Love my Canyon Endurace. Grabbed the AL model back in 2020. Best value imho, mine came with Shimano 105 and it’s done everything I need it to do. Highly recommend 15,000 miles later
Same. Although in the middle of tweaking the fit.. getting hand pain. Otherwise find it quite comfortable, I’m sure it will feel amazing once I’ve got the fit dialled
Listen I absolutely never comment on anything but I'll comment here to join the Endurace crew. Endurace AL Disc 7 from 2019, first bike and made me fall in love with riding it. about 26k km and counting. Ride on Enducrew.
Also end of 2019 model, 25,000km, got 20mm shorter stem and use all the spacers :) And bought it exactly for the reason of more relaxed geometry than other bikes at that time and best value for money ... if you can service your bike yourself.
I have a Specialized Roubaix and I actually think the future shock 2.0 is a real plus in terms of comfort. Haven’t had any issues with it and really glad I have it every time I hit the Belgian cobble stones. It’s also easy to lock whenever I don’t need it and since I’m not looking to shave off every gram on the bike, the whatever extra weight is fine with me.
Seconded…I find it ironical that some of these bike RUclipsrs bang on about weight and then spend most of their rides carrying cameras, Go-Pro’s etc. In the real world the future shock works well and for old duffers like me takes the sting out of what are frankly shite roads round my way
I have a 2023 Roubaix Sport 105 and I love the Future Shock. It dampens bumps and cracks very well. Why would I want all these vibrations and bumps going straight into my hands?
I agree. I have the 2020 Roubaix Sport with the FS 1.5 and it is great for me. I could drop 20 to 25 pounds off my body, so that should come off before I start shelling out wads of $ for gram savings. Having said that, I would love to try a Pinarello X5 and see the difference for myself.
@@10flyingdutchman Agreed. I worked in a bike shop and watching his videos about fits made me realize my saddle was too high and my cleats were too far forward. These realizations alone fixed 99% of my fit and comfort issues.
I have a future shock 2.0 on my 21 Diverge and have had zero complaints with it. I also work in a shop where we sell a decent amount of bikes with Future Shocks, and the only thing I have had to replace is the boot occasionally. I have never had one break. Not saying they can't, but I have never seen a failure.
Thank you for that inside information. I like my Roubaix very much. If you come from a racing background the geometry is quite relaxed. The best "endurance" bike I ever had. Comfortable, light and a lot of flex in the right places (seatpost, future shock). I too only know about boots that needed replacement because people tend to strap top tube bags around it.
@@Garfie1d73 Another Roubaix owner here. I love mine (2021 Sports), too. I have had to replace my boot because I ripped it while trying to remove the future shock cartridge. (I was changing the bottom cap with the shorter one.) Other than that, the future shock has been working well for me.
Only future shock I ever had to fix was when I bought a used Diverge for my wife: it had belonged to a rather spoiled teenager who had lost the top cap and thus water seeped into the system. Thing was a bit corroded. But, I took it apart and regreased the unit. Worked perfectly after that. Now we have two future shocks on our bikes and no problems. Those Pinas look quite awesome in respect to the geo. The thin lattice structure at the back seems over engineered to me.
I stripped and regressed the future shock on my partners diverge when it had got wet due to a split boot. Bit of a faff, but it's been fine ever since. On broken tarmac that thing works away letting her glide along. It really looks like it's helping when I'm next to her.
It's also quite comfortable. Are other bikes really even in the same ballpark without any sort of shock? The suggestion that FS are used because Specialized has bad engineering is interesting. Would love for them to expand on that.
I've had the Triban RC520 for the last 3 years or so. Absolute great ALU-bike. I've done a 200 miles/320 km trip in one go but also a bunch of centurians on it (162 km or so). Smack a bunch of wide tyres on it and it is really comfortable. The saddle is a bit so so out of the box, but for the price easy to replace with bills still in the wallet! 😁
True, but the Gen4 has become even more expensive than it already was. An SL7 AXS (SRAM Force) is an 8,5kg / 7000 EUR bike and that's without pedals, bottle cages, computer & mount. The equivalent SLR7 AXS is still listed as 8.38kg and then is over 10,5K EUR 😵.
@@virtualmartijn Not only that, the Rev 1 rear ISO that came with the first Gen 4's is a complete POS. No amount of carbon paste would fix the seatpost slippage and creaking noises. Terrible design imho.
The aluminum frame versions make for a pretty decent commuter. Geometry is a bit too relaxed for me, though. To match the positions of my other road bikes, I had to slam the slam and swap the 90mm -7 degree stem for a 110mm -17 degree stem.
The Trek Domane was dinged because they said it has a suspension in the front. Fact check: that was removed in Gen4. The Domane pictured does not have a front shock/damper.
The look 765 optimum + (2021) made me feel something special when I got to try my bosses. He must have felt something special, too. He replaced his Colnago cross bike for the look, I now have that Colnago.
I bought my Canyon Endurace CF 7 disc back in late 2021. It was my first real road bike and my first carbon framed bike. It's still looking like new except for the worn bar tape and tires, but it's done a lot of +12hr rides. Everything I read at the time I purchased this bike pointed at those new to road cycling (or older like me) should get an endurance geometry. Obviously my heart wanted something flashy and fast but I'm really happy with the bike. Waiting for the weather to improve to take on some 300-400km rides 😊
It’s good to hear James talk about shorter riders. My wife is 160cm and most bikes “in her size” are seriously compromised. Toe overlap for days, 2 cm of seat post sticking out etc etc etc. It’s crazy to me how many bikes get made that suit riders that are 190cm+ and how few suit 160cm or less. There are so many more people that are that shirt rather than that tall. Huge market just left with very few options.
There is probably a big difference in how much the markets can spend. In western countries the 190cm+ crowd is kinda big and they usually got money to spare (taller people are in general more successful). Anyone being 160cm or shorter in a developed country is usually poor (or was when growing up). 167cm for men and 158cm for women is the current limit to official limit to be counted as short (dwarf) here in Sweden.
@@christoferstromberg6605 your right that they on average earn more but there is so few people that tall. I’m 186cm and I see one or two people that tall a day if I’m out all day and I can see hundreds of people that are 160cm (the average women is 161cm here in Australia) or less.
@@matthewshaw3747 186cm would mean you're kinda the average native man here in the nordics. You would almost never be the tallest person in a room. 25% of my team at work is over 190cm. We have two people below 180cm. At 184cm I feel damn short, even got some women in the office that's taller than me.
@@christoferstromberg6605 for sure. But even tiny Australia has more population than the whole Nordic area. Not to mention the billions of people is Asia who are no where near as tall.
I purchased a Cervelo Caledonia w/105 as my road bike last year and I absolutely love it. Hydraulic discs, 105 w/ bigger cassette stock and 52/36 front, non integrated headset to help my mechanic. It was between that and the defy and really came down to the deal i got!
I'm 67, have a 2016 Defy Advanced 2, a 2020 Madone SL6 and 2023 Domane SLR and I can't honestly say that one is more or less comfortable than the others. I'm fine on all of them as long as I have the right saddle.
Purchased the Ribble endurance sl rim 2022 for £560 on ebay, thought it was an endurance bike. Did feel stretched to start with so I pushed my saddle forward slightly. Now it feels more comfortable. No aggressive position. Can easily ride for 3-4 hours no back/neck pain. Slam the stem if I want more aero/racing. Best of both worlds!
I also picked one up before Christmas s/h, a carbon with high spec wheels. I pushed the saddle forward, dropped 30mm off the stem and had to move the levers up about 20mm on the bars to get a decent fit. I got the XL as I’ve a +35” inseam. It’s a stretch, and while I can ride it for 3-4 hours (which I’d class as a short ride), anymore cripples me for days. My gravel bike though, I can ride all day, and then the next. The Ribble is going back on eBay and I’m buying some road wheels for the gravel bike.
