road or hybrid?

redddraggon

sad Bastad wrote:

My local bike shop says a road bike is out, as it won't take a pannier and mudguards.

I wouldn't go back to that bike shop. There's plenty of road bikes for less than £1000 that will take both guards and panniers.

http://ribblecycles.co.uk/ do a good winter/audax bike that would meet your requirements. I've recently built one up and it's pretty good quality.

Mombee

DavidTQ wrote:

What tyres are you running, nervous in the wet isnt a road bike characteristic its a tyre characteristic, stick some conti GP4000s's on there and you will find damp road no problem at all They transformed my damp weather handling from the cheap and nasty kendas that were fitteed as standard...

My road bike has rack and panniers, and a granny gear

Hi,

I'm running Vittoria Rubino Pro's and they're generally fine... saw me through the western Pyrennees, with staggeringly fast descents, but then those were pretty much traffic free. If you know the descent into Bath you'll know how steep it is - so just as you start to hit traffic, all of your weight is over the front of the (road) bike, which isn't helped by the brake position on drop bars. The hybrid gives a mountain bike position, which in my humble opinion gives more control in a busy traffic and downhill environment.

My gut-feel is the hybrid fits a 2-3 mile commute into town, where traffic is a serious consideration, and the road bike comes into own as the distance increases, because the extra speed and lack of weight become more important factors.

As to the pannier option... I used a Carradice saddlebag on my race bike for 5 days in the Pyrenees... worked a treat.

Cheers, Mombee.

Mombee

DavidTQ wrote:

What tyres are you running, nervous in the wet isnt a road bike characteristic its a tyre characteristic, stick some conti GP4000s's on there and you will find damp road no problem at all They transformed my damp weather handling from the cheap and nasty kendas that were fitteed as standard...

My road bike has rack and panniers, and a granny gear

Hi,

I'm running Vittoria Rubino Pro's and they're generally fine... saw me through the western Pyrennees, with staggeringly fast descents, but then those were pretty much traffic free. If you know the descent into Bath you'll know how steep it is - so just as you start to hit traffic, all of your weight is over the front of the (road) bike, which isn't helped by the brake position on drop bars. The hybrid gives a mountain bike position, which in my humble opinion gives more control in a busy traffic and downhill environment.

My gut-feel is the hybrid fits a 2-3 mile commute into town, where traffic is a serious consideration, and the road bike comes into own as the distance increases, because the extra speed and lack of weight become more important factors.

As to the pannier option... I used a Carradice saddlebag on my race bike for 5 days in the Pyrenees... worked a treat.

Cheers, Mombee.

andrewc3142

The more mileage you do on the road, the more you'll almost certainly want to be on a road bike. 23cc tyres, no rack, no mudguards, no triple, of course drops. Problem is if you've already spent your entire budget on something more compromised and rather wish you could start again knowing what you know now.

Just a thought.

always_tyred

redddraggon wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

That's a little smug. If riders on the Paris Roubaix with 25C tubulars get pinch flats, I think its safe to say that under some circumstances, its unavoidable. If not, you should let the world know how you manage it. For example, if I hit a pothole 5 inches deep with a sharp edge at 40 kph, what pressure is required to avoid a pinch flat?

I'm talking about completely blindly hitting a pothole - its hilly where I live and I have to cycle on totally unlit roads. In the city its trivial to roll over potholes and let the bike move under you if you can't quite avoid them, but if you are training at night and forget that there's one, which happens occasionally, and crunch over it unawares, you are, occasionally, going to get a pinch flat.

Unless you use a brand of clinchers that enable you to runsignificantly more than the 110psi I run?

If you haven't got enough light to see any obstacles or dangers ahead of you at 40kph, you shouldn't be going that fast.

Just because "it's hilly where [you] live" it doesn't mean you have to whack into potholes. It's hilly and the roads are unlit where I live, but I don't seem to have any problems and I run 23mm tyres at 120PSI rear/105 front. If it was a real problem people would still be using tubulars.

So you *never* get pinch flats.

