u/Seppid98

Hey everyone, quick question. What do you think would be a fair new price for a Specialized Tarmac SL8 Expert?
The €7k retail price seems pretty hard to justify these days, so what would you consider a good deal?
Also, do you think the SL8 Expert is a good base for future upgrades? I feel like there’s quite a bit you could improve over time, especially the wheels and cockpit.
What do you guys think?

First of all, thanks for all the attention on my Sram vs Shimano post! I’ve decided to go with the Caledonia 5 with SRAM Force (for now 😂).
But you guys are killing me… A lot of you said you wouldnt buy a bike without UDH at this point.
So what do you guys think? Is it really a bad idea to spend €6–7k on a bike that doesnt have UDH?
The Caledonia 5 is honestly my dream bike right now, so I’m having a hard time letting it go just because of UDH.
I’ve even considered going for something more race oriented and getting the Soloist instead, but honestly, I really don’t like the current colors 😂
What would you do?

Feel free to show off your Soloist bikes! I'd especially love to see how you actually ride them, with saddle bags, bottles, lights, etc.
You mostly see these super clean, empty bike photos online, so I’d love to see some real world setups.
Have a great day!

After way too much overthinking, I have finally narrowed it down to two bikes. It is either going to be a Cervélo Caledonia 5 or a Giant Defy. I still need to test ride both before making the final decision.
Now comes the next difficult question 😂
SRAM Force or good old Shimano Ultegra?
I know we have probably had this discussion a thousand times already, but when you are about to spend 7k on a bike, I would rather overthink it a little longer than regret my choice later 😂
So hit me with your pros and cons, personal experiences and best arguments for either one. Why should I go SRAM? Why should I stick with Ultegra? What do you love or hate about your groupset?
Basically, convince me. I want to hear everything 😂

Anyone here have the Caledonia 5 with the new HB18 cockpit yet?
How happy are you with your Caledonia 5 overall? And how much can you actually fit in the in frame storage? Would love to see some pictures of your bikes and what you’re carrying in there!

Quick question: what’s everyone’s experience with the Giant Power Pro?
Does it work reliably and give you consistent readings? How’s the app and the overall setup/charging experience?
Are there any downsides compared to something like a 4iiii power meter?
Would love to hear your experiences and opinions.

Hi everyone,
I have the chance to pick up a Scott Addict 20 for a really good price, and I'd love to hear some opinions from people who own one or have experience with Scott bikes in general.
How has your experience been with the bike? Are the Syncros components and accessories any good, or have you had any issues with them?
From what I’ve read, it should fit 35mm tires or even more without any problems. Has anyone tried running fast gravel tires? (maybe 35mm g one rs)
Right now, it seems like one of the best value endurance bikes with an Ultegra groupset. Do you agree, or does it feel more like a budget bike compared to the competition?
I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts and experiences with the Addict or Scott bikes in general. Thanks!

Do you think this was fixed for the 2026 models? From what I’ve seen, quite a few people seemed to have the same issue.
Does anyone happen to know more about this or have any experience with it?

Hi everyone,
I have the opportunity to test (and possibly buy) a Cube Cross Race C:62 SLX Teamline, and I’d love to hear some opinions from people who own or have ridden one.
A bit about what I’m looking for: I’ve been searching for a fast gravel/all-road bike for quite a while. Ideally, I want something with a more road-bike-like geometry and clearance for around 30–40 mm tires.
The Ultegra/GRX Di2 setup on the Cross Race really caught my attention. Does anyone here have experience with the bike? Are there any downsides or things I should know before buying?
I know it’s built as a race bike, but I was wondering if it would still handle light frame bags for longer rides without any issues.
I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts and experiences. Thanks!

Did I miss something, or since when does the Caledonia 5 come with a one piece cockpit?

Maybe I’m overthinking this, but Rick’s giveaway Endurace Cf Slx7 Axs has Sram Force and a color that isn’t available to buy. Think it means anything, or is it just a special giveaway build?

Is Remi showing the new Slab Sense 6 here, with the snap buttons on the vest? Interesting!

Just wanted to share my personal experience for anyone who is trying to decide between these two vests.

This is not meant to be a better vs worse comparison. Both have their strengths and weaknesses and are probably aimed at slightly different use cases. I am only sharing what I noticed while comparing them side by side and why I ended up choosing one over the other.

First of all I have not had the chance to run in either vest yet. This is just from trying them on at home many many times and loading them with gear.

For reference I am 184 cm and 78 kg with a 99 cm chest.

I originally ordered the ADV Skin 5 in size M because according to the Salomon size chart my chest measurement sits right in the middle of size M.