Thank you for continuing to beat the drum for shorter riders! 5'3" is in fact the AVERAGE height for women in both the UK and the US. As a 5'3" rider I am in fact very normal, but the bike industry largely treats me as a distant outlier. With cycling jerseys I can kind of get used to my pockets dragging down below my butt and letting overlong bibs just bunch up a little on my thighs so they don't cover my knees (though I won't ever love it!!), but finding a frame that fits is a much more serious and limited story. And it shouldn't have to be! Because my height is, again, completely average. There are a lot of us out here and we all have a damn shoulder ache.
I have the Triban rc520 and love it. Had it fitted by Denver at Bicycle Richmond last year, and its super comfortable. Thinking about upgrading the wheels on it and keeping it as my regular commuter and getting something gravel based for my long rides.
@@vonjororo Compared to the others, it's "ok" but in reality it's great. It has a good endurance geometry, and its an absolute gem for the money but it's aluminum so might be lacking in terms of weight against others. Personally, I have it and, unless you are proper racing with it, you can't go any better than that. In their channel they have a full review on that bike and you can clearly see that there is nothing better or remotely close to it in the same price point
I have the rc500 and it's took a lot of abuse, I also have a 2022 Defy. In terms of position, the Triban is a lot more upright geo position in a like for like size
James, the canyon comes in at your no1. The SLX range all come with the 1 piece integrated cockpit which granted has width adjustment but what does a rider do if the stem is too short or too long when they don’t even sell this cockpit as an aftermarket item?
Merida Scultura Endurance? These seem right on the money to whats being discussed, and well good value. I ride the more aggressive Scultura, which I love.
I was about to buy a scultura endurance 4000 last year when I found a 2019 scultura 400 rim for $150AUD, can't complain for the price, got a shorter stem, but when I upgrade it'll be a scultura endurance or an endurace.
After quite a few years, the Canyon Endurace AL7 is still the best bang-for-the-buck for the average weekend warrior. Considering the parts and component specs (full 105 mechanical groupset and hydraulic brakes, DT Swiss wheels, carbon fork and seatpost, Selle Italia saddle, Conti Grand Prix tires), even better value than the Triban RC 520.
I have an RC520 that I bought 2nd hand about 3 years ago as a 'temp' bike. Still have it, and it's going fine. Use it for winter and bike packing and up to recently was my most comfortable bike.
Agree! I have a properly fitted Cal 5. To me, it was a MAJOR upgrade from my Giant Defy (that made this list) in terms of endurance ride comfort (and of course quality).
I LOVED by Boardman SLR disc. It was beautiful and the most comfortable bike I’ve ridden so far. I’m in the US and only got a boardman because it was carbon, disc, and had good components for a great price from Merlin cycles. Never saw another Boardman but got lots of compliments. Sadly, it was stolen. God I loved that bike.
In 2023 I had a bike fit session with James. He advised me to buy Canyon Endurace. Now I ride it and can assure that the bike is really great in terms of geometry. Once again, thanks to James:)
I picked up an Endurace this year and cannot be happier! Made sure to pick up some spare parts just in case when I ordered it so that if little things fail I have the spares ready to go. As an FYI, I chatted with my LBS before buying to see they could find a similar specced bike at a similar cost, they could not unfortunately. I do love my LBS so while I didn’t buy this bike with them they have all my other N + 1 business 😅
I've ridden a ROSE Pro SL endurance bike for the last couple of years. I absolutely love it. Sounds like James would approve of the geometry of it as well.
Agree, my dad's got one aswell. Love to ride it every now and then. Also they have a really long span in sizes from 490 stack/ 365 reach all the way up to 645 stack/ 425 reach
Ridden a size 57 Pro SL for a few months . Amazing bike for the price. However the geometry is somewhat more racey for an endurance bike. When compared to my 56 Standert Kreissage RS race bike and 56 Pinarello X3 which i tested, it definitely feels closer to the Standert. Still an amazing and comfortable bike for its price though.
Nice to see someone mention Standert. I've been living in Berlin (their hometown) for a little while and have seen quite a few them around. They look great. If I had not arrived here with a new hand-made titanium bike (T-Lab R3 Omni - Canadian bike... fantastic), I would have seriously considered a Standert... Maybe I still ought to as a going-away present when my posting is over. @@99mh99
Good video, but I figured I'd let you know the newest Domane gen 4 got rid of the front decouple and changed the adjustable rear decoupler to a fixed setting one to reduce weight (still not ultralight) and help eliminate creak. I got my gen 4 SL6 last year, no issues so far. I do like that Canyon, I just couldn't bring myself to buy one without a test ride and no shops near me had one.
Excellent video, having sat in on my son having his bike fit done by James a couple of years ago I can say it was so insightful and even as a ‘spectator’ I learned so much
I totally agree about the Ribble Endurance SL, i own the Endurance SL e ( amazing injury recovery tool btw) & i had to flip the stem & ride a size smaller than i would usually & now i can ride on it all day with no issues what so ever.
Interesting that the Endurace which is so highly praised has lower stack and longer reach in a given size than both the Roubaix and Domane - which come in for heavy criticism. I agree the Canyon is more of a bargain and simpler to maintain, but I'd have thought a video titled "Bike Fitter Ranks Endurance Bikes" might have based those ranks based on, I dunno, bike fit?
I’ve just picked up a Synapse 105 this past summer and it’s fantastic. Group set of the people and it’s comfy as heck with factory standard 30mm tires.
Had a Specialized Roubaix, then 2 Diverges--one pre-Future Shock and one with Gen-1 Future Shock. None rode as well as my Niner RLT. Absolutely love this bike. Interesting to hear James' comments re: the D2C bike market and touting the benefits of working with a shop. GO JAMES! As a lifelong employee of a small specialty ski and bike shop here in the states, thank you.
The Giant Defy numbers don’t seem to check out. I’m 5’9” and have been comfortably on a medium for years. There are also two sizes below it, and the female oriented Liv range goes even smaller.
@@ronitdebnathI feel he is correct in that for me at 5'7", a 52cm top tube and reach of 373mm is a bit too long on my gravel bike, even after changing to a 60mm stem. I now wish I would have gotten the XS, which they say is for those 5'1" to 5'6", but I dunno about that.
I have the Cannondale. Awsome bike, wasnt sure about having the lighting system fitted permanently. But now like it. Only issue with the lights is the battery from garmin is terrible.
I Just bought the Scott addict 10 because my old storck grix was too aggressive for me. And i gotta say, that this small differences was all it took for me. But ye i get your Point
I was surprised how tall and short the new Cannondale Supersix Evo is, at least in larger sizes. It also supports 55mm of headset spacers and the low to mid range models have a separate handlebar and stem which increases fit options. It's almost the opposite of the Ribble. A race bike with endurance geometry. BTW, I always feel it's mad putting an integrated bar and stem on an endurance bike. It just limits fit options. Not pointing at you Canyon, with your one piece bar and stem on the "End-your-race"!
I went back and forward between the Ribble Endurance and their R872, before i knew much about cycling at all or what endurance really meant. Went for the r872 as the geometry was more relaxed and I was new to cycling. Change the names and they have a great range.
Have a pre-battery 2021 Cannondale Synapse. Really nice bike leaning heavily towards racing but with a bit more comfort. But I fully agree: What is that integrated light and battery doing on the new version? They took a classic and ruined it - I guess, yes, to position it somewhere else in the spectrum, but it makes no sense to me either. It's too racey and expensive to be a commuter, but now it's not a proper endurance-racer either.
4:50 -- This has been the very same sentence that went through my head every time I have looked at new bike in the past year... *_"How did we get to £1700 bikes with Tiagra on them??"_* Not that im against Tiagra at all. Its a very reliable groupset. But I think the groupset itself is long overdue a refresh since 105 has been bumped up even higher up the hierarchy with the wireless shifting malarky.
