At What Point do You Transition From Road Bike to Endurance Bike?
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,535
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 927 Post(s)
Liked 1,288 Times
in
485 Posts
Road bike? Endurance bike? These are pretty meaningless marketing terms designed to persuade people that they need a bike for each category. "Road bike" is a pretty generic term that these days refers to what would have in the past been called a "racing bike" (i.e. anything with 5 or more gears and drop handlebars), though in this thread it seems to be referring to something with road race geometry. "Endurance bike" seems to be a fairly recent marketing term that refers to what would previously have been called a "touring bike". However, "endurance" sounds a bit sexier than "touring", so that's what the marketers use. Have fun with that silliness. In the meantime I will continue to ride my very versatile vintage bikes that I have used for both racing and touring.
Likes For davester:
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times
in
734 Posts
Is it the position or the ride quality that makes you feel beat up? I have a Titanium Seven and it is quite stiff but if I ride on smoother roads it doesn't bother me as much as when I ride on bad roads. I also have a steel bike which is much more forgiving. They are set up with a similar position and similar wheels and tires. If I did get a new bike it would be a similar fit but definitely not the bone jarring stiffness of the Seven. I'm 67 next month, btw.
I would think your Cannondale should be a nice ride. Maybe your position needs tweaking a bit?
I would think your Cannondale should be a nice ride. Maybe your position needs tweaking a bit?
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,604
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1063 Post(s)
Liked 771 Times
in
499 Posts
I have NEVER seen anything get younger with age. I'm 70 YEARS OLD and proud to say so and if my Prostate Cancer or a vehicle doesn't kill me, on July 10th I'll celebrate 71 by riding my BIRTHDAY RIDE of 142 miles = double age PLUS 1 mile extra for GOOD LUCK.
Road bike? Endurance bike? These are pretty meaningless marketing terms designed to persuade people that they need a bike for each category. "Road bike" is a pretty generic term that these days refers to what would have in the past been called a "racing bike" (i.e. anything with 5 or more gears and drop handlebars), though in this thread it seems to be referring to something with road race geometry. "Endurance bike" seems to be a fairly recent marketing term that refers to what would previously have been called a "touring bike". However, "endurance" sounds a bit sexier than "touring", so that's what the marketers use. Have fun with that silliness. In the meantime I will continue to ride my very versatile vintage bikes that I have used for both racing and touring.
My '72 P-15 Paramount HAD A TOURING GEOMETRY FRAME as does my Custom Paramount. My RR Paramount has a ROAD RACING geometry as does my Giant Propel Advanced SL and not a Touring, Crit or Track geometry. My 2018 Roubaix Expert is none of the preceding frame geometries so I agree can be in put in an ENDURANCE category. Just my opinion.
#29
I like bike
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Merry Land USA
Posts: 662
Bikes: Roubaix Comp 2020
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 267 Post(s)
Liked 283 Times
in
191 Posts
Along with the frame material don’t forget about those fat and cushy 38c’s that you have on the Trek 520.
In summary heres what us old stiff guys need for a good long road ride:
In summary heres what us old stiff guys need for a good long road ride:
- A shock absorbing frame
- 30-32mm tires run on the lower side of pressures (50’s/60’s)
- A good bike fit
- Very well-padded gloves to minimize shocks through the hands
- A very well-padded comfortable fitting chamois
Likes For scottfsmith:
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,084
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 811 Post(s)
Liked 1,947 Times
in
937 Posts
I would only add that any bike be comfortable in multiple hand positions if it is intended for endurance rides.
#31
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,676
Bikes: 82 Medici, 2011 Richard Sachs, 2011 Milwaukee Road
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1924 Post(s)
Liked 1,954 Times
in
1,086 Posts
The body adapts. You have adapted to riding on the tops during your solo pandemic rides. Imagine telling your framebuilder, "I'm getting old and slow so build me my dream bike that lets me do that comfortably."
edit: I have never been able to touch my toes, sit cross legged, bend my wrist back further than 45 degrees or do any of the stretches that other "athletes" do.
edit: I have never been able to touch my toes, sit cross legged, bend my wrist back further than 45 degrees or do any of the stretches that other "athletes" do.
__________________
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
I don't do: disks, tubeless, e-shifting, or bead head nymphs.
Last edited by Classtime; 03-12-21 at 07:56 AM.
#32
Senior Member
Road bike? Endurance bike? These are pretty meaningless marketing terms designed to persuade people that they need a bike for each category. "Road bike" is a pretty generic term that these days refers to what would have in the past been called a "racing bike" (i.e. anything with 5 or more gears and drop handlebars), though in this thread it seems to be referring to something with road race geometry. "Endurance bike" seems to be a fairly recent marketing term that refers to what would previously have been called a "touring bike". However, "endurance" sounds a bit sexier than "touring", so that's what the marketers use. Have fun with that silliness. In the meantime I will continue to ride my very versatile vintage bikes that I have used for both racing and touring.
