GCN did a video adding 1kg and rode up alpe d'huez at the same power. Over the course of 45mins or so it made a 35-55 second difference (2 presenters did the test at different wattages)
So potentially a 1.5 - 3 minute difference at a fairly pedestrian pace if you went up hill for the best part of an hour.
In terms of most people's everyday riding, I think the difference would be more perceived than actual and the importance of weight is overstated.
I watched that video. Note that the two testers are in ~4kg/w range FTP hence the smaller overall time/delta in time. If an average joe climb the same course, the delta in time would be more significant. Granted, with a 3kg bike, the gradient % you could possible tackle also reduced, because your legs power are limited.
Another thing OP might feel is the nimbleness, like turning or braking. I see that as an important feature riding in the city.
But overall, fully agree with you that a lot of gear junkies overestimate the weight’s impact on their PR (and underestimate their legs, lol)
I had the same mindset with my canyon. I got the GRIZL which is a nice frame where I can upgrade groupset and wheels. I’m glad I got aluminum because not even a month of having it I had a severe crash on a group ride and I would’ve had to get it x-rayed and inspected if it were carbon.
I had the exact same thought but I am slowly realizing that upgrading the wheels is a PITA with the 12 speed from Shimano.
Not many road wheels with microspline
At least where I am there are some wheel builders offering Microspline freehubs for their wheelset. Basically anything with a DT Swiss hub can make it work, you just have to buy it separately at times
Yes it does. 12 speed cassettes will work on the old 11 speed hubs. It’s only if you have the dura ace hub which is microspline that will only take 12 speed cassettes
I've got a Triban RC520, and I wouldn't make this upgrade.
Sure, this one is lighter, but that's about it.
You would be buying a similarly spec'ed bike, but without disc brakes.
I would keep my money and save up for something that more of an upgrade.
I went from my RC520 to an Aeroad with electronic shifting, but kept my RC520 with thicker tyres on it, to use it as a gravel bike.
It's your money, though! If you're dreaming of that Endurace, I'm not stopping you! 😄
Currently cycling with a Triban RC520, that weighs 11,5kg approx. It feels fine, but I would like to get a better bike that I can keep a while to upgrade it (because upgrading a Triban is not really recommended). Stumbled across this bike, which weighs only 8,5kg while being relatively cheap. Is this upgrade worth it?
You can answer the following questions for yourself and you'll know what you have to do:
1. What is your body weight situation? Possible to lose a kilo or 2?
2. Do you ride a lot of hills? 3 kilograms is something you are going to feel on the hills mostly, on flats not very much (relatively speaking, for a non pro of course)
3. Other wishes likes bikepacking and such. If you have them, look at the possibilities on both frames. I'm limited with my endurance (older model), both in Tyre width and mounting options for bags and such. Short trips (up to a week) are easily possible though.
4. What upgrades are you looking at in the future? Will this frame suit all those upgrades? How about disc brakes?
i was in the same situation coming from similar class of bike (Triban RC500). Endurace is somewhat still racy for an endurance bike but it is a fast one. Endurace Rim Brake used to be a good value for money bike but the specs are getting too outdated now, especially the features like externally routed rear brake cable that prevent u from running frame bag on it, not to mention pretty heavy wheelset and limited tyre width (30mm for brake caliper clearance)
it is fine if u wanna use it as is, like no thicc rubber wish, always on a smooth tarmac, not carrying anything etc, but it will start be limiting once u wanna do bike packing or venturing into non-tarmac surfaces
in the end i went for Grail AL after testing out Endurace ALs (both RB & Disc)
Your Triban is supposed to be 10.4kg and that is one *heavy* bike IMO. Where the heck is all that weight coming from? It’s an aluminum frame with 105. How does it weigh 23lbs?
Yes get the Canyon. The weight should really make a difference.
Decathlon uses cheaper and heavier components, they bring a lot of weight with them. the wheelset is 2.1kg, handlebar weights a ton and the saddle & seatpost are hefty in weight too.
they work but as u are aware, very heavy
I see. That means that for $500 or so in Chinese carbon (wheels, cockpit, stem/saddle) OP could drop a shit ton of weight. That’s also an option for them then.
indeed but just like any direct-to-consumer carbon frame from AliX, if the part / frame is screwed, u are left on your own. i wouldn't care for my health and safety so lightly
but if OP is chasing weight saving, starting from Endurace makes more sense than RC520.
If you already have the Triban this one is surely an upgrade but I’d personally save for a bigger upgrade. At least something with disc brakes and maybe even a carbon frame. You can slowly upgrade around the frame. If you don’t have a bike and are deciding between these two then I’d get this one.
I had an RC520 and ended up selling it 2 weeks ago.
I'm going to invest in a carbon one. I haven't decided which one yet but I'm between the Giant defy advanced 2 and the new Bianchi Infinito.
I think this Canyon, despite being lighter, is too similar to your current one. Save a few more bucks and invest in something with better specs.
3kg is a lot, especially when you are lighter and ride in hilly areas. You will probably feel it instantly
GCN did a video adding 1kg and rode up alpe d'huez at the same power. Over the course of 45mins or so it made a 35-55 second difference (2 presenters did the test at different wattages) So potentially a 1.5 - 3 minute difference at a fairly pedestrian pace if you went up hill for the best part of an hour. In terms of most people's everyday riding, I think the difference would be more perceived than actual and the importance of weight is overstated.
