£1000 commuter advice needed, please

uksteve7

£1000 commuter:

Please help! I want a new bike under £1000 (cost not the issue, value is, so I'm happy to spend anywhere inbetween).
Never used a road bike so clueless. Confused by dealer advice, so I will summarise my uses, and what I have been told...

USE: I will be using the bike for 12 mile ride to work, each way. The roads will have long hills as well as long flat runs, from a city into the country. I am not into racing, so I don't need anything for track/club.
I will use my MTB for all other cycling, so this is really for one purpose. I do need frames to have lugs for future add ons (mud guards/bags?). I'm after a one stop solution, as upgrading isn't a massive urge. I'll tweak, but I want to get it right now!!
Comfort/speed/strength and lightness are factors, but as it isn't for club use I'd go more on weight v speed/comfort

Advice so far (mainly around the Giant range): Avoid a hybrid, as my needs are for road use only (rules out CRS). Get drop handle bars for flexibility of position. Go for the SCR range over the FCR for this reason (although no "alliance" frame option here!).
One trustworthy dealer (sadly can't use as not in cycle to work scheme) told me to go TREK over Giant as they are better spec'd for the £.

So...

Is SCR/FCR advice correct? I like the FCR alliance, but been told to stick SCR range for my uses and distances.
At my budget, should I go SCR1 or will I be wasting money on spec I do not need? I'd go lower if it makes no real impact
And, is the TREK range better value?
Any other options?????? By this I mean other bikes, or buying a bike lower in the ranges and adding to it?

HELP (please!)
Cheers

Mossrider

Try a Surosa Audax.
It has mudguards and will take panniers. Don't know where you are but they are based in Oldham but you can buy on their website. Had a decent review on this site.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... x-08-31016

Mine is upgraded with Veloce and Campag wheels and has been used for heavy commuting (60 pennine miles return) and I've done sportifs, club rides and this weekend managed my record of 143 miles in a day on it. I have another for summer but this is a real all purpose work horse. no complaints so far.

Mossrider

Try a Surosa Audax.
It has mudguards and will take panniers. Don't know where you are but they are based in Oldham but you can buy on their website. Had a decent review on this site.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... x-08-31016

Mine is upgraded with Veloce and Campag wheels and has been used for heavy commuting (60 pennine miles return) and I've done sportifs, club rides and this weekend managed my record of 143 miles in a day on it. I have another for summer but this is a real all purpose work horse. no complaints so far.

the_hundredth_idiot

I've got similar requirements to you and on my hotlist at the moment is the Condor Fratello (mainly because it was recommended by a keen cyclist friend who has one). It seems to fit the bill: solid and well-made but still reasonably light, lugs and so on to fit pannier racks and mudguards.

Good review of it here: http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/uan/489
But, obviously, no substitute for checking it out yourself.

Comes in at different prices depending on components, but £1,000 will get you Shimano 105 or Campag Veloce

http://www.condorcycles.com/fratello.html

Potential downside (if you're not London/south-east based) is that I think you can only get them from Condor's shop in central London (but someone might put me right there).

Let us know how you get on (as it might give me some more ideas).

curlyrobert

Although good suggestions posted, I have 2 friends who bought a specialized tricross for £699, although the bikes are cyclocross they are perfect for touring.

my friends have just rode across the USA 4000 miles and have nothing but positive things to say about the bikes.

the pro's of the bike as opposed to a all out road bike is although they have drop bars they are in a slightly more upright and comfortable ride position.
They have rubber in the forks and rears to dampen road vibrations.
You can put on larger tyres if required for when weather is poor or for more durability.
They look great and are quite light
if you have a road closure you can go offroad or hammer through poor roads without a care in the world!
lastly they have lugs for mudguards and panniers.

I do not own one, I have a Trek Madone but I ride with these guys and we ride the same pace, on uphills they have nice easy gears if you need it after a particularly hard day.

just a suggestion!

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=32209

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... p-08-29161 (that link is for the model up)

Parkey

Condor Agio?

GrumpyBear

Another vote for the Tricross. A year of commuting 9 miles each way and no serious problems, it is fitted with SKS mudguards and a Blackburn rack. When you take the plunge go clipless, it really does make all the difference and you will get used to it quickly.

meanwhile

Dropbar version of the Cotic Roadrat, built up with BBR7 disc brakes and possibly an Alfine IGH. Fast, tough, every braze-on in the world, 100% braking power in the rain. Can be built as a single speed, fixed, derailer or IGH, flat or drop var, disc ov v-brake bike and has nothing but rave reviews.

meanwhile

uksteve7 wrote:

USE: I will be using the bike for 12 mile ride to work, each way. The roads will have long hills as well as long flat runs, from a city into the country. I am not into racing, so I don't need anything for track/club.

...Avoid a hybrid, as my needs are for road use only (rules out CRS). Get drop handle bars for flexibility of position.

Find another bike shop.

- Drop bars are more flexible re hand position, but that isn't a huge factor in 12 mile rides - you should simply go for whatever you prefer. A 12 mile commute is very much flatbar territory, especially if you have to deal with dense traffic and poor quality roads. Otoh, drops are great for pedaling into the wind.

- Many hybrids are road only bikes, just flat barred ones. The two things that distinguish them from what your store seems to call "road bikes" are the ability to run a wider range of tyres and the possession of stronger brakes, including weatherproof disc brakes. Your comfort objective probably requires 32mm high performance commuter or touring slicks, which few classic road bikes - "racers" can run. Obviously your store hasn't discussed this with you.

