Advice reqd on bike choice

RudeNot2

Please forgive this as a first post...

I am in the process of sorting out which bike to go for as part of the cycle to work scheme. The limit set is £500 although if required I could add to this.

I have been cycling for a number of years on a Carrera Kraken (Halfords approx 10 years ago) but now with the option of the c2w scheme feel the need / ability to upgrade. The bike that has attracted my attention is the Scott Sportster P3. My issue is the price that the LBS is asking compared to Evans and possibly other stores. The difference is approx £80 - taking the cost of the bike to £650..

Can anyone recommend a similar specced steed for around the £500 mark?

This bike will be mainly used for commuting and road work, did consider a "road" bike but prefer the riding position of MTB style.

I am going to retain the Kraken for riverbanks and as near to off-road as I will take it also with a view to teaching myself the required maintenance.

Thanks in advance.

bigmat

I think you'll find nobody on this forum has a strong opinion on choice of bike for commuting

sarajoy

Haha Mat!!

Well, it's worth considering drop-handled road bikes. I hear they're nice if you can get on with them.

BUT given your question, I went for much the same style in a Specialized Vita Sport (the plain Vita model below had gripshift gears, which I don't get on with). It cost me about £390, verrrry nice.

The Vita bikes are woman-specific, however they're almost identical in style and components to the unisex Specialized Sirrus range - which I gather are similarly priced.

DonDaddyD

*Holds head in hands*

Taken from this thread: Beginners guide to commuting

....drop handle bars are not as daunting as they seem. They offer a large number of different riding positions. The ability to shift your hands into different places on the handle bars means that you can also rotate your shoulders, upper and lower back reducing the potential for cramp and/or back/shoulder pain while riding the bike. Example below:

Despite my strong leaning towards road bikes, its about getting the right bike for you.

Are you planning on riding long (15mile +) distances and want as close to road bike performace as possible? If so then a flat bar road bike is the way forward. - I have to say that there is no reason not to go for drops is you choose this type of bike the flat bar riding position is easily duplicated with more comfort options due to the drop handle bars.

If you want more agility, but less straight line speed. Then a hybrid (moutain bike frame, no suspension and slick tyres) is the bike for you.

Giant Escape range, Cannondale Badboy, any Ridgeback Hybrid, Pinnacle Mean Streak 2 will all do the job if you want to go the hybrid route.

Giant FCR (good price), Specialized Sirrus will do the job if you go for a flat bar road bike.

But from what you've said, if you are planning to ride on purely the road, I think you should get a road bike.

il_principe

We'd really need more info on what you plan to do with the bike, length/type of rides etc. Given you have a bike for off roadish then I would suggest a Specialized Allez:



£566.99 @ Evans. I've owned an Allez and they are wonderful bikes.

andy83

jash wondered if you could help me, was just going to post a topic asking which to get out of that bike or the trek 1.2
http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/1_series/12e/

finallly got work to agree to c2w scheme after 7 months of me trying, but im well chuffed, considering i got the bike in my sig to commute on and wasnt looking forward to another summer of rides on it

commute is currently only 3miles but on nicer more comfortable bike want to increase it to at least 15 miles in the morning. last summer i was getting 1 20-30 mile ride a week plus the commute, but want to increase this but my current bike gets too heavy

so main question is going from the bike in my sig and never riden a rode bike which you suggest i go for??

if i could get a little cheaper then all the better but have narrowed it down to two bikes mentioned. can only get insured upto £500 as have to go through house insurance as bike in shed and dont think most insures would cover me and my bike in a shed lol

also any idea how much a month ill be paying on a 12 month c2w program

Roastie

RudeNot2 wrote:

This bike will be mainly used for commuting and road work, did consider a "road" bike but prefer the riding position of MTB style.

Ride all options and buy the one you like best.

RudeNot2

Thanks for the info folks.

Going to the only alternative LBS tomorrow to see what they can offer.

Years ago I had a Dawes roadbike and got on fine with it, the Allez does look the business. One thing that I do remember about the Dawes was the twin levers for the gearshift on the downtube, cannot see anything like that in Jash's attached pic.??

As for the intended rides - over and above the commute (only about 5 miles each way) I am looking to make use of parts of the NCN and general rides on local country roads. Probably 40 - 50 miles at a time. Taking detours off through woodland fire tracks would be good as well - though this would probably rule out the roadbike choice.

Don't need (or for that matter want) to be the fastest but just to generally improve my fitness and get out and enjoy the freshair after being in the office all week.

Cheers

Dave

Eau Rouge

RudeNot2 wrote:

Thanks for the info folks.

Going to the only alternative LBS tomorrow to see what they can offer.

Years ago I had a Dawes roadbike and got on fine with it, the Allez does look the business. One thing that I do remember about the Dawes was the twin levers for the gearshift on the downtube, cannot see anything like that in Jash's attached pic.??

As for the intended rides - over and above the commute (only about 5 miles each way) I am looking to make use of parts of the NCN and general rides on local country roads. Probably 40 - 50 miles at a time. Taking detours off through woodland fire tracks would be good as well - though this would probably rule out the roadbike choice.

Don't need (or for that matter want) to be the fastest but just to generally improve my fitness and get out and enjoy the freshair after being in the office all week.

Cheers

Dave

Downtube shifters were replaced years ago by combined brakes/shifters. The basic idea is that you change gears using a little paddle behind the brake leavers. There are three variations on the details by each of the three main manufacturers. The old bike I dragged out of the shed last year had downtube shifters, the bike I've borrowed for the past couple of months has brake/shifters and they are a lot lot better. I wouldn't even consider switching back.

40-50 miles is definitely drop-bars territory for me, but if you do want to use some woodland tracks and the cycling network, then have you looked at Cyclocross bikes? They seem to be flavour of the month around here these days, even if they are deviant strange beasts.

rally200

Go for an 08 Allez (better spec components but not the flashy top tube) , or 08 giant scr - and that'll get you a road bike in your budget