@@roadcyclist1 Back in the day we could get a half decent ultegra equipped carbon bike for under £2000. 105 equipped Alu bikes for £800-1000 with the more premium being £1300-1500. My own Cube Attain Race GTC cost me well under 2k new and everything on it was ultegra apart from the brakes. Tiagra on a 1.7k bike let alone a 2k bike is insanity for those who have seen how cheap it was before and how silly the prices are now. I think you are the one that is delusional if you think Tiagra on a $1700 bike is acceptable. I could build myself a bike with a frame off ebay with a brand new off the shelf 105 groupset with a nice set of new carbon wheels much closer to the spec that I want and willing to pay that would cost me much much less than $1700 What do you get for $1700 new? A 7 year old 10sp groupset and a wheelset thats heavy enough to drown someone in a river with.
@@roadcyclist1 it was actually 2016. Dont worry.i have the patience to wait for the market to crash and they are already crashing. Enjoy overspending on your bike
I'm on a 2017 Endurace 105 2XL that I've owned for about 16 months. I mostly ride gravel, but when I'm on road, the Endurace is excellent. It's incredibly stiff in terms of power transfer and handling, but with a buttery smooth ride. At 203cm tall, it's one of the few road bikes that fits me without any difficulty. Highly, highly recommended.
Can confirm the endurace is really good. Have the AL rim brake version and it has been phenomenal from the first ride, from bike-packing to trying to get PRs on climbs. Really does seem to be the best deal you can get on a new bike with 105 and less than 8.5kg ❤
I have the Triban RC520 and, as stated in the video, It's a budget bike that it's really a gem because of the components it have. Yes, the wheels might be a little bit heavy but even so the bike is 11kg so it's a really nice starting point with its heavy components In my case it's an all around bike, I use it as commuter, fitness an a little bit of racing and goes really well. Also, has a clearance for up to 700x40 so you might do a light gravel with it
I didn't really understand the critique on the Synapse. It's a good bike if you don't go for the high spec? He didn't mention anything about the geometry
Delighted to see Endurace as the winner, love mine. I never bother with my aero anymore (which cost twice as much), the aero is faster but the speed bump is not worth the loss of comfort. Just fitted it today with the Selle Italia Boost that was suggested in one of your earlier videos.
Regarding Canyon's crank length: at 9:35 James states that 3XS size Canyon bikes still come with a 170 mm crank length. On their website, under "Geomety & dimensions", they show the "Component geometry" for each bike size. According to that, 2XS and 3XS bikes have a 165 mm crank length. I can confirm this for their road bike Canyon Ultimate, since I got a 2XS size, which comes with a 165 mm crank length.
The CAAD Optimo 1 is another endurance option from Cannondale. It’s cheaper than the Synapse from what it sounds like and comes with 105. It’s also pretty upright with full spacers.
@@ronitdebnathNo, he's not. Most bike manufacturers don't give a sh*t about shorter riders. They just put 170/175 mm cranks, 400 mm wide handlebars, 90 mm long stems even their smallest sized frames. It was very hard for me to find an endurance bike that suits me well for my 163 cm height. Basically, the only choice I have left was Canyon Endurace at size 2XS which I was waited for 3 months to buy. Using 27,5" wheels is the best idea that anyone came up with lately. Wish there were more road tyre at this size, but I didn't regret it.
It's all about marketing... the number 1 in this video for its "endurance" fit has the exact SAME GEOMETRY as their racing model, CF SLX! Mathieu Van der Poel is advertising Canyon, too, and many companies have their networks in the social media, Selle Italia is very active on YT and other websites, I suspect Decathlon do the same, etc.
I am not criticizing I actually like how the fitter and shop owner/mechanic disagree. I find The different perspective is very helpful, and I hope others do too. @@DR_1_1
@@DR_1_1 are you saying the Endurace CF SLX geo and the lower Endurace geos are the same? If so, yeah.. that totally makes sense (same bike model).. if your are saying the race-oriented Ultimate CFR and Endurace are different, of course they are.. they are different bikes! If you are saying the Canyon was #1 because of some marketing deal, have you ever watched Cade Media before? Scott sure seems to be the bike sponsor for the channel.. and I'm not sure James would ever sell out to a company to schill their stuff.. ;)
@@DR_1_1 man, so many conspiracy theories going around these days.. if you think that, why are you even watching the videos, just to make snarky remarks on them? just gotta shake my head at some people..
Thanks. Regarding aesthetics which is important to me, the Pinarello has the awkwardly-bent top and down tubes. Not my choice at all for its profile appearance.
I love my Canyon Endurace CF SLX di2 I can ride all day everyday. I live in San Diego so I rode all three Toad bikes they have to offer and thought I was getting a ultimate but left so happy knowing what bike to order and got fitted there 😊
I am still not sold on the idea that short bikes are more comfortable for everyone unless the bars exceedingly high. You end up arching your back rather than stretching it out and your weight isn't so well distributed. I have some disc buldges and struggle more on short reach bikes. I find even modern 'race' bikes are pretty short if your arm angles are in the correct position, but that might just be my body sizing.
I've owned my 2020 Endurace CF 7.0 since 2021 when I returned to cycling and its the best bike I've ever had. It makes me a better rider, have a few centuries under my belt now, and I've gotten even more comfortable on it after a bike fit done last year.
I have the older Triban 540, similar frame to the Triban RC520 with rim brakes. Brought it in 2000, barely ridden for £300 with Shimano 105. There are often barely used ones on ebay and one with 50 miles on is showing as being £395. These are a great budget buy and easy to maintain.
Yet I can't find the S 105 version in my size (L) in Europe, they are sold out since a month at least that I'm looking on their websites... sounds like it's easier to find in the Uk.
I´ve been riding my Endurace CF SLX 7 di2 for 7 months now and really enjoy it. Yes, the fully integrated handle bar and stem are a head scratcher at times, however being able to experiment with the width somewhat makes it not so bad - the rest is great....although...on an indoor trainer sweat tends to get into the "tool-cavity" on the top tube, since it all drops right on it...but hey, I wrapped a towel around it ^^
I confess I am a Cannondale fanboy, but I have no idea what they were thinking with the new Synapse. I have both of the previous two generations, and they are both really nice bikes, comfortable and without any fancy dampening or electronic gadgets. From what I hear, the current Supersix Evo is more comfy than the current Synapse.
I have a Domane sl5. I is carbon fiber, with 105 mechanicals. It does have issues with its iso shock system, but the main part was replaced/upgraded and now is fine. It rides like a dream, the fitting revealed a slightly larger than usual size, I would be careful about upsizing.
Have a 2018 Canyon Endurace CFX with 11 speed SRAM ETAP with hydraulic disc brakes. Over 13,000 miles ridden without any issues. Reynolds Assault wheels. Fantastic bike. Taken apart and put in bike box over a dozen times. I would highly recommend Canyon.
Love my Endurace too. Rode LEJOG in 2022, a few thousand more miles since and never even a hint of discomfort or injury. Can’t fault it. Canyons online size calculator was spot on too.
I’m 5’ 11” with a fairly even body type in terms of leg and torso length. I’m on a Giant TCR Advanced Pro M/L. I find it to be extremely comfy. I haven’t raced in 15 years but find the stack and reach to be perfect for me even in the drops. Moral of the story as always is how individualized fit can be. I will give thumbs up to the G8 insoles. I never worried about arch support until this year. They have been a big help with comfort all around.
I don't own a Synapse, but if I was in the market for an endurance bike, the integration of battery and lights would a benefit. Every ride that I do generally is in shared space with cars (including trail rides when riding from home). I always use lights and radar on my rides.
You don't really want parts on a bike that's are unique to a bike. Best solution for your problem is to buy a bike radar that you can keep if you switch bike later.
I bought an endurance bike (Scott addict 30) and as you said, it is a bit boring, what can I do to make it more exciting. I was thinking, TPU inner tubes and new and slimmer tires, what else?
