I own one as I wanna be faster than others. I think that aero bikes can climb but not those steep mountains. Gentle or average gradient is okay with them, somethime they can even climb faster than some of the lightweight bikes on gentle slope. I'd say aero bike can climb but not suitable.Heavy gear ratio and aggressive geometry will slow you down in climbs(the situation happen on me) (Why dont you use an Aeroad which is proved to climb well)
I think the single most important reason for pros not going all aero is that you get dropped on the climbs, but you don't get dropped on the flat (except in crosswinds). If it would be TT instead of riding in a peloton, things would look much different.
Sounds familiar indeed, the good thing with is that they got me on the bike. (And then GTN got me to sign up for an 70.3 Ironman), the bad thing about both channels is that I'm gonna need 3 more jobs to pay for all the tech Bling I want.... Net result: Both fitter but also poorer than ever!
There is one point that needs to be considered. While you can still get a good lightweight bike for 1500€ (Shimano 105 - Carbon frame - 7.7 kgs), the aero bike market is much more different. Just to get close to that weight, you need to spend at least double on a bike (Just look, for example, the specs of the cheapest Specialized Venge or even the Canyon Aeroad). This means that if you are starting on cycling or don't have 3500€ to spend on a bike, if you go for a cheap aero option (let's say, for example, a Merida Reacto with Shimano 105) you'll have a bike near 9 kgs. That's a really heavy bike that will make climbing very hard and won't give you a great overall experience if you compare it with the lightweight one. For me, aero frames are good when they can compete in weight with a lightweight bike. Just see the price tag on this Cannondale to see how much you have to spend just to get to 7.8 kgs. This means that, even being more aero efficient, you need to go to the top of the range bikes to obtain a relatively good bike that can compete with a lightweight one. That means that, for all us mere mortals, willing to spend 3000€ or so on a bike, means that, if those 3000€ are spent on a lightweight one, you can even get close to 6.5 kgs and get carbon wheels and a great groupset as Ultegra Di2 (just look at the Canyon Ultimate of that range of price), but if you want a competitive aero bike, you have to double -at least- that amount. Doesn't seem reasonable. You'll only obtain the advantages of an aero bike if going for the top spec bike, a bike that 90% of people can't or even wouldn't want to afford. If you opt for a cheap aero bike, you'll get a heavy bike that won't have all the aero advantages of a top of the range one, and also will make your experience in the mountains very unpleasant. Conclussion: Aero bikes, in terms of value, are not comparable with lightweight bikes right now. Maybe in profesional racing we'll see riders in aero frames even more, but for non-pro's, lightweights will still be the rule until aero bikes can compete with them in lower range models.
I just stared biking 2 months ago and I put out tons of power (I came from playing American Football) on a cheap starter bike. My bike weighs 30 pounds!!! So to see that an aero bike is 20 sounds lovely to me. Should I ride my first few races in my 30 pound bike (or I wouldn’t be able to keep up?) or go get a lightweight or aero bike?
I completely agree with the comment, but I wonder if in the flat terrain the aero might win out anyway even if it's heavier? Also I guess you could start with a cheaper model and build up the wheels and groupset - I'm trying to justify the aero - but really it's 90% the rider so 10% improvement in the bike is just 1% overall, so rather than getting the bike aero I'll work on getting myself more aero ;)
Why are you saying a Reacto or Allez Sprint will be slower than a 1500 lightweight bike. It will be less pleasant sure. But feel isn't numerical. Thats why the Scultura was used over the Reacto for so long even when the Reacto is much faster in most situations. Even though the Sprint and Reacto will weigh 8.5 and the lightweight ones 7.7 i do think the former will be faster in most situations.
My next bike will be an Aerobike. But for non of the reasons Si talked about.. I just love the look of an Aerobike. The Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc in particular stole my heart.
The question here should be can Cannondale's BB30 bottom bracket get to the top of a climb without it creaking and making you want to throw it back down the hill.
Had that exact thought! I actually like the look of this bike, but I've had so many problems with my current Cannondale (BB creaks last year and the year before, this year it's been the headset 😩) that I'm not sure about getting another one when I finally upgrade.
I ride a supersix evo hi mod disc and i know i lose watts to people around me on aero bikes, but as an amature i just stretch and do core work to make myself more aero and that saves way more than an aero bike. Im sure id be even faster on an aero bike, but i just love my supersix so much and i wouldnt trade it in for anything!
I know exactly what you mean about the SuperSixEvo. I've ridden all the top road bikes including the 3T Strada which is supposed to be an Aero bike, but my times on the Cannondale SSE are quicker...
Recently bought the Giant Propel Advanced disc. Great bike, tubeless which means I don't worry too much about the road surface. Faster than my road bike and looks awesome!
My background is in triathlon, and I was recently in the market for a new road bike. I tried many different brands, aero road bikes, and traditional road bikes. I eventually decided on the new Giant Propel Disc because it felt just as fast as my TT bike (2012 Cervelo P3), felt like a confidence inspiring race bike, gave me a bike to possibly do extremely hilly triathlons, and had disc brakes which is where I think cycling is going to be in a few years when I upgrade my TT bike. I haven’t regretted my purchase yet and feel like I kill group rides when it comes to the flats and downhills. Uphills are a bit of a challenge, but I’m a larger rider and are a challenge for me no matter what.
i ride a Cervelo S3. the biggest difference i note is riding on the flat especially in head winds. the slight profile really cuts through and i notice going faster for much less effort than mates. i don't go fast uphill but everywhere else its the right bike for me.
I've just built a 7.4kg Planet X EC-130E (Size L) and its the puppies nuptuals. Light, stiff but comfy and most importantly... fast. absolutely love it
Interesting, I just switched October 2017 to a new canyon aeroad disc. This is coming from a specialized Venge pro and sworks Roubaix SL3. Both specialized are brilliant at what they do not not 'great' outside of their specialist area. The canyon is amazing, easily covers both types of riding, it's quick up hill and on the flat (to the limit of my engines). It is genuinely like analogue to digital! 'modern' aero bikes are amazing.
Moved up in the bike world with the purchase of my specialized venge last year. Thought I made a mistake because I live in a pretty hilly area with some steep climbs, but I was pleased to find out that it climbs like a champ. Highly suggest going with an aero bike
I'm 105 kg with a 320 watt FTP at present. I ride a previous shape 2015 Scott Foil. I test rode the Foil and Addict back to back and, for me, the difference in stiffness and power transfer as well as effort getting back to the shop into a stiff head wind were a revelation. 15,000 kms later and I still love the Foil.
I purchased a Felt AR 2018 a month ago and absolutely love it, its a beast of a machine and the acceleration and speeds you can obtain are quite frankly ludicrous. I love it!
Yes! I got a 2015 Scott Foil myself, and I love it. Maybe not so aero or comfortable as recent ones, but this bike can do anything ! I'm riding it on crits, hilly races and a few triathlons and it's just the perfect bike to me.
Hi Si! Great topic and an internal debate I’ve waged both before and after the purchase of my Cervélo S3. I still prefer my R2 for hilly courses because it feels quicker up steeps and paired with the new Zipp 404s it flys. The S3 however is a flying machine on flat and rolling terrain. I may be simply set on the feel and opposing ideas these 2 bikes pose, but so far, the Aero has my heart, but the non Aero my head.
