ENDURANCE ROAD BIKES

Giant Defy Advanced Pro 0 $6,199

In July 2018, Giant re-launched its Defy. The head tubes on Defy frames got a little shorter (from 165 mm to 160 mm on a medium frame) and the tire clearance got a little wider (32c). The endurance bike continues to sport the D-fuse seatpost, which gives the Contact SL saddle a bit of fore-and-aft flex. A new addition is the Contact slr D-fuse handlebar. It looks as if material has been scooped out of the bar tops. Giant says the bar gives you 10 per cent more downward compliance when compared with its traditional Contact slr handlebar. The Advanced Pro 0 model comes with Giant’s Power Pro meter, which can measure the watts you are pumping out from each crankarm. ( giant-bicycles.com)

Kuota K-uno Disc $6,992

The K-uno Disc is designed with Kuota’s endurance geometry. In a size medium frame, that means a 160-mm-long head tube at a 72 degree angle. (In comparison, the race-oriented Khan has a 145-mm-long head tube at a 72.5 degree angle.) There’s clearance for 28c tires, which will offer good traction and a bit of added comfort. Shimano’s top-end gruppo, Dura-ace, makes up this build, from the levers to the chain. ( damourbicycle.com)

No. 22 Great Divide Disc US$3,599 (frame)

Mike Smith, co-founder of No. 22, describes the Great Divide as 9/10th a race bike. While the head tube is a pretty standard length (135 mm on a Size 54 frame), the chainstays have a bit more length to them (412 mm) to help with the stability and handling of the titanium frame. The disc-brake calipers are flat-mount, while the brake hoses are routed internally. The latest edition of Great Divide has more tire clearance, up to 34c from 30c. With tires that wide, you’ll have great grip and comfort as you take the bike over gravel roads or bumpy tarmac. ( 22bicycles.com)

Cannondale Synapse Carbon Disc 105 $3,500

The Synapse uses Cannondale’s Save technology to take the edge off vibrations sent through a frame as you ride on a rough road. The Save sections on the fork and seatstays are slightly flatter or look pinched. The seat tube and seatpost can give you roughly 8 mm of flex. The drivetrain is from Shimano’s 105 set, an 11–34 tooth cassette has a wide range of gears for the hills and the flats. Shimano RT56 rotors, 160-mm in diameter at both the front and the rear, will help bring you to a stop once you engage the 105 7070 hydraulic brake system. ( cannondale.com)—matthewpioro