Which fast commuter bike should I buy (£1000 ish)

jbacon69

I need to purchase a new bike for commuting and some weekend riding. My daily commute is 8 miles each way on a fairly flat route.

I previously had a Ridgeback Genesis Day 03 (2007) flat bar which I really liked until it was stolen last week! I liked the light sportive style of this bike and found it pretty quick (although I did find i suffered from a few too many punctures)

I have been looking online at the new ridgeback range e.g flight 04 / 05 and also the Scott Speedster S30 30 speed Flat Bar 2009 Road Bike. Anyone got one of these?

Has anyone got any advice / recommendations bearing in mind I would like a quick flat bar road type bike rather than a heavier Hybrid bike - but fairly robust when it comes to puntcures and dealing with some on North londons roads.

Thanks in advance for any advice

il_principe

jbacon69 wrote:

I need to purchase a new bike for commuting and some weekend riding. My daily commute is 8 miles each way on a fairly flat route.

I previously had a Ridgeback Genesis Day 03 (2007) flat bar which I really liked until it was stolen last week! I liked the light sportive style of this bike and found it pretty quick (although I did find i suffered from a few too many punctures)

I have been looking online at the new ridgeback range e.g flight 04 / 05 and also the Scott Speedster S30 30 speed Flat Bar 2009 Road Bike. Anyone got one of these?

Has anyone got any advice / recommendations bearing in mind I would like a quick flat bar road type bike rather than a heavier Hybrid bike - but fairly robust when it comes to puntcures and dealing with some on North londons roads.

Thanks in advance for any advice

Punctures are a tire issue not a bike issue. The overwhelming response on here will be:

"Get a drop bar bike"

And I'm afraid I'm gonna be the first to say it. 8 Miles + weekend riding = roadbike with drops. Any roadbike is perfectly capable of dealing with London roads. For £1000 I'd look at the Focus range from Wiggle, Cube bikes, Giant Defy, Specialized Allez.

There's a huge amount out there at the £1000 mark. Get the best frame you can afford, and groupset wise i'd look at - Shimano 105 or Campagnolo Veloce as the minimum.

Go to some decent shops - there are a few in London, and try out some options, see what you like.

amnezia

Get a drop bar bike

CiB

Get a drop bar bike

Search the various tyres threads on here to resolve the PF issue.

Put your name on the SC Stats list and work your way past the 4000 milers.

Greg T

Get a drop bar bike

Flat bars offer nothing over drops - honest.

I like the Focus's they look mean - loads of choice in the 1K bracket - I think they are all much the same to be honest - getting one the right size is important.

getting one from your LBS and going with what they've got is a good idea in itself as you'll need them to look after you later.

prawny

Drop bar bike, boardman team carbon, buy it online and then you can stay away from halfords. Obviously go in for a sit on but they won't let you ride them. BTW all the boardman road frames have the same geometry si it doesn't matter if they haven't got the team in stock.

pllb

I suggest this BeOne Storm from CRC http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31039

bargain if it fits £725 (with full 105 groupset), I have last years model but this one looks way better!

DonDaddyD

Don't get a drop bar bike.....

No seriously get a drop bar road bike.

Carbon Fibre options:
Focus Cayo 105
Boardman
Dolan Mythos
Planet X

Aluminium options:
Specialized Allez
Giant Defy
Trek
Scott
Bianchi Via Nirone or 1885
Kiron
Wilier

Many many many more options all decent - hard pushed to find a "bad" road in that price range most receiving good - brilliant reviews in one review/test or another.

A road bike will eat up your commute and open up many many possibilities of weekend riding.

Welcome.

Christophe3967

Greg T wrote:

Get a drop bar bike

Flat bars offer nothing over drops - honest.

I like the Focus's they look mean - loads of choice in the 1K bracket - I think they are all much the same to be honest - getting one the right size is important.

getting one from your LBS and going with what they've got is a good idea in itself as you'll need them to look after you later.

