00:00 2023 seems to have been the year of the endurance bike, with more models launched in this category
00:05 than any other. Of those that have been launched, the bikes now sit between two sub-categories.
00:11 You either have racy endurance bikes or all-road endurance bikes. In this video,
00:16 I've broken down all of the bikes into those two categories. So,
00:20 in the spirit of endurance riding, let's go and explore what's on offer in 2024.
00:29 We'll start with a range of bikes from Pinarello. Launched back at the start of 2023,
00:34 we have its new X series. Recently crowned with a new halo model, the Dogma X, the range lends
00:41 itself to those who want to ride long distances on the road but want to retain the performance feel.
00:46 It's often argued that road race bikes are too aggressive for the majority of riders,
00:50 and that we'd all be better off on a performance-orientated endurance bike instead.
00:55 And that's exactly what the Dogma X has tried to do with its slightly higher stack
01:00 and shorter reach. However, the rest of the bikes in the X series range go one step further in
01:06 making things a little bit more comfortable. With a higher stack and shorter reach than the Dogma X,
01:11 the X series still maintains a keen get-up-and-go attitude with precise handling and a playful rear
01:18 end without straining your back. The range starts with the X1,
01:22 with a 105 mechanical groupset, working up to the Dogma X. You can find each model in the range with
01:28 any of the top three groupsets from either SRAM or Shimano. So, whatever your preference,
01:33 there's likely a model which will suit your needs.
01:35 The Giant Defy was launched not all that long ago, and firmly sits in the performance/endurance
01:45 category, thanks to the efforts Giant went to greatly reduce the weight of the bike
01:50 compared to the outgoing version. Giant claims that its range-topping Defy Advanced SL frame
01:55 weight is now 20% lighter, having shaved off nearly 300g. To further improve ride comfort,
02:02 Giant stuck with its pretty popular D-Fuse seatpost, but not without a small redesign
02:07 to increase compliance, but it did also create a new bar and stem combo, which
02:12 is claimed to provide downward compliance while increasing upward stiffness.
02:17 It's a baffling and slightly difficult claim to get your head around, let alone test. However,
02:22 when we tested the bike out on the road, we found the ride to be very comfortable.
02:27 We could feel the seatpost working and reducing the road chatter. The bars were certainly
02:31 comfortable, but we cannot claim to have felt what Giant says it has engineered into the cockpit.
02:36 That said, the increased tyre clearance of up to 38mm was welcomed and will of course
02:42 be doing the bulk of the heavy lifting on smoothing out the ride. Giant has continued
02:46 to offer the Defy at great value and builds starting here in the UK will begin at ÂŁ2,299.
02:53 Exploding onto the scene with some of the most exciting new propositions was Van Rijssel,
03:04 back in April at the Sea Otter Classic Bike Show. It debuted an entirely fresh new range,
03:10 and one of the bikes which caught our eye was the NCR.
03:14 Now, NCR stands for Neo Racer and the bike looks to share a lot in common with the Van Rijssel
03:19 EDR, but with a less bulbous headtube. The NCR has been designed to be incredibly versatile,
03:26 but as Decathlon says, still retains a strong focus on performance.
03:31 Its starting price point of ÂŁ1,700 sees you net a Tiago groupset and a carbon frame. So,
03:38 there really is a lot to like and the value is hard to match. So, for those looking for a good
03:43 value bike which can be used on a variety of surfaces and parcours, but still with a performance
03:49 slant, this could be the bike for you. Other builds are available in either a SRAM Rival AXS,
03:55 SRAM Apex or Shimano 105 options, so there should be something out there which suits your needs.
04:01 The Trek Domane, now in its fourth generation, has long been a stalwart of the endurance category,
04:12 having earned its stripes over many years. Last updated in 2022, the current iteration of the
04:18 bike made a radical yet vital change. That being to ditch the front-end IsoSpeed technology,
04:24 allowing the frame to drop nearly 300g in weight, a burden which was holding the bike back in so
04:31 many ways. The rear-end IsoSpeed is still present and helps increase comfort of the saddle, however
04:37 it's no longer adjustable. By making it fixed, Trek was able to further save weight out of the
04:43 frame and simplify the technology. But, frame tech to one side, it's the position the bike
04:48 holds you in and the blend of performance and comfort the bike offers which makes it such a
04:53 stable platform. It doesn't embody the playfulness of the Giant Defy or the Pinarello X. Instead,
05:00 the Domane lends itself to being slightly more versatile and bordering on being an all-road bike.
05:05 It still feels at home churning through the miles on the road, but should the urge strike
05:09 you to power across some hard-packed gravel, the Domane will not be holding you back.
