Bike Recommendation??

shefbiker

Hi
I'm currently commuting 15 miles/day on my Specialized Rockhopper MTB with skinny tyres on through the week, but would like to buy a dedictaed commuter.

It needs to cope with hills and rough sheffield roads, and i'd like hydraulic disks and a good lx-xt standard chainset. Not worried about suspension forks really... I'd probably look for a mountain bike-type frame geometry...

Can anyone recommend a good bike that would meet the above spec? Willing to spend around the £500 mark (also interested in recommendations less than that though!)

Thanks in anticipation,

mazcp

Another Sheffielder here (exiled in Leicester). My recommendation is a Specialized Sirrus. The 'Elite' costs around £500 but that won't get you disc brakes...I think you'll have to go up to the next model for that (Sirrus Sport?).
The Sirrus is a great bike in my opinion. Well worth a try.

shefbiker

thanks for that... looks quite interesting, and I like Specialized... it looks like disks may be unusual on such bikes, and maybe i wouldn't need them anyway.

Any other suggestions??

Gambatte

Popped down to Decathlon?

Not looked at anything specific to your needs, but they have got a rep for very good spec for the money.

I'm becoming a regular customer!

mea00csf

If you're only riding roads you won't really need disk brakes, even down sheffield hills.

Disk brakes come into their own in thick muddy conditions when the rims are constantly wet and muddy and rim brakes would become ineffective. Even in just rain on the roads you should be fine.

And avoid mechanical discs at all cost for a workhorse commuter, they're far more hassle than their worth and you'll have to be constantly readjusting them as the cable stretches, just not worth it in my opinion

mekonta

I assume you mean a dedicated commuter in addition to the Rockhopper? This being the case, would you be better off getting a road bike rather than another MTB?

I'm a roadie so a bit biased, but would have thought it'd make your commute a bit easier...

Gambatte

I'd agree with the comments about brakes. Mech disks are more hassle than they're worth. Good set of V's will stop you and less hassle

arranandy

Trek FX7.3. I've got one and it's a cracking bike. Nice comfortable ride. Mechanical disc brakes and mounts for panniers/mudgaurds etc. I got mine for £350 from Evans

afctumike

I've been looking around too.

I went to the Specialized Concept store at Birmingham. Confusingly the Specialized Sirrus, which is usually advertised as a Hybrid, is very much a road bike. It has flat bars, and a triple chainset, but the geometry and wheels/tyres are very much road.

What confused me even more was that the Specialized Tricross is advertised as a road bike although that is the best for my sort of cycling (mainly roads but a few towpaths and tracks).

I've also been looking at Orbea, specifically the Cross Sport range, on their website. I'll see if they have something similar spec to the Specialized Tricross.