Advice on new bike

I went from a very good aluminium cube to a carbon giant. The difference in ride quality is immediately noticeable. I then went from stock aluminium wheels to carbon wheels and the difference is again noticeable.

Do i need it, probably not. Do i feel better on it and enjoy it more when im on the defy, of course i do. My advice is, get the best, shinest bike now that will do you for a few years. A looked after well made carbon bike like giant will last you 10 years. Thats what a bike fitter/nechanic told me.

If you get something now that you're in two minds about, you will have a niggle that you should have got bettter. There is nothing worse than a niggle. Buy better, buy expensive without reason of course.

Not disagreeing but I do question the general perception about 'better'. Cube don't have a particularly good aluminium bike in their range, they are a low-cost small-volume manufacturer. Their range is designed to appeal to beginning cyclists and those on a budget. It's somewhat of a fallacy to think that any carbon bike is automatically 'better' than any aluminium bike, although marketers absolutely want you to think exactly that or the whole ecosystem breaks down.

Wheels aside - a high quality aluminium bike, decked out with mid-to high-end components represents a better overall purchase than the equivalent spend on a low-grade carbon composite with middling components just to satisfy an industry-implanted perception.

If weight is the driver let's be honest for a moment, bike weight has f-all to do with it. Rider weight is the single largest contributing factor to performance. 1kg on the frame vs 10-20kgs on the pilot? 😀

Fair enough but i never said "any" carbon bike is better than an aluminium bike. I was comparing a cube to a giant defy advanced 2 2020. Giant make really good carbon frames with a lifetime warranty that they stand over. Their frames would not be considered low end. Even base models like mine are as good as some of the pro models frame wise. The difference being better wheels and some other minor parts that are upgraded on the pro models. The sl models have upgraded carbon frames.

I had a ride on a cube attain gtc sl with ultegra and i wasn't mad about it. My giant felt much better to ride. It had more of that wow factor despite being 105. Plus cube dont offer a lifetime warranty on their frames.

Id definitely consider a carbon tcr or defy in 105.