I’ve got a Giant Propel Advanced 1. Love it! Versus the 17 year old Ribble which has an Aluminium frame with Carbon rear stays and fork it’s a revelation! I notice the difference everywhere - it’s like night and day! I wouldn’t go back now.
Lightweight is the key! i got myself a lightweight Cannondale roadbike. On a flat street i make up 40-50km/h and downhill i'll go 60+. And i payd less than 500 bucks. :) The bike is from like 1999. it feels amazing.
I love the bike. I am a huge Cannondale fan. Good on them to finally release an aero bike. I would like to see the discussion about each part of this bike and how easy it is to adjust, replace and maintain it. This is such a specialist bike that I think it will be hard to do small but important adjustments for fit. Not to count the 1000 types of truth-axle when swapping wheels. How easy it is bleed the brakes and maintain the hosing connections? How easy it is to take it travelling in a bike box? How easy is it to just to the right handle bar size/shape and stem length combination? How much dirt does it gather between the rear tyre and the frame? How easy it is to get replacement seat post if needed? What about crank power meters? And I could go on forever here. The truth is that most of us amateur cyclist would be buying ourselves more trouble than benefit by purchasing such a specialist bike.
I just bought a new Venge. The way the aero feels above about 20 kph is really special, even for a novice like me. It’s like a “sail” has picked up the bike and started pushing!
Elmer Galinato defiantly recommend it as a next bike. The Advanced has the new Ultegra R8000 and is a great compromise between a race bike that can sprint along with great climbing. I changed the wheels on mine as don't want tubeless 👍
I’m looking at getting my first carbon bike and can’t decide between the propel and the tcr I’m not racing just amateur riding. what would the recommend?
Great video Simon! I recently bought an aero bike (Focus Izalco Max 8.8) and am super happy with it and totally think it's worth the additional weight thanks to the aero benefits. Also the fact that new aero bikes have disc brakes helps alot.
I test rode a Canyon Aeroad and an Endurace recently. The Aeroad was fast, light and climbs great - but it feels too harsh for our rubbish UK roads. Just ordered the Endurace as it was so comfortable and not much slower. But even the Endurace has aero bars and wheels. So aero is the future - no doubt.
Si, Thanks for the subject analysis, which I thought was very useful & interesting, as all GCN videos are. I hear a lot of views from my cyclist mates on various bike related topics, but not on this specific subject. Having said that, the general consensus is that lighter bikes will be better at everything, but especially climbing and Cannondale's SuperSix EVO is a common favourite within my group. Your conclusions make a lot of sense and bringing flat-ish terrain and gradients (6 & 7%) into the argument really does help to balance things out. This week I will be replacing (potentially) my Pinarello Dogma F8 with Cannondale's SystemSix Sram AXS model. I'm not a pro rider or a cycling expert, but I will be able to offer a comparison from the MAMIL's demographic once I have had time to evaluate the new 'Pirate ship' on the numerous climbs that my local Mendip playground offers. Update June 21 2019 Ok, the SystemSix arrived, I slammed the bars down 3 spacers, added some personalisation and the beast has been unleashed - fantastic! Climbing Burrington Combe suggests no drop in ability or performance compared to my Dogma or my Giant Defy Adv1. The new bike is 1 kg heavier that the F8, but its stiffness & precision seemed to channel my kinetic into the drivetrain more effectively, offsetting the weight disadvantage. My relatively brief experience here suggests Si that your report is well grounded. All I need to do now is take it up Col du Glandon. Stats: Age 54, Height, 5ft 10, Weight 12 stone.
It does seem climbing performance is talked about so much but if you do a circuit, anything you climb you will in one way or another descend - you've brought this up! Finally somebody looking at the whole picture.
Yes I have a new aero bike, Trek Madone, 9.2. Looks like Cannondale did get some help from the Madone, but added some interested custom ideas too with the SystemSix. I have a Emonda SL5 as well and the speed that I manage to get for free on the Madone is obvious compared to the Emonda. When I ride with the team I have to brake as I roll up to them more often and roll downhill much faster. It is a real advantage. A real thing for sure.
Best choice I made so far: Wilier centro10ndr with aero disc wheels and di2, it is so comfortable on long rides, and the hydraulic disc brakes gave you so much confidence
Incredible looking bike from Cannondale ! It's way faster than I am. Great from Si as always and I'm sure Cannondale will be very happy GCN put together a really good video to showcase some of the talents lurking away in the SystemSix ! Need to write to Santa early this year..... !
The original argument was that there was a huge weight offset between aero and climbing bikes but that offset has effectively been nullified by new techniques in creating aero tubing. An aero road bike could be spot on 6.8 kilos now if you chose your components right (dash saddle, sram red 22 mechanical, rim-brake frame and crank based power meter). Unless UCI changes the weight limit, lightweight bikes are a thing of the past.
Aero bikes all the way. I love my Giant Propel Disc. Get in the drops and it goes to 25mph without any effort. Definetly not going back, unless I move in the Pyrennes or something
I recently bought a Fuji Transonic 1.3 Road with a bladed downtube, fork, and seat tube that hugs the rear tire. It irides fairly well but I have to take it out to Colorado to test it in the mountains since no real mountains exist where I live in the upper Midwestern United States . It descends fine and seems easier in the climb compared to my metal frame bike. It works for me. It's around 17-18 pounds.
My lightest bike is an aero bike, it’s light, great ride quality, responds immediately to power inputs. It has rim brakes that have never been a compromise.
I have a cheap aero bike: PlanetX EC130. It might be a bit on the heavy side (ca 8,2 kg) but man oh man how nice it is to just lay down and swoosh past all the superclimbers on the way down. Because, what comes up must come down :)
I’d love this bike for short punchy efforts, can’t imagine any aero bike is very comfy over 100miles, although this may change a few things with them tyre clearances
I jumped from an endurance to aero bike. Granted it was an entry-level endurance bike (Cannondale Synapse, 105 groupset) to aero (Giant Propel, Ultegra groupset). LIke upgrading from a 95 VW Jetta to a 2020 BMW really. The responsiveness and smoothness of the newer technology are hard to put into words. It was totally worthwhile for me. Let's face it, whatever keeps us riding is a good thing.
Don’t have a aero bike because I am twelve and growing so my parents don’t want me to get one but I do have an awesome bike that I am super grateful for and a awesome coach😀
I ride a Diamondback Podium Disc, which I purchased for the multitude of positive qualities it has outside of aerodynamics. I couldn't believe however just how much faster it was than my former incredibly non-aero bike. I'd ridden just about everything on the market before and knew that aero bikes were decidedly faster, but even this model, not exclusively marketed as aero, impressed me. I think there is a fine balance, and it's very hard to hit all the marks that make a great race bike. That's why TT bikes will always look different than aero race bikes. But I would truly consider myself a convert.
