Endurance bikes: Six models with different concepts in the TOUR test
SHORT & SHORT
Almost 20 years after its birth, the marathon bike has become something like the libero of the bicycle genres. In other words, between the relatively clearly positioned competition racers on the one hand and gravel bikes on the other, a playground has emerged in which manufacturers are creating versatile bikes with individual characters. The six bikes in the test present interesting interpretations of the idea of sporty cycling.
Endurance racing bikes: Born in 2003
Comfort bike, marathon bike, endurance road bike: you've got to know your way around! Over the years, many names have become established for a type of bike that was born at the Eurobike trade fair in 2003. In the exhibition halls of Friedrichshafen, bike manufacturer Specialized presented the Roubaix Pro (see below "Birth of the marathon bike") The US Americans were initially ridiculed for their unprecedented suspension concept. The prevailing opinion at the time was that a racing bike was a piece of sports equipment and did not need to be comfortable.
That's how you can make a mistake. It didn't take long for many other manufacturers to recognise the growing demand for comfortable road bikes. It's not really surprising: if you don't have to fold yourself as streamlined as possible onto your racer like a pro in every situation, you'll ride better - literally - on a bike with a slightly more upright riding position and more suspension comfort on the saddle as well as wider, more resilient tyres.
Within just a few years, the new type of road bike became a popular genre - but one that is almost marginalised by current road bike development. There are two main reasons for this: Firstly, a close relative of the marathon bike has emerged in the gravel bike, which is almost even more versatile, even more comfortable, usually more robust and in any case absolutely trendy - which attracts new buyers who have previously steered clear of road bikes and promises manufacturers growing sales.
Secondly: The technical development of the sporty road racing bike is currently focussed primarily on competition bikes; their most important feature is aerodynamics, the improvement of which ties up enormous capacities and costs a lot of money. This can be recouped with prices in excess of 10,000 euros for the high-tech bikes that are presented in professional racing worldwide and to great public effect. Many amateur athletes continue to orientate themselves towards professional sport and are enthusiastic about the equipment used by the stars.
The results of our latest reader survey underline this: the majority (67 per cent) of the 1,547 survey participants consider themselves to be "touring athletes" who prefer fitness to performance - actually the ideal target group for marathon racing bikes. However, when asked about their purchase intentions, more than 52 per cent of respondents want to buy a competition bike next, and only 36 per cent an endurance bike.
Endurance racing bikes - character actors
However, it could well be that some aspiring racers will have second thoughts after reading this article, because: The six bikes in this test are all interesting characters; they emphasise very different strengths, offer something special, are individual and appeal to individualists. What unites them is their clear focus on road cycling - as always, exceptions prove the rule.
And they can do even more: some are ideal for spontaneous excursions on unpaved roads, while others cut a fine figure at the start of a fast race for everyone. Not entirely unimportant: the prices of the bikes are in regions that don't immediately trigger gasps. Here too, exceptions prove the rule.
Current marathon bikes impress with interesting concepts and individual details. You shouldn't be fooled into thinking that only expensive competition bikes can take the stars out of the sky.
The US manufacturers Specialized and Trek in particular have dedicated themselves to suspension comfort as a development goal, both equipping their marathon models with special, elaborate suspension elements. On Specialized's Roubaix, the adjustable system (Future Shock 2.0) with 20 millimetres of suspension travel is located between the stem and head tube; Trek integrates a joint between the seat tube and top tube on the Domane, which allows the seat post to absorb shocks more effectively.
A similar system was also found on the fork of older models. Both designs offer outstanding suspension for road bikes, which saves strength and fitness and predestines the bikes for long rides on poor tracks. The disadvantage of the suspension systems is that they tend to make the bikes heavier - or more expensive if the additional weight is compensated for by particularly light equipment.
Even more comfort?
Canyon shows that suspension comfort on the saddle can also be achieved differently. The deeply clamped carbon seatpost of the Endurace CF 7 All-Road absorbs bumps just as impressively as the Trek. The Defy Advanced 1 from Giant does a similarly good job with a carbon seatpost with a D-shaped cross-section. All in all, the six marathon bikes show that an optimum seems to have been found in terms of suspension stiffness on the saddle.
More is hardly sensible for a road bike; heavier riders may well find this annoying because the saddle starts to bob when pedalling due to the lack of damping. The best models are around 90 Newtons per millimetre. This means that the saddle yields backwards/downwards by around one centimetre under a load of 90 kilograms.
More freedom for tyres!
Canyon is also taking advantage of a development that has been given a huge boost by the spread of disc brakes: tyre clearance. The rim brake is no longer a limiting factor, the fork and frame leave room for more riding comfort thanks to wider tyres. The Endurace makes full use of this potential and rolls on 35 millimetre wide tyres - on Schwalbe's G-One Allround gravel tyres to boot - making it almost indistinguishable from a gravel bike.
