Road bike pricing and suggestions

[RossTopher]

3 hours ago, KyleDurh said:

Thanks all for the guidance and learning here. I am very tempted to pick up this bike but the question of fit is the unknown for me as I have very little point of reference as to what feels right or what fits and with the steerer cut, I genuinely don’t know what that could mean for a bike fitting in the future. 
 

My gut feeling is to put it on pause and try some other frames and bikes and then take it from there. 

for that kind of money, they should be accommodating, see if they can set it up on a trainer, or let you take it out for a ride (maybe put a security deposit down). bikemarket used to rent bikes out, so chat to them and see what your options are.

i think many of us are negative towards them because of the webuybicycles sharks lowballing us, but the guys in the shop are decent and should be able to give you advice to make a good decision.

at the end of the day, the forums can only get you so far. personally, i wouldnt rush a purchase at such an amount, and it needs to be absolutely right, you dont want to be needing to spend to make it fit. if your heart flutters at the sight of it, thats key. you will know if it fits after an hour on the bike.

ps: canyon dont do a "52" so is it a small and what is your height, and what size is the Treviso?

always helps to take someone experienced with you who can critique how you look on the bike - it is pretty easy to spot fit issues.

[Cat2forLife]

14 hours ago, KyleDurh said:

Thanks all for the guidance and learning here. I am very tempted to pick up this bike but the question of fit is the unknown for me as I have very little point of reference as to what feels right or what fits and with the steerer cut, I genuinely don’t know what that could mean for a bike fitting in the future. 
 

My gut feeling is to put it on pause and try some other frames and bikes and then take it from there. 

If I may weigh in on the bike fit issue, I completely understand your frustration? If I can put it that way? Many seasoned cyclist obviously do have bike fits and have key measurements, but with experience, also comes a sense of what will work and what wouldn't.

In my humble opinion, doing a bike fit with your current bike wouldn't be the most productive way of going about it. You will get some key measurements like saddle height, reach, stack etc. but they will be more informative to that specific type of bike. When changing to a road bike, crank lengths may differ from what you have, geometry WILL differ from what you have and that will impact your bike fit.If I may put forward a recommendation, Specialized stores use the Retul system for bike fits. Now that in itself is not the be all and end all, but what they do have is the Retul rig, which is an 'infinitely' adjustable rig to get your setup and measurements before you buy.

I'm not sure where you're located, but if you're in Cape Town, I'd recommend Jos at Specialized Tygerberg. He's an ex UCI racer (raced in America I believe for a Continetal level team) and races gravel and MTB these days. He is extremely knowledgable about bike fitting and cycling in general. He has a Retul rig, so you tell him what kind of bike you're looking at buying, what kind of riding you intend to do etc. and he'll be able to fit you accordingly and advise which bikes to look at.

Now granted, many people have had great experiences with Irmfit as well, so might be worth a shot. But I'm not sure to what extent she can help BEFORE you purchase a bike.

 

Anyway, just my 2c. I am in no way endorsed or sponsored by Specialized/Retul. But I've had great experiences with them and can highly recommend them.

 

EDIT:
Perhaps if I can add some more context, the fit between a road bike and MTB for the same rider is different even, so that's why I'm recommending the Retul fit.

Edited Thursday at 07:53 AM by Cat2forLife

[NGM]

On 3/25/2025 at 6:41 PM, ChrisF said:

 

Well worth buying a "chain wear checker".  Fairly cheap tool, and something you will use again.

 

Take it with when inspecting a secondhand bike.

 

A worn chain is not the issue, it is the corresponding wear on the rest of the drivetrain that quickly become very expensive.

 

Remove the wheel and "feel" the bearings.  Bearings are cheap enough, but again it speaks to the overall level of maintenance.

 

 

Bike fit .... well worth investing in a bike fit on your current bike.  If for no reason other than getting YOUR seat position, reach, drop etc measured.  Once you have these dimensions it is just a tape measure to check if the next bike is in your size range.

 

PS - "L" or "M" in different makes are often not the same.  Best to know your dimensions and make sure you buy the right bike.

A chain wear checker is so much more than the name suggests. It's a BS detector too. If a seller says a bike is in great condition and but the .75% wear tooth is just falling straight through, you may as well walk away. And even if the seller has not said anything yet, the minute you bring the checker out of your pocket they start telling you everything that is wrong with the bike. Its R200 that saves you much more than that in the long term.

I learnt this once the very expensive way and now never look at a second hand bike without one.

[KyleDurh]

This forum has really been a great help and I’m learning a lot. Thanks again  

I’m going to answer as best I can on some of the questions:

1. I am based in Midstream and have done bike fittings at Midstream Cycles. The guy who generally helps me has unfortunately left and seems like there is a void in knowledge. I am happy for some other local suggestions. 
 

2. My Pinarello is around a 50cm if I recall. I can’t seem to find the size indication. It is a bit small but lives on a trainer and does the job for that and the odd road ride. 
 

3. I am 168cm with a 79cm inseam. The Canyon website recommends an XS frame. Whilst this bike is a Small but I didn’t have any obvious fit issues that I could immediately feel like stand over height. 
 

4. My other challenge is that I am traveling in for the next two weeks so this becomes a bit pressured. Let’s see if this bike is still available. 

Edited Thursday at 11:17 AM by KyleDurh

[Tomik]

That height/inseam put you on a M for a Trek and an S for a Giant so be careful relying on a manufacturers guide. An XS sounds like it will be way too small, but an S may well fit.

Don't rush it. There will always be bikes available. In that price range, bikes don't sell immediately and you shouldn't have to compromise on fit. As others have mentioned, if you have time, ask the guys at Bike Market to put it on a trainer or let you ride it for an hour at least.