CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Which bike?

(20 posts)
  • Started 8 years ago by mmaohara
  • Latest reply from gowgowuk
  • This topic is not resolved

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  1. mmaohara
    Member

    I'm looking for a bit of advice as I have been a regular commuter for a year - year and a half and been building up the weekend miles a bit since I've really gotten into cycling.

    I currently have a hybrid Specialized crosstrail sports disc which I love like a child but it is a bit heavy, when I first bought it the bike shop said I would probably not be able to go over 50 miles in a day on it and I've been inclined to agree.

    So I want to get something that can go a bit further but I'm not sure what. My main aim is to build up to audax events/ longer distance cycling holidays but I also would like to try the Etape Loch Ness next year and maybe other events like it (not actually racing but just going around), it will also be my main commuting bike as my OH will use my current hybrid to go to his work on.

    I don't really mind much what make/model, the only thing I wouldn't want is the skinny tyres
    of a road bike so I was thinking a cross or touring bike? The. I wasn't sure if they would be heavier (not that weight matters that much but it does a bit.

    Does anyone have any bikes they would recommend? Or an idea of what kind of bike I should consider?

    Many thanks for your help folks.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  2. Stickman
    Member

    Ooh, everyone loves these threads.

    Sounds like an "adventure road" (as current marketing speak has it) bike is what you are after.

    A bit more relaxed than a cross bike; rugged enough for coping with some rougher paths and able to take mudguards and racks.

    I had very similar requirements to you about a year ago and I followed the advice of others here. I bought a Genesis Croix de Fer and definitely made the right choice. Lots of similar style bikes in all price ranges, so I'm sure you'll find something suitable. The Edinburgh Bike Co-Op cross range looks good value at the cheaper end of things.

    Most bike shops will let you test ride. Evans don't always have the best reputation but I've found them very good and they let me test the Croix de Fer and a few others before I made my final choice.

    Get ready for some different views from others!

    Posted 8 years ago #

  3. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    @mmaohara

    Do you fancy drop or flat bars? That's maybe the big question.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  4. Blueth
    Member

    I run 23s on a Specialized Secteur (basically a road bike with a sensible riding position) but it looks to have enough clearance for substantially larger tyres. It certainly is, and feels on the road, a lot lighter than my Thorn Audax. Despite your comment about weight I'm sure you would notice the 6lb difference between the Crosstrail and a Croix de Fer.

    The weight is the only reason I can see for your bike shop's comments but you'll find that people have done massive distances on much heavier machinery over the years so don't worry too much.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  5. wingpig
    Member

    "...it will also be my main commuting bike..."

    Steel frame light tourer like the Kaffenback, Croix de Fer or LHT.

    "Do you fancy drop or flat bars? That's maybe the big question."

    Horns can be more comfortable than hoods at reduced lever/shifter expense.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  6. gembo
    Member

    Croix de fer lovely. Steel tubing, disc brakes. Steel tubing not essential, also pay a premium for it.. Disc brakes good for commuting aspect as stop your wheel rims wearing out. Otherwise unnecessary for longer events or Audax. Not bad but not essential.

    Edinburgh bike co-op do a slightly cheaper cross style bike that comes with rack and mudguards. But rack obviously should come off for events.

    Tyres for commuting and audax would maybe be Gatorskins but 28mm. They are not skinny but not as nobly as cross can be.

    Other similar bikes would be specialized Tricross sch I use for commute and did Etape Caledonia on. Or Dawes Galaxy which is a steel frame touring bike.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  7. mmaohara
    Member

    Thanks very much everyone. I'll have a look at the Croix de fer then

    Posted 8 years ago #

  8. mmaohara
    Member

    Oh that's weird, I'd written a bigger post and it's vanished! Anyway, I'd probably favour drop bars over flat but I think that most of the adventure road bikes that my quick browse has come up with, these are the standard bars anyway.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  9. Uberuce
    Member

    My personal opinion is that a commuter bike should:

    -Have not-rim brakes
    -Have not-derailleur gearing
    -Have mudguard and racks
    -Have Schwalbe Marathons
    -Have the lowest price point possible.

    Now, a Croix does fail on the second, third, fourth and fifth, but I love mine to bits. Very forgiving when you're tired, very happy for you to give it beans when you're not.

    (my actual commuter is a rack'n'guarded fixed-gear with a hydraulic up front. It wasn't very cheap to get it that way, but if anyone had the common courtesy to sell them, then I imagine it'd retail at around £800)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  10. neddie
    Member

    I'm not casting any aspersions about your weight, but unless you are already as thin as a rake, it is always cheaper to lose the weight off the body than off the bike.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  11. mmaohara
    Member

    Lol The body has a fair amount to lose as well but fortunately I don't have to carry myself up 3 flights of stairs when I get home :-D

    The weight isn't my first worry but just thinking about something that's a bit more suited to building up for longer distances I guess.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  12. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    if anyone had the common courtesy to sell them

    £800? You are making a British joke, yes? Very good.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  13. fimm
    Member

    Just out of curiosity, what's wrong with the skinny tyres of a road bike?

    Posted 8 years ago #

  14. mmaohara
    Member

    I think of the two, I prefer to have the slightly wider tyres, I guess I feel a bit more secure and I do go off road when I'm cycling I.e cobbles/forest paths etc so I like that there's a bit more grip.

    Has anyone ridden/has an option on the Kinesis Decade tripster bike/frame? It seems to be an ATR bike which I think would be OK and I have seen one in the Bike Smith store in Causewayside and I am in love :-) I fully expect it to be expensive and a much better bike than I'd need or do justice to, but....

    Posted 8 years ago #

  15. SRD
    Moderator

    I've been riding a cyclecross style bike with grippy tyres - schwalbe landcruiser. Very comfy and grippy, but seem to ride well too.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  16. neddie
    Member

    This should do the job:

    http://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/description/2016-fairfax-sc4-belt

    Was on special at £685 in the Bike Coop recently

    Posted 8 years ago #

  17. gembo
    Member

    Getting back to the bike the client was asking about the revolution 2 '16 is disc brake chunky tyred drop handles for under £600

    Posted 8 years ago #

  18. mmaohara
    Member

    Brilliant, thanks everyone. I'll go around some of the shops and have a look at some of these bikes :-)

    Posted 8 years ago #

  19. Ed1
    Member

    I bought a used less than 6 months old revolution country explorer 2015 touring bike last year from a scientist that was moving abroad, its made from Reynolds 525 with disc breaks and sora shimano.

    The revolution country explorer 2 is now made out of aluminium and has clarus shimano (not that new anything about gears when I got mine). I think mine would have cost around £700.

    I was looking for a used galaxy but every time it appeared was sold before bought it or was withdrawn form sale or the wrong height.

    I wanted a steal bike for comfort, I find my bike comfortable I don’t wear cycle shorts or anything. Wither my bike is comfortable because of steal not sure, but steal also does not snap so easily if get bumps and I do carry a lot of weight on my bike, would not want carbon forks or anything as if bike falls over or shopping carts crashes in to

    Did not choose my bike because discs but would not want to go back to rim brakes now. Not because of stopping power or wet weather performance just maintenance rim brakes need constant adjustment with metal brake pads discs brakes seem to need almost none.

    Posted 8 years ago #

  20. gowgowuk
    Member

    Hi,

    I have a Charge Grater 3 (2015) and am very happy with it. You can get it for ~£640 in some shops. It fits your description apart from the tyres. ALluminium, not steel, I think.

    Posted 8 years ago #

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