The Trek would even have room for 38 millimetre tyres, but makes do with 32 millimetre tyres. 30 to 32 millimetre tyres are currently the standard for marathon bikes that are mainly ridden on the road. They offer the best compromise between suspension comfort, agile steering behaviour and a wide range of uses. If, as on the Giant, they are also mounted tubeless and can be ridden with less pressure, nothing stands in the way of off-road riding. The 28-millimetre tyres on the Cube seem almost out of date.
A tried and tested means of achieving the desired more upright riding position is a long head tube that places the handlebars higher. However, not all of them follow this idea; Cube's Agree, for example, is orientated towards competition all-rounders with a relatively stretched seating position. Unfortunately, there is one thing that the six bikes, which are as different as they are strong in character and technically up-to-date, are not: light. All weigh more than eight kilos, one even significantly more than nine. Also a price of progress ...
Birth of the marathon bike
With the Roubaix, Specialized plays a pioneering role in the marathon bike segment. Even with the original model from 2003, the US-Americans placed great emphasis on comfort. At the time, damping elements in the form of elastomer pads in the seat stays, seat post and fork were clearly a unique selling point. The long head tube also gave the rider a more upright riding position. The bike cost 4500 euros at the time, weighed 7.5 kilograms and was equipped with Shimano's Dura-Ace 2x10. The spring effect of the elastomer pads could not be meaningfully proven - which changed with the introduction of the so-called Future Shock System. With the damping element between the stem and headset, the Roubaix still sets standards today and regularly earns top marks for comfort in TOUR.
Marathon bikes: questions & answers
How do you sit on a marathon bike?
The handlebars are a few centimetres higher than on competition bikes, which means that the riding position on marathon bikes is more upright. This is particularly beneficial for amateur riders on long rides, as the stretched riding position on competition bikes requires strong core muscles. The more relaxed posture also relieves the strain on the hands and neck. The most important indicator for the riding position is the ratio of stack and reach of the frame. The ratio of height to length (stack-to-reach, STR) expresses the actual frame size regardless of the seat tube or stem length and clearly describes where the end of the head tube is in relation to the bottom bracket.
To determine the stack, TOUR measures at the lowest point of the head tube where the stem can be mounted, including headset caps or possible spacers - which are required for cable routing, especially with integrated cockpits. The larger the STR, the more upright you sit in the saddle. While a ratio between 1.50 and 1.60 is typical for marathon bikes, competition bikes are well below 1.50. Gravel bikes cover the entire range, depending on their orientation.
What is the usual tyre width?
On new models, 32 millimetres are now standard; until a few years ago, tyres with a maximum width of 28 millimetres fitted through the rim brakes that were common at the time. The advantages of wide tyres are greater comfort because you can ride them with less air pressure, better puncture protection and more grip. In addition, the TOUR rolling resistance tests show that wider tyres are not automatically slower than their narrower counterparts. Whether even wider tyres will prevail on marathon bikes is difficult to judge at present; up to 38 millimetres are already possible in some cases.
What makes endurance racing bikes comfortable?
In addition to the frame geometry, which allows a more upright riding position, it is above all the suspension comfort through design measures: The most effective means is a flexible, springy carbon seat post. Intelligently designed carbon handlebars can also dampen vibrations and thus improve riding comfort. Integrated suspension systems such as those from Specialized or Trek are the exception; they work excellently, but make the bikes more expensive and heavier.
Can you race on a marathon bike?
In a nutshell: of course! Just take the countless cycling marathons in the world, from the Ötztaler to the TOUR-Transalp: this is exactly what the marathon bike is predestined for. The combination of an upright riding position and relatively low weight offers an attractive overall package for long races with lots of metres in altitude. A special competition bike is the better choice for fast and tactical races due to its better aerodynamics and the more dynamic, wind-slippery riding position, but it is not as versatile as a marathon racer.
What is the difference to a gravel bike?
Increasing tyre clearance on marathon bikes is blurring the line between them and gravel bikes suitable for off-road riding. Some brands emphasise the wide range of usability and develop so-called all-road bikes, which work almost as well off-road as the specialists with the identical frame geometry of the marathon bike and thick tyres. Overall, an endurance bike still feels most comfortable on tarmac and paved roads. The steering geometry is usually adapted to tyres of around 30 millimetres; wider tyres, even if the manufacturer allows them, usually provoke unbalanced steering behaviour.
Who is the marathon bike suitable for?
For anyone who wants to ride a sporty bike without specialising too much. Our comparison of the six bikes shows: The range is wide, from comfort-orientated to sporty bikes. In between, there are a number of models that can be categorised as neither one nor the other. Our test rides demonstrate once again that the range of use of marathon bikes is superior to that of competition bikes. Last but not least, an endurance model is usually cheaper than a comparably equipped competition bike.
Jens Klötzer
Editor