Good review and pretty fair take. A note about the Specialized Roubaix and commentary about their business model. When Cancellara won the Paris Roubaix in 2011, I went ahead and ordered a Roubaix SL3 frameset with 10r carbon from my local bike shop. In part due to all the rave reviews. I have owned a lot of bikes and am also a mechanical engineer. I have owned two Roubaix SL3''s in fact and many other more modern bikes. This bike was and is the best bike I have ever ridden. Specialized ruined the Roubaix. Make no mistake. The future shock exists for company profit.. Future shocks over time fail. The company expects the consumer to purchase the future shock twice or three times over the life of bike ownership. Many don't want disc brakes. I live in flat Florida in the US and almost never touch my brakes or think about them. If I lived in the mountains, I would be on disc but I don't. I can lock up both wheels with rim brakes and of course Eddie Merckx did just fine on inferior rim brakes compared to rim brakes of today racing in the Alps. You are so right about many of your observations from Ribble and others not even having an endurance geometry and calling them endurance bikes. Also, a shame Cannondale ruined the Synapse with the integrated light kit. The Synapse is an overall great bike in Aluminum and carbon. Idiots. Much of all the non-value gingerbread added to modern bikes appealing to ignorant consumers is for marketing niche and for part replacement as bike companies try to sell their proprietary bikes 'twice' in terms of proprietary part replacement. This is a calculated business model which btw dramatically affects the car industry as well. Bikes are more complex now and complex machines fail more and the consumer ends up paying for them twice all for more profit for manufacturers. Keep up the good work and thanks for your video. PS. Probably a jump ball between the updated Defy and Cannon as you note. Love the Defy, wish it had a threaded BB.
Interesting that you prefer to Roubaix SL3. I have a Secteur 2012, similar geometry but in Al. The Secteur seat stays have different geometry (no Zertz inserts) but effective to reduce vibration. It has been a comfortable ride, but the bike is heavy, specially compared to 15lb Tarmacs that my friends ride. I am looking to upgrade to a carbon frame, but costs on newer bikes are too steep for me; hence I am looking for an older model. What is your experience (comfort-wise) with Roubaix SL3 to newer versions? Have you ever tried the Trek Domane? thanks.
I have a 2020 Ribble Endurance SLr (same as LC used to ride) and I love it but I agree it's not the most 'endurance' of bikes - I can still happily do 150-200km rides on it but probably not back to back days :) Thank for the great content as always
My favourite bike is my Canyon Endurace 8.0 bought in 2019. My second favourite is my Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2. Both are excellent bikes at good price points 👍🏻
He is always saying how every bike is too big and I have seen a few for videos, do you guys have a breakdown of how we should look at geometry and where the recommended size on company websites go wrong?
Defy was my first decent road bike back in 2012. I’ve bought racier, more pricey bikes since then but whenever I hop back on the Defy I’m amazed by how comfortable it is, yet still incredibly responsive.
I can tell you about the Synapse as I have one. Smartsense makes sense on lower spec bikes where I want to worry about only one battery and use only one app to manage the system. In this regard it works very well and I like it. Where this use case falls apart is when applied to Synapse models with more expensive group sets. It doesn't make much sense on di2 ultegra or dura ace. Riders on these most expensive group sets probably have their favorite gear (i.e. dedicated computer and better lights). I hate the front light on my Synapse. Easily the worst component in Smartsense.
I have a 9 year old trek domaine disk with dura ace di2, cost a fortune 9 years ago but so comfortable and responsive when you want to go fast, can’t see me ever buying another road bike, buy well, buy once has worked out for me and probably cheaper than chopping and changing,
I always run a shorter stem on my road bikes because I dont race and I like the handling to feel more like a MTB and less like a boat tiller. Because of this, should I consider the lower ranked bikes? Since I'm m going to run a MTB stem anyway? Or a marida because it has better spec and is cheaper? What does the comment section think?
Have the Ribble Endurance SL Rim here! Deffo took the name for granted despite a-lot of review videos saying it had an aggressive position! I do love it tho😂
Sooooo, the Ribble Endurance gets absolutely slated for not having an endurance geometry, quoting a stack of 582 and a reach of 400. And yet, the top bike in the list, the Canyon Endurace has a stack of 637 (admittedly a lot more) but a reach of 405 (so it's longer). And again the Scott Addict got slated, but its stack is 613 and it reach is 398. So actually a better geometry for endurance than the Canyon Endurace?
00:01 Intro
00:26 Ribble Endurance SL
01:07 Scott Addict
01:48 Specialized Roubaix
02:46 Trek Domane
03:54 Boardman SLR
04:39 Cannondale Synapse
05:11 Triban RC520
05:49 Giant Defy
06:51 Pinarello X
08:15 Canyon Endurace
Thank You!
You forgot the triban
Ah, Hero we needed :)
@@thefilipinoknight6617 Lol. Apparently it's so cheap that it's almost forgettable.
@@JibbaJabber lol
Love my Canyon Endurace. Grabbed the AL model back in 2020. Best value imho, mine came with Shimano 105 and it’s done everything I need it to do. Highly recommend 15,000 miles later
Same! Bought mine at the beginning of the pandemic, currently at 12000k. And I wasn't a cyclist at all before that, now i'm go by bike everywhere!
Also have the AL 7 RB - have upgraded the wheels and it feels and rides great :)
Same. Although in the middle of tweaking the fit.. getting hand pain. Otherwise find it quite comfortable, I’m sure it will feel amazing once I’ve got the fit dialled
Listen I absolutely never comment on anything but I'll comment here to join the Endurace crew. Endurace AL Disc 7 from 2019, first bike and made me fall in love with riding it. about 26k km and counting. Ride on Enducrew.
Also end of 2019 model, 25,000km, got 20mm shorter stem and use all the spacers :) And bought it exactly for the reason of more relaxed geometry than other bikes at that time and best value for money ... if you can service your bike yourself.
I have a Specialized Roubaix and I actually think the future shock 2.0 is a real plus in terms of comfort. Haven’t had any issues with it and really glad I have it every time I hit the Belgian cobble stones. It’s also easy to lock whenever I don’t need it and since I’m not looking to shave off every gram on the bike, the whatever extra weight is fine with me.
Seconded…I find it ironical that some of these bike RUclipsrs bang on about weight and then spend most of their rides carrying cameras, Go-Pro’s etc. In the real world the future shock works well and for old duffers like me takes the sting out of what are frankly shite roads round my way
I have a 2023 Roubaix Sport 105 and I love the Future Shock. It dampens bumps and cracks very well. Why would I want all these vibrations and bumps going straight into my hands?
I agree. I have the 2020 Roubaix Sport with the FS 1.5 and it is great for me.
I could drop 20 to 25 pounds off my body, so that should come off before I start shelling out wads of $ for gram savings.
Having said that, I would love to try a Pinarello X5 and see the difference for myself.
I will watch anything with James ranting. I can't quite describe why I enjoy him being an enjoyable curmudgeon.
Same. He tends to be correct in his rants.
@@10flyingdutchman Agreed. I worked in a bike shop and watching his videos about fits made me realize my saddle was too high and my cleats were too far forward. These realizations alone fixed 99% of my fit and comfort issues.
@@Hamsong yep, most of what he says makes logical sense. Going to 40cm handlebars vs what came off the shelf was a game changer for me.
Very down to earth and straightforward, but kind with a sense of humor.
Because you know nothing about cycling and everything about fake news!
LOVE my Endurace. Had it 7 years and it's the one bike I can ride all day.
I have a future shock 2.0 on my 21 Diverge and have had zero complaints with it.
I also work in a shop where we sell a decent amount of bikes with Future Shocks, and the only thing I have had to replace is the boot occasionally. I have never had one break. Not saying they can't, but I have never seen a failure.
Thank you for that inside information. I like my Roubaix very much. If you come from a racing background the geometry is quite relaxed. The best "endurance" bike I ever had. Comfortable, light and a lot of flex in the right places (seatpost, future shock). I too only know about boots that needed replacement because people tend to strap top tube bags around it.
@@Garfie1d73 Another Roubaix owner here. I love mine (2021 Sports), too. I have had to replace my boot because I ripped it while trying to remove the future shock cartridge. (I was changing the bottom cap with the shorter one.) Other than that, the future shock has been working well for me.
Only future shock I ever had to fix was when I bought a used Diverge for my wife: it had belonged to a rather spoiled teenager who had lost the top cap and thus water seeped into the system. Thing was a bit corroded. But, I took it apart and regreased the unit. Worked perfectly after that. Now we have two future shocks on our bikes and no problems.