When it arrived I honestly was not sure about the fit. It felt quite snug and since this is my first running vest I had no idea if that was normal or if I should have gone up a size.

I spent a whole day putting it on and off loading it with different gear and trying different adjustments. The more I wore it the more unsure I became.

At that point I thought why not order the Sense Pro 6 as well and compare them side by side. Since I had already been thinking about trying the Sense Pro anyway and had read online that it fits a little smaller I ordered it in size L.

After comparing both vests for a few days my opinion changed quite a bit.

I knew before ordering that the Sense Pro 6 would be lighter and more minimalist but I was honestly surprised by how much lighter and thinner it actually feels. When empty you almost do not notice it on your body. The ADV Skin feels much more substantial in comparison.

For the flask pockets I would call it a draw. Both work well and the flasks slide in without any problems. The only real difference I noticed is the retention band that holds the flasks in place. On the ADV Skin it is noticeably tighter. It might be slightly more fiddly at first but I actually liked it because the flasks felt more secure.

One thing I liked more on the Sense Pro 6 are the front zipper pockets. You get two instead of one and two is simply better than one in my opinion. Size wise they are very similar maybe the Sense Pro pockets are slightly deeper.

For the large front pockets I actually preferred the ADV Skin. The stretchy mesh material feels really good and holds things securely while still expanding a lot. The Sense Pro uses more of a stretchy fabric. It is also good and offers plenty of space but personally I liked the mesh material more. It felt more secure and easier to use.

The shoulder pockets are also a bit different. The ADV Skin has two integrated shoulder pockets together with the whistle and clip. The Sense Pro has one normal pocket and one zippered pocket which is probably better for keys or other small items.

Before talking about the rear storage I should mention the hydration bladder compartment on the ADV Skin. I am mostly ignoring it in this comparison because I do not use hydration bladders and the Sense Pro 6 does not have one. But it is basically one huge additional compartment running down most of the back. If you use a bladder or just want maximum storage this is definitely another advantage for the ADV Skin. Of course all that extra material is also one of the reasons why it feels a bit heavier and less airy than the Sense Pro.

The biggest difference for me was on the back.

The upper rear pocket looks very similar on both vests at first glance but the ADV Skin can actually hold noticeably more stuff.

The same goes for the lower tunnel pocket. This is where I was a little disappointed with the Sense Pro 6. A thin wind jacket goes in easily but with my rain jacket I already had to fight a bit. The opening feels surprisingly small. On the ADV Skin it is much easier to load and the opening is noticeably larger.

One thing about sizing. Load your vest before deciding.

After trying both vests on countless times I actually think the ADV Skin in M is the correct size for me. The Sense Pro in L felt great when empty but with two flasks and everything packed it moved around noticeably more when jogging in place and jumping around. The tighter fit of the ADV Skin felt much better.

I think many people size up because a running vest feels strange at first. At least that was the case for me. But once loaded I understood why they are supposed to fit snug.

In the end I do not think these are really direct competitors.

Yes the Sense Pro 6 is lighter more breathable and clearly more race oriented.

But it is also much more minimalist especially on the back.

The ADV Skin feels more practical and offers more usable storage.

I mainly use a Naked Belt and wanted a vest for longer mountain sessions. For that reason I decided to keep the ADV Skin 5. The Sense Pro 6 felt a bit too minimalist for what I wanted. If I am only carrying a small amount of gear I will probably use my belt anyway.

Not saying one is better than the other. I can absolutely see why some people would prefer the Sense Pro 6.

I just wanted to share my experience and sizing thoughts in case someone else is trying to decide between the two.

Does anyone know when the new Asics Fujitrail collection and race kits will be released?

I've been trying to find some information but haven’t seen any official dates yet. Has anyone heard anything about the launch or availability of the new Fujitrail apparel/race kit lineup?

Thanks!

Hey trail runners,
Im looking for a really good pair of 2 in 1 trail running shorts, especially with a secure and comfortable phone pocket that doesn’t bounce around on longer runs.
I personally hate carrying my phone in a running belt (and I usually run without a backpack). Yesterday I did a run with normal shorts plus a running belt carrying my phone and a flask, and honestly it was hell...Maybe my belt is too loose, but it was also my first time testing a 500ml flask.
so having a great built in phone pocket is important for me.
What are your favorites and why?
Would love to hear your recommendations.

Quick question: after the May update, how do I
make Auto Lap actually start a new lap again?

It messed up my long run...
The lap pace data kept showing my overall pace the whole time instead of the current lap pace. I still got the 1 km notification, but it never actually started a new lap.

As far as I know, I had everything set up correctly. Distance alerts are enabled both on the watch and in the app, but I can’t find any other setting related to it.

Did anyone else have this problem or know how to fix it?