Which commuting bike to get...

fred_easey

Hi,

Had my beloved Kona PHD stolen a couple weeks back. The insurance money comes through on Friday (£1000), so I'm now in the market for a new bike.

Bike will mainly be used for a 9 mile commute to work (Central London, mostly embankment: Islington to Hammersmith).

My criteria are as follows:

- No disc brakes (as I find it easier to housekeep the canterlivar / v-brake style)
- Flat handle-bar (I've tried drops and really don't get on with them)
- As light / fast as possible

I've narrowed it down to the following:

Sirrus Pro Carbon:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec001397

Ridgeback Genesis:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/rid ... e-ec001118

Kona PHD (again)

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kon ... e-ec017274


I really liked the PHD I had before, so am tempted to get it again as a safe choice.

The sirrus looks the lightest of the 3 and I've also had a Sirrus before (prior to the PHD) which I liked a lot (plus Specialized replaced the frame when it cracked even though I didn't have any proof of purchase, so they get added brownie points for that).

Ridgeback was recommended by the guy in the Evans shop and is apparently a British brand, so supporting the British economy and all that.

I'm leaning towards the Sirrus purely because it looks like it will be the lightest.

Could really do with some advice / opinions though to help me make the right choice

Any advice would be much appreciated,

Cheers,

Fred

daniel_b

Hi Fred,

the Sirrus looks very nice!

Slightly different suggestion, how about a 2009 Marin Mill Valley, seems to be £950 everywhere apart from here where it is £650:
http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=7495



I would say at £650 it's decent value, at £950 it isn't though.

I'd still be tempted by the sirrus though.

If your interested in the Marin, choose a size smaller than you normally would do, they measure up big cos of the way they measure them.

Dan

AndyManc

Being a Trek owner myself (not this model) how about this ..



The Trek 7.7FX (I've got the cheap 7.3fx), Trek have got a good name in this class of bike.

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/bike_path/fx/77fx/

gtvlusso

Build your own!! The spend the rest on your better half.....earning some brownie points.



Goes like stink and cost me feck all to build. Weight is 8.7 kgs.

girv73

Daniel B wrote:

Slightly different suggestion, how about a 2009 Marin Mill Valley

FWIW, a friend of mine has the '08 and really rates it.

fred_easey

The Marin does seem rather good value @ £650.

Has anyone bought from that site before here? Price almost seems to good to be true!

adrianb1066

fred_easey wrote:

The Marin does seem rather good value @ £650.

Has anyone bought from that site before here? Price almost seems to good to be true!

If in doubt pay on a credit card NOT a bank debit card, then you are toatally covered for any non-delivery or theft HTH

el_presidente

gtvlusso wrote:

Build your own!! The spend the rest on your better half.....earning some brownie points.



Goes like stink and cost me feck all to build. Weight is 8.7 kgs.

GTV - keep your eye on those paired spoke XERO wheels. I had a pair on my Giant SCR and after hitting a pothole at speed the rim cracked right through at a set of spoke holes, leaving the nipples pulling right through the rim. When you think about it, it is an obvious weakness with the design. I'm sure yours will be fine but just make sure you eyeball them for cracks every now & then.

daniel_b

fred_easey wrote:

The Marin does seem rather good value @ £650.

Has anyone bought from that site before here? Price almost seems to good to be true!

Yes I agree!

I haven't shopped with them before, but have certainly browsed the site a few times, as they do have good deals that come up on froogle etc from time to time.

Haven't heard anything bad or good about them, just did a web search and didn't turn up anything either.

As Adrian said, if you go for it, stick it on CC then it's their problem if it doesn't turn up.

I looked around to see if there were any good deals on the full carbon highway one, but the cheapest I could see was around £1600 :shock:

I bought my 05 Highway one this year for £350, and this Mill Valley is pretty much a similar spec, frame especially, and better in some parts I think, rear derailleur is Ultegra, and mine is 105.

In that light it looks even better value!

If I hadn't just bought another bike, I would be sorely tempted to get one.
A: It's a Marin (You can probaly see I am rather partial to them)
B: It's bargainous, and for me a bargain is all part of the purchase appeal

However, even I can't really justify it right now :roll:

Dan

Greg T

el_presidente wrote:

GTV - keep your eye on those paired spoke XERO wheels. I had a pair on my Giant SCR and after hitting a pothole at speed the rim cracked right through at a set of spoke holes, leaving the nipples pulling right through the rim.

I've had a set of paired spoke Bonntragers - didn't have a catastrophic failure but they lost true very quickly....

gtvlusso

el_presidente wrote:

gtvlusso wrote:

Build your own!! The spend the rest on your better half.....earning some brownie points.



Goes like stink and cost me feck all to build. Weight is 8.7 kgs.

GTV - keep your eye on those paired spoke XERO wheels. I had a pair on my Giant SCR and after hitting a pothole at speed the rim cracked right through at a set of spoke holes, leaving the nipples pulling right through the rim. When you think about it, it is an obvious weakness with the design. I'm sure yours will be fine but just make sure you eyeball them for cracks every now & then.

Hiya,
I have had those on for about 2 years now - they were £99 new, hence the purchase! I have not seen any cracks yet, but I am furtunate in the road surfaces I ride on - good advice though, I will keep an eye from now on more diligently though. As for truing, I am sad enough to check truing on all my bikes once a month...only takes a couple of minutes a wheel - I made a device using an old micrometer and welded some bits of steel together....seems to be fine and the Xero wheels have remainded pretty good, with little adjustment.

el_presidente

I did hit a massive pothole at about 40 mph so I expect you will be fine

woodyonthebeach

being a bit of trek and specialized fan. Had no complaints with either of my bikes.

Being a bit of car lover as they are pretty to look at, well the fast expensive ones that is I watch topgear and i recall one of the challenges they used sirrus.

Pretty much dominated the challege in the end. and they have named a cider after it. So it must be good

Bagman

fred_easey wrote:

Ridgeback Genesis:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/rid ... e-ec001118

Just about to buy the Genesis Day 03 myself. Looks good and has some very positive reviews.