Those Pinas look quite awesome in respect to the geo. The thin lattice structure at the back seems over engineered to me.
I stripped and regressed the future shock on my partners diverge when it had got wet due to a split boot. Bit of a faff, but it's been fine ever since. On broken tarmac that thing works away letting her glide along. It really looks like it's helping when I'm next to her.
It's also quite comfortable. Are other bikes really even in the same ballpark without any sort of shock? The suggestion that FS are used because Specialized has bad engineering is interesting. Would love for them to expand on that.
I've had the Triban RC520 for the last 3 years or so. Absolute great ALU-bike. I've done a 200 miles/320 km trip in one go but also a bunch of centurians on it (162 km or so). Smack a bunch of wide tyres on it and it is really comfortable. The saddle is a bit so so out of the box, but for the price easy to replace with bills still in the wallet! 😁
In trek’s defense they took out the front iso speed, while keeping the only one that matters which is the rear one.
True, but the Gen4 has become even more expensive than it already was. An SL7 AXS (SRAM Force) is an 8,5kg / 7000 EUR bike and that's without pedals, bottle cages, computer & mount. The equivalent SLR7 AXS is still listed as 8.38kg and then is over 10,5K EUR 😵.
@@virtualmartijn Not only that, the Rev 1 rear ISO that came with the first Gen 4's is a complete POS. No amount of carbon paste would fix the seatpost slippage and creaking noises. Terrible design imho.
The aluminum frame versions make for a pretty decent commuter. Geometry is a bit too relaxed for me, though. To match the positions of my other road bikes, I had to slam the slam and swap the 90mm -7 degree stem for a 110mm -17 degree stem.
The current Domane rear isospeed is known for creaking and seatpost slipping. I canceled my order for one and bought an Endurace.
@@virtualmartijnI bought my Size 54 Gen 4 SLR7 Ultegra Di2 (8.1kg with Assioma pedals, cages & edge 830) for EUR 7,200 a year ago.
The Trek Domane was dinged because they said it has a suspension in the front. Fact check: that was removed in Gen4. The Domane pictured does not have a front shock/damper.
So now the gen 4 is known for seatpost slipping and creaking. Nice work trek engineers.
Was hoping to see the BMC Road Machine and Look 765 Optimum+ in this list (mostly because they seem to match my fit well).
765 optimum + is great deal !
The look 765 optimum + (2021) made me feel something special when I got to try my bosses. He must have felt something special, too. He replaced his Colnago cross bike for the look, I now have that Colnago.
Trek Domane AL 5. The 105 aluminum version. No suspension to mess with. Very comfortable and very affordable. Great value.
I bought my Canyon Endurace CF 7 disc back in late 2021. It was my first real road bike and my first carbon framed bike. It's still looking like new except for the worn bar tape and tires, but it's done a lot of +12hr rides.
Everything I read at the time I purchased this bike pointed at those new to road cycling (or older like me) should get an endurance geometry. Obviously my heart wanted something flashy and fast but I'm really happy with the bike.
Waiting for the weather to improve to take on some 300-400km rides 😊
I have a CF 7 too which has a normal bar and stem not that integrated nonsense.
Love my Domane Gen 4, ride is amazing. Very smooth on gravel as well. No sore issues after a 5 hour ride.
It’s good to hear James talk about shorter riders. My wife is 160cm and most bikes “in her size” are seriously compromised. Toe overlap for days, 2 cm of seat post sticking out etc etc etc. It’s crazy to me how many bikes get made that suit riders that are 190cm+ and how few suit 160cm or less. There are so many more people that are that shirt rather than that tall. Huge market just left with very few options.
Yes I also love him, though when he said "all the way down to 5"3" my 5 foot nothing self was like 🙃 darnnnnn
There is probably a big difference in how much the markets can spend. In western countries the 190cm+ crowd is kinda big and they usually got money to spare (taller people are in general more successful).
Anyone being 160cm or shorter in a developed country is usually poor (or was when growing up).
167cm for men and 158cm for women is the current limit to official limit to be counted as short (dwarf) here in Sweden.
@@christoferstromberg6605 your right that they on average earn more but there is so few people that tall. I’m 186cm and I see one or two people that tall a day if I’m out all day and I can see hundreds of people that are 160cm (the average women is 161cm here in Australia) or less.
@@matthewshaw3747 186cm would mean you're kinda the average native man here in the nordics. You would almost never be the tallest person in a room. 25% of my team at work is over 190cm. We have two people below 180cm.
At 184cm I feel damn short, even got some women in the office that's taller than me.
@@christoferstromberg6605 for sure. But even tiny Australia has more population than the whole Nordic area. Not to mention the billions of people is Asia who are no where near as tall.
I purchased a Cervelo Caledonia w/105 as my road bike last year and I absolutely love it. Hydraulic discs, 105 w/ bigger cassette stock and 52/36 front, non integrated headset to help my mechanic. It was between that and the defy and really came down to the deal i got!
Till your bottom bracket falls out and you realise that they offer zero support…
@@kamilkurzynowski3836 their new threaded bottom bracket is problematic like that?
Yes, I have caledonia on ultegra DI2 and it basically unscrewed itself. I will never bg cervelo ever again.
I'm 67, have a 2016 Defy Advanced 2, a 2020 Madone SL6 and 2023 Domane SLR and I can't honestly say that one is more or less comfortable than the others. I'm fine on all of them as long as I have the right saddle.
Purchased the Ribble endurance sl rim 2022 for £560 on ebay, thought it was an endurance bike. Did feel stretched to start with so I pushed my saddle forward slightly. Now it feels more comfortable. No aggressive position. Can easily ride for 3-4 hours no back/neck pain. Slam the stem if I want more aero/racing. Best of both worlds!
I also picked one up before Christmas s/h, a carbon with high spec wheels.
I pushed the saddle forward, dropped 30mm off the stem and had to move the levers up about 20mm on the bars to get a decent fit.
I got the XL as I’ve a +35” inseam.
It’s a stretch, and while I can ride it for 3-4 hours (which I’d class as a short ride), anymore cripples me for days. My gravel bike though, I can ride all day, and then the next.
The Ribble is going back on eBay and I’m buying some road wheels for the gravel bike.
Thank you for continuing to beat the drum for shorter riders! 5'3" is in fact the AVERAGE height for women in both the UK and the US. As a 5'3" rider I am in fact very normal, but the bike industry largely treats me as a distant outlier. With cycling jerseys I can kind of get used to my pockets dragging down below my butt and letting overlong bibs just bunch up a little on my thighs so they don't cover my knees (though I won't ever love it!!), but finding a frame that fits is a much more serious and limited story. And it shouldn't have to be! Because my height is, again, completely average. There are a lot of us out here and we all have a damn shoulder ache.
I have the Triban rc520 and love it. Had it fitted by Denver at Bicycle Richmond last year, and its super comfortable. Thinking about upgrading the wheels on it and keeping it as my regular commuter and getting something gravel based for my long rides.
I don't understand - are they endorsing the Triban or critisizing it's geometry? Aka is it part of the list or not?
@@vonjororo Compared to the others, it's "ok" but in reality it's great. It has a good endurance geometry, and its an absolute gem for the money but it's aluminum so might be lacking in terms of weight against others. Personally, I have it and, unless you are proper racing with it, you can't go any better than that. In their channel they have a full review on that bike and you can clearly see that there is nothing better or remotely close to it in the same price point
I have RC 500 and I just upgraded the wheels with dt swiss rr421 rims. Great biker for the price
I have the rc500 and it's took a lot of abuse, I also have a 2022 Defy. In terms of position, the Triban is a lot more upright geo position in a like for like size
@@timmycz11 Well, that's my original question - is it even part of the list? So you're saying it is and it's ranked no 4.
Glad to see the Defy was near the top of the list - it helps to validate my purchase 😊
Phew. I can watch the video happily now.
It's an amazing bike. I have the 2019 model, and it's fantastic. The new one looks amazing.
