![]() ![]() Designed and proven on the cobbles of France and Belgium, it's a design just as at home anywhere the surface is less than perfect. Matched by a seatpost that also provides a significant amount of deflection, the result is probably the smoothest ride of any road bike. However, alongside disc brakes, newer versions of the platform have also sprouted a radical FutureShock damper that isolates the handlebars from impacts coming via the fork and headtube. First released in 2004, today, the Roubaix still sports an ever-so-slightly relaxed geometry, wider tyres, plus a frame and fork featuring pronounced comfort boosting features. Whisper it so as not to scare away the aspiring racers, but there are also secret mounts for mudguards, which is useful because not only will they keep you comfy, but you won't be allowed on a winter chain gang without them.Īlso consider, Cannondale Synapse Ultegra Di2, £4,500 Specialized S-Works RoubaixĪ bike that's won the race it's named after seven times, Specialized's Roubaix played an outsized part in establishing the endurance category. It's an idea also at work in the diminutive and very flexible 25.4mm seatpost.īesides lovely looks, another upshot of this approach is minimal weight and fewer parts to worry about servicing. ![]() Notable particularly in the flattened chainstays, thin seatstays, and the seat tube's curiously split bottom bracket junction, Cannondale uses the profile and layup of the tubes to create the ride characteristics it's after without resorting to more drastic mechanical suspension solutions. Look closer, though, and you can see that those simple looking tubes are actually doing a lot of work. While other machines have either gone aero or deviated from the Platonic ideal of a racing bicycle in search of improved compliance, the slender and round tubed Synapse stay true to the bicycle's most romantic form, in my eyes at least. It doesn't hurt that it's a great looking bike too. But if I had to spend all day riding, I'd opt for the Synapse in a second. Generally very well put-together, the bike’s oversize downtube also features internal storage for spares and tools making the whole assembly even slicker.Īlso consider, Trek Domane SL6, £3,900 Cannondale Synapse Hi-Mod Force eTap ASX Arriving rolling on super wide 32c tyres, these further increase comfort, while the ability to run treads as large as 38c opens up the ability to take on a wide range of routes.įeaturing massively wide gearing, this means there's little chance of the Domane stalling even on the steepest slopes. The flex at the seat tube can even be adjusted by the rider to suit their weight or preference.Ī lightweight and elegant solution, it's a system that's since been applied across the brand's ranges, including to its out-and-out Madone racer. To achieve this, its neatly integrated IsoSpeed decouplers allow both the seat and steerer tube to flex independently of surrounding tubes or components. £11,100, Shop Trek Locked in an eternal war with its American compatriot and rival Specialized (at least in my mind), Trek's endurance platform also uses mechanical solutions to improve comfort at both the front and back of the bike. Alongside each top-teir version you’ll also find a more accessibly priced verison we think represents the keenest value or most exciting alternative spec in the range.ĭiscover Rouleur's Desire Selection: Our guide to the best kit across cycling Trek Domane SLR 9 eTap ![]() So, if you're after a bike that won't rough you up and yet is still capable of winning at the elite level, below you’ll find seven of our favourites. Also more versatile, endurance bikes are not only more fun on long-haul rides but can even be faster, as proved by the aforementioned bikes, both of which have won multiple Classics. Like Specialized's Roubaix or Trek's Domane, some even feature mechanical solutions to provide additional compliance over bumpy terrain. Tyres are a bit broader, frames more forgiving. Although the definition varies from brand to brand, for those of us whose pro debut has been postponed indefinitely, an endurance bike will provide a less taxing position along with a wide range of gears. This means that when it's time to choose a bike, like most riders, I'm probably best picking something from the endurance segment. ![]()
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