Back in 2012 I decided aero was the way to go. Tested the Cervélo, the early venge, the Scott Foil, and then (Early 2013) Giant announced the Propel. I bought one of the first to arrive in Western Australia, and I haven’t regretted it for an instant. Still the best bike around, still makes me look better than I am. It elevated me form C grade masters to B grade masters. Aero all the way
I ride a 2015 Cervélo S5 Team MTN-QHUBEKA replica. Definitely an Aero bike. It was a 2015 TDF KOM winner in Daniel Teklehaimanot's hands. But I am just an ordinary aging mortal. But this bike can climb very well indeed. When I'm at my best it's still better. On anything beyond 5% downhill it's faster then I want to go, capable of more. When I ride it I can't wipe the smile off my face ;-)
I do ride an aero road bike. Just purchased a new left over Fuji Transonic 2.1 2017 Di2 Ultegra. I ride constant hills 4 to 10% grade climbs 70% of ride. It is the best bike I ever rode. I had cannondale, treks, and I am a racer and I wss not satisfied. so back to thinking what race bike to buy, and I chose aero road and will never change. Everyday is wind, so a definite benefit. Very comfortable positioning, that aero position, Im in LoOvE❤ and winning👍Fuji
Kalokaghatia Antony It takss some getting used to, especially going downhill with crosswind does jerk the handlebars at times, as well as fast passsing vehicles, keeping good grip on bars is a must to combat the crosswind. Overall, Aero Road bike is he best ride for me ever.
I was in the market 2 weeks ago. I was deciding between an aero bike and a bike that won tour de france, it was an easy choice - I went with the Tarmac and never looked back ✌🏻
I just bought the Giant Propel Advance. I’m middle aged so you’d expect my performance, measured by Strada, to slowly wane as measured over the 8 years. However, since riding the Propel over the past 3 months I have breaking my personal segment records on nearly every ride. I ride a lot by myself so the aero features of the Propel are always working for me. The laws of physics are real and aero is real!,
I started with an aero bike - giant propel advanced. Bought it used slightly over a year ago and it's my first road bike. Back then didn't know anything about road bike. Bought it as the price was good and good condition and looks good haha. But after cycling many rides, I changed to an all rounder canyon ultimate. Stuck with me for only about 4 mths and I've now changed back to aero bike - Scott Foil. I find aero bike is faster overall for the routes I do and the canyon couldn't get me that top speed I was able to hit with the giant. So yeah, aero bike all the way
I ride an aero road bike (Canyon Aeroad). I think that if you can get a comfortable fit on an aero bike (they tend to have fairly aggressive geometry), it's the way to go.
Global Cycling Network - I live in California in the San Francisco Bay area. I've got short punchy 17% climbs and I've got 20 mile 5%. Since getting the bike, I've beaten every one of my climb PRs. Some of that is clearly due to increased fitness, but it's clear that the bike climbs well. 7.2kg in medium (before the bottles, lights, etc). There isn't a weight penalty over the comparably priced Canyon Ultimate disc. If I want a lighter bike in the canyon range, I'd need to go with the ultimate Evo rim brake version (or change out a bunch of stock components for much lighter ones). There does appear to be a gradient at which I slow down compared to the rest of Strava (6%). I would bet, though, that it has more to do with my 84kg mass than a bike weight penalty.
Bought a cannondale system six dura ace disc road and it is a very very fast road bike and I am satisfied with my purchase and if I wasn't, I already have a cannondale super six evo high mod sram red, so either way I am a very fast happy bunny uphill or down.
I have an 2015 giant propel sl, my build being 7.0 kg. I came to this realization too, I’ll sacrifice a few seconds on steep hills, while being faster on the shallow ones (pretty much all of hills where I live). It saved me from my desire to buy a bike I could get to 6kg. I can take all that money and buy some giro prolight techlaces soon, and save that weight in the less sexy shoe helmet and gear department. I’ll be confident that very few people will be beating me in equipment weight anyway. At 136 lbs very few people beat me in body weight to begin with.
I currently have the supersix evo di2. Great bike ive been considering aero for a while now was mostly looking to canyon, i am a huge cannondale fan, just they would never honor their warranty with me wen i spent big money on their bikes on 2 occasions i have bought top of the line or second to top and they declined warranties for both. Needless to say i love their bikes. The supersix evo is just the best on the market in my opinion from test riding multiple brands over the years i just always went to the supersix every time. Ive owned about 6 different cannondale supersix bikes i loved them all. The weight of theor bikes i could always get to about 14-15 lbs just by throwing a carbon post and carbon crank on their bikes. Only failed me once the hangar broke off my current one and took the frame with it. Fortunately i was able to put on a new hangar we will see how it holds up. I didnt go aero because usually the aero bikes geometry was more for tt and not really for all day comfort like i can get on the supersix its more designed for race but once you get it dialed in you can ride longer. I was considering the systemsix but at 11k usd its a but pricey. Their low end model at 4k doesnt give the same aero savings, i would op for their 6k model however im unsure if its di2 compatible which is what im running on my supersix. But their color selection is awful just straight up ugly looking bikes in my opinion. They may be functional but if ure telling me their highest end model weighs in at 17lbs i might as well get an aluminum bicycle. That means that their other lower end bikes come in around 20lbs or so. Thats a lot of weight cimpared to my 14.7 lb cannondale supersix evo from 2014. Yes they have the added benefit of disc brakes and tire clearance that may make me go for it one day. My current supersix frame broke so im in the market for a new bike. Ive been wondering when ceramic speed will release their new bike with drive system and what that specs in at weight wise. I have a lot of steep hills where i live i unfortunately find myself not being able to go into a low enough gear on a couple of my climbs. Adding weight to that will not help.
Hi I have a Giant Propel Advanced 2 disc 2020.Really i am impressed with the way to put down the power (5.1 watt per kilo) on ascent. Still over 6,% gradient. Very strong especially out of sadle....you feel the stiffness...
Reasons holding me back fro buying aero. 1) Comfort for long rides 100km+ 2) lot of Aero bars make it impossible to attach lights 3) One piece stem and bars limiting bike fit options
1) Don't slam the stem? They come pretty comfy stock. 2) Get lights with stretchy rubber attachment. 3) Only the highest end models have the integrated bar/stem.
I've been doing 90 - 100 mile rides on my Giant Propel Advanced Disc. Tyre pressure now 80psi, softens the ride. Yes, it isn't the cheapest bike at £3k, and I agree about fitting front lights!
SuperSix Evo was the best compromise ever, that's what Cannondale was telling us and I dig it. SystemSix sounds to me like a marketing friendly step toward.
I have a 2015 S-works Venge and love it. It replaced a slightly lighter Giant TCR but is overall much faster and more rewarding to ride. I've ridden in Majorca for 20+ years and since taking the Venge I've PB'd many Strava segments by a massive amount - would never go back to a "non" aero frame!
I ride a 2008 Giant Trinity with Zipp 404 wheels. As far as aero bikes go it's not particularly crazy and not much heavier than my friends road bikes. I'm slower than them on the climbs, but I'm sure that has a lot more to do with me than the bike. But I love a flat run in the aero position. I can leave them for dead and get a really great work out. For some reason when we go riding they always pick the hilly routes.
I have a Giant Propel, because at the time, I couldn't afford a TT Bike at the time and feel its a perfect hybrid of aero and weight for my "age group" races
I have a CAAD12. I still love that bike and will use that more for climbs, as it’s practically my only bike. Only reason I don’t have the SystemSix is it costs $4,000 at least!!!