Absolutely. But the sizing info on the defy is pretty wrong in the video.
@@ronitdebnath Right, hasn't the geometry gotten racier on this year's model?
@@erich8258 the stack by 10 less yes. Not longer but lower.
James, the canyon comes in at your no1. The SLX range all come with the 1 piece integrated cockpit which granted has width adjustment but what does a rider do if the stem is too short or too long when they don’t even sell this cockpit as an aftermarket item?
Hi!👋 you can contact Canyon and they may supply you with a different size handlebar if the fit is not great.. (Canyon owner)
Merida Scultura Endurance? These seem right on the money to whats being discussed, and well good value. I ride the more aggressive Scultura, which I love.
I ride merrida 300 endurance but I am no expert
First thing I thought. How can they leave out the best endurance bike on the market?
I got the Merida Scultura 6000 Di2 endurance, fantastic bike, a very underrated bike.
That was my other option before I got the Endurace! Great value for money and good endurance geometry, too!
I was about to buy a scultura endurance 4000 last year when I found a 2019 scultura 400 rim for $150AUD, can't complain for the price, got a shorter stem, but when I upgrade it'll be a scultura endurance or an endurace.
After quite a few years, the Canyon Endurace AL7 is still the best bang-for-the-buck for the average weekend warrior. Considering the parts and component specs (full 105 mechanical groupset and hydraulic brakes, DT Swiss wheels, carbon fork and seatpost, Selle Italia saddle, Conti Grand Prix tires), even better value than the Triban RC 520.
I have an RC520 that I bought 2nd hand about 3 years ago as a 'temp' bike. Still have it, and it's going fine. Use it for winter and bike packing and up to recently was my most comfortable bike.
I have the newer Domane SL5. I will say they removed the front suspension, so there has been weight savings from previous years.
Yes, you would think the presenter would research the bikes he is commenting on 🤷♂️
@@grahamroot4521 he’s not wrong, up to the 2024, all carbon version of the bike are heavy with front suspension.
That update has really made a nice improvement
@@wrwicky yup! They fixed a lot of the noise issues. Have over 1000+ miles on mine and the most issues I have had were from the original wheels.
@@cneubert28 Gen 4 Domane introduced late 2022 does not have front Isospeed.
Cervelo Caledonia-5 didn’t make top ten? Oversight or you really hate it. Got a fit prior to purchase. Replaced my 2015 Synapse. Love this bike.
Agree! I have a properly fitted Cal 5. To me, it was a MAJOR upgrade from my Giant Defy (that made this list) in terms of endurance ride comfort (and of course quality).
I LOVED by Boardman SLR disc. It was beautiful and the most comfortable bike I’ve ridden so far. I’m in the US and only got a boardman because it was carbon, disc, and had good components for a great price from Merlin cycles. Never saw another Boardman but got lots of compliments. Sadly, it was stolen. God I loved that bike.
In 2023 I had a bike fit session with James. He advised me to buy Canyon Endurace. Now I ride it and can assure that the bike is really great in terms of geometry. Once again, thanks to James:)
I picked up an Endurace this year and cannot be happier! Made sure to pick up some spare parts just in case when I ordered it so that if little things fail I have the spares ready to go. As an FYI, I chatted with my LBS before buying to see they could find a similar specced bike at a similar cost, they could not unfortunately. I do love my LBS so while I didn’t buy this bike with them they have all my other N + 1 business 😅
I've ridden a ROSE Pro SL endurance bike for the last couple of years. I absolutely love it. Sounds like James would approve of the geometry of it as well.
Not in the UK, he won't
Agree, my dad's got one aswell. Love to ride it every now and then.
Also they have a really long span in sizes from 490 stack/ 365 reach all the way up to 645 stack/ 425 reach
Ridden a size 57 Pro SL for a few months . Amazing bike for the price. However the geometry is somewhat more racey for an endurance bike. When compared to my 56 Standert Kreissage RS race bike and 56 Pinarello X3 which i tested, it definitely feels closer to the Standert. Still an amazing and comfortable bike for its price though.
@@99mh99 It's a bit less relaxed than some of the bikes in this video, yes. But it's still more on the endurance end of road bike geometries.
Nice to see someone mention Standert. I've been living in Berlin (their hometown) for a little while and have seen quite a few them around. They look great. If I had not arrived here with a new hand-made titanium bike (T-Lab R3 Omni - Canadian bike... fantastic), I would have seriously considered a Standert... Maybe I still ought to as a going-away present when my posting is over. @@99mh99
Good video, but I figured I'd let you know the newest Domane gen 4 got rid of the front decouple and changed the adjustable rear decoupler to a fixed setting one to reduce weight (still not ultralight) and help eliminate creak. I got my gen 4 SL6 last year, no issues so far. I do like that Canyon, I just couldn't bring myself to buy one without a test ride and no shops near me had one.
The Gen 4 is known for seatpost slipping and creaking. It’s all over the reviews on Treks own website and in the Trek and Domane sub Reddit’s.
Excellent video, having sat in on my son having his bike fit done by James a couple of years ago I can say it was so insightful and even as a ‘spectator’ I learned so much
I totally agree about the Ribble Endurance SL, i own the Endurance SL e ( amazing injury recovery tool btw) & i had to flip the stem & ride a size smaller than i would usually & now i can ride on it all day with no issues what so ever.
Thoughts on the Cervelo Caledonia?
Interesting that the Endurace which is so highly praised has lower stack and longer reach in a given size than both the Roubaix and Domane - which come in for heavy criticism. I agree the Canyon is more of a bargain and simpler to maintain, but I'd have thought a video titled "Bike Fitter Ranks Endurance Bikes" might have based those ranks based on, I dunno, bike fit?
I’ve just picked up a Synapse 105 this past summer and it’s fantastic. Group set of the people and it’s comfy as heck with factory standard 30mm tires.
Gav how you getting on with the smart sense? I keep having battery issues. On me third one now as they just keep not charging and other issues
Great video overall. I’m curious to know how neither the BMC Roadmachine nor the Cervelo Caledonia made the list over bikes like the Ribble
Had a Specialized Roubaix, then 2 Diverges--one pre-Future Shock and one with Gen-1 Future Shock. None rode as well as my Niner RLT. Absolutely love this bike. Interesting to hear James' comments re: the D2C bike market and touting the benefits of working with a shop. GO JAMES! As a lifelong employee of a small specialty ski and bike shop here in the states, thank you.
The Giant Defy numbers don’t seem to check out. I’m 5’9” and have been comfortably on a medium for years. There are also two sizes below it, and the female oriented Liv range goes even smaller.
I'm 6'0, riding an M (probably would fit better on an M/L, but well), so there's definitely space below.
James is wrong there. Courtesy thinking in terms of effective top tube instead of reach+extension.
@@ronitdebnathI feel he is correct in that for me at 5'7", a 52cm top tube and reach of 373mm is a bit too long on my gravel bike, even after changing to a 60mm stem. I now wish I would have gotten the XS, which they say is for those 5'1" to 5'6", but I dunno about that.
@@ronitdebnathwhat do you mean by reach + extension? I don't understand the extension
I have the Cannondale. Awsome bike, wasnt sure about having the lighting system fitted permanently. But now like it. Only issue with the lights is the battery from garmin is terrible.
I Just bought the Scott addict 10 because my old storck grix was too aggressive for me. And i gotta say, that this small differences was all it took for me. But ye i get your Point
I was surprised how tall and short the new Cannondale Supersix Evo is, at least in larger sizes. It also supports 55mm of headset spacers and the low to mid range models have a separate handlebar and stem which increases fit options. It's almost the opposite of the Ribble. A race bike with endurance geometry. BTW, I always feel it's mad putting an integrated bar and stem on an endurance bike. It just limits fit options. Not pointing at you Canyon, with your one piece bar and stem on the "End-your-race"!
I am a huge fan of the Giant Defy 🎉
Ditto
Me too. 30mm tubeless, all day comfortable
Re the Giant Defy. I'm 165 and bought a XS which is very close to a 49cm Scott
Hey guys, any opinion on Cervelo Caledonia / Caledonia 5?
