2013 diamondback carbon bike they gave me was a huge downgrade. Unfortunately that is all I got for now.
He would be faster on a new bike though.
Sure he is.
A gentleman on a light carbon bike is way faster than the rest of us on our group ride. The rest of us are all on old steel bikes.
Keep telling yourself that buddy....
Brilliant content fair play for speaking up encouraging brands to offer kindness to their customers instead of ripping their pockets.
I just built a brand new TCR. Put as much "out-of-date" tech on it, as possible. Mechanical groupset, Rim Brakes, skinnier tyres (with tubes!) non-integrated headset....and it looks amazing.
I almost bought one back in late 2020, but not for the reason some may think when they read your comment and then my reply.
I always enjoy your videos. Keep up the great work!
Good words on sustainability - keep bikes for longer, be happy with your 10 or 11 speed gearing... refuse to buy anything you can't fix yourself... be good to see you do more on things like footprint of frame materials versus lifetimes and so on. It's not just the bikes, it's actually the cycling that is fun :-)
This is the best comment on the industry and it's direction product wise. I hope that some brands will listen and make these changes to their products. It will help their bottom line and help us everyday cyclists. Thank you
I used to be a bikefitter. Every bike our shop sold was customised to a full bikefit, which usually meant changing stem, bars or cranks - and sometimes all three. This was simple with external cables, rim brakes, etc. Customisation of every bike would have been absolutely impossible with modern bikes. Most top end bikes are probably now not fit optimised to the rider. A proper fit is more beneficial than any tech features. New bikes are heavier, more complex. less reliable and WAY more expensive. Buying into the latest kit is a mug's game. It's only the latest for a short time. Not giving a mechanical alternative is simply a way for manufacturers to lever more money out of the consumer. These are businesses interested only in the bottom line. You, the consumer, are no more than a source of revenue extraction. Don't get mugged.
Even on my current build project, I'm not having mechanical anything. too much hassle. But I'm not having all integrated cables so I easily can change stem and bar. Don't knock everything new I'd say. I love discs and electronic shifting is the answer to all my problems. (This project has etap, my other has di2)
@@GeirEivindMork All of my road bikes (about twenty in number) are fixed-wheel. All of my mountain bikes (about eight) are singlespeed. All of those have rigid forks. All of my frames, road and MTB, are steel. I seem to be rather stuck in my ways!
Yep, we need to be able to choose stem length and bar width and shape; one-piece is a pointless expensive compromise.
I work on environmental governance internationally, and your concern honors you, David, but the truth is that to save our ecosystems - the planet will be fine, we and many other species will not be - we need to radically cut down on consumption. No more new bikes every two or three years, no matter the materials used, which makes your job a lot harder as you are part of the consumption economy. I don’t blame you but that’s the inconvenient truth, most everything else is greenwashing. I am no holier than thou though and I enjoy your content. Cheers P
You nailed it. Rampant consumerism is what's really killing us, and everyone shares the blame to varying degrees.
@@rantingwrench”yes, but” in my mind. Two things: you can’t expect people to make those adjustments on their own. You need to price the costs of production to our ecosystems adequately and that’s a regulatory = government responsibility. The other thing is that all this environmentally friendly production thing is mostly BS designed to make us (and the producers, they are not monsters) feel better about our unnecessary purchases. I am highly critical of that. Nobody can tell you what to buy or not buy but you need to have adequate information about the consequences of your consumption: greenwashing will make you feel better about it. That’s very problematic and that’s why I commented.
You nailed it here, buddy! I was about to pull the trigger on the new Canyon Grail, just this morning. Stopped when I realized they have integrated bars that you can not request an upgrade on. Also, it's very chinzy that at the consumer level you get none of the frame integrations. One more season on the Giant Revolt, I guess.
So many people would love to have a revolt. Reliability. Ride on as long as it works for ya
@@angelicabrewer3711 Thank you for the perspective!
One thing is that external routing with hydraulic disc brakes is a recipe for disaster. If we went back to mechanical rim brakes, sure. But while we are at it and if we did, ban all carbon wheels. Very few non-professional riders know how to properly stop on a rim/carbon combination in anything other that pristine conditions.
As to one-piece handlebars, trash them. There's no "aero" benefits and the downsides are many.
