nowaka

I am looking for a new bike after my TREK Emonda ALR6 2016 got stolen.

I am 175cm / 5'9" tall.

For exercise I prefer climbing the hills, either the 40 minute morning climb, or the longer rides to climb the mountain in the distance (200km ride).

I will also use this bike as a commuter when the weather allows it.

I travel a lot in South East Asia and will occasionally put my bike in the luggage compartment under long distance busses.

My old Emonda had a 11-32 cassette with a 50-34 compact chainring, which I need for my current fitness and the hills I'm climbing.

Here are the deals I got from my LBS:

Giant TCR Advanced 2 2018 in Matte Carbon Smoke/Neon Green/Grey

• Price: $950 USD
• Rim brakes
• Carbon
• Old 105 R5800 groupset
• Need to upgrade 11-28 cassette to 11-32 and rear derailleur.

Cannondale Synapse Ultegra Carbon 2017 in Matte Black with White top tube top.

• Price: $1350 USD
• Rim brakes
• Carbon
• Old Ultegra 6800 groupset
• FSA chainring
• Already has 11-32 cassette
• Only available in size 54, which might be too big

Cannondale CAAD13 105 2020

• Price: $1530 USD
• Rim brakes
• Aluminium
• New 105 R7000 groupset
• Need to upgrade cassette to 11-34 as it comes with 11-30 cassette and 52/36 crank

My thoughts are currently, is the old 105 R5800 future proof when it comes to spare parts, and would a carbon bike be too risky for South East Asia traveling?

What would your pick be?

Dean V

How about a new Trek ALR5?
I have one and like it.

nowaka

The purple flip color puts me off, and it's the only color available at LBS :/

bruce19

The only thing I can add is that I bought a CAAD12 about 6 months ago and I love it. That's it. That's all I have.

Princess_Allez

My vote is for a 2019 Giant TCR with r7000 105. That's the best compromise.

CarloM

As a Giant fan, I would second this recommendation, assuming you can get last year's model on clearance for near that $1500 you list for the CAAD. The R7000 105 is really bulletproof. I've been riding SRAM Red eTap and Ultegra Di2 and when my newest bike came stock with the 105 I thought it would be an interminable wait until the shop moved my Di2 groupset from my other bike (I'm trading in the frame).

To my surprise, these last few days have been a pleasure with the 105. Yes I miss the convenience of the click-shifts of e-groupsets. Pushing the right brifter in all the way to shift down 2 gears is probably the move that makes me miss Di2 the most, especially twice in a row if I need to dump 4 gears quickly on a descent on my evening ride when the stoplight around a bend decides to turn yellow, then red while I'm going over 30mph. But for most normal everyday riding, the 105 is bulletproof.

Now I've never ridden a CAAD, but the TCR and Synapse are fairly different geometries. I test rode the Synapse before deciding on the TCR. The Synapse is Cannondale's endurance bike and is likely more in the same category as the Defy than the TCR. So be sure to test ride and see which geometry and riding position suits you best. But you did say you like climbing, and the TCR is definitely adept at that.

TiHabanero

For travel I am biased toward a metal frame. A blow that makes a dent in metal is a blow that can potentially cause a crack in carbon, especially on a super light carbon frame.