I've had mine for a few years now and love it, I've got about 8000 miles on it. The only issue I had was with the stupid tires they come with from the factory. They should come with TUBELESS TIRE'S, I had a flat and couldn't change the tube on the side of the road to save my life! Bought Continental tubeless tires and have never been happier, I do run "finish line" sealant which seems like it makes the wheel unbalanced while it's hanging (spinning) from my bike stand. Also, i did switch to an 11-34 cassette only due to the extreme hills in my area of Pa.
I own both the 2019 Systemsix and the 2020 Supersix. Cannondale nailed it when they said that the Systemsix is faster on any grade below 6 percent. If I'm challenging a Strava segment that's steep, the Supersix is the choice. But on segments with even a fairly steep climb for a portion but also a lengthy level or gently rolling sprint, I'll still ride the Systemsix because it will make up for any speed loss on the climb during the flatter sections. For example, a segment 3.2 miles long which begins with a half mile climb of 5 to 8.5 percent followed by rollers and flats, the Systemsix was significantly faster.
I have a ultra light climbing bike. Since you guys are sooo busy, you can send me this aero bike for long term testing. I will send it back next year, I swear.
I have both the BMC tmr and slr 01, custom built with wheels having Chris king hubs. Sure the TMR is a kilo heavier, however the benefit is when I go for a ride knowing that there is going to be a strong head wind. This is when the tmr is best. One thing for sure is if I were to go on a mountain ride, the tmr wouldn’t be the automatic selection. The SLR being lighter is best for mountain riding. 😊
certainly you can get some nice cool designs on an aero bike... bigger tubes equals more space to play with customer paint jobs which equals more fun and colour to the peloton. I think that its gonna take a while for things to sway the way of an aero bike and I would be interested to see if we go back to the old days of riders doing the majority of there rides on an aero bike but then pulling out there super light climbing bike when its a day in the mountains where the climbs are really steep and there are lots of them! Kind of feel like this like the 90's again with the explosion of different tube shapes that you had with aluminium! Great video guys!
Still riding my CAAD8, which was the first "real" road bike I've ever had. The thing that's prevented me from upgrading to an aero bike is the same thing that prevents me from upgrading to any new bike right now: $$$ I could theoretically afford a decent one, but I'd have to factor in the costs of my wife filing for divorce! 😁 Though seriously, whenever I do upgrade I'd like to go aero. I love the look of deep tubes and wheels, just look fast! Even if I'm not 😉
I ride a bianchi xr1 on zipp 404 can be a tad hairy in higher winds , but I live in England there is no mountains around here just inclines . I ride it everywhere it's an awesome ride even on 100 mile ride . Yes it cost a few pennies but it's my hobby and I wanted the best I could afford and I'm glad I did . I am a 6'4" 95 kilo lump so any help is greatly appreciated and this certainly helps. Long live aero
(Almost) perfect timing for me, as I've been undecided for weeks between buying Bianchi's Sempre Pro & their Aria. What did I go for? The Aria... Why? I'm around 85kg (188cm) and even with a super-light bike, climbing (really quickly, on long ascents) will never be my forte. However, on the descents and flats, with the aerodynamic Aria, I'll (hopefully) always have the edge! I also plan on competing in Criterium later this year. Collect the new bike on Thursday! Can't wait!! Thanks for the great content! ;-)
Mate , I'm similar to your size , could u do us a favor and tell us how the bike feels with u ( like is it stiff and sturdy despite the weight that's on it )? Big guys like us don't tend to find much reviews or data useful to our type of riding unfortunately ...
Most of the pros you asked seemed to ride the light weight climbing bike, even on fairly flat stages. I'd guess its because they are much comfier and most of them spend a lot of the race in the shelter of the peloton. So it'd only really pay for the sprinters, the domestiques that do a lot of their riding on the front of the peloton on the flatter parts of a stage and anyone who is expecting to be in that days break.
I have a Cervelo S3 and its ride quality is better than my endurance bike. Light, Aero, and smooth. Find an aero bike that doesn't compromise ride quality and you will never go back to any other bike. Would love to try the new Cannondale SystemSix.
I have Merida Reacto 7000 E Disk and find that the frame rigidity assists on the climb. I can reduce weight by handing off my water bottles until a feeding section but in general I find the aero bike a better option. Its alot quicker on the descents and flats and ideal as a sprint bike.
What's your opinion on aero bikes? Do you ride one? Let us know in the comments. 👇
Global Cycling Network is a bike an aero bike if it has carbon wheels.
Mike Taglione...... no man 😂😂😂 all in the mind..... carbon wheels might not make a difference with weight but it gives x2 to x3 better rolling
I own one as I wanna be faster than others. I think that aero bikes can climb but not those steep mountains. Gentle or average gradient is okay with them, somethime they can even climb faster than some of the lightweight bikes on gentle slope. I'd say aero bike can climb but not suitable.Heavy gear ratio and aggressive geometry will slow you down in climbs(the situation happen on me)
(Why dont you use an Aeroad which is proved to climb well)
It really surprises me that more pros don't use aero bikes. I guess it really comes down to the fact that racing is so tactical.
I think the single most important reason for pros not going all aero is that you get dropped on the climbs, but you don't get dropped on the flat (except in crosswinds). If it would be TT instead of riding in a peloton, things would look much different.
Me: this is the last video and I’m going to bed.
*14 GCN videos later*
Me: One more won’t hurt
lol this comment might be a year old, but it's more relevant than ever right now
@@yourtuber5 for me too
the story of my life
Sounds familiar indeed, the good thing with is that they got me on the bike. (And then GTN got me to sign up for an 70.3 Ironman), the bad thing about both channels is that I'm gonna need 3 more jobs to pay for all the tech Bling I want....
Net result: Both fitter but also poorer than ever!
There is one point that needs to be considered. While you can still get a good lightweight bike for 1500€ (Shimano 105 - Carbon frame - 7.7 kgs), the aero bike market is much more different. Just to get close to that weight, you need to spend at least double on a bike (Just look, for example, the specs of the cheapest Specialized Venge or even the Canyon Aeroad). This means that if you are starting on cycling or don't have 3500€ to spend on a bike, if you go for a cheap aero option (let's say, for example, a Merida Reacto with Shimano 105) you'll have a bike near 9 kgs. That's a really heavy bike that will make climbing very hard and won't give you a great overall experience if you compare it with the lightweight one. For me, aero frames are good when they can compete in weight with a lightweight bike. Just see the price tag on this Cannondale to see how much you have to spend just to get to 7.8 kgs. This means that, even being more aero efficient, you need to go to the top of the range bikes to obtain a relatively good bike that can compete with a lightweight one. That means that, for all us mere mortals, willing to spend 3000€ or so on a bike, means that, if those 3000€ are spent on a lightweight one, you can even get close to 6.5 kgs and get carbon wheels and a great groupset as Ultegra Di2 (just look at the Canyon Ultimate of that range of price), but if you want a competitive aero bike, you have to double -at least- that amount. Doesn't seem reasonable. You'll only obtain the advantages of an aero bike if going for the top spec bike, a bike that 90% of people can't or even wouldn't want to afford. If you opt for a cheap aero bike, you'll get a heavy bike that won't have all the aero advantages of a top of the range one, and also will make your experience in the mountains very unpleasant. Conclussion: Aero bikes, in terms of value, are not comparable with lightweight bikes right now. Maybe in profesional racing we'll see riders in aero frames even more, but for non-pro's, lightweights will still be the rule until aero bikes can compete with them in lower range models.