The builder of my rando, Mike Terraferma, also makes light 700c skinny-tire racers using hardened standard-diameter steel. So, "endurance bike" can also refer to a bike with a racing position, 'bars a few cm lower than a typical rando. But here the line between "racing" and "endurance" becomes very fuzzy.
The OP's experience with numerous centuries on a seemingly "rough-riding" Cannondale shows the blurry nature of the line at least if I look at it this way.
I don't know the ride of the OP's Trek 520. If it's an early one, it probably feels about like my now-venerable 1984 610. I can attest mine is not very cushy and compliant compared to my Terraferma, though it has 650b x 42s. Except perhaps for the Trek 720 (touring but with loooong 47 cm chainstays) Trek claimed a downtube made of the Touring tube, 28.6 mm OD and 1.0/0.7/1.0 butting profile versus 7/4/7 or 7/5/7 (the 753 tubeset). Thin gauge frame tubes are getting a lot more attention these days, perhaps this would be a good direction for the OP to go. Light and fast, but better shock absorption, especially if the bike has clearance for tires up in the 32 mm width class.
#33
Senior Member
Along with the frame material don’t forget about those fat and cushy 38c’s that you have on the Trek 520.
In summary heres what us old stiff guys need for a good long road ride:
In summary heres what us old stiff guys need for a good long road ride:
- A shock absorbing frame
- 30-32mm tires run on the lower side of pressures (50’s/60’s)
- A good bike fit
- Very well-padded gloves to minimize shocks through the hands
- A very well-padded comfortable fitting chamois
Likes For Road Fan:
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,110
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8194 Post(s)
Liked 8,864 Times
in
4,400 Posts
#35
Senior Member
#36
Senior Member
Just make your bike efficient and comfortable.
#37
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,110
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8194 Post(s)
Liked 8,864 Times
in
4,400 Posts
Like another antique, the high-fidelity store, bike shops have a language which is nearly incomprehensible in English. To me, "endurance bike" some how is used to "endure," which has to involve long distances and long hours. Jan Heine long ago wrote an article about the bikes use for the classic Paris-Brest-Paris randonneuring ride, and found they are all over the place. But by any common-sense definition, each one was an endurance bike.
Just make your bike efficient and comfortable.
Just make your bike efficient and comfortable.
Last edited by big john; 03-12-21 at 09:31 AM.
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,110
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8194 Post(s)
Liked 8,864 Times
in
4,400 Posts
Like another antique, the high-fidelity store, bike shops have a language which is nearly incomprehensible in English. To me, "endurance bike" some how is used to "endure," which has to involve long distances and long hours. Jan Heine long ago wrote an article about the bikes use for the classic Paris-Brest-Paris randonneuring ride, and found they are all over the place. But by any common-sense definition, each one was an endurance bike.
Just make your bike efficient and comfortable.
Just make your bike efficient and comfortable.
Likes For bruce19:
#40
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,820
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6100 Post(s)
Liked 4,734 Times
in
3,264 Posts
When I see the term Endurance used in marketing for their bikes, it's just because there is nothing other special about it. If it were an endurance bike made for touring, they'd have it in the Touring category. If it were an endurance bike made with racing in mind they'd have it in the Race bike category. When nothing else can be said about it, it's just left as Endurance.... which all the others are too.
Most everything we think of as a road bike is a endurance bike. The confusion began many years ago in the good old vintage days.
Most everything we think of as a road bike is a endurance bike. The confusion began many years ago in the good old vintage days.
#41
Senior Member
Yep, I agree! That's why I talked about efficiency and comfortable.
#42
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Oahu, HI
Posts: 1,396
Bikes: 89 Paramount OS 84 Fuji Touring Series III New! 2013 Focus Izalco Ergoride
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 285 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 74 Times
in
54 Posts
For me, when someone decided super-slammed bar was required for a "road" bike, I started looking for something with a bit more forgiving stack/reach numbers. But the trend seems to be for "endurance" to converge with "road". Back about 10 years ago Cervelo for instance had the RS but then decided that the R3 geometry would be their new "endurance". If you look at something today like BMC Roadmachine, it's marketed as endurance but I don't really see it, not at least compared to Roubaix which has always seemed to me to be the ideal endurance geometry. Now as far as the various rubber bits, that's not something I've had a hankering for. Likewise I can't see going beyond 25s myself. And same for discs, though I guess that distinction between road/endurance is going away pretty fast.
scott s
.
scott s
.
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,341
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2430 Post(s)
Liked 2,892 Times
in
1,647 Posts
I'm nearly 70, and I'll be riding a Felt S22 this weekend. Aluminum . . . and comfy. (Stock photo; mine has pedals.)
