afham07

Hi Guys,

I have been in cycling for a year now but this hobby is kind of addictive. In a year, I bought 5 bikes but sold 3, 2 still in possession. My main bike is Sworks Venge where another is a folding bike, Tern Eclipse X22.

I am thinking to build another rb as alternative for my Venge. I will not spend another USD10k on this for sure. The issue now is I am in dilemma, either want to go for another aero bike or climbing bike. If I go for aero bike, it will duplicate of my main bike but if I go for climbing, which normally a light weight bike, it will not beat my venge weight anyway, unless I spend another 8-10k USD for top line components and frame.

Here are a couple of choice in my list:

1. Allez Sprint - I owned this bike before but sold it off due to same profile with venge. I regret it now and thinking to build another Allez Sprint and use as alternative.
2. CAAD12 - I would call this as climbing bike, but for sure my venge will beat this bike in weight given my budget is just for Ultegra groupset, and mid level wheels and components such as Fulcrum Racing Zero.

I am thinking to go for alloy instead of carbon for this 2nd bike is because cheaper price, not to worry about it if I bring bike travelling abroad.

What do you think? Any other recommendation or input?

puma1552

If you want a climbing bike, buy an Emonda.

ridethetown

I'd get a generalist do-it-all race bike that (like you said) you can travel with. No objective need for two aero bikes.

caloso

Tarmac. Best all around race bike I've owned.

ridethetown

+1

So sad to be selling my 2016 Pro Race - the paint scheme that year was just screamin' and the DA 9000 sooo crispy. I've been between sizes and my aging back doesn't put up with the 7cm drop I have on my 58 cm frame. Looking forward to my '20 Roubaix in a 61 cm, but am gonna miss the Tarmac when it sells.

pk2

what is it about your venge that makes you want something else? do you just want to collect or is there something about the venge that you don't like so much, sometimes? being an aero bike it is liable to be a bit heavy, harsh riding and sluggish. the latest venge is supposed to be better in those respects than most aero frames but maybe still not as much so as more allrounders.

that will point you in the direction of what sort of bike to get at which point people can help better suggest good ones.
if you're just looking to collect nice bikes then get whatever you like the look of

Dean V

Just because your Venge may be faster than a lot of bikes it won't be by much and it certainly doesn't mean it is more enjoyable to ride than many cheaper alternatives.
Personally I would rather ride something like a Giant TCR Advanced Pro than a Venge and it is a fraction of the price.

afham07

Talking about Tarmac, there are 2 options - Specialized SL6 or Sworks SL5.

Spez SL6 with Fact9R material while Sworks SL5 with Fact11R. In current market, both should be almost on the same price or just a few hundred different between them. The main concerns are Spez SL6 with latest design (lower rear tube or whatever you call it than Sworks SL5) but Swork SL5 with better carbon material. Should I go for better material on Sworks SL5 or latest (perhaps better) frame design on Spez SL6?

There is nothing I dont like on the venge. It's perfect bike for me. It's just that I am looking for alternative for venge where I can ride with wife (she rides my foldie I mentioned before) at our housing area, riding with new buddies at slow pace, etc. Another good use is to park this bike on trainer which really convience for me instead of having 1 bike for all.

woodcraft

I like Tarmacs, but for a 2nd bike,

having something that you can leave locked up, ride in the rain or dirt, or loan out is good.

DrIsotope

I would personally be looking for something that can take a 35-40mm tire. For riding with the wife and buddies, no sense in having something built purely for speed. Might as well be comfortable. I have a Cervelo R3 and a Ritchey Swiss Cross, and the Ritchey gets ridden about twice as many days a year as the Cervelo. Most days I'm not in a hurry. You've already got a go-fast bike, might as well have a go-anywhere bike.

rivers

I second getting a bike that can take 35-40mm tyres. My second bike is a Felt CX, and it is a blast to ride, but in a completely different way than my aero bike. It's main duties are commuting, wet weather, off-road/mountain bike trails, and days out with the wife. I've had the CX bike since December, and it's done about 1300 miles, my aero bike has done about 400. I save that bike for the nicer days when the sun is shining, I'm out for speed, or a long day in the saddle. As DrIsotope said, I can take the CX bike pretty much anywhere. It has decent speed on the road, if a gravel road or a bridleway takes my fancy, I can check that out, and if the wife and I are pootling along tow paths for a day out with the dog.

Rides4Beer

+1 for a grave/CX bike. That's what I'm looking for at the moment. I started looking at another road bike, but then figured why have two road bikes that do the same thing, get something that can handle a bit of offroad.

Harumph

Take a look at the BMC Roadmachine 02. It's an incredible bike that can take bigger tires yet still go fast and climb. It's also half the cost of your S-Works. I bought one last April and now it's the only bike I ride. I absolutely love the way this bike rides.

Shimano Di2, hydraulic disk brakes, incredible carbon frame for under $5,000.00

https://www.racycles.com/bikes/road/...oaAkClEALw_wcB

MonsterFat

Second on the BMC. Picked one up about a month ago. Absolutely love the bike and can't say enough good things about it.

firebird854

I'm currently building up this epic alloy purple frameset:
https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/b...lorCode=purple

It's pretty much the lightest you can go for alloy disc, I've already bought XXX integrated carbon handlebar & stem, XXX carbon seatpost, and Aeolus Pro 5 TLR Disc. So far this build will be light, responsive, and has only cost around $2500 so far (abused TrekFest and the handlebar/stem combo is an overstock item for half off).

Honestly, the frame is going to matter a lot less then the wheels or groupset, I'd go alloy, and find one with a bling color (I love those allez sprints! but the weight was a bit much, so this emonda ALR purple flip frame was kinda perfect IMO).