+1 Also worth having alook at the Kiron Scandium, again from Wiggle which has had good reviews as well - its got lots of Easton kit including wheels and a mix of Shimano Ultegra and 105 running gear.

gabriel959

Also Orbea bikes ...

You can have a Orbea Aqua Mortirolo for £999 and has got some great kit and looks!

Orbea Carbon forks
Shimano 2009 Ultegra 10sp compact groupset
Shimano RS20 clincher wheelset
Vittoria Zafiro tyres
Orbea Cat I stem and bars
Orbea carbon seatpost
Selle Italia X2 Pro saddle

Or you can have an Orbea Vuelta 105 - £1099
Zeus Ziccs AC Carbon forks
Shimano 105 groupset
Shimano R500 compact chainset
Orbea pro Silver brake callipers
Shimano 500 clincher wheelset
Vittoria Zafiro tyres
Zeus Cat I stem and handlebars
Zeus carbon seatpost
Orbea XR Transam saddle

Lifetime warranty, racing pedigree (look at the tour today), great service from Epic (if you go with them)!

UndercoverElephant

You know, when I saw the title of this thread, I was expecting you to get loads of replies advising you to get a drop-bar bike...

starseven

Get a drop bar bike ( but try find one with mudguard clearance)

I have a similar commute mostly flat but with just one fairly gentle descent about a mile long. Last week the guy in front was on a sporty flat bar bike, hammering away he looked the part skinny muscles, skinny tyres getting as low as he could. I m fat and forty but was able to get low enough on my Allez to amble past him without really trying.

Its all wind resistance past 20mph.

I just wish they would put some room for mudgaurds on these bikes. In a couple of months I'm gonna be back on a slick tyred mtb and slim jim on his flat bar bike will be long gone.

mrchrispy

I'm getting a ribble winter trainer with a tiagra groupset and taking it upto the cyclescheme 1000 limit with a bling set of wheels. the wheels are going on my focus cayo and the cayos will go on the ribble bike.

going to be much better commuting on the ribble than the old mtb.

jamesco

jbacon69 wrote:

Has anyone got any advice / recommendations bearing in mind I would like a quick flat bar road type bike rather than a heavier Hybrid bike - but fairly robust when it comes to puntcures and dealing with some on North londons roads.

Thanks in advance for any advice

Get a flat-bar bike.

If it's what you want then why not get it? The drop-bike riders on the forum (some of the time I'm one of them!) are very vocal, but seriously, in London I *never* see anyone riding on the drops and can't see any advantage for them in the city. There's 67 sets of lights on my commute - having easy access to the brakes is a lot more handy than a theoretical aero position that's never used. The line about having multiple hand positions on drop bars cracks me up - if someone can cycle even 1 mile in London without twiddling his thumbs at the lights, then he must live & work on a canal path

Just my two cents..

il_principe

jamesco wrote:

jbacon69 wrote:

Has anyone got any advice / recommendations bearing in mind I would like a quick flat bar road type bike rather than a heavier Hybrid bike - but fairly robust when it comes to puntcures and dealing with some on North londons roads.

Thanks in advance for any advice

Get a flat-bar bike.

If it's what you want then why not get it? The drop-bike riders on the forum (some of the time I'm one of them!) are very vocal, but seriously, in London I *never* see anyone riding on the drops and can't see any advantage for them in the city. There's 67 sets of lights on my commute - having easy access to the brakes is a lot more handy than a theoretical aero position that's never used. The line about having multiple hand positions on drop bars cracks me up - if someone can cycle even 1 mile in London without twiddling his thumbs at the lights, then he must live & work on a canal path

Just my two cents..

But note the OP's comment:

I need to purchase a new bike for commuting and some weekend riding. My daily commute is 8 miles each way on a fairly flat route.

If you want weekends and commutes then drops offer the best of both worlds...

jamesco

Il Principe wrote:

But note the OP's comment:

I need to purchase a new bike for commuting and some weekend riding. My daily commute is 8 miles each way on a fairly flat route.

If you want weekends and commutes then drops offer the best of both worlds...

