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Bike advice for Endurance Road Bike

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Bike advice for Endurance Road Bike

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flag YVRAJP
Posted: Sep 16, 2024 at 9:08 Quote
Hi,
I have a question I hope some of you can provide input on. After a 14 year hiatus (family, kids etc) I have began riding my road bike again. When I was riding I did lots of metric century's, century's, Vancouver to Seattle and Seattle to Portland (1 day). I have a 56" Fuji Ace chromoly which has served me well but is now over 20 years old so I am looking to get some new wheels. Things have changed a lot since I got the Fuji so here is my issue. I am not a particularly typical cyclist,
106k great down hill not so much up, that gravity thing. A bike that isn't too much of a bone shaker is s bonus. Would like to get a used road bike that is carbon fiber, is geared for the inevitable climbing and can be decent on flats as well. Am leaning towards a Cervelo, although event the used bikes are pretty $$$$. So any suggestions, insights are greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
AJ
flag BenLow2019
Posted: Sep 16, 2024 at 13:47 Quote
Check out the Specialized Roubaix.

It just got used for a trip around the world, so it will probably suit your standard. There's various models to choose from depending on your budget.

Hope that helps.
flag YVRAJP
Posted: Sep 16, 2024 at 18:02 Quote
BenLow2019 wrote:
Check out the Specialized Roubaix.

It just got used for a trip around the world, so it will probably suit your standard. There's various models to choose from depending on your budget.

Hope that helps.

Hi Ben,
Thanks for the response, the Specialized Roubaix is a nice ride for sure.
Cheers ,
AJ
flag ShawMac
O+ FL
Posted: Oct 30, 2024 at 12:27 Quote
Can also consider the Specialized Diverge at least as a used bike. The brand new ones have gone all in on gravel, but the previous version is a nice touring bike and they can be had at a pretty reasonable price. A little more upright.
flag pislu
Posted: Jul 3, 2025 at 14:04 Quote
Hey AJ, respect for getting back into riding after such a long break — that’s awesome! Sounds like you've got a solid riding background too. Totally hear you on the comfort and climbing-friendly gearing being key, especially on longer days in the saddle. I was in a similar spot last year and ended up with a used Giant Defy Advanced — carbon, endurance geometry, and surprisingly affordable compared to Cervelo. If you're open to options beyond the big names, there are some great value bikes out there.
flag dirttorpedo
Posted: Oct 17, 2025 at 10:08 Quote
Hey there. Great to hear that you're getting back into riding. I live in the PNW too and am not a great climber. Fortunately, some of the more modern drive trains have much better low gearing (11-34 or 11-36 cassets in the back paired with a 50/34 up front if you want to bomb the descents). I upgraded by ti Brodie frame to 11 speed rim brake Shimano 105 and have much nicer climbing gears now.

If you want even better climbing gears and don't worry too much about hammering the downhills a modern gravel bike is a good choice (I have a Norcor Search XR C) - particularly with a carbon wheel upgrade. When I was shopping for bikes I really liked the Trek Checkpoint and Cannondale Topstone series bikes in addition to the Norco.

If you want more endurance road I test rode the Cervelo Caledonia and loved it and also had a good experience on the Specialized Roubaix (although I hated the future shock stem).
flag wildernessbackpacking
O+
Posted: Oct 17, 2025 at 13:53 Quote
Nice to be back on the road! For an endurance bike that soaks up rough roads but still climbs and cruises well, look at used Roubaix, Domane, Synapse, Defy, or Cervelo Caledonia models; they give carbon compliance with endurance geometry. Ask for a compact crank and a wide-range cassette (e.g., 50/34 with up to 11–34) to make climbs easier, and swap to a more compliant wheelset/tires (28–32 mm) if the bike feels harsh. Fit matters more than brand, test-ride to confirm reach and stack feel, check the frame for damage, and prioritize a clean service history. If you tell me a budget and preferred wheel size I can suggest specific models/years to hunt for.
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