Another "What Bike" question :)

DevUK
DevUK Posts: 299
edited August 2009 in Commuting chat
Looking for a daily commute to replace my Trek 7.5 FX which is too fragile for my "manly" frame/girth :oops:

I'm after something quite lite, 700c wheels would be nice as well as disc brakes. I already have a bulky MTB so I'm looking for that good inbetween. I prefer flat bars too.

Obviously I'm describing a hybrid here, but it needs to be a comfortable, lite bike which is pretty sturdy. I want to use it for the daily commute (3 miles each way, soon to be more like 5 when I move) and be able to cope with the really terrible roads in Coventry. I also want to use it for weekend rides :)

I'll be getting it on the cycle to work scheme, which for me is limited to £750. I'd prefer to spend a little less, but £750 is my upper limit!

Having shopped around a few local shops, I quite like the look of the Gary Fisher Menona and Mendota (not sure about the wheels on the Mendota).

I also like the look of the Cube Hooper. Really quite sexy, but a little over the price range (though I could probably sell my Trek to cover the extra). I'm not sure about the 8 speed though.

I was looking at the Specialized Globe/Centrum range, the San Francisco 1. But again, unsure about the single/3 gears. I had a guy in my LBS tell me the 3 gears were quite different so it wasn't very smooth going from one to the other.

Anyhow, any suggestions along the lines of the above?

Thanks in advance :)
FCN Daily commute = 11
FCN Fixie commute = 5

Comments

  • Wallace1492
    Wallace1492 Posts: 3,707
    Come to the Dark Side....
    "Encyclopaedia is a fetish for very small bicycles"
  • Cychologist
    Cychologist Posts: 39
    scott sub 10 / 20 / 30
    Reykjavikian commuter with his knees in a bunch

    Scott Speedster S30 FCN 5 / Jamis Durango SX FCN 11
  • DevUK
    DevUK Posts: 299
    Wallace1492 wrote:
    Come to the Dark Side....

    Is that some weird MTB/curly bars concoction? I had thought about trying out the classic 90's commuter build, but it might be too expensive to do without the cycle scheme paying upfront.

    I'd love a classic Kona frame...
    FCN Daily commute = 11
    FCN Fixie commute = 5
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,953
    What about a lovely DR Dew?

    t2k9_drdew.jpg

    Was looking for a Marin Mill Valley, but no good deals on at the mo.

    Dan
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • DevUK
    DevUK Posts: 299
    The Scott Sub 30 looks quite good, but not sure I like the frame. Looks a bit angular for my taste.

    I really like the look of the Dr Dew actually :) Bit unsure of the colour, but ticks most of the boxes! It's on sale at Evans too - £699.

    Hmn... Tempting :D Any other suggestions?
    FCN Daily commute = 11
    FCN Fixie commute = 5
  • Eau Rouge
    Eau Rouge Posts: 1,118
    In what way is the Trek "too fragile"? I really can't imagine the frame ever breaking from being used by a "manly" person. Wheels can be a tad fragile, racing carbon tubulars, for example, but beefier wheels can be bought for a lot less than a whole bike that will probably only have the same strength wheels anyway

    "Comfort" is relative, but a carbon fork would be a minimum. I wouldn't rate flat bars as any more comfortable than any other type.

    I'm from the school of thought that says disc brakes are dead weight unless you're planning to ride in some serious mud, which tarmaced roads don't have.

    Whats with this 8-speed/3-speed stuff? Aren't even the lower end Shimano ones 10 speed these days?
  • DevUK
    DevUK Posts: 299
    Eau Rouge wrote:
    In what way is the Trek "too fragile"? I really can't imagine the frame ever breaking from being used by a "manly" person. Wheels can be a tad fragile, racing carbon tubulars, for example, but beefier wheels can be bought for a lot less than a whole bike that will probably only have the same strength wheels anyway

    It is mainly the wheels on the trek. But then, they're only 24 spoke. Every bump in the road makes me concerned I'll pop another spoke. I had a new wheel recently (thankfully under warranty) and it's holding OK so far. I just want something more sturdy.

    Also, to upgrade the wheels and a few other components on the trek would take £100 - £200 or maybe more. I don't have that to splash out in one go, whereas with the cycle scheme it just comes out of the pay packet every month and it's not as noticeable.
    Eau Rouge wrote:
    I'm from the school of thought that says disc brakes are dead weight unless you're planning to ride in some serious mud, which tarmaced roads don't have.

    Again, disc's aren't a necessity, but having discs on my MTB and V brakes on my trek, the discs have required virtually no fiddling with, whereas my V brakes seem to go out of whack quite easily. And then they're a pain to get sorted out without some sort of rubbing going on.
    Eau Rouge wrote:
    Whats with this 8-speed/3-speed stuff? Aren't even the lower end Shimano ones 10 speed these days?

    Those bikes have 8 speed and 3 speed hubs, with internal gears. No front or rear derailleurs. So literally only 3 or 8 gears :)
    FCN Daily commute = 11
    FCN Fixie commute = 5
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    The Giant FCR 1 is worth a look if after a flat bar roadie commuter:

    http://s233299868.e-shop.info/shop/arti ... -1-09.html

    Giant claim it weighs 19lbs.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    edited August 2009
    There are others in the dew range from Kona - Dew, Dew Plus, Dew Delux etc. The Dew Plus or Dew Delux might suit as well.

    All are on special at Evans as the 2010 models should be arriving in a few months. These are the current 2009 models:

    kona-dew-2009-hybrid-bike.jpg
    kona-dew-plus-2009-hybrid-bike.jpg
    kona-dew-deluxe-2009-hybrid-bike.jpg
  • Eau Rouge
    Eau Rouge Posts: 1,118
    DevUK wrote:
    It is mainly the wheels on the trek. But then, they're only 24 spoke. Every bump in the road makes me concerned I'll pop another spoke. I had a new wheel recently (thankfully under warranty) and it's holding OK so far. I just want something more sturdy.

    Also, to upgrade the wheels and a few other components on the trek would take £100 - £200 or maybe more. I don't have that to splash out in one go, whereas with the cycle scheme it just comes out of the pay packet every month and it's not as noticeable.

    Are the wheels on the bikes your looking at any stronger than the ones you already have though?
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    Hi,

    Don't know why the image tags aren't working - the 2009 dews are here:

    http://bikes.konaworld.com/09/09_dewplus_en.cfm

    and the 2010 here:

    http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=dewplus
  • DevUK
    DevUK Posts: 299
    g00se wrote:
    Hi,

    Don't know why the image tags aren't working - the 2009 dews are here:

    http://bikes.konaworld.com/09/09_dewplus_en.cfm

    and the 2010 here:

    http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=dewplus

    Try removing the "?1227141295" off of the end of the image links. It might fix it :)
    FCN Daily commute = 11
    FCN Fixie commute = 5
  • g00se
    g00se Posts: 2,221
    DevUK wrote:
    g00se wrote:
    Hi,

    Don't know why the image tags aren't working - the 2009 dews are here:

    http://bikes.konaworld.com/09/09_dewplus_en.cfm

    and the 2010 here:

    http://www.konaworld.com/bike.cfm?content=dewplus

    Try removing the "?1227141295" off of the end of the image links. It might fix it :)

    Worked a treat - I edited the original post.

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