http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: new bike advice - Recent Posts en Wed, 13 May 2026 03:34:01 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19962#post-318497 Thu, 28 Nov 2019 12:12:04 +0000 mcairney 318497@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd be looking at a Specialized Sirrus at that price point.<br /> Flat bar, aluminium frame, disc brakes.<br /> I'd be tempted to go for the upgraded "Sport" model as it has a better groupset (Shimano Sora 2x9 vs Altus 3x8) and better brakes but even the standard disc model has hydraulic disc brakes for just over £500. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19962#post-318484 Thu, 28 Nov 2019 10:18:38 +0000 neddie 318484@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I can recommend the Marin Speed Commute (SC) range. I have an SC4 - belt drive, 8 speed hub and hydraulic stoppers. Can keep it on the carpet at home. It gets washed about 3 times a year, apart from that no other maintenance in 3 years until recently I had to tinker with the front disc brake a bit... (oh, and the belt snapped, but replaced under warranty)</p> <p>It's a wee bit ower the 500, but not by too much...</p> <p>The only thing more I would ask for is a fatter tyre, maybe 45mm rather than 32...</p> <p>The hydraulic brakes managed to stop a 15mph descent on the Mound on virtually a sixpence when a pedestrian crossed into my path (obscured by a massive SUV*). We made slight contact, but the stopping power meant neither of us suffered the slightest injury. Definitely needed...</p> <p>*Damn SUVs, causing danger even when they're not moving. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19962#post-318481 Thu, 28 Nov 2019 09:37:13 +0000 I were right about that saddle 318481@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ridgeback and Marin hybrids will never let you down. Both are bomb-proof and value for money. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19962#post-318477 Thu, 28 Nov 2019 08:19:32 +0000 gembo 318477@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The road cc has a couple of decathlon bikes within the spec. Do decathlon do bike to work?</p> <p>The Giant looks like spot on the spec</p> <p>No ridgeback who used to be my go to. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19962#post-318471 Thu, 28 Nov 2019 00:02:32 +0000 chdot 318471@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Some ’guidance’</p> <p><a href="http://www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/hybrid-bikes-buyers-guide-206065/amp" rel="nofollow">http://www.cyclingweekly.com/group-tests/hybrid-bikes-buyers-guide-206065/amp</a></p> <p>“</p> <p>Hybrids are great cheap transport. Bung even a £500 bike on Cycle To Work Scheme and you'll barely notice the payments disappearing from your pay packet.</p> <p>“</p> <p>It says here -</p> <p><a href="http://www.road.cc/content/buyers-guide/218766-11-best-hybrid-bikes-urban-transporters-and-weekend-countryside%3famp" rel="nofollow">http://www.road.cc/content/buyers-guide/218766-11-best-hybrid-bikes-urban-transporters-and-weekend-countryside%3famp</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19962#post-318470 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 23:52:27 +0000 wishicouldgofaster 318470@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm planning on renewing my bike (bike to work scheme) and was wondering what make I should get. I'm currently on a Boardman MX Comp which is comfy but isn't that fast.</p> <p>Basically I'm looking for the following -<br /> Price about £500<br /> Hybrid, as I like to sit up and admire the view<br /> Disc brakes<br /> Normally on the road or cycle path with the odd towpath now and again.<br /> Mainly for commute but plan to take it on a few big trips now and then. (Probably do about 3,000 a year)</p> <p>Any advice most welcome, thanks :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-44092 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:41:19 +0000 kaputnik 44092@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I managed about 1,000 miles on the "best" road bike since about May. Not sure what I had done up to then as was using a shared computer. It got me round the tour of East Lothian on an appaling day by virtue of some full-length crud guards and popping the handlebars up to the top of the stack height. The rest of the year they live at the bottom. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-44091 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:39:29 +0000 kaputnik 44091@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Road bikes often go for as short a wheel base as possible, with the rear wheel tucked right into the seat tube (which is often sculpted to get the wheel closer in) and a very upright fork. This helps for the feeling of added zoom and very responsive handling around corners at speed (but can make them feel very unstable).</p> <p>Down tubes and chain stays are often very wide on road bikes so as to be stiff (particularly in aluminium frames). </p> <p>Head tube heights get quite low, which allows you to be aerodynamic but can be uncomfortable if you're not used to the position or are planning on using the bikes for long distance.</p> <p>But you can shop around and find a wide range of shapes and sizes of "road" bikes and at the lower end of the market, I don't think there's a huge amount of difference between dropped-barred bikes at the lower end of the market, which are generally all compact geometry frames with the same basic kit and geometry, more suited to a relaxed club or sportive riding than out-and-out racing. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-44089 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:24:06 +0000 amir 44089@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dave: "What, all two weeks of it?"</p> <p>Tom: "Yes, that's the problem. I've only ridden 2,000 miles on my summer bike in the last two years. That's maybe equivalent to twenty weeks of reasonable summer weather. "</p> <p>You need to reinterpret summer in terms of what we actually get. I have managed 2,500 miles this year on my summer bike, only putting the SKS race blades on twice. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-44088 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:17:51 +0000 wingpig 44088@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You could go for a non-disc cross to maintain wheel compatibility. I'm always surprised at how noticeable simply swapping down to a smaller tyre or using a different wheel can be. Getting the bad-weather/lumpy-terrain capability of a big frame clearance with the ability to remove the guards and swap in the singlespeed's skinny wheelset would make it feel relatively springy if you wanted to bounce it up some hills in the summer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-44085 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:13:18 +0000 Cyclingmollie 44085@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dave: <em>"What, all two weeks of it?"</em></p> <p>Yes, that's the problem. I've only ridden 2,000 miles on my summer bike in the last two years. That's maybe equivalent to twenty weeks of reasonable summer weather. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-44084 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:06:46 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 44084@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>... which really just means road geometry... </em>"</p> <p>Not quite - it's definitely somewhere in between road and mtb geometry. More upright than my Kaffenback (which is much more tourer than pure road bike as it is), which a shorter top tube. Renders it more comfy so it tends to be the bike I use when going for a pootle with my other half (as well as being a little more burly to handle occasioanl rough surfaces since I've got CX tyres on as well). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-44083 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:48:49 +0000 Morningsider 44083@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Agree with Kaputnik - the first time I rode my current road bike (Giant SCR2 - now about 5 yeras old) I was literally laughing out loud at just how fast it was, especially up hills. It's still a joy to ride and works as a daily commuter - fitted with full length SKS mudguards, worth checking those clearances if you want at least a modicum of practicality. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-44079 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:35:30 +0000 Dave 44079@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"nothing like as much fun as the lighter one I use in summer"</p> <p>What, all two weeks of it? ;-)</p> <p>It should (I confess my relative ignorance here) be possible to get cross bikes which are quite light and stiff, since people race professionally on them, just as on road bikes. </p> <p>You can use the same wheels and tyres (if you prefer not to go for discs) although again, with discs coming to the top level of UCI cross racing, it should become pretty easy to get sprightly disc road wheels - you can already buy carbon tubular cross wheels, for instance.</p> <p>There are a lot of things to think about. For me, I could never justify a fair-weather only bike, unless maybe the laid back sort. So the cross bike - which really just means road geometry and finishing kit on a frame with more tyre clearance - would be where it's at. But with discs ;-)</p> <p>As I said upthread, if looking for a Sunday bike for our short summer, and having got a good robust tourer already - maybe the all-out road bike is the one to get! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-44075 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:13:49 +0000 kaputnik 44075@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>When it comes to wanting a burst of speed, there's something to be said for a frame that's deliberately engineered to be light and very stiff. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-44074 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:57:42 +0000 Cyclingmollie 44074@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Trying to find a bike that will do everything will result in a bike that doesn't do anything really well. I suppose a cross bike might be more practical in town but out in the country on good roads it wouldn't give you the same experience as a good road bike. I have two road bikes and the winter one with its heavier components and mudguards is nothing like as much fun as the lighter one I use in summer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43964 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:32:09 +0000 Dave 43964@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The main practical difference between road and cross bikes (apart from the brakes) is the tyre clearance. I had a road bike which would only take 23mm tyres with mudguards (and not proper mudguards at that). </p> <p>That's OK, but unless you're racing around on brand new tarmac (that we have so much of in Edinburgh), a wider tyre is appreciably better IME.</p> <p>Buy one, and then get the other next time! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43960 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:55:08 +0000 Cyclingmollie 43960@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Instography, there's a little devil on your shoulder telling you it's all about performance. That Cannondale will give you performance in spades. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43952 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:59:01 +0000 kaputnik 43952@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've got the CAAD9, the 8's big brother. Both have quite a tall head tube, giving a comfortable position for longer distance riding at speed.</p> <p>I love the 9, the main difference is it's a price step up for lighter wheels and a slightly lighter frame. It certainly does zooooooooom up hills when needed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43951 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:55:23 +0000 Instography 43951@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Actually, at the moment I'm chasing dog walkers and joggers up the Seat, then Dara, then Joe.