A table showing stack and reach measurements for all of the frames would be good to show.
Gotta have an updated version of this video each year!
6:43 Giant Defy does not go below 52 in side? I thought it comes in sizes down to XS which is suitable for smaller riders?
Orbea Orca is another great endurance bike. Definitely deserves to be up there with the Canyon
I live in Buffalo, NY and the roubiax having a dampener is awesome for all the bumps in the road here
I went back and forward between the Ribble Endurance and their R872, before i knew much about cycling at all or what endurance really meant. Went for the r872 as the geometry was more relaxed and I was new to cycling. Change the names and they have a great range.
Have a pre-battery 2021 Cannondale Synapse. Really nice bike leaning heavily towards racing but with a bit more comfort. But I fully agree: What is that integrated light and battery doing on the new version? They took a classic and ruined it - I guess, yes, to position it somewhere else in the spectrum, but it makes no sense to me either. It's too racey and expensive to be a commuter, but now it's not a proper endurance-racer either.
Glad to new my new Defy is high on the list. I've only had it a few weeks but so far so good. It feels light and fast without being stretched out.
4:50 -- This has been the very same sentence that went through my head every time I have looked at new bike in the past year... *_"How did we get to £1700 bikes with Tiagra on them??"_*
Not that im against Tiagra at all. Its a very reliable groupset. But I think the groupset itself is long overdue a refresh since 105 has been bumped up even higher up the hierarchy with the wireless shifting malarky.
Wireless shifting is amazing. And if you think you should get a top of the line bike for $1700, then you are delusional.
@@roadcyclist1 Back in the day we could get a half decent ultegra equipped carbon bike for under £2000.
105 equipped Alu bikes for £800-1000 with the more premium being £1300-1500. My own Cube Attain Race GTC cost me well under 2k new and everything on it was ultegra apart from the brakes.
Tiagra on a 1.7k bike let alone a 2k bike is insanity for those who have seen how cheap it was before and how silly the prices are now.
I think you are the one that is delusional if you think Tiagra on a $1700 bike is acceptable.
I could build myself a bike with a frame off ebay with a brand new off the shelf 105 groupset with a nice set of new carbon wheels much closer to the spec that I want and willing to pay that would cost me much much less than $1700
What do you get for $1700 new? A 7 year old 10sp groupset and a wheelset thats heavy enough to drown someone in a river with.
@@Rose.Of.Hizaki this isn't the year 1995. Time to join up with reality.
@@roadcyclist1 it was actually 2016. Dont worry.i have the patience to wait for the market to crash and they are already crashing. Enjoy overspending on your bike
Just picked up my giant defy advance pro 0 … beast of a bike 😮
Was going to go endurace but stock issues in Canada are weak still sadly
I'm on a 2017 Endurace 105 2XL that I've owned for about 16 months. I mostly ride gravel, but when I'm on road, the Endurace is excellent.
It's incredibly stiff in terms of power transfer and handling, but with a buttery smooth ride.
At 203cm tall, it's one of the few road bikes that fits me without any difficulty. Highly, highly recommended.
Can confirm the endurace is really good. Have the AL rim brake version and it has been phenomenal from the first ride, from bike-packing to trying to get PRs on climbs. Really does seem to be the best deal you can get on a new bike with 105 and less than 8.5kg ❤
I have the Triban RC520 and, as stated in the video, It's a budget bike that it's really a gem because of the components it have. Yes, the wheels might be a little bit heavy but even so the bike is 11kg so it's a really nice starting point with its heavy components
In my case it's an all around bike, I use it as commuter, fitness an a little bit of racing and goes really well. Also, has a clearance for up to 700x40 so you might do a light gravel with it
Are you sure it fits 40mm tyres? On website it is stated up to 36mm
Love my Roubaix, had it for 5 years no issue with the Future Shock. Most comfortable bike i have ever ridden.
Where’s the Cervelo Caledonia 5?
I didn't really understand the critique on the Synapse. It's a good bike if you don't go for the high spec? He didn't mention anything about the geometry
Delighted to see Endurace as the winner, love mine. I never bother with my aero anymore (which cost twice as much), the aero is faster but the speed bump is not worth the loss of comfort.
Just fitted it today with the Selle Italia Boost that was suggested in one of your earlier videos.
Regarding Canyon's crank length: at 9:35 James states that 3XS size Canyon bikes still come with a 170 mm crank length. On their website, under "Geomety & dimensions", they show the "Component geometry" for each bike size. According to that, 2XS and 3XS bikes have a 165 mm crank length. I can confirm this for their road bike Canyon Ultimate, since I got a 2XS size, which comes with a 165 mm crank length.
Also Canyon 3XS is really 2XS of other brands. And Liv's 2XS goes shorter than that.
my favorite endurance bike is a gravel bike !
The CAAD Optimo 1 is another endurance option from Cannondale. It’s cheaper than the Synapse from what it sounds like and comes with 105. It’s also pretty upright with full spacers.
@6:45 Shorter than 5'9". That's half the population!
😅
He is very very wrong there.
@@ronitdebnathNo, he's not. Most bike manufacturers don't give a sh*t about shorter riders. They just put 170/175 mm cranks, 400 mm wide handlebars, 90 mm long stems even their smallest sized frames. It was very hard for me to find an endurance bike that suits me well for my 163 cm height. Basically, the only choice I have left was Canyon Endurace at size 2XS which I was waited for 3 months to buy. Using 27,5" wheels is the best idea that anyone came up with lately. Wish there were more road tyre at this size, but I didn't regret it.
I love the range of opinion on this channel, Nic hates Canyon and James puts them on the top of his list.
It's all about marketing... the number 1 in this video for its "endurance" fit has the exact SAME GEOMETRY as their racing model, CF SLX!
Mathieu Van der Poel is advertising Canyon, too, and many companies have their networks in the social media, Selle Italia is very active on YT and other websites, I suspect Decathlon do the same, etc.
I am not criticizing I actually like how the fitter and shop owner/mechanic disagree. I find The different perspective is very helpful, and I hope others do too. @@DR_1_1
@@DR_1_1 are you saying the Endurace CF SLX geo and the lower Endurace geos are the same? If so, yeah.. that totally makes sense (same bike model).. if your are saying the race-oriented Ultimate CFR and Endurace are different, of course they are.. they are different bikes! If you are saying the Canyon was #1 because of some marketing deal, have you ever watched Cade Media before? Scott sure seems to be the bike sponsor for the channel.. and I'm not sure James would ever sell out to a company to schill their stuff.. ;)
@@Chris_Rides_Bikes I'm sure they are all doing it for free, just like VDP is his pointing at his bike in front of the cameras after his victories ;-)
@@DR_1_1 man, so many conspiracy theories going around these days.. if you think that, why are you even watching the videos, just to make snarky remarks on them? just gotta shake my head at some people..
I'm 5'8" and the Giant Defy size S seems to be fit me quite well.
Thanks. Regarding aesthetics which is important to me, the Pinarello has the awkwardly-bent top and down tubes. Not my choice at all for its profile appearance.
I love my Canyon Endurace CF SLX di2 I can ride all day everyday. I live in San Diego so I rode all three Toad bikes they have to offer and thought I was getting a ultimate but left so happy knowing what bike to order and got fitted there 😊
I just ordered Canyon Endurace CF 8 SLX Di2. Can't wait to ride and leave a review.
I am still not sold on the idea that short bikes are more comfortable for everyone unless the bars exceedingly high. You end up arching your back rather than stretching it out and your weight isn't so well distributed. I have some disc buldges and struggle more on short reach bikes. I find even modern 'race' bikes are pretty short if your arm angles are in the correct position, but that might just be my body sizing.
I've owned my 2020 Endurace CF 7.0 since 2021 when I returned to cycling and its the best bike I've ever had. It makes me a better rider, have a few centuries under my belt now, and I've gotten even more comfortable on it after a bike fit done last year.