Couldn’t agree more! The marketing hype machine is huge, but for those of us who are no longer racing or never did, the best bike for us is the one that puts the biggest smile on our faces. It may well be a totally bling race machine, but it could equally be a 2nd hand bike that fits you like a glove and connects you with the world in a perfect way. It’s probably why a good chunk of us have more than one bike…
Bike trends which I don't like. 1) Frames that have built in container units or " stash boxes " Think about losing a key or when these ware out ( and they will ). 2) Internal cable routing 3) Manufacture priority specific parts such as head sets, bottom brackets, seat post etc. 4) Electric shifters. Okay if you're a sponsored pro or have a disability in which this might be able to befit form this tech these are perfectly reasonable exceptions but, for most of us we don't need the added cost.
Microshift makes some admirable, crisp-shifting drivetrains.
10:50 Aluminium has one more advantage. The frame can be safely used with a smart/direct-drive trainers. A big "no, no" (at least "not recommended") for carbon bike frames.
I built up a new bike in 2020 with internal routing, electronics… I had to spend a bunch of money on service recently… but it was tires, brake pads, chainrings, chain, and cassette - all of the traditional wear and tear parts. The new tech is still going strong.
Time for me to get out on the road and wear these parts out again!
...and for all those reasons that's why I eventually went for the Fairlight Strael with mechanical 105! (Hopefully arriving in January)
Sensible choice - and a very good one. Lovely bikes.......Enjoy!!
If we're forced to use internal routing, then we need zerk fittings so we can grease bearings more easily. 2 hours to pop a bearing in and out vs 15 minutes is insane.
Canyon refused to change handlebar length and even refused to provide me spare part of a different size. I told them I perfectly understand the standardization and logistic constraints but I was willing to change it by myself without their help (even if this is a nightmare with internal cable routing). Canyon France said that spare part are reserved for crash replacement and not sold separately. What do you think? Am I an alien to want an adapted length for my cockpit, I know my position and wanted to reproduce exactly the same. Few years back Canyon did propose an exchange for free and today it is not even possible, even fully charged (I read 500€ minimum for crash replacement a full cockpit when only center part is needed - not good for the planel).
Canyon customer service has been atrocious - third Canyon will be my last.
There is a reason they are cheaper. However, nowadays even the value is not there since they have raised their prices. Once you pay to have everything sized correctly, you might as well have bought a bike through a shop with walk-in service.
The promise of low-cost, pro level bikes just doesn't work unless you fit the default setup and have no problems with shipping or warranty.
Getting a trek next
I can only advise to buy a frameset and fit the stuff you want. It is more expensive at first glance. But in the end you don’t have to replace crappy or unfitting parts like handlebar, handlebar tape, stem, saddle, wheels, tires and tubes. Which is why you should end up saving whilst having you dream bike. I paid 6500 Euro for a bike that would have cost me more than 9000 Euro if purchased as a complete bike and then swapping almost everything. Well ok, I would have a crappy OEM saddle, some "training wheels" and a low end handlebar lying around, all pretty unsellable anyway.
I bought my Canyon in 2019. They were happy to swap out the one-piece handlebar for a different size at no charge.
Could you try a Van Rysel RCR from the Decathlon AG2R team ?
I hope to 🙏
Integrated bars and stem with internal cabling looks so sleek. Giant have got the right balance of good looks and ease of maintenance on the TCR (even their £10k TCR) which has separate bars and stem, and internal cabling that exits the bars, bypasses the headtube then disappears into the downtube. If you want colour choice, buy an Elves (I have). For a very reasonable price you can practically have any colour scheme and design you want. With Elves you can choose to either have an integrated cockpit where you specify the bars width and stem length or you can have separate bars and stem.
100% agree with handle bar comments having just had a professional bike, fit I will never buy a bike with carbon headset bar integrated. also 100% agree with aluminium bikes.
A colleague who has been riding since the 90s has had a gravel bike with SRAM eTap for a couple of years. He says it's the bike which he has to work on the least, it just works.
Right, electronic shifting and hydraulic brakes are more or less set-and-forget. On the other hand it gets more complicated when there are problems. So in the end you may spend the same amount of time and headache, but differently spread out over time.
@@SrFedericoexactly, I have to two bikes with mechanical shifters, one works great and for 10 years very few problems. the other i have problems, indexing is not right, even after taking it to several mechanic (Ultraga) and it seems there are several minor problems that are hard to adjust out... Got a 105-electronic shifter and they have been fine. what you know always works, new stuff can be frustrating when one does not know how to adjust it or find the root cause of the problem.