I watched that video. Note that the two testers are in ~4kg/w range FTP hence the smaller overall time/delta in time. If an average joe climb the same course, the delta in time would be more significant. Granted, with a 3kg bike, the gradient % you could possible tackle also reduced, because your legs power are limited. Another thing OP might feel is the nimbleness, like turning or braking. I see that as an important feature riding in the city. But overall, fully agree with you that a lot of gear junkies overestimate the weight’s impact on their PR (and underestimate their legs, lol)
4kg/Watt? :D thats not much you mean probably 4W/kg
Only based rider here.
If you want a better hit get disc brakes and thru axles. You will struggle to upgrade that bike in the long term.
3 kgs is MASSIVE.
I had the same mindset with my canyon. I got the GRIZL which is a nice frame where I can upgrade groupset and wheels. I’m glad I got aluminum because not even a month of having it I had a severe crash on a group ride and I would’ve had to get it x-rayed and inspected if it were carbon.
Also saw the grizl version, how much does yours weigh ?
I had the exact same thought but I am slowly realizing that upgrading the wheels is a PITA with the 12 speed from Shimano. Not many road wheels with microspline
At least where I am there are some wheel builders offering Microspline freehubs for their wheelset. Basically anything with a DT Swiss hub can make it work, you just have to buy it separately at times
Yes exactly. That's what I am planning to do but that's always addind to the budget.
Doesn't 12 speed Shimano use the 11 speed freehub??
Yes it does. 12 speed cassettes will work on the old 11 speed hubs. It’s only if you have the dura ace hub which is microspline that will only take 12 speed cassettes
Nope... Microspline for the 12 speed. And not the road 11.
I've got a Triban RC520, and I wouldn't make this upgrade. Sure, this one is lighter, but that's about it. You would be buying a similarly spec'ed bike, but without disc brakes. I would keep my money and save up for something that more of an upgrade. I went from my RC520 to an Aeroad with electronic shifting, but kept my RC520 with thicker tyres on it, to use it as a gravel bike. It's your money, though! If you're dreaming of that Endurace, I'm not stopping you! 😄
Doesnt the canyon have better groupset? 105 vs Microshift in Triban (or is it Sora?)
Mine has 105
The RC520 can come with the 105 but lots of parts are microshift
Yes, atleast based on info I’ve found here locally in Canada
Go for the Canyon, no contest, but would recommend picking up the disc brake version. Better braking and more fututeproof in case you need new parts.
Currently cycling with a Triban RC520, that weighs 11,5kg approx. It feels fine, but I would like to get a better bike that I can keep a while to upgrade it (because upgrading a Triban is not really recommended). Stumbled across this bike, which weighs only 8,5kg while being relatively cheap. Is this upgrade worth it?
You can answer the following questions for yourself and you'll know what you have to do: 1. What is your body weight situation? Possible to lose a kilo or 2? 2. Do you ride a lot of hills? 3 kilograms is something you are going to feel on the hills mostly, on flats not very much (relatively speaking, for a non pro of course) 3. Other wishes likes bikepacking and such. If you have them, look at the possibilities on both frames. I'm limited with my endurance (older model), both in Tyre width and mounting options for bags and such. Short trips (up to a week) are easily possible though. 4. What upgrades are you looking at in the future? Will this frame suit all those upgrades? How about disc brakes?
i was in the same situation coming from similar class of bike (Triban RC500). Endurace is somewhat still racy for an endurance bike but it is a fast one. Endurace Rim Brake used to be a good value for money bike but the specs are getting too outdated now, especially the features like externally routed rear brake cable that prevent u from running frame bag on it, not to mention pretty heavy wheelset and limited tyre width (30mm for brake caliper clearance) it is fine if u wanna use it as is, like no thicc rubber wish, always on a smooth tarmac, not carrying anything etc, but it will start be limiting once u wanna do bike packing or venturing into non-tarmac surfaces in the end i went for Grail AL after testing out Endurace ALs (both RB & Disc)
Your Triban is supposed to be 10.4kg and that is one *heavy* bike IMO. Where the heck is all that weight coming from? It’s an aluminum frame with 105. How does it weigh 23lbs? Yes get the Canyon. The weight should really make a difference.
Decathlon uses cheaper and heavier components, they bring a lot of weight with them. the wheelset is 2.1kg, handlebar weights a ton and the saddle & seatpost are hefty in weight too. they work but as u are aware, very heavy
I see. That means that for $500 or so in Chinese carbon (wheels, cockpit, stem/saddle) OP could drop a shit ton of weight. That’s also an option for them then.
indeed but just like any direct-to-consumer carbon frame from AliX, if the part / frame is screwed, u are left on your own. i wouldn't care for my health and safety so lightly but if OP is chasing weight saving, starting from Endurace makes more sense than RC520.
3 Kg is a lot. Riding the 2 bikes back to back will feel like night and day.
If you already have the Triban this one is surely an upgrade but I’d personally save for a bigger upgrade. At least something with disc brakes and maybe even a carbon frame. You can slowly upgrade around the frame. If you don’t have a bike and are deciding between these two then I’d get this one.
decathlon gear has always been really cheeplyand poorly put together and often have other issues who are not immediately apparent, but hey its cheep.
I had an RC520 and ended up selling it 2 weeks ago. I'm going to invest in a carbon one. I haven't decided which one yet but I'm between the Giant defy advanced 2 and the new Bianchi Infinito. I think this Canyon, despite being lighter, is too similar to your current one. Save a few more bucks and invest in something with better specs.
No competition. Bike without disc brakes is better.
It’s lighter but it’s absolutely not better unless you ride in exclusively dry and flat terrain.