Some interesting comments there unchirrienparis
I just stared biking 2 months ago and I put out tons of power (I came from playing American Football) on a cheap starter bike. My bike weighs 30 pounds!!! So to see that an aero bike is 20 sounds lovely to me. Should I ride my first few races in my 30 pound bike (or I wouldn’t be able to keep up?) or go get a lightweight or aero bike?
I completely agree with the comment, but I wonder if in the flat terrain the aero might win out anyway even if it's heavier? Also I guess you could start with a cheaper model and build up the wheels and groupset - I'm trying to justify the aero - but really it's 90% the rider so 10% improvement in the bike is just 1% overall, so rather than getting the bike aero I'll work on getting myself more aero ;)
Why are you saying a Reacto or Allez Sprint will be slower than a 1500 lightweight bike. It will be less pleasant sure. But feel isn't numerical. Thats why the Scultura was used over the Reacto for so long even when the Reacto is much faster in most situations. Even though the Sprint and Reacto will weigh 8.5 and the lightweight ones 7.7 i do think the former will be faster in most situations.
Took u the whole of your life to type that
My next bike will be an Aerobike. But for non of the reasons Si talked about.. I just love the look of an Aerobike. The Canyon Aeroad CF SLX Disc in particular stole my heart.
That's a good point Timo
The question here should be can Cannondale's BB30 bottom bracket get to the top of a climb without it creaking and making you want to throw it back down the hill.
Noel Harrington it's like Cannondale keep making the almost perfect bike but then they stick the bloody BB30 on it and it's : right , forget it !
Had that exact thought! I actually like the look of this bike, but I've had so many problems with my current Cannondale (BB creaks last year and the year before, this year it's been the headset 😩) that I'm not sure about getting another one when I finally upgrade.
lol nice one
Noel Harrington one of my bikes has a BB30 and I hate that dam creak noise :(
This bike has a press fit BB which is pretty much the same as an other bike in its category. This bike doesn't use BB30.
I ride a supersix evo hi mod disc and i know i lose watts to people around me on aero bikes, but as an amature i just stretch and do core work to make myself more aero and that saves way more than an aero bike. Im sure id be even faster on an aero bike, but i just love my supersix so much and i wouldnt trade it in for anything!
I know exactly what you mean about the SuperSixEvo. I've ridden all the top road bikes including the 3T Strada which is supposed to be an Aero bike, but my times on the Cannondale SSE are quicker...
Nothing compares an Evo in terms of handling and ride pleasure. It is a pure bike and I love my Evo
I think one of the secrets of the SuperSixEvo is the Spider crank and 30mm axle. This is so stiff compared to any other crank system.
love mine too!
the best bike 👌
Cost! that's what's been holding me back from buying an aero bike! and my bikes are already a joy to ride!
Recently bought the Giant Propel Advanced disc. Great bike, tubeless which means I don't worry too much about the road surface. Faster than my road bike and looks awesome!
You’ve convinced me, but the cost... I can rationalize by saying the harder work on a less aero bike will prove me a stronger rider. Moral victory.
I absolutely love Aero road bikes, I would never change it with an normal bike, I just bought another aero bike and I love it .
My background is in triathlon, and I was recently in the market for a new road bike. I tried many different brands, aero road bikes, and traditional road bikes. I eventually decided on the new Giant Propel Disc because it felt just as fast as my TT bike (2012 Cervelo P3), felt like a confidence inspiring race bike, gave me a bike to possibly do extremely hilly triathlons, and had disc brakes which is where I think cycling is going to be in a few years when I upgrade my TT bike. I haven’t regretted my purchase yet and feel like I kill group rides when it comes to the flats and downhills. Uphills are a bit of a challenge, but I’m a larger rider and are a challenge for me no matter what.
i ride a Cervelo S3. the biggest difference i note is riding on the flat especially in head winds. the slight profile really cuts through and i notice going faster for much less effort than mates. i don't go fast uphill but everywhere else its the right bike for me.
I've just built a 7.4kg Planet X EC-130E (Size L) and its the puppies nuptuals. Light, stiff but comfy and most importantly... fast. absolutely love it
Interesting, I just switched October 2017 to a new canyon aeroad disc. This is coming from a specialized Venge pro and sworks Roubaix SL3. Both specialized are brilliant at what they do not not 'great' outside of their specialist area. The canyon is amazing, easily covers both types of riding, it's quick up hill and on the flat (to the limit of my engines). It is genuinely like analogue to digital! 'modern' aero bikes are amazing.
Right then! I'm decided. Alls I need to do now is win the lottery.
Me too i wish i hit the Jackpot
Save 200 a month for a year thats 2400 🤑
Moved up in the bike world with the purchase of my specialized venge last year. Thought I made a mistake because I live in a pretty hilly area with some steep climbs, but I was pleased to find out that it climbs like a champ. Highly suggest going with an aero bike
Awesome!
I'm 105 kg with a 320 watt FTP at present. I ride a previous shape 2015 Scott Foil. I test rode the Foil and Addict back to back and, for me, the difference in stiffness and power transfer as well as effort getting back to the shop into a stiff head wind were a revelation. 15,000 kms later and I still love the Foil.
Yes I do have an aerobike!! I love my S-works venge. Super fast and still light
I purchased a Felt AR 2018 a month ago and absolutely love it, its a beast of a machine and the acceleration and speeds you can obtain are quite frankly ludicrous. I love it!
The more important question, can you climb? The bike will do just fine! I just got a Scott Foil, love it.
Yes! I got a 2015 Scott Foil myself, and I love it. Maybe not so aero or comfortable as recent ones, but this bike can do anything ! I'm riding it on crits, hilly races and a few triathlons and it's just the perfect bike to me.
And here i am.. Climbing with 16" Brompton in a hilly region
I have a SystemSix and it’s been an absolute dream to ride!
Still can’t get over how awesome the bike looks!
I swear the timing is impeccable. I've been going back and forth from an aero and super light bike. Thanks for this!
Hi Si! Great topic and an internal debate I’ve waged both before and after the purchase of my Cervélo S3. I still prefer my R2 for hilly courses because it feels quicker up steeps and paired with the new Zipp 404s it flys. The S3 however is a flying machine on flat and rolling terrain. I may be simply set on the feel and opposing ideas these 2 bikes pose, but so far, the Aero has my heart, but the non Aero my head.
Glad you enjoyed the video!
My R2 is my goto bike, i will never get rid of if
I’ve got a Giant Propel Advanced 1. Love it! Versus the 17 year old Ribble which has an Aluminium frame with Carbon rear stays and fork it’s a revelation! I notice the difference everywhere - it’s like night and day! I wouldn’t go back now.
Lightweight is the key! i got myself a lightweight Cannondale roadbike. On a flat street i make up 40-50km/h and downhill i'll go 60+.
And i payd less than 500 bucks. :) The bike is from like 1999. it feels amazing.
I love the bike. I am a huge Cannondale fan. Good on them to finally release an aero bike.