Hi David, this was a great video, I really enjoyed it, especially as a bike fitter, it has become increasingly more difficult to adjust the front end of these modern bikes, a decent amount of my clients have to replace integrated handlebars for various reasons, which can cost hundreds of pounds plus the fee for a mechanic or similar to do the work.
They do look nice, and if they work for the client, fantastic, but there are downsides. Hopefully the manufacturers will listen 🙏💯👍
Hi, I agree with your opinion, and I think that the most important fact is to enjoy the ride. Thanks for your content, and greetings from Colombia
Bring back the 27.2mm seat post already!
I've never bought a bike that came with the perfect stem length. I usually get the shop to put on the right stem length before the bike leaves the shop.
Aethos, mechanical Ultegra, classic cockpit and 45mm carbon wheels. This is my daily ride and I love it.
I build it myself (as always) so I can choose what I really want.
Nice 👌
@@davidarthurI still have a 2012 Niner RIP 9 mountain bike aluminum with mechanical ⚙️ Shimano XTR love it still riding it😁
Whats the weight?
@@davidarthur Thanks a lot.
@@niklaskristensson2231 Don't know - realy 😃
It is around 7 kg with pedals and 30 mm tyres. Size 54.
A wanted light bike but with normal parts. The frame is not S-works because it is not compatible with mechanical groupsets. I wanted the SS cage so the cassette is 28t.
I am old school - if there will be a chance to have this frame with rim brakes I would buy one and then Campa will be my choice.
Love disk brakes on gravel or winter bike with mudguards. But I really don't need them on my summer fast bike - I really like the feel of rim brake hoods.
Yesssss……a video concerning the rest of us, 👍👍👍🤙
You make some very valid points here, David. Great content. 👍
Let’s just say it. Most “new features” are nothing but gimmicks. Gimmicks to make you think you are missing out and must buy that new thing. It’s so ridiculous and bike mechanics know this better than anyone. Most “new features” evoke an eye roll.
I have one piece stem/bars on both my Canyon's and I love them. I'd never go back to a separate stem/bar option. Thing is, if your cockpit fits you, you don't change it, you don't need adjustability. It's just the initial setup where you might play around a bit. But even then, when you are buying a one piece carbon cockpit, it's not likely to be your first bike so you already have measurements from your existing bike to go on and that's what I did, I measured up my previous bike and ordered a stem/bar length that replicated those measurements and it worked very well.
I hoop they will listen to you ….. because you nailed perfectly!
Bikes are meant to be reasonably simple......A lot are far too complex, and too expensive.
Keepin it real! Great video and 100% agree on all points thanks David!
Thanks for watching!
I suppose internal cable routing is more environmentally sound, since the cables are protected from damage and can be built from less material.
Less welding external cable stops too, just a hole in the frame.
I love the Cannondale Caad series and have plans to build something on a budget next year.
Looking at an aluminium frame,deep carbon wheels.
I already have a Sram eletronic groupset on my gravel bike to use.
There are some great options for framesets out there including Specialized,Trek,Kinesis and Cannondale.
I work in the trade and still cannot afford the high prices of the bikes we stock even at trade prices! 😥
I still have my aluminum Trek 1400 road bike with Shimano 105, no plans on updating.
Fully internal housings and cables and whatever is just not necessary neither are electronic gears.
If that's what you want to have on your bike because you think the pros do it and so you got to have it, for some reason, go ahead but the market should not be so controlled or dominated by these frivolous sorts of products. It's all making up solutions for problems that didn't even exist just to sell insanely expensive bikes!
Want colors? Get an Orbea. They’ll even put your name on the bike.
I love a one piece cockpit on the pro bikes, on my bike I have two piece cockpit because I do my own bike maintenance. Side note I lover my Aethos.
Bikes are overengineered. The aftermarket counts on this. Most people don't enter competitions. Regular riders don't need all this over-engineered and over-marketed hype. Rechargeable battery-operated shifters seem unnecessary and overcomplicated. Carbon Fiber bikes, bars, and forks are seeming to have a much shorter life. We need regular bikes for regular people...🙂
Just went to the website and the IG but I don’t see anywhere to buy that hat. Need one!
You can get 105 di2 (new) for 500 USD in some shop in the US.
Tiagra was on sale for 361€, 105 mechanical 12 speed was 600€. Not so expensive for a really good groupset.
