new bike for commuting to work advice. Choices

johnbhoy

Looking to get a new bike to commute to work. i have narrowed it down roughly to the following choices. IF anyone can give any input on either of these bikes that would be great.

Scott Sub 10

Cannodale Bad boy

Kona Dew Deluxe

Giant Escape M1

THe more i look at the Scott Sub though i am like, hmmm thats nice... seems to have got good reviews as well. Only other bit of advice is about the wheels. 26" or 700c. My intial thoughts are that i will be hitting the occassional kerb now and again so would be thinking the 26" would be better. Is there really that much of a difference between the two sizes from a speed and economical point of view or is the tyres more important ??

Many thanks.

Stuww

I can only vouch for the Giant M1 Escape, mine served me well for over a year of around 100 miles per week commuting.

I've upgraded to a Specialized Tricross, not because the Giant wasn't up to the job, just had some cash burning a hole in my pocket!!!

Equipped mine with a rack, guards and Schwabe Marathon plus tyres and it never failed to get me to work.

It's collecting dust in the shed if your interested in a second hand one!!!

Stu

passout

Heard the Kona rides well from a mate.

DonDaddyD

Had a Giant Escape M2 and loved every moment riding it - I still have it, though my younger brother is now enjoying its pleasure as I've gone roadie.

I love the bike so much, I was considering the 700c version Giant Escape R2 having rode a friends.

Here's a link to the R1: http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDeta ... ctID=15474

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-GB/bik ... 466/32860/

The R1 is still Mountain bike enough - frame dynamics and agility - for you to ride aggressively, jump off kerbs, filter through cars and get over the front end for quick acceleration to enjoy a brisk inner city traffic laden ride. The 700c wheels will give it that extra distance-speed missing from its quick to accelerate 26'' wheel counterpart. - The reason I went roadie I needed sustainable speed over distance (or as I like to call it distance-speed). - But I feel what you gain in speed with the 700c wheels you loose in agility that you find with 26''.

If you are riding far I would reccommend 700c the extra size just makes riding mile after mile more enjoyable. But it depends on your journey if its a purely backstreet ride, lots of turns, bumpy roads and the like then 26'' may be better. If its mostly main roads, high streets and a long distance where you can build up some serious speed and you don't have to think about start/stopping and turning corners all the time then 700c is the way to go.

Hope this helps.

killiekosmos

I'd been considering a Giant Escape R Sub Zero, Shimano Alfine hub gears and disc breaks.

Anyone got any experience of this one?

il_principe

Are you riding on or off road?

johnbhoy

I am using this bike purely for commuting.I have a marin rocky ridge for my off road endeavours, but feel i am ruining it by using it to commute into work every day. Would rather have something thats built for the purpose... using a bike with 2.3" tyres and 140mm fork as a road bike just aint cutting it.

Like i said even though the giant is the cheapest of the lot. I actually really liked the minimalist look of it when i seen it in the shop. Looks very basic and clean which i like.

Basically temapted to get the sub 10 though as it comes with qood quality components albeit at a higher price. but this also looks the bomb.

The kona and the badboy are contenders as well but i would say they are probably 3rd and 4th choice respectively.

regarding the tyres. Having read up on this a bit i thik i will go for the 26" version of whatever i get . Purely cos i think it will just suit me better. occasional cycle path and up and down the pavements. fairly stop start traffic so seems the way to go