Cannondale Synapses is what the Bentons ride!
Is more recommendation superfluous?
ROAD BIKE FOR £750 - £1K
Moderator: Moderators
Hi Allan,
Keith and Ann Benton are local legendary Audax riders, who've both ridden the Paris-Brest-Paris several times. They now each have identical monogrammed Synapses, the height of elegance and style. I cannot imagine they would have made their choice without a lot of thought.
Keith took his up the Clifton hill climb this year, a whole lot faster than me too!
The Bentons also organise several long-standing Audax rides out of Wigginton, the Wiggys at 100, 200 and 300km. Around April/May, look at the AUK site to sign up. I will in a minute.
Good luck with your search for the perfect partner!
Keith and Ann Benton are local legendary Audax riders, who've both ridden the Paris-Brest-Paris several times. They now each have identical monogrammed Synapses, the height of elegance and style. I cannot imagine they would have made their choice without a lot of thought.
Keith took his up the Clifton hill climb this year, a whole lot faster than me too!
The Bentons also organise several long-standing Audax rides out of Wigginton, the Wiggys at 100, 200 and 300km. Around April/May, look at the AUK site to sign up. I will in a minute.
Good luck with your search for the perfect partner!
"For Sportives a compact is a pretty good solution unless you're really capable of turning a 39/53 all day up hill and down dale - which implies you're a pretty decent rider- in which case I doubt you'd be soliciting opinions on here in the first place!!
IMO since compacts came along the reasons for getting a triple have all but gone."
Compacts - where you pay more for less metal!
Nought wrong with triples - at least you know you'll get up any climb and the jumps between the rings is a bit less of a leg breaker. I expect to graduate to one soon - 48 x 39 does me for the time being though for training.
IMO since compacts came along the reasons for getting a triple have all but gone."
Compacts - where you pay more for less metal!
Nought wrong with triples - at least you know you'll get up any climb and the jumps between the rings is a bit less of a leg breaker. I expect to graduate to one soon - 48 x 39 does me for the time being though for training.
Another vote for triples.
Or a real compact compact - i am using 34 / 44 on my stock winter bike.
Also another reason to use a local shop - if you have a think about the gears you want, have more chance of getting a friendly owner to customize the setup.
And sorry to throw a spanner in the works but i think with such good deals around there is a good argument for not buying your expensive road bike but instead getting something in the 350-400 pound range. Use it as a winter / training bike. And experience may offer some insights into speccing "big purchase" later?
Or a real compact compact - i am using 34 / 44 on my stock winter bike.
Also another reason to use a local shop - if you have a think about the gears you want, have more chance of getting a friendly owner to customize the setup.
And sorry to throw a spanner in the works but i think with such good deals around there is a good argument for not buying your expensive road bike but instead getting something in the 350-400 pound range. Use it as a winter / training bike. And experience may offer some insights into speccing "big purchase" later?
As with all bike spec questions, there is no right answer for everyone. We all make our own judgement to suit ourselves.
One issue to think about is the range of gears you might want and how big the gear jumps at the back will be and whether that suits. A close block with 1 tooth jumps gives a smoother ride, without irksome, big changes in gear. Then no matter the terrain or the pace of who you're riding with, you are able to choose a gear to suit.
This may not be such an issue for stronger riders or easy terrain, but may want on the agenda for mere mortals, alpine climbs, Lake District passes or for when you're flagging!
Claire
One issue to think about is the range of gears you might want and how big the gear jumps at the back will be and whether that suits. A close block with 1 tooth jumps gives a smoother ride, without irksome, big changes in gear. Then no matter the terrain or the pace of who you're riding with, you are able to choose a gear to suit.
This may not be such an issue for stronger riders or easy terrain, but may want on the agenda for mere mortals, alpine climbs, Lake District passes or for when you're flagging!
Claire
"I find a 34 annoyingly small round York with the gap to the big ring being large. The spendy option is to buy a compact plus another inner ring in say a 38 and use that most of the time.
Or get fit and use 39/53
Which isn't working for me at the moment"
or a cheaper way is to get a 39 x 53 chainset, swap the 53 for a smaller Stronglight ring (about £14 off ribble for campag) and sell the spare ring on e bay (very expensive to buy new).
Alternatively save it til you get fit!
Or get fit and use 39/53
Which isn't working for me at the moment"or a cheaper way is to get a 39 x 53 chainset, swap the 53 for a smaller Stronglight ring (about £14 off ribble for campag) and sell the spare ring on e bay (very expensive to buy new).
Alternatively save it til you get fit!
AgreedI find a 34 annoyingly small round York
The idea behind 34 44 is that you live on the 44 - i use it in combination with a 13/23 or 14/25 on the back
And only drop down to the 34 when somewhere hilly
People may scoff at such a "low" top gear
But suits me sir
And I got the idea off a certain Mr Scull of this parish