#44
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Posts: 981
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Supersix EVO 3, 2015 Trek 520, 2017 Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, 2022 Moots Vamoots Disc RSL
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 282 Post(s)
Liked 267 Times
in
140 Posts
My plan is to change from 25’s to 28’s with appropriate inflation (if anyone has that chart available). I may also look into a shorter stem, new gloves and see how this works. I’m currently very happy with my saddle.
#45
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Fl
Posts: 137
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, GF 29er, old Trek Madone
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Liked 47 Times
in
29 Posts
Road bike? Endurance bike? These are pretty meaningless marketing terms designed to persuade people that they need a bike for each category. "Road bike" is a pretty generic term that these days refers to what would have in the past been called a "racing bike" (i.e. anything with 5 or more gears and drop handlebars), though in this thread it seems to be referring to something with road race geometry. "Endurance bike" seems to be a fairly recent marketing term that refers to what would previously have been called a "touring bike". However, "endurance" sounds a bit sexier than "touring", so that's what the marketers use. Have fun with that silliness. In the meantime I will continue to ride my very versatile vintage bikes that I have used for both racing and touring.
An ‘endurance bike’ considers comfort and speed in more equal quantities.
A fast rider is fast on both. Slightly faster on one. A less fit rider (for whatever reason) is slow on both, but more comfortable on one.
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
Posts: 25,110
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8194 Post(s)
Liked 8,864 Times
in
4,400 Posts
I had a couple touring bikes. They were road bikes with long chainstays, both to add stability and to prevent the rider's heel from hitting the panniers. They also had cantilever brakes and eyelets for 3 bottle cages, and eyelets for front and rear racks. They also had slack head angles and bar-end shifters. My Cannondale touring bike was a nice ride when unloaded and also when I put racks and extra weight on it. I sold it last summer.
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,804
Bikes: Trek Domane SL6 Gen 3, Soma Fog Cutter, Focus Mares AL, Detroit Bikes Sparrow FG, Volae Team, Nimbus MUni
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 878 Post(s)
Liked 2,019 Times
in
1,055 Posts
Forget the age topic. Figure out what you like, what you value, and find a suitable bike. I like to spend a day in the saddle, and I like classic styling, so I built a steel framed bike with clearance for wide tires and mounts for fenders. I'll ride brevets with people on carbon road bikes with naked wheels and 23mm tires.
Endurance, gravel, cross, rando/brevet, and all road are marketing terms, but they are resulting in more bikes that offer a wider variety of features like wide tire clearance, mounts, brake types, gearing options, frame geometries, and frame materials. If you're in the market for a bike, i think there are more off the shelf options now than we've ever had.
Endurance, gravel, cross, rando/brevet, and all road are marketing terms, but they are resulting in more bikes that offer a wider variety of features like wide tire clearance, mounts, brake types, gearing options, frame geometries, and frame materials. If you're in the market for a bike, i think there are more off the shelf options now than we've ever had.
Likes For downtube42:
#48
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Berkeley CA
Posts: 2,535
Bikes: 1981 Ron Cooper, 1974 Cinelli Speciale Corsa, 2000 Gary Fisher Sugar 1, 1986 Miyata 710, 1982 Raleigh "International"
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 927 Post(s)
Liked 1,288 Times
in
485 Posts
As the dude says, "That's just like, your opinion, man." The term "road bike" for many decades has meant "not a mountain bike or track bike" and included touring bikes, criterium bikes, road racing bikes, sports bikes, etc) (i.e. everything that you rode on a road rather than dirt or a track). It's only very recently that some (and most definitely not all) people have started to use the term solely to describe all-out race bikes.
Last edited by davester; 03-14-21 at 09:03 PM.
#49
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Fl
Posts: 137
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, GF 29er, old Trek Madone
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 31 Post(s)
Liked 47 Times
in
29 Posts
As the dude says, "That's just like, your opinion, man." The term "road bike" for many decades has meant "not a mountain bike or track bike" and included touring bikes, criterium bikes, road racing bikes, sports bikes, etc) (i.e. everything that you rode on a road rather than dirt or a track). It's only very recently that some (and most definitely not all) people have started to use the term solely to describe all-out race bikes.
The Dude abides....
Likes For BCAC:
#50
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: South Carolina Upstate
Posts: 2,105
Bikes: 2010 Fuji Absolute 3.0 1994 Trek 850
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 761 Post(s)
Liked 555 Times
in
322 Posts
I had a couple touring bikes. They were road bikes with long chainstays, both to add stability and to prevent the rider's heel from hitting the panniers. They also had cantilever brakes and eyelets for 3 bottle cages, and eyelets for front and rear racks. They also had slack head angles and bar-end shifters. My Cannondale touring bike was a nice ride when unloaded and also when I put racks and extra weight on it. I sold it last summer.