I have the older Triban 540, similar frame to the Triban RC520 with rim brakes. Brought it in 2000, barely ridden for £300 with Shimano 105. There are often barely used ones on ebay and one with 50 miles on is showing as being £395. These are a great budget buy and easy to maintain.
Yet I can't find the S 105 version in my size (L) in Europe, they are sold out since a month at least that I'm looking on their websites... sounds like it's easier to find in the Uk.
I´ve been riding my Endurace CF SLX 7 di2 for 7 months now and really enjoy it. Yes, the fully integrated handle bar and stem are a head scratcher at times, however being able to experiment with the width somewhat makes it not so bad - the rest is great....although...on an indoor trainer sweat tends to get into the "tool-cavity" on the top tube, since it all drops right on it...but hey, I wrapped a towel around it ^^
I confess I am a Cannondale fanboy, but I have no idea what they were thinking with the new Synapse.
I have both of the previous two generations, and they are both really nice bikes, comfortable and without any fancy dampening or electronic gadgets.
From what I hear, the current Supersix Evo is more comfy than the current Synapse.
I have a Domane sl5. I is carbon fiber, with 105 mechanicals. It does have issues with its iso shock system, but the main part was replaced/upgraded and now is fine. It rides like a dream, the fitting revealed a slightly larger than usual size, I would be careful about upsizing.
Have a 2018 Canyon Endurace CFX with 11 speed SRAM ETAP with hydraulic disc brakes. Over 13,000 miles ridden without any issues. Reynolds Assault wheels. Fantastic bike. Taken apart and put in bike box over a dozen times. I would highly recommend Canyon.
Love my Endurace too. Rode LEJOG in 2022, a few thousand more miles since and never even a hint of discomfort or injury. Can’t fault it. Canyons online size calculator was spot on too.
I’m 5’ 11” with a fairly even body type in terms of leg and torso length. I’m on a Giant TCR Advanced Pro M/L. I find it to be extremely comfy. I haven’t raced in 15 years but find the stack and reach to be perfect for me even in the drops. Moral of the story as always is how individualized fit can be. I will give thumbs up to the G8 insoles. I never worried about arch support until this year. They have been a big help with comfort all around.
Any comments on merida scultura endurance?
I don't own a Synapse, but if I was in the market for an endurance bike, the integration of battery and lights would a benefit. Every ride that I do generally is in shared space with cars (including trail rides when riding from home). I always use lights and radar on my rides.
You don't really want parts on a bike that's are unique to a bike. Best solution for your problem is to buy a bike radar that you can keep if you switch bike later.
Switching from bike to bike is one solution. Do you switch your flat kit and bell from bike to bike? I don't, nor do I care to.
I actually like the light integration too. If I was in the market for a bike again, I'd definitely consider it.
@cademedia What about the Van Rysel EDR series?
I bought an endurance bike (Scott addict 30) and as you said, it is a bit boring, what can I do to make it more exciting. I was thinking, TPU inner tubes and new and slimmer tires, what else?
Which scott addict 30 you have 2024? I have 2020 version I did some modifications the bike its amazing very light and extremely fast
Good review and pretty fair take. A note about the Specialized Roubaix and commentary about their business model. When Cancellara won the Paris Roubaix in 2011, I went ahead and ordered a Roubaix SL3 frameset with 10r carbon from my local bike shop. In part due to all the rave reviews. I have owned a lot of bikes and am also a mechanical engineer. I have owned two Roubaix SL3''s in fact and many other more modern bikes. This bike was and is the best bike I have ever ridden. Specialized ruined the Roubaix. Make no mistake. The future shock exists for company profit.. Future shocks over time fail. The company expects the consumer to purchase the future shock twice or three times over the life of bike ownership.
Many don't want disc brakes. I live in flat Florida in the US and almost never touch my brakes or think about them. If I lived in the mountains, I would be on disc but I don't. I can lock up both wheels with rim brakes and of course Eddie Merckx did just fine on inferior rim brakes compared to rim brakes of today racing in the Alps.
You are so right about many of your observations from Ribble and others not even having an endurance geometry and calling them endurance bikes. Also, a shame Cannondale ruined the Synapse with the integrated light kit. The Synapse is an overall great bike in Aluminum and carbon. Idiots.
Much of all the non-value gingerbread added to modern bikes appealing to ignorant consumers is for marketing niche and for part replacement as bike companies try to sell their proprietary bikes 'twice' in terms of proprietary part replacement. This is a calculated business model which btw dramatically affects the car industry as well. Bikes are more complex now and complex machines fail more and the consumer ends up paying for them twice all for more profit for manufacturers.
Keep up the good work and thanks for your video.
PS. Probably a jump ball between the updated Defy and Cannon as you note. Love the Defy, wish it had a threaded BB.
He made multiple incorrect statements about multiple bikes as others have already pointed out.
Interesting that you prefer to Roubaix SL3. I have a Secteur 2012, similar geometry but in Al. The Secteur seat stays have different geometry (no Zertz inserts) but effective to reduce vibration. It has been a comfortable ride, but the bike is heavy, specially compared to 15lb Tarmacs that my friends ride. I am looking to upgrade to a carbon frame, but costs on newer bikes are too steep for me; hence I am looking for an older model. What is your experience (comfort-wise) with Roubaix SL3 to newer versions? Have you ever tried the Trek Domane? thanks.
I own a Canyon Endurace (RB). It replaced a Specialized Allez. The Canyon is night and day better. Feels great, much faster, just fits really nicely.
I have a 2020 Ribble Endurance SLr (same as LC used to ride) and I love it but I agree it's not the most 'endurance' of bikes - I can still happily do 150-200km rides on it but probably not back to back days :) Thank for the great content as always
I have a Ribble Endurance, love it, but I race, and bought it for the racey geometry!
What are your thoughts on the Merida Scultura Endurance 4000?
My favourite bike is my Canyon Endurace 8.0 bought in 2019. My second favourite is my Giant Defy Advanced Pro 2. Both are excellent bikes at good price points 👍🏻
He is always saying how every bike is too big and I have seen a few for videos, do you guys have a breakdown of how we should look at geometry and where the recommended size on company websites go wrong?
Defy was my first decent road bike back in 2012. I’ve bought racier, more pricey bikes since then but whenever I hop back on the Defy I’m amazed by how comfortable it is, yet still incredibly responsive.
I can tell you about the Synapse as I have one. Smartsense makes sense on lower spec bikes where I want to worry about only one battery and use only one app to manage the system. In this regard it works very well and I like it.
Where this use case falls apart is when applied to Synapse models with more expensive group sets. It doesn't make much sense on di2 ultegra or dura ace. Riders on these most expensive group sets probably have their favorite gear (i.e. dedicated computer and better lights). I hate the front light on my Synapse. Easily the worst component in Smartsense.
I have a 9 year old trek domaine disk with dura ace di2, cost a fortune 9 years ago but so comfortable and responsive when you want to go fast, can’t see me ever buying another road bike, buy well, buy once has worked out for me and probably cheaper than chopping and changing,
I always run a shorter stem on my road bikes because I dont race and I like the handling to feel more like a MTB and less like a boat tiller.
Because of this, should I consider the lower ranked bikes? Since I'm m going to run a MTB stem anyway? Or a marida because it has better spec and is cheaper?
What does the comment section think?
What about BMC Roadmachine 01, Colnago C68 Allroad, Cervelo Caledonia-5?
I have canyon endurace and love it. Great bike, great specs and a wonderful ride after I switched to Carbon Wheels.
Giant defy advanced pro 0….love love love it. Started many years ago on an aluminum frame defy and that bike is still crankin as well.
Have the Ribble Endurance SL Rim here! Deffo took the name for granted despite a-lot of review videos saying it had an aggressive position! I do love it tho😂
Sooooo, the Ribble Endurance gets absolutely slated for not having an endurance geometry, quoting a stack of 582 and a reach of 400. And yet, the top bike in the list, the Canyon Endurace has a stack of 637 (admittedly a lot more) but a reach of 405 (so it's longer). And again the Scott Addict got slated, but its stack is 613 and it reach is 398. So actually a better geometry for endurance than the Canyon Endurace?