I would like to see the discussion about each part of this bike and how easy it is to adjust, replace and maintain it. This is such a specialist bike that I think it will be hard to do small but important adjustments for fit. Not to count the 1000 types of truth-axle when swapping wheels. How easy it is bleed the brakes and maintain the hosing connections? How easy it is to take it travelling in a bike box? How easy is it to just to the right handle bar size/shape and stem length combination? How much dirt does it gather between the rear tyre and the frame? How easy it is to get replacement seat post if needed? What about crank power meters? And I could go on forever here.
The truth is that most of us amateur cyclist would be buying ourselves more trouble than benefit by purchasing such a specialist bike.
I just bought a new Venge. The way the aero feels above about 20 kph is really special, even for a novice like me. It’s like a “sail” has picked up the bike and started pushing!
Yes my Propel SL0 has no problems climbing. Prefer my TCR though as an all rounder
SAF1981 same here.. i dont have a tcr but planning to have it in the future.. tcr, great bike..
Elmer Galinato defiantly recommend it as a next bike. The Advanced has the new Ultegra R8000 and is a great compromise between a race bike that can sprint along with great climbing. I changed the wheels on mine as don't want tubeless 👍
totally agree as I have both as well in sl1's
I’m looking at getting my first carbon bike and can’t decide between the propel and the tcr
I’m not racing just amateur riding. what would the recommend?
Great video Simon!
I recently bought an aero bike (Focus Izalco Max 8.8) and am super happy with it and totally think it's worth the additional weight thanks to the aero benefits. Also the fact that new aero bikes have disc brakes helps alot.
A big factor for me was comfort, plus I love the way my TCR looks.
God that's beautiful. I wish Sagan still rode Cannondale.
SkeetSystem there’s almost no difference between the SystemSix and the Venge ViAS it’s all marketing
There is a difference--the ViAS was hideous (stem, head tube, downtube).
SkeetSystem to be fair anything looks good as long as Sagan is riding it
I test rode a Canyon Aeroad and an Endurace recently. The Aeroad was fast, light and climbs great - but it feels too harsh for our rubbish UK roads. Just ordered the Endurace as it was so comfortable and not much slower. But even the Endurace has aero bars and wheels. So aero is the future - no doubt.
Got a Canyon Aeroad. Goes up hills just fine.
Si, Thanks for the subject analysis, which I thought was very useful & interesting, as all GCN videos are. I hear a lot of views from my cyclist mates on various bike related topics, but not on this specific subject. Having said that, the general consensus is that lighter bikes will be better at everything, but especially climbing and Cannondale's SuperSix EVO is a common favourite within my group. Your conclusions make a lot of sense and bringing flat-ish terrain and gradients (6 & 7%) into the argument really does help to balance things out. This week I will be replacing (potentially) my Pinarello Dogma F8 with Cannondale's SystemSix Sram AXS model. I'm not a pro rider or a cycling expert, but I will be able to offer a comparison from the MAMIL's demographic once I have had time to evaluate the new 'Pirate ship' on the numerous climbs that my local Mendip playground offers.
Update June 21 2019
Ok, the SystemSix arrived, I slammed the bars down 3 spacers, added some personalisation and the beast has been unleashed - fantastic! Climbing Burrington Combe suggests no drop in ability or performance compared to my Dogma or my Giant Defy Adv1. The new bike is 1 kg heavier that the F8, but its stiffness & precision seemed to channel my kinetic into the drivetrain more effectively, offsetting the weight disadvantage. My relatively brief experience here suggests Si that your report is well grounded. All I need to do now is take it up Col du Glandon. Stats: Age 54, Height, 5ft 10, Weight 12 stone.
Just got exactly the system six! And this footage helped me a lot.👊🏻
Road my canyon aerroad on the Alps this week. Fantastic.
It does seem climbing performance is talked about so much but if you do a circuit, anything you climb you will in one way or another descend - you've brought this up! Finally somebody looking at the whole picture.
Cheers Howard
i got a venge vias and its superb for climbing, actually i did last month the longest hill in the world, 83.6 km on it in letras Colombia.
Nice!
#GCN Simon, just ordered an Aeroad and jumped into the deep end with help from this video! Very excited to give it a ride!
I just prefer the classic look of a lightweight bike. That Cannondale looks fit though!
To me this is the most reasonable reason not to get one. Just simply not liking the looks.
Yes I have a new aero bike, Trek Madone, 9.2. Looks like Cannondale did get some help from the Madone, but added some interested custom ideas too with the SystemSix. I have a Emonda SL5 as well and the speed that I manage to get for free on the Madone is obvious compared to the Emonda. When I ride with the team I have to brake as I roll up to them more often and roll downhill much faster. It is a real advantage. A real thing for sure.
Got myself a Giant Propel Avanced SL 2017 in fluo yellow. Loving it! :)
Awesome!
Best choice I made so far: Wilier centro10ndr with aero disc wheels and di2, it is so comfortable on long rides, and the hydraulic disc brakes gave you so much confidence
Incredible looking bike from Cannondale ! It's way faster than I am. Great from Si as always and I'm sure Cannondale will be very happy GCN put together a really good video to showcase some of the talents lurking away in the SystemSix ! Need to write to Santa early this year..... !
Cheers indobleh
A lot of times Pro GC riders don't need the aero bike as they are sheltered until they get to the climb
LOL good point. The drafting they get far outweighs any aero benefit an aero bike can provide.
The original argument was that there was a huge weight offset between aero and climbing bikes but that offset has effectively been nullified by new techniques in creating aero tubing. An aero road bike could be spot on 6.8 kilos now if you chose your components right (dash saddle, sram red 22 mechanical, rim-brake frame and crank based power meter). Unless UCI changes the weight limit, lightweight bikes are a thing of the past.
Well it still depends on the rider choice as we see in the pro peloton ^^
Aero bikes all the way. I love my Giant Propel Disc. Get in the drops and it goes to 25mph without any effort. Definetly not going back, unless I move in the Pyrennes or something
The choice can certainly depend on the type of riding you do
Same here on my new Systemsix :)
I recently bought a Fuji Transonic 1.3 Road with a bladed downtube, fork, and seat tube that hugs the rear tire. It irides fairly well but I have to take it out to Colorado to test it in the mountains since no real mountains exist where I live in the upper Midwestern United States . It descends fine and seems easier in the climb compared to my metal frame bike. It works for me. It's around 17-18 pounds.
I have the Planet X ec130e. That climbs beautifully.
My lightest bike is an aero bike, it’s light, great ride quality, responds immediately to power inputs. It has rim brakes that have never been a compromise.
I have a cheap aero bike: PlanetX EC130. It might be a bit on the heavy side (ca 8,2 kg) but man oh man how nice it is to just lay down and swoosh past all the superclimbers on the way down. Because, what comes up must come down :)
Nice work!
Thank´s for a great vid!
I’d love this bike for short punchy efforts, can’t imagine any aero bike is very comfy over 100miles, although this may change a few things with them tyre clearances
I jumped from an endurance to aero bike. Granted it was an entry-level endurance bike (Cannondale Synapse, 105 groupset) to aero (Giant Propel, Ultegra groupset). LIke upgrading from a 95 VW Jetta to a 2020 BMW really. The responsiveness and smoothness of the newer technology are hard to put into words. It was totally worthwhile for me. Let's face it, whatever keeps us riding is a good thing.