Full agree in the need of less complicated, easy to maintain and affordable bikes!
In 14 years of riding, I’ve never needed servicing for a headset.
Electronic shifting on bikes only make sense if they are powered by our pedaling, in which the technology isn't up right there yet. Also hoping we get to see more aluminium bikes from mainstream brands
And this is really an absolute great content!
The voice of reason. Good points well made.
Agree 100% with everything. Something of note, Trek does offer project 1 and there is more levels of customization than any other brand ive seen.
Mechanical group set all the way for me
Bought a ti ribble endurance with mechanical ultegra, pretty lucky I pulled the trigger when I did on that, also got a TI Elan from Spa cycles, that's same spec, great bikes for the money and no more than mid range carbon. You can still get something like a TI Holdsworth Helm from planet x with mechanical campy chorus for about three grand. Campagnolo seem to be the only manufacturer that offer both electronic and mechanical options of their groupsets at present. Time for to switch back then maybe, even though I've never owned a campag bike.
Are you in the EU? I was going to buy the Ti Ribble to replace my Planet X all pro carbon, but being in the EU , I would need to pay 1250€ in taxes. I ended up getting a Ti frame local French manufacture from a local dealer, picked the parts, and he put it together. I love it, put 300+km so far before my surgery. looking forward to getting back on it.
I'm in Britain so essentially did the same as you, picked the Spa Elan up in person it was only a two hour drive to the shop.@@blankseventydrei
For those of us that have bikes with mechanical group sets (I have the Dura Ace 9100 on one of my bikes) I wish Shimano would at least make replacement parts instead of having to search online and no I don’t want to mix and match with 105 or lower if I happen to need parts.
I agree with all of them. The color one is definitely annoying. Especially with Giant because they have so many dull, boring paint schemes. The issue there is related to inventory complexity. They have many different models (heck, the TCR has so many it's hard to understand and) so to manage inventory of every color of every model gets crazy. To resolve it, they'd probably need to shift to some kind of partial assembly process, or painting and assembly done in a more on-demand fashion, which means lead times.
Thank you for this video
I wouldn't be optimistic about the promise of cheap chinese group sets. Just look at what happened in the phone market, they were cheap as long as they just copied bigger brands, but once a manufacturer started to go the way of quality, prices jumped up to the same levels as the other brands they were supposed to be competing with.
I don't have the money for more than one bike, however I would get into road and gravel races. I'm ok with 1x, but worry about any downsides if you went with a frame that allowed 47-50mm tire clearance in a road race with 28 or 32mm tires?
I would consider 2 different sized chain rings/length chains, and two sets of wheels with the different tires equipped. Is this plausible or is the aero issues that big of a deal for a road race? I would be a Cat 3 and 35+ rider in the US.
Is it me or is the battery issue a sram thing. I've had di2 on both my bikes for many years and I never have to think about charging. It's never runs out. It's never failed. Once per 1000 miles when the garmins beeps at me. Done
SRAM eTap groupsets stay electronically active whenever there's movement detected, thus draining the batteries if they're left connected to the derailleurs. For this reason, those who are aware remove their batteries whenever they're transporting their bikes.
Since they broke the seal with the adoption of disc brakes, most of the new 'upgrade' designs aren't upgrades at all for the normal rider. There is one nice bike shown in these clips, the Colnago C50, so elegant, classy - well made, rides brilliantly, in reality no casual rider ever needed anything better than that.
How do you travel with a bike with internal routing? All for aero gains ridiculous idea! Lets hope the next iteration of the TCR cabling stays away from the handlebar / headset ...
Very easy I assure you....I have traveled with my fully integrated gravel bike around the world ridden it in Canada, Spain, Poland and Germany. It's just fine.
Same people that bitch about bikes without internal routing probably don't know how to lube their chain anyways so who cares.
@@toshman696969 is that in a ‘soft’ case ? Seen many snapped frames with people you have used those cases.
Bike Box Alan and Velo Vault with the anti crush pole is the safer option for me which means handlebars off .
Gimmicks sell more bikes, make it disposable, proprietary, unfixable...Its not what we have, it's how much you enjoy using it. Costumer is always right, make the companies listen.
If I ever got an integrated handlebar/stem, it should have a cutout to house my computer, instead of it dangling out front like an afterthought.
great video!
about the colours. one of my road bikes is a koga-miyata gentsracer from 1982. i know that only because they had that colour only in 1982 and only for that model.