That's not to say that you shouldn't buy a dropbar "road bike", but it does mean that you're dealing with idiots, or people who want to steer you towards buying a certain part of their stock. Buy somewhere else - and make sure whatever you buy can run 32 or better 38mm tyres.

uksteve7

Thanks for the answers.... most seem to ignore the "road" bikes I have listed. Am I really better with a cross type/touring bike for strictly tarmac commuting?

And, how does the range really make a difference from say the Giant SCR1 down to the SCR2, or the lovely Trek 1.9 down to the 1.7 or 1.5's? Spec apart, would the extra be noticeable on such a limited usage type???

All advice much appreciated!

meanwhile

uksteve7 wrote:

Thanks for the answers.... most seem to ignore the "road" bikes I have listed.

Yes, for your stated priorities your store seems to have started you off down the wrong path. Forget about about the bikes you've already looked at and start again.

Am I really better with a cross type/touring bike for strictly tarmac commuting?

Compared to a bike designed to be ridden in pelotons by atypically flexible riders, on roads free of traffic, at sweat spurting levels of effort, then yes. But don't neglect that flat-barred hybrid class of bike. Take a look at some of the advice on Rivendell Bike's site, look at some reviews of bikes like the Trek Portland, Surly Crosscheck, Tek Soho, and Cotic Roadrat, then start again. At a different shop, I'd say.

uksteve7

We are talking about one dealer who has 20yrs as a small shop expert, and listened to all my ramblings. He talked me down £300 at one point, until he realised the higher model had lugs after all!
His logic was that I am not in need of any off road elements at all, and I have an epxensive mountian bike for EVERYTHING beyond going to work. He commutes 19 miles, and swears by the road bike style.

My journey needs to be as fast as possible, and negotiate some long hills on tarmac that make limited gears useless. I'm going to be exposed to wind, and will have to work hard to cover the route. The hybrids above are more for zipping about London or urban jaunts. I'm in the midlands, and it aint flat!

This dealer said anything by Trek 1 series or Giant SCR would be best, and there was no need to pay for the top ones.
I'm happy to go and try other options as advised, but I find most shops are dominated by MTB's and the sales staff are useless in helping. And, the staff that do commute all have carbon bikes over my grand limit, so they have no real experience to comment on the cheaper Aluminium models. EVERY shop I have been in point to hybrids, and road bikes, and wait for me to make all the decicions.

I'm still wavering toward my initial selection (will try the hybrids) and would still like some owners of them to comment here... for balance!

Kind thanks for eveyones' time.

Garry H

Take it you don't want to put proper mudguards or a rack on it then? If not, then the Trek or Giant bikes should be ok, if not a wee bit "overcooked" for commuting. I use a Ribble Audax bike for commuting. It comes with mudguards and rack mounts.

Edit: I see that you want to put on a rack etc. Doesn't this somewhat rule out the SCR or Trek 1.5/7/9?

meanwhile

uksteve7 wrote:

We are talking about one dealer who has 20yrs as a small shop expert, and listened to all my ramblings. He talked me down £300 at one point, until he realised the higher model had lugs after all! His logic was that I am not in need of any off road elements at all, and I have an epxensive mountian bike for EVERYTHING beyond going to work. He commutes 19 miles, and swears by the road bike style.

So he has 20 years of enthusiasm for road bikes - he really likes them. Fine, I do too. Especially old cromo ones with red paint. That doesn't mean his description of hybrids is accurate - most 'brids are dedicated road machines that have adopted some MTB tech because it's better for general use than racing bike tech, like v and disc brakes.

My journey needs to be as fast as possible, and negotiate some long hills on tarmac that make limited gears useless.

Again, the shop owner has let you down. Aerodynamics determine the very top speed of a bike, and racers score here - but only when you're in the drops on the flat or descending, and making an only when you're making effort that will soak even an elite athlete with sweat. At the 150W output level a decent rider will make while commuting, a racer won't be any faster than a fast hybrid - or even a slicked MTB. Especially as you'll be riding on the hoods and not in the drops most of the time, for comfort and to see around you reasonably well.

As for gears, you'll normally find a wider range on a hybrid, but can get either type of bike with whatever you want.

Other issues I doubt have been mentioned:

- Braking in the rain on those hills (a disc brake 'brid will give you give 100% in any conditions when a racers brakes can take a long time to even start to work)

- Power train maintenance. Modern power trains can be very delicate. In the winter you'll have to clean and oil the chain thoroughly - removing it is best - about every 200 miles. If you don't this, a power train can't be burnt out in a single winter, especially if there is grit around. Oh, and a knock to a derailer can result in a game over chain accident that can hospitalize you and/or tear your frame apart. (Happened to someone here last wek.) For £800 you could get an Alfine internal gear hub hybrid like a Trek Soho (with discs too) and the powertrain would be almost bullet proof.

That's not to say you shouldn't buy a racer (although most sensible racers train on Audax or, better, Cyclocross bikes in the winter, come to think of it - has he mentioned that?) just that your bike shop guy has left rather a lot of stuff out that you should know.

Oh, and beside racers and flat hybrids, a grand could buy you a drop bar bike like a Roadrat or Trek Portland with discs and possibly an Alfine IGH. This is probably your best option of all, but I doubt its been mentioned.

A lot of roadies have problems evaluating their machines performance realistically. It's an emotional and financial investment thing. The reality is that you have to trade a lot of toughness, comfort, handling, and safety just to get a minute edge in straight line speed on very flat roads.