Look, its not a weekly occurrence or anything, but if I'm out for the best part of 2 hours a day on shittu roads, the probability is higher. I could stick to busier roads, or take the same route every night,or slow right down at night, but I prefer not to. My point was that if I could get 25's on, I'd be able to reduce that risk. Don't take the 40kph thing literally. Or do if you want - are you honestly saying that you keep the brakes on down hill at night all through the winter? Or that you memorise all of the potholes in all of the roads that you use? I was merely illustrating that if pro cyclists with pro mechanics and light bikes/bodies occasionally get a pinch flat, I'm skeptical that some bloke in Wales has figured out how not to. But I guess you'd advise them not to cycle around in big groups like that where they can't see the road ahead. Actually, I'm going to take your advice and not go on group rides, because I got a pinch flat there once so I was clearly going too fast.

always_tyred

sad Bastad wrote:

Sorry to but in on the original question that was asked, but I have a very similar dilemma. Just started commuting on a front-suspensioned hybrid which I won in a raffle 5 years ago and have used sparingly for recreation. Now want something better and am confused!
I have an 11 mile one-way commute, all on roads with only a little stop/start for traffic.
I'm basically doing it to keep fit and beacuse I'm enjoying it too.
I want a pannier so I can lose my backpack and I want full mudguards etc. Beyond this commute I'm unlikely to be doing much longer rides.
My local bike shop says a road bike is out, as it won't take a pannier and mudguards.
Hybrid bikes appeal aesthetically although these seem to be alu which certain commentators have said gives a very stiff ride comapred to steel together with the the inferior posture comfort. Touring bikes seem to fit the bill although these seem to be aimed more at people doing huge mileages rather than a 22 mile daily round trip.
I have a max budget, all in, of £1K.
Any suggestion splease?
Thanks!

Sorry about diverting the thread - a "winter" road frame is exactly what you need.

Mind you, there was a reply to a thread that I set up from someone about getting mudguards onto a cross bike that you might find useful - specially made clips for the seat stays and fork legs.

I've also seen seatpost mounted luggage racks.

These types of fixings might open up your options a bit.

Think twice about panniers though - some people swear by them, but I personally found that, since they are dead weight, everything feels a lot heavier than when the same weight is on your back. Additionally, "you" are a natural form of suspension. As such, the contents of the bag on your back is quite well protected, whereas the contents of panniers get a real beating. Okay if your lunch is pasta, not so good for sandwiches or your apple.

dombo6

Road bike. They are much faster and plenty strong enough - I took mine down a forest bridle path on 23cm 120 psi road tyres. As to riding position, just ride on the hoods.

always_tyred

Dombo6 wrote:

Road bike. They are much faster and plenty strong enough - I took mine down a forest bridle path on 23cm 120 psi road tyres. As to riding position, just ride on the hoods.

II agree - I have a "dry weather only" route that is fantastic and takes me up over some hills past reservoirs on a fine gravel road, which deteriorates for about 1km, maybe less, to a rocky farm track. The bike manages okay and it causes astonishment to passing mountain bikers. But its just a skinny 29er.

My problem with road bike parts is that they don't deal that well with the filth of winter. Maybe this is just my perrception, but it seems that I'm forever bringing bearings back from the brink, replacing furred up cables etc. I can't help wondering if mtb hubs and the like are just built better (and heavier).

The pinch flat issue is in hitting unnaturally sharp obstacles such as freshly crumbled road, protruding grating covers (which can develop into serious anti-cyclist issues very quickly, even in Wales) and which, with the best will in the world, its not always possible to avoid/remember/bunnyhop etc.

As to riding position; http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ProductDetail.a ... oad%20Stem
something like this always seemed to me to be a perfect interim method of progressing to a more agressive riding position.

redddraggon

Always Tyred wrote:

So you *never* get pinch flats.

I do - but then it's only because I haven't pumped my tyres up regularly enough.

I wouldn't to hit the road defects you describe with wider tyres, let alone 23mm, but then again it's not a big deal to not hit the obstacles - not many people seem to have the problem anywhere near as bad as you.

always_tyred

redddraggon wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

So you *never* get pinch flats.

I do - but then it's only because I haven't pumped my tyres up regularly enough.

I wouldn't to hit the road defects you describe with wider tyres, let alone 23mm, but then again it's not a big deal to not hit the obstacles - not many people seem to have the problem anywhere near as bad as you.

Okay. We are labouring a point. I am happy to admit that I push my luck - I am increasingly someone who searches for back routes and cut throughs, the sort of thing that used to be a road but has been cut off and is now disused, except for the blue and white cycle symbol designating that no one uses it and the council no longer maintains it.

I don't think a road bike is really designed for this and it shouldn't be expected to cope that well, particularly on 23c's.

However, I want to use these routes - they are more rewarding, traffic free, etc. and I'd like a bike that copes with it. I may be mistaken, but my impression is that cycle routes are getting more and more like this and less and less suitable for road bikes. I'd wishfully like to be able to avail myself of traffic free routes AND cycle hard.

Its really not a tyre pressure issue though - I'm fanatical on that point - i.e. 3/4 times a week.