Don't overlook that aluminum frames can be recycled. Carbon frames go to the land fill. In fact all the other frame materials can be recycled fairly easily.
The battery charge problem is really more a Shimano problem that a Sram problem. I guess we could quit Smart phones, they need charging too.
Talkin sustainability, less environmental impact and longevity (hopefully), your review of the magnesium Vaast R/1 last year is part of the reason I purchased one.
How does it ride compared with Aluminium or Steel? We hear so little of this material. I liked the concept
These issues along with disc brakes are being forced upon cyclists by manufacturers despite no-one asking for them. It's harder and harder to get a good rim braked bike now should you want one. There's this narrative that all new tech is bigger and better and it's often driven by media outlets who promote such tech. What us consumers want is CHOICE.
The market is responding to what sells, so if more people shopped more sensibly, some of the industry’s excesses might be curtailed, both high-end and low-end.
David, your videos are great. Please don’t stoop to the stupid facial expressions to try to attract people to your videos. You don’t need to use those stupid expressions.
I ride steel, titanium bikes with mechanical no internal routing and I love them 😊 ref colours I totally agree so fed up of matte finish and black bikes, to be fair to Ribble they offer colour selection.. Pete
I agree, David, I have zero interest in the one-piece bar and stem combos. And I'm fine with semi-integrated cables and hoses, mostly hidden and so much easier than completely hidden. And mechanical drivetrains, yes, and what's up with Shimano's labor problems, I thought they were manufacturing their fine products in Japan, not Malaysia or anywhere else. And c'mon, David, we are not mere mortals. We are riders and we count in life as much as any young pro with hours and hours to ride like a hamster on the wheel and get paid to pursue victories on public roads in Europe in exchange for sponsor promotion and representation. And it doesn't last long for them, a decade or so and then hopefully they become advocates of cycling for the health and fitness of their fans and neighbors and, these days, competitors in gravel events, too.
If you buy a 'bespoke' bike you can choose all the bits that are changeable....in the end this is more sustainable as you get the bike you want and fits first time!.....go titanium.....no issue on bike colour!
One thing never considered is bike security...how to make your bike harder to steal.
I actually love the one handle bar stem. It came with a couple mount. My setup has it to where I have multiple lights on it plus a mount for my gopro. I prefer they stick to it. I know my fit and reach.
Another bike trend that i wish would die (or be banned by the UCI) is wheels with internal nipples. while modern carbon rims are admittedly very good, the ability to flip your bike, turn a few nipples and true your own wheel(s) is priceless. this is a flawed and frankly ridiculous design, requiring unnecessary and excessive effort for the most basic service, similar to one piece carbon handlebar and stems with internal cable routing. who needs to remove and reinstall tires, tubes, and rim tape, to peel off and re-glue tubs, or to mess with tubeless setups just to true a rim???
Bring back mechanical rim brake options. They're much easier to maintain than hydraulic discs.
An exception to the rule is Elves who offer their bikes in loads of different colours
My bike is the lampre-fondital team bike...cables on the outside, 990g frame...a good groupset and good wheels, what's more.
I agree on almost everything. Most of all the lack of sustainability.
It's a bit confusing hat halfway the video you shift from naming trends you are critical about to naming the change you would like to see. That's a bit inconsistent. But hey, I just really like consistently.
Im not worried as long as the second hand market is rich.😊
Hi David, compliments of the season and thank you for an interesting video. At the end of the day if buyers dont buy whats being peddled by manufacturers then these products will disappear! Sadly there are still enough people out there with deep pockets that can afford the new tech, electronic this, carbon that etc. Ideally it needs a "mass protest" by the global cycling community to stop buying superflous tech to revert back to mechanical shifting/ aluminium frames etc. To an extent the market is being driven by some influencers as well. I myself am looking to upgrade my new carbon Giant Tcr i bought last year to electronic Ultegra, even though im happy with its mechanical Ultegra! Curiosity, or, the fact that your 😁😁😁 (et al) favourable reviews of electronic shifting has switched my subliminal messaging centre on to splash even more cash!?😂😂😂
Prices ? Just because pension funds own the bike industry....
Pension funds? I thought it was the luxury goods industry. Rich people will ALWAYS have money!
Totally agree. I've no intention of buying a new bike. I have a selection of good quality components which I move around from (used) frame to frame when one takes my fancy. Anyway no point buying a £12k wind tunnel tested bike if your fat and weigh a 100kg.
