The bikes
Cannondale Synapse Carbon 4 £2,400
Cube Attain GTC SL 62.499
Giant Defy Advanced O £2.899
Need to know
What makes an endurance road bike different to a performance road bike, and what should you consider when buying one? Here's our five-step guide
AN ENDURANCE BIKE, at first glance, looks much like the bikes you'll see racing through France in July, but look more closely and you'll see there are some subtle but significant differences, which make them more suitable for the likes of you and I rather than two-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar and his pro peloton pals. An endurance bike is made for day-long comfort, putting you in a more upright position that puts less strain on your lower back, for example.
01 Geometry for big rides
It really is all about ride position. While a performance race bike has a longer, lower riding position, using stack and reach (see Bike Tech Explained box) to maximise aero gains, an endurance bike ups the comfort, with a shorter reach and taller stack. Though the riding position is still sportier than you'll find on a gravel bike or tourer.
02 Year-round use
An endurance bike should also be better for year-round use, with increased tyre clearances so you can fit larger, more weatherproof tyres come winter and its more treacherous riding conditions. They may also have useful details such as mudguard mounts.
03 Sporty but not just for sport
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Bu hikaye Cycling Plus UK dergisinin Summer 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
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