Don’t have a aero bike because I am twelve and growing so my parents don’t want me to get one but I do have an awesome bike that I am super grateful for and a awesome coach😀
Love the look of the SystemSix, hopefully this means EF-Drapac will win more
This video just sold me on the 2020 Trek Madone SLR 7!!!
My wallet is flipping you the bird but giving the thumbs up at the same time
whats difference between
madone
emonda
and Damone ?
@@nanezferrer3565 Madone = Aero, Emonda = lightweight, Domane = endurance/comfort
I ride a Diamondback Podium Disc, which I purchased for the multitude of positive qualities it has outside of aerodynamics. I couldn't believe however just how much faster it was than my former incredibly non-aero bike. I'd ridden just about everything on the market before and knew that aero bikes were decidedly faster, but even this model, not exclusively marketed as aero, impressed me. I think there is a fine balance, and it's very hard to hit all the marks that make a great race bike. That's why TT bikes will always look different than aero race bikes. But I would truly consider myself a convert.
Had to watch it a couple of times .
Really indepth . This subject can be even more than indepth , limitless possibilities
Back in 2012 I decided aero was the way to go. Tested the Cervélo, the early venge, the Scott Foil, and then (Early 2013) Giant announced the Propel. I bought one of the first to arrive in Western Australia, and I haven’t regretted it for an instant. Still the best bike around, still makes me look better than I am. It elevated me form C grade masters to B grade masters. Aero all the way
I ride a 2015 Cervélo S5 Team MTN-QHUBEKA replica. Definitely an Aero bike. It was a 2015 TDF KOM winner in Daniel Teklehaimanot's hands. But I am just an ordinary aging mortal.
But this bike can climb very well indeed. When I'm at my best it's still better.
On anything beyond 5% downhill it's faster then I want to go, capable of more.
When I ride it I can't wipe the smile off my face ;-)
I do ride an aero road bike. Just purchased a new left over Fuji Transonic 2.1 2017 Di2 Ultegra. I ride constant hills 4 to 10% grade climbs 70% of ride. It is the best bike I ever rode. I had cannondale, treks, and I am a racer and I wss not satisfied. so back to thinking what race bike to buy, and I chose aero road and will never change. Everyday is wind, so a definite benefit. Very comfortable positioning, that aero position, Im in LoOvE❤ and winning👍Fuji
Awesome!
What About Wind from the side? How do you feel About that with aero bike?
Kalokaghatia Antony It takss some getting used to, especially going downhill with crosswind does jerk the handlebars at times, as well as fast passsing vehicles, keeping good grip on bars is a must to combat the crosswind. Overall, Aero Road bike is he best ride for me ever.
I was in the market 2 weeks ago. I was deciding between an aero bike and a bike that won tour de france, it was an easy choice - I went with the Tarmac and never looked back ✌🏻
That SystemSix is gorgeous
I just bought the Giant Propel Advance. I’m middle aged so you’d expect my performance, measured by Strada, to slowly wane as measured over the 8 years. However, since riding the Propel over the past 3 months I have breaking my personal segment records on nearly every ride. I ride a lot by myself so the aero features of the Propel are always working for me. The laws of physics are real and aero is real!,
Totally agree..
Great video, thanks. Just got a used BMC tmr01 time machine, not the max aero , but i love it so far
GCN presenter: one of the coolest jobs on the planet
I started with an aero bike - giant propel advanced. Bought it used slightly over a year ago and it's my first road bike. Back then didn't know anything about road bike. Bought it as the price was good and good condition and looks good haha. But after cycling many rides, I changed to an all rounder canyon ultimate. Stuck with me for only about 4 mths and I've now changed back to aero bike - Scott Foil. I find aero bike is faster overall for the routes I do and the canyon couldn't get me that top speed I was able to hit with the giant. So yeah, aero bike all the way
I ride an aero road bike (Canyon Aeroad). I think that if you can get a comfortable fit on an aero bike (they tend to have fairly aggressive geometry), it's the way to go.
How do you find it climbing Ivor?
Global Cycling Network - I live in California in the San Francisco Bay area. I've got short punchy 17% climbs and I've got 20 mile 5%. Since getting the bike, I've beaten every one of my climb PRs. Some of that is clearly due to increased fitness, but it's clear that the bike climbs well. 7.2kg in medium (before the bottles, lights, etc). There isn't a weight penalty over the comparably priced Canyon Ultimate disc. If I want a lighter bike in the canyon range, I'd need to go with the ultimate Evo rim brake version (or change out a bunch of stock components for much lighter ones). There does appear to be a gradient at which I slow down compared to the rest of Strava (6%). I would bet, though, that it has more to do with my 84kg mass than a bike weight penalty.
Bought a cannondale system six dura ace disc road and it is a very very fast road bike and I am satisfied with my purchase and if I wasn't, I already have a cannondale super six evo high mod sram red, so either way I am a very fast happy bunny uphill or down.
I have an 2015 giant propel sl, my build being 7.0 kg. I came to this realization too, I’ll sacrifice a few seconds on steep hills, while being faster on the shallow ones (pretty much all of hills where I live). It saved me from my desire to buy a bike I could get to 6kg. I can take all that money and buy some giro prolight techlaces soon, and save that weight in the less sexy shoe helmet and gear department. I’ll be confident that very few people will be beating me in equipment weight anyway. At 136 lbs very few people beat me in body weight to begin with.
And then there is Zwift, where you always have to go back down that hill and aero wins the total course.
heavier will roll faster
I currently have the supersix evo di2. Great bike ive been considering aero for a while now was mostly looking to canyon, i am a huge cannondale fan, just they would never honor their warranty with me wen i spent big money on their bikes on 2 occasions i have bought top of the line or second to top and they declined warranties for both. Needless to say i love their bikes. The supersix evo is just the best on the market in my opinion from test riding multiple brands over the years i just always went to the supersix every time. Ive owned about 6 different cannondale supersix bikes i loved them all. The weight of theor bikes i could always get to about 14-15 lbs just by throwing a carbon post and carbon crank on their bikes. Only failed me once the hangar broke off my current one and took the frame with it. Fortunately i was able to put on a new hangar we will see how it holds up. I didnt go aero because usually the aero bikes geometry was more for tt and not really for all day comfort like i can get on the supersix its more designed for race but once you get it dialed in you can ride longer. I was considering the systemsix but at 11k usd its a but pricey. Their low end model at 4k doesnt give the same aero savings, i would op for their 6k model however im unsure if its di2 compatible which is what im running on my supersix. But their color selection is awful just straight up ugly looking bikes in my opinion. They may be functional but if ure telling me their highest end model weighs in at 17lbs i might as well get an aluminum bicycle. That means that their other lower end bikes come in around 20lbs or so. Thats a lot of weight cimpared to my 14.7 lb cannondale supersix evo from 2014. Yes they have the added benefit of disc brakes and tire clearance that may make me go for it one day. My current supersix frame broke so im in the market for a new bike. Ive been wondering when ceramic speed will release their new bike with drive system and what that specs in at weight wise. I have a lot of steep hills where i live i unfortunately find myself not being able to go into a low enough gear on a couple of my climbs. Adding weight to that will not help.
Hi
I have a Giant Propel Advanced 2 disc 2020.Really i am impressed with the way to put down the power (5.1 watt per kilo) on ascent. Still over 6,% gradient. Very strong especially out of sadle....you feel the stiffness...