Most Importend thing is go out and ride wat ever you prevere. 👊🏼💥
Amen on the lack of color choice!
I think Cannondale Evo 2024 has done a decent job in regards to two part handlebars and its internal cable system.
Internal routing will go the way of the dodo on high end bikes as they move to wireless only brakes and shifting.
Personally for my casual cycling mechanically shifting is fine and same is true for braking.
As for colour, completely agree with David but it requires a bike manufacturers to go to a build to order system for everyone
I just bought a bike with traditional handlebar and stem, which is good, because I have to adjust the position. I has also Shimano 105 mechanical with absolutely great disc breaks and that for 2499 -€ (600 price reduction) full carbon frame and carbon wheels.
Sounds great!
absolutely agree with all points, especially about electronic groupsets which are absolutely unnecessary for 90 percent of riders, and these bastard colors, sometimes it feels like the designers are joking
6:55 But there is a 105 12-speed, mechanical to be released, as well (if hasn't been so yet - I might be uninformed).
I'm about to stick with 11 speed anyway. Currently running on 9s. :D Not in a hurry. Ha, ha...
Good idea to go review bikes, parts, and services that more environmentally friendly. Agree the Chinese parts makers are coming along fast. Challenging the low end to middle of the big three drivetrain makers. Power meters need to be cheaper, easy to service, and not throw away after a short term. Thinking of using ratio technology cage extenders to standard mechanical RD and 12 speed rear shifter part instead of going electric due to the charging and cost issues. There are other frames made out of other materials then the standard 4 (C, Ti, Al, steel) now with bamboo , magnesium, other wood,. etc. Heard of company that still makes wood wheels that had website I looked at a couple years back.
If people with buying power just stopped buying all these things - the problem would go away.
Sadly there are still plenty of people who always seem to want the latest no matter what, and to be fair, as much as I like watching this channel - it (and many like it) are complicit. Especially with brand influencing etc.
I did just buy a new bike but that’s my first in years and to be fair it’s mainly because exploring more off-road/gravel stuff and my road bike had been pushed to its limits (including my safety!).
But did I 100%need it? No.
Was I probably swayed by seeing others around and watching RUclips, definitely.
Am I complicit? My latest video would suggest the opposite
Think twice before buying a bike with internal routing if you like to travel with your bike.
Another thing I don't agree with: complaining about the high prices for bikes. First, GC Performance did a video demonstrating that adjusted for inflation prices haven't really gone up. Everything is more expensive, not just bikes. Secondly, the actual quality of entry level bikes has never been better. Specialized's Allez, Giant's Contend, Trek's Emonda ALR, Cannondale's CAAD, the lower end Canyons etc are all fantastic options and better in many ways than the top end bikes of only a few years ago. Lastly, prices have moderated significantly this year and that trend does not look like it's going away any time soon.
Can't wait for them to come out with wireless hydraulic brakes. With that together with di2, there is no such thing as internal cable routing anymore. Customer is free to choose any one piece handle bar they like and from different supplier from the bike brand. 😁
my allez sprint weighs 7,4kg and rides like a dream - they should build more bikes like these.
First or second generation? If it's the former, rim or disc?
@@sbccbc7471 2022 disc model
@@blinzi69Are there any aluminium parts left on the bike other than the frame and groupset?
@@sbccbc7471 stem is SL7, handlebar is roval rapide (carbon), groupset is 1by SRAM Red Aero and rest is Force AXS, Wheels are Zipp 303
@@blinzi69 Ah, you're on 1x with mid-section wheels and the fact that the frameset is now lighter. From memory, I remembered that for a first-generation Allez Sprint Disc to go sub-8 with 50 mm wheels, it has to be fully specced with carbon parts (minus the groupset), but not to the extent of using über lightweight carbon (Darimo, MCFK, Schmolke Carbon, THM, etc.).
For me personally, low to mid-8s on a first-generation should be good enough.
I think a lot of people buy a bike that would normally be their second choice because of colour.
Unfortunately hoping for reasonable prices might be a pipe dream. Eg: Trek are projecting 2025 to be a bumper year and are loading up on inventory. Have to agree wholeheartedly about customisation. Im a skilled painter so for me it is not an issue but it would be great if a custom paint job was a standard option
".. custom paint job was a standard option" These mofo's don't even want to make more than t-shirt sizes...and you think they should offer "custom" paint options? Dream on!