</p> <p>The tourer's like a comfy chair. Its geometry is relaxed, its forks springy and its gears made for climbing fully loaded. It's a lovely bike to wander the length of Jura and fine for commuting but harder work than the single speed. The cross would probably be, how you say, more attacky. No idea what the weight difference would be although I'd likely not put a rack on it. But just as specced the weight difference is 2.5kg. I suspect I'd put skinny tyres on the cross. I suppose I'm thinking of the cross as more of a robust road bike than a light tourer. </p> <p>I think what I really want is something like my single speed but with gears. I don't really know why I'm thinking that it needs to be more robust than a road bike since I haven't managed to break a bike yet so maybe I should actually be looking at something like <a href="http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/caad-8-105-cd-2011-road-bike-ec025287">this</a>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43870 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:13:40 +0000 crowriver 43870@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I notice you don't have a folding bike: that might fill a gap in your collection? I believe there are 'folding' road bikes around (eg. <a href="http://www.airnimal.eu">Airnimal</a>) which gives you a performance bike which also folds...</p> <p>Think about it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43848 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:09:38 +0000 amir 43848@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Road bike to which you can fit full mudguards and even a rack. It will give you a whole new dimension to your cycling enjoyment.</p> <p>I bought my Ridgeback Horizon (a road bike with mudguards) many moons ago and it changed my view on cycling. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43846 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:58:25 +0000 wingpig 43846@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>You're not chasing me, you're chasing Joe. There are much faster people than me to chase, too, including one on this thread who posted a 3'12".</p> <p>What's the area of non-overlap between the tourer and a cross? What would the weight difference be like once you've added mudguards, seatpack, lights and a rack to a cross to make it commute-friendly? Is the tourer's geometry not attacky enough? When you say "road bike" do you mean "I'm not attaching mudguards to that" rather than just a light tourer with skinnier wheels and calipers rather than cantilevers which doesn't come with a rack as standard? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43842 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:38:29 +0000 Dave 43842@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The parts on a bike without mudguards have a limited life when the salt goes down. I also chewed through a front rim in one winter season (albeit doing a fair daily distance).</p> <p>So for me, the cross bike has it in every circumstance.</p> <p>The only thing is, if I already had a rugged drop bar bike with mudguards (the tourer), then maybe a fair weather bike would make more sense. Hmm. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43835 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 00:03:11 +0000 Cyclingmollie 43835@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think you should go for the road bike if you enjoy the thought of chasing wingpig up Arthur's Seat. No other bike will work for that. Try to find out how much it weighs. For a road bike I think the sweet spot is below 20lbs. The braze-ons for mudguards are a good feature as you could use it through the winter as well.</p> <p>I wish I'd bought a road bike sooner than I did as it was so much more fun around town than the second-hand mountain bike I had been riding. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43833 Sun, 23 Oct 2011 23:29:02 +0000 gembo 43833@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Instography - the road bike is the missing link in your collection but then you need a tough commuter too [assuming keeping the tourer for touring?]. Both looked good - the genesis I see comes with 25mm tyres [obviously these can be swapped] - I find that a better width when using my road bike to commute to work on A70 potholes as per my scheme suggestion that the main use of the bike is to commute to work. My payments end this month but cooncil have come up with a solution to revenue and customs wanting a cut at the end. I remain in the scheme for another 5 years but without making a payment - ie I cannot use the scheme to get another bike for a good while. However, I am not making the payment as of next month so I can look around for yet another bike at a local shop outwith the scheme - council restricts you to EBC. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43831 Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:59:57 +0000 DaveC 43831@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'd love to see the crosss if you get it. I bought a Cotic &gt;X&lt; a couple of months ago on our last scheme. I opted for the Cotic as its a steel frame. The Genisis has a better spec of gears I think. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=4213#post-43830 Sun, 23 Oct 2011 22:55:31 +0000 Instography 43830@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It's one of the two times in the year when the company cycle to work scheme becomes available so I've opted to take it to the max and give myself a grand to spend on a new bike. But which?</p> <p>I'm restricted to Evans and I already have a tourer, a single speed and a mountain bike. The mountain bike is a my bimbling to the shops and dragging weans in the trailer bike but I don't climb mountains anyway. So I don't need a mountain bike.</p> <p>I'm thinking of a cross bike (like <a href="http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkose-two-cyclo-cross-bike-ec027483?query=pinnacle%20arkose">this</a>) as a tough commuter (although that has a lot of overlap with the tourer) or a straight road bike (like this nice <a href="http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/aether-30-2011-road-bike-ec024738?query=genesis">Genesis</a>) so I can chase wingpig up Arthur's Seat.</p> <p>Any suggestions? </p>