New (Climbing) Bike Advice

1 thing I would say though is that it is generally easier to upgrade wheels later then upgrading to Di2, pending on the frame of course so consider that when choosing a bike.

When I last bought a good bike (right at the beginning of lockdown when you could negotiate a discount), I found the Giant TCR to be better value than the Canyon Ultimate. It came with carbon wheels, power meter and Di2 at the time for not much more than an Ultimate with more entry level wheels and no power meter

I was looking at bikes yesterday, even though i have no business looking at bikes, and there wasn't a single new bike in the place with rim brakes.

I was looking at a trek emonda actually. I think it was way overpriced based on the alu wheels and 105 groupset compared to what i paid for my tcr in late 2020 with ultegra (manual) and decent carbon wheels.

Maybe if i actually had the funds i wouldn't think that.

Mighty value in the second hand market at the moment. Nothing seems to be moving at all, prices are dropping and sellers are keen.

I've noticed that too. Pity, cos I much prefer rim brakes. Top end groupset brakes with top end brake pads are all you need on the road IMHO. I have them on my CX bike, which is grand cos aesthetics hardly matter there, but discs are ugly as f**k too. Again, just IMO.

As for electronic shifting... meh. It's heavier, more susceptible to 'issues' (when's the last time your cable snapped?) and do we really need electronic assistance for the sake of a flick of the finger? With Campy's ergo shifting system I can get through multiple shifts faster than with electronic anyway.

In terms of a climbing bike, I'm waiting patiently for a second hand rim brake, mechanical shifting Pinarello Dogma F12 to appear somewhere. If the price was right, sure, I'd take Di2. Absolutely savage performance out of that bike, particularly on the descents. Can't find a rim brake version for sale anywhere. Everything seems to be gone disc in the last couple of years.

This is the kind of thing I think of when I hear climbing bike. Also come folks see climbing bikes as just easy gearing as opposed to shaving every single gram. The frame below is very light though and the wheelset is very good also. It would certainly be lighter than the entry level ultimate and possibly some of the higher level ones.

https://www.adverts.ie/other-sports-fitness/canyon-ultimate-cf-slx-8-0/29395547

Cheaper model again but in a mini size https://www.adverts.ie/other-sports-fitness/canyon-ultimate-cf-slx/29251589

Plenty of bikes out there that claim to be climbing bike but are heavier than some manufacturers aero bikes.

or you could buy this and ignore the cracked head tube, damaged top tube and shifter. A few scratch marks 🙈😂 https://www.adverts.ie/road-bikes/canyon-aeroad-cf-sl8/29441951

Braking performance I presume.

Campy Chorus and Swisstop has never let me down on the road. Ever. Not even close. I get why some people like discs, especially for a winter/ commuter/ all-year-round bike. And I'm sure if you're used to disc then transitioning to rim might feel very odd. But for a climbing bike, it would be rim brakes all day long for me. Just my personal preference - and that I think is what it comes down to. I've yet to be convinced that discs would make my road cycling any better/ more enjoyable/ safer.

Edit: also, it probably depends on what someone really means by 'climbing' bike.

Just leave that Sram Rival anchor in Italy after you!

I didn't, but really felt like warning the buyer, maybe its too late anyway

Yep, I didn't want to get involved with it. He's clearly thrown it down the rod and into something hard. It may well be nothing but it certainly isn't a scratch, you can see the compression around it.

Trek and pretty much all bikes are over priced but Trek are pretty heavy framesets in comparison to a lot of other manufacturers. They do make some nice frames though and the weight may have been shed on the newer frames. The TCR is a sold all rounder and great for a bit of racing aswell or at least the older frames were.

In North Dublin??! 😂