Yup, thought about that, but 8 miles each way is 80 miles of commuting a week, which more than likely outweighs 'some' weekend riding for most commuters (not your weekend rides, I know, I know )

My point is that if the OP likes flat-bar bikes then we should try to help with his bike recommendations based on that, not try to convert him to drop bars.

Getting back to the original post - best thing is to find a store which has the bikes you're looking at and take them out for a ride.

fatblokefromwarwick

Firstly welcome to the forum and my suggestion would be for one of these, no seriously have a look at one, they're brill,

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/urban/soho/soho/

mrchrispy

test rode a soho and tbh i didnt rate it for the money.
i just couldnt bring myself to get one....it was too 'sensible'
this trek district on the other hand is a thing of beauty, if I was after a SS then she'd be top of my list.

il_principe

You two are mental! I hate that OTP fakenger look...

and roller brakes ffs?

fossyant

That Trek is horrid...........

hivizyellow

Ok - so I'm new here...go easy on me.

I am looking at the same issue.
Anyone tried a Trek Portland?
Also looking at the 2010 Specialized Allez Elite with some added brake handles on the uprights (they offer it as an option....)

BTW - yeah that Trek is not special.

Hi Viz Yellow

cjcp

The Specialized is a nice looking bike, but I'm not convinced it represents the best value (I'm assuming it's fitted with Shimano 105). The Focus Cayo offers a carbon frame with 105 for that price, whereas the Spesh is an alu frame albeit with carbon seat stays.

Here's a review of the 2009 model: http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... e-09-33633

For that price, you could build a bike with:

A Ribble frame for £130
Carbon/alu fork
Campag Veloce Groupset (Shimano is more expensive th an Campy atm)
Handbuilt Mavic Open Pros (better than those on the Spesh)

My bike (see the sig below) is based around a no-name 7005 alu frame I bought off ebay for £110-odd. So, the Focus Variado Expert will do the job for you just fine.

Have a look at the bike builder options on Ribble and Planet X. The Focus and Kiron bikes on Wiggle also represent good value.

DonDaddyD

From my personal experience Drop bar vs Flat bar:

My wrists began to hurt when I used to ride a flat bar. Later in the week the pain would spread to my shoulders and lower back as the miles would add up.

I had less of that problem with my commuting road bike - with its relaxed road bike position (longer head tube). The problem is almost non-existant with my Karma which is smaller and has a more aggressive riding position than my commuting road bike.

A flat bar and hybrid style riding position is immediately comfortable and somewhat easier to ride (though highly debatable), but for me, as the miles added and/or riding longer distances the rigid riding position quickly became uncomfortable.

My conclusion was that there is a reason why they put bar ends on a flat bar other than riding up hill and if that is the case there is no reason not to go for the drop bar varient as drops offer more riding position and therefore more comfort over longer distances.

DonDaddyD

@hivzyellow

You may be thinking go with the brands you know, sold in the bike shops but the Focus Varido sold from Wiggle is around that price range and is generally a better frame with better spec.

symo

Boardman or Focus, best calue for money for the price IMHO. I would say Kiron Scandium, but you can't get them anymore.

I have one it's brilliant.

il_principe

cjcp wrote:

Campag Veloce Groupset (Shimano is more expensive than Campy atm)
.

and better.

cjcp

Il Principe wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Campag Veloce Groupset (Shimano is more expensive than Campy atm)
.

and better.

Don't start. You know you're on to a loser.

biondino

Il Principe wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Campag Veloce Groupset (Shimano is more expensive than Campy atm)
.

and better.

No, he's absolutely right, Shimano IS better.

il_principe

biondino wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Campag Veloce Groupset (Shimano is more expensive than Campy atm)
.

and better.

No, he's absolutely right, Shimano IS better.

Yours didn't sound better on Sunday though...

moonio

hmmm you peeps have just made me want to take a trip to Condor Cycles which is just across the road from me. and check out new bikes...

BBIAB

roger_merriman

biondino wrote:

Il Principe wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Campag Veloce Groupset (Shimano is more expensive than Campy atm)
.

and better.

No, he's absolutely right, Shimano IS better.

older any way!