Reasons holding me back fro buying aero.
1) Comfort for long rides 100km+
2) lot of Aero bars make it impossible to attach lights
3) One piece stem and bars limiting bike fit options
Mark P the system six has a separate bar and stem
1) Don't slam the stem? They come pretty comfy stock.
2) Get lights with stretchy rubber attachment.
3) Only the highest end models have the integrated bar/stem.
Gino Romano what's cool is that the system six has a carbon bar and alloy interchangeable stem on the most expensive model
i can see wanting lights be a problem
I've been doing 90 - 100 mile rides on my Giant Propel Advanced Disc. Tyre pressure now 80psi, softens the ride. Yes, it isn't the cheapest bike at £3k, and I agree about fitting front lights!
I have a aero fixed gear. 50 13 I love it so far.
SuperSix Evo was the best compromise ever, that's what Cannondale was telling us and I dig it. SystemSix sounds to me like a marketing friendly step toward.
I have a 2015 S-works Venge and love it. It replaced a slightly lighter Giant TCR but is overall much faster and more rewarding to ride. I've ridden in Majorca for 20+ years and since taking the Venge I've PB'd many Strava segments by a massive amount - would never go back to a "non" aero frame!
I ride a 2008 Giant Trinity with Zipp 404 wheels. As far as aero bikes go it's not particularly crazy and not much heavier than my friends road bikes.
I'm slower than them on the climbs, but I'm sure that has a lot more to do with me than the bike. But I love a flat run in the aero position. I can leave them for dead and get a really great work out.
For some reason when we go riding they always pick the hilly routes.
I have a Giant Propel, because at the time, I couldn't afford a TT Bike at the time and feel its a perfect hybrid of aero and weight for my "age group" races
I have a CAAD12. I still love that bike and will use that more for climbs, as it’s practically my only bike. Only reason I don’t have the SystemSix is it costs $4,000 at least!!!
That's why I went with Scott Foil Premium. Not too much weight penalty than a climbing bike. Absolutely loving it.
I've had mine for a few years now and love it, I've got about 8000 miles on it. The only issue I had was with the stupid tires they come with from the factory. They should come with TUBELESS TIRE'S, I had a flat and couldn't change the tube on the side of the road to save my life! Bought Continental tubeless tires and have never been happier, I do run "finish line" sealant which seems like it makes the wheel unbalanced while it's hanging (spinning) from my bike stand. Also, i did switch to an 11-34 cassette only due to the extreme hills in my area of Pa.
That’s a “SUPER NICE”. But I do love my EVO with Di2
I own both the 2019 Systemsix and the 2020 Supersix. Cannondale nailed it when they said that the Systemsix is faster on any grade below 6 percent. If I'm challenging a Strava segment that's steep, the Supersix is the choice. But on segments with even a fairly steep climb for a portion but also a lengthy level or gently rolling sprint, I'll still ride the Systemsix because it will make up for any speed loss on the climb during the flatter sections. For example, a segment 3.2 miles long which begins with a half mile climb of 5 to 8.5 percent followed by rollers and flats, the Systemsix was significantly faster.
I have a trek madone 9.9 and love it
I have a ultra light climbing bike. Since you guys are sooo busy, you can send me this aero bike for long term testing. I will send it back next year, I swear.
Late to the Party Gentleman.
I’ll be buying the Bianchi Aria 2021 Model soon.
Cheers for your post.
👍👍
I have both the BMC tmr and slr 01, custom built with wheels having Chris king hubs. Sure the TMR is a kilo heavier, however the benefit is when I go for a ride knowing that there is going to be a strong head wind. This is when the tmr is best. One thing for sure is if I were to go on a mountain ride, the tmr wouldn’t be the automatic selection. The SLR being lighter is best for mountain riding. 😊
The bike looks beautifully wicked. If Darth Vader were a cyclist he would ride this bike.
He is and he does.
tf
certainly you can get some nice cool designs on an aero bike... bigger tubes equals more space to play with customer paint jobs which equals more fun and colour to the peloton. I think that its gonna take a while for things to sway the way of an aero bike and I would be interested to see if we go back to the old days of riders doing the majority of there rides on an aero bike but then pulling out there super light climbing bike when its a day in the mountains where the climbs are really steep and there are lots of them! Kind of feel like this like the 90's again with the explosion of different tube shapes that you had with aluminium! Great video guys!
and yet the tube has not enough space to write "Cannondale" without getting blocked by chain rings.
Still riding my CAAD8, which was the first "real" road bike I've ever had. The thing that's prevented me from upgrading to an aero bike is the same thing that prevents me from upgrading to any new bike right now: $$$
I could theoretically afford a decent one, but I'd have to factor in the costs of my wife filing for divorce! 😁 Though seriously, whenever I do upgrade I'd like to go aero. I love the look of deep tubes and wheels, just look fast! Even if I'm not 😉
I ride a bianchi xr1 on zipp 404 can be a tad hairy in higher winds , but I live in England there is no mountains around here just inclines . I ride it everywhere it's an awesome ride even on 100 mile ride . Yes it cost a few pennies but it's my hobby and I wanted the best I could afford and I'm glad I did . I am a 6'4" 95 kilo lump so any help is greatly appreciated and this certainly helps. Long live aero
(Almost) perfect timing for me, as I've been undecided for weeks between buying Bianchi's Sempre Pro & their Aria. What did I go for? The Aria... Why? I'm around 85kg (188cm) and even with a super-light bike, climbing (really quickly, on long ascents) will never be my forte. However, on the descents and flats, with the aerodynamic Aria, I'll (hopefully) always have the edge! I also plan on competing in Criterium later this year. Collect the new bike on Thursday! Can't wait!! Thanks for the great content! ;-)
80/81 Kg for 187 cm.. Feeling the same about it!
Mate , I'm similar to your size , could u do us a favor and tell us how the bike feels with u ( like is it stiff and sturdy despite the weight that's on it )?
Big guys like us don't tend to find much reviews or data useful to our type of riding unfortunately ...
Will do...
Stuart McGill if u work hard u can have a aero bike n a climbing bike😀
That is indeed true, but then there'd be no time to ride either, Lee.
Let us talk side Wind vs aero bikes... GCN DO SOME SCIENCE ON AERO VS SIDE WIND
Most of the pros you asked seemed to ride the light weight climbing bike, even on fairly flat stages. I'd guess its because they are much comfier and most of them spend a lot of the race in the shelter of the peloton. So it'd only really pay for the sprinters, the domestiques that do a lot of their riding on the front of the peloton on the flatter parts of a stage and anyone who is expecting to be in that days break.
I just bought one and I am waiting for the bike shop to set it up properly.
That Cannondale is SICK
I have a Cervelo S3 and its ride quality is better than my endurance bike. Light, Aero, and smooth. Find an aero bike that doesn't compromise ride quality and you will never go back to any other bike. Would love to try the new Cannondale SystemSix.
I have Merida Reacto 7000 E Disk and find that the frame rigidity assists on the climb. I can reduce weight by handing off my water bottles until a feeding section but in general I find the aero bike a better option. Its alot quicker on the descents and flats and ideal as a sprint bike.
Great analysis! Nice video.