You Have The Wrong Bike, Here's Why

Do you own an endurance bike or is aero more your thing?

The right bike is whichever bike will make you want to ride it more and makes you happy. Doesn't matter if it's an aero, lightweight, endurance, gravel etc.

Experience has taught me when you are no longer a slave cycling marketing hype or aspire to perform like a pro despite age or suboptimal genetics, is the point you can truly enjoy road cycling.

100% agree. When I got my first Trek Domane in 2015, it was a total game changer for me. I no longer come back from rides feeling like I just got beat-up by my own bicycle.

I have a Rivendell A. Homer Hilsen. Goes anywhere and perfect for everything! I'm glad that people are figuring out that you don't need a race bike unless you are actually in a race. If you are out for exercise, those few ounces are not going to hurt anything. Reliability, versatility, and comfort are much more important than getting to your destination 2 minutes sooner.

Thank you so much. Two years ago I bought a red Giant Defy, Ultegra Di 2 with power meter. I am now 76 years old and since 2 yaers in love with my Giant doing up to 140 Km. Started cycling one year earlier with a Cube Nuroad Gravelbike. I use this bike only in winter. I am so happy that I followed your advice 2 years age thanks again.

7:30 I’m so glad you highlighted that. When your hobby is your passion, any sense of practicality and logic go out the window. Look at cars, we’d all be fine with a VW Golf tsi but tell me you wouldn’t rather drive a Porsche. You’ll put up with the harsh ride, no back seats and terrible storage all so that your commute can be every bit more exciting. Same story with bikes.

I first bought an endurance bike based on thinking I wanted to be more relaxed but several fitters recommended a more aggressive bike for my next bike. I’m 5’7” 185 lbs and 42. Moved from a Roubaix to a Soloist. It has added prob 2 mph to my cruising speed, better handling, better climbing. I ride 30 tires tubeless and it’s more comfy than the endurance bike road vibration wise. Part of it is if you’re willing to put the work in to be able to handle the more aggressive position. It takes practice. And if you like going as fast as you can. I do, I’m always trying to go faster in the same routes I do. For me, I’m super happy I moved to a race bike. Others may just wanna get out and get in some miles without obsessing over speed. Others don’t have bodies that can contort to aggressive positions. But if you’re like me and love the speed, I wouldn’t rule out a race bike or aero bike.

I have a Cube 2021 Nuroad C:62 SL. It's marketed as a gravel bike - but the frame looks a lot like other "tags". I absolutely love it. Some scoff at the single chainring being used on the road - I've never had a problem with it on my club rides. The 10-50T cassette has dropped a lot in price since I bought it and that "dinner plate" let's me tackle pretty much any climb I am faced with. On the high end it's usually me that chickens out before the capability of the gearset. The eTap AXS kit is just brilliant. I have the Schwalbe G-One R tyres - 40mm wide on this. I love them. We have some pretty terrible lanes around here in the Cotswolds and that tyre is defo needed a lot of times - plus it has surprisingly good rolling resistance. Only downside is price. Two recent club rides showed that big-time when we came across some very un-roadie friendly terrain. I love this bike - feel I can do anything I need to on the road - but can use it on tracks and gravel without any qualms.

I just purchased and endurance bike for all the reasons you mentioned. This is one of the best pieces of information I've seen in a while. Thanks!

Well said Sir. I'm a one bike does all rider, a Giant Defy, with mudguards for the non raining but still wet roads riding (and of course dry roads)

After 14 years riding Roubaix endurance road bikes, I switched to an Emonda and love it! It’s so much fun! Quick accelerations and responsive steering is a blast. Trek’s “1.5 geometry” is reasonably relaxed and fitted with a few spacers is comfy, even for me at age 68. The 51 mm deep wheels with 31 mm external width pair perfectly with Pirelli P Zero 30 mm tires set up tubeless. I’m geared down when needed with a 10-36 cassette. The old slammed stem paradigm isn’t the only road bike option.

Good advice. When I was racing years ago and rode a Pinarello with the same goemetry as the Deutsche Telekom team bikes at the time. It was so uncomfortable that I finally stopped riding it and then moved over to MTB. Too many people buy into the marketing hype generated by the TDF riders and the bikes they ride, but as you say, they don't think through enough about what they really need. Endurance bikes are great, I rode a Cannondale Synapse across the Italian and Swiss Alps in 2020 and agree that the more comfortable you are, the faster you will ultimately be in the end.

Incredible! Great post/video, w proven facts and thorough explanation. And I’ll share (briefly) my own experience. I “accidentally” bought an endurance bike- (not knowing) “exactly” what I was specifically buying. But having read the specs, and test ride the bike- and….Aaaaand logically “buying into” the style it self-I went: well, I want longer comfortable rides, Endurance bike is what I want. Right of the bat- the bike/frame-felt incredible. It was like-as if I was flying, on a flat road, not a descend. I wanted to test a true race bike-for comparison, honestly-not even close. The best choice I’ve made. And this post proves it!

Great point, well made. I ride a Canyon Endurace CFR and absolutely adore the bike. Super lightweight and easy on the eye. It makes me smile whenever I look at it, and I can never wait to get back on it for another ride.

I own a gravel bike - and put different wheelsets on it. Endurance geo - a bit of aero here and there - but it's perfect!

At 75 with arthritis I have a Cerevelo Caledonia with a slightly small frame, an extended head tube to limit neck estension and a prostate protecting saddle. Its very comfortable and I can easily get into the drops, although I try to avoid that these days!

I have two race bikes - an aero bike and a hill climber and had them fitted so they are comfortable. I’m 60 but my back is still fine and I LOVE to go fast. I tried the Defy and honestly it felt slow to me. At the end of the day ride what you love!

Had a Cannondale SuperSix for several years and ended up with a cracked frame. Got it warrantied and found myself with a carbon Synapse frame as replacement. Found out that was probably the better choice and I didn’t know it until I could compare. Endurance frame with race bike parts is awesome.

GREAT video - full of refreshing honesty! Nice. Am hesitating between the new Defy and the new TCR myself (knowing full well I should get the Defy...)