52, not gonna win any races. I ride centuries and such, and have been doing it for the past 6 years on a Lynskey Sportive Disc (essentially their endurance frame). I love it, I’m not getting rid of it (there’s just something about titanium, plus it has a lifetime warranty, so…), BUT…
I’m doing my first tri next year, and I can use that as an excuse to n+1. I could ride my Lynskey and finish within single-digit minutes of where I’d finish on a full TT bike, but never say no to a thumbs-up!
* I’ll probably turn the Sportive into my dynamo-hub randonneuring bike I’ll use to train for PBP, and maybe an Everesting.
* I’m NOT getting a tri/TT bike because I want something I’ll ride a lot.,
* I’m looking at race-geo (aero and non) bikes. This will be my first of that type.
* I rode a 55cm Bianchi Sprint with eTap yesterday, and it was pretty lovely. Fit well out of the box (which is rare for me), so this stretched out race thingee could be good for my short femurs and long torso!
* Turns out I love electronic shifting (who knew?). Partial to SRAM cranks (cheaper power meters, easier to find 165mm arms), but Shimano means I can swap in my Reynolds wheels from my Sportive without changing anything but the cassette, so either will work.
* Unsure whether I’ll put clip-on tri bars on.
Bikes I’m considering are all in the $3400 to $3600 range:
* [Bianchi Sprint Disc](https://www.bianchi.com/store/us_EN/yrb1rt-sprint-rival-axs-8.html) (because Dat Celeste color) with Rival eTap
* Bianchi Aria Disc (if I can find one) — basically the same geo as the Sprint, but slightly heavier, with aero tubing
* [Giant TCR Advanced](https://bicyclewarehouse.com/products/tcr-advanced-disc-1-pro-compact-road-bike?variant=40134015549542) ([almost spot-on identical geo to the Sprint)](https://bikeinsights.com/compare?geometries=62c3d0442721d20021c2f53d,6100c65658ff33002921493a) \– identical stack and reach with 105 Di2
* [Felt AR Advanced](https://www.merlincycles.com/en-us/felt-ar-advanced-ultegra-road-bike-293253.html) ([little shorter stack and reach](https://bikeinsights.com/compare?geometries=60749346bd973e0022d56df1,6100c65658ff33002921493a) than the Sprint). My racing friends say it’s a “nicer” frame than the Sprint or TCR and it comes with decent wheels, but it’s mechanical Ultegra shifting for the same price as the TCR with 105 Di2. I could also get the 105 mechanical version for $2400, swap on my Reynolds wheels, and spend the rest on a DI2 upgrade some day if the frame supports it (not sure if it does)
Any thoughts?
by thegrumpyorc