05:14 From one stalwart to another, the Specialized Alley received an update this year which
05:24 positioned itself in front of a new audience. The American brand changed the geometry of the
05:29 bike to favour those wanting a more versatile alloy bike. This meant the bike suited those
05:34 who do want to ride in more comfort, be that out riding long distances, commuting or just
05:39 enjoying leisurely weekend rides. Along with the change in geometry, the bike is now disc brake
05:45 only and plays host to both mudguards and pannier rack mounts for ultimate versatility.
05:51 The frame has space for tyres up to 35mm in size when no mudguards are fitted,
05:56 which does continue to smooth off the ride feel. Specialized brought all of these features
06:01 together and mated them to a high-quality aluminium frame with the end result being a bike
06:07 which can now perform for so many, rather than just the performance-orientated road cyclist
06:12 in the past. The bike doesn't come cheap, with the starting price here in the UK being ÂŁ1,000
06:18 for a Claris-equipped bike, and that will be hard for some to get excited about.
06:23 We also think the Alley Sport is a better specced bike as it makes the step up to a Tiagra groupset
06:29 and also comes with hydraulic disc brakes, rather than cable actuated units. So, if a sturdy and
06:35 versatile alloy bike is what you're after, then we would look no further, but be warned,
06:40 because that does not come cheap.
06:42 The Vitus Venon marks the change of subcategory as we move from performance endurance to all-road
06:53 endurance, and there is no better bike to do that with. The Venon is available as a gravel bike and
06:59 an all-road bike, and it's the latter that we're going to take an interest in today.
07:03 When we reviewed the bike, we gave it the full five stars. We had the 105 Di2-equipped bike on
07:09 test and found it provided a fantastic endurance geometry and can accommodate tyres from 28mm to
07:16 45mm in size, which makes it one of, if not the most versatile endurance bike on the market.
07:23 Considering you can swap the tyres out and have yourself a fast-rolling gravel race bike,
07:28 it leaves very little to be desired by the adventure-seeking crowd.
07:32 The builds on offer range from Rival Axis all the way up to Shimano Ultegra Di2.
07:37 And if the builds on offer aren't to your liking, then Vitus does make a frameset-only option
07:42 available, meaning you can build it up however you see fit, and spend as much or as little as you like.
07:53 The Canyon Endurace saw a pretty radical update in 2023. It too sees the opportunity to open its
08:00 horizons by altering its geometry to incorporate a higher stack and shorter reach, bump tyre
08:06 clearance out to 35mm and build in some internal frame storage. On the surface, all of these things
08:12 sound great and are indicative of the endurance category, but the Endurace is capable of so much
08:19 more. While still being competitive on weight, it's not the lightest bike in the world, so the
08:23 shorter reach means the bike can still maintain a light-feeling front end, which provides a fun
08:29 and nimble feel. The leaf-spring-inspired seatpost does a great job of removing road chatter and
08:34 smoothing off the surface. Pairing that with the wide tyres and wheels and the feedback through
08:39 the frame is rarely anything but plush. We like how the Endurace has evolved and that it has
08:45 become more of a do-it-all machine. The bike will still provide you with a great feel out on the
08:50 road, but much like the Domane, if you want to head down a rough road or light gravel trail,
08:55 the Endurace will take it in its stride.
08:57 The bike most recently released was the Specialized Roubaix. The Roubaix has long
09:07 been a fan favourite in the endurance market, and the latest version of the bike has seen the brand
09:12 double down on what the market seems to like so much. The new bike is also leading the way in the
09:17 change from heritage endurance bikes embracing a new world of all-road versatility. So what are
09:24 the changes? Well, the bike now has clearance for up to 40mm wide tyres, a very flexy seatpost,
09:30 and a new FutureShock up front allowing for a greater amount of fine-tuning to the front-end
09:35 suspension. These all sound like gravel features, but the Roubaix did also improve its aero credentials,
09:42 with subtle changes to the tube profiles to keep itself up to date with its competitors.
09:47 It's also lighter than the previous version. Again, not by a lot – around 50g – but the
09:53 saving does mean it's kept lean and up there with the best of the rest. With new rack mounts,
09:59 top tube mounts and fender mounts, the Roubaix is an incredibly versatile bike, and one which
10:04 should perform well on a myriad of terrains. The only downside is that like many other bikes in
10:10 the Specialised range, it doesn't come cheap, as the starting price for a Tiagra build is either
10:15 $2,800 or ÂŁ2,500. Let us know down below, out of all of these bikes, which would you pick?
10:25 If you enjoyed the video, then please do drop it a like,
10:28 subscribe to the channel for more content, and we will see you again very soon.
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