Bike for gravel tracks, towpaths and roads

AliR

Hi,

I'm fairly new to cycling and I love it, but I don't know much about the different sorts of bikes or the technical terms...

I've got a mountain bike with knobbly tyres but find it very slow on roads (though great on tracks!) and can't keep up with my friends who have cyclo-cross bikes or hybrids.

I'm thinking about getting a different bike - pref with drop handlebars - that'll be good on distances of about 50 miles on roads and forest tracks. Please has anyone any advice on whether I should be looking at a hybrid or a tourer or a cyclo-cross and the different characteristics of these bikes. My budget's about £700.

Thank you.

x8swift9x

Hybrid is out of the question

A tourer is basically a road bike with a more 'relaxed' geometry. Allowing the rider to be comfortable whilst covering great distances on road, not off. They tend to have standard tires. They will have mounts for racks/mudguards though. Not suited toward your needs exactly.

Cyclo-cross bikes geometry is similar to a standard road bike. Their difference is the f&f has greater clearance allowing tires suiting toward offroad riding to be fitted. For what you've said you want to do; I would recommend choosing a Cyclo-cross bike.

Wiggle have three which fall into your price bracket, but very limited choice of stock atm. Your best bet, as you say your fairly new to cycling would be to try your LBS (local bike shop) They will help you find the correct bike to suit your size etc. Fit is everything! Test ride as many as you can to make sure you get the bike thats right for you. Evans tend to have a selection in store when I pop in there.[/url]

fast as fupp

tyres its spelt t-y-r-e-s

thankyou

Slow Downcp

If it's just forest trcaks and bridleways any standard road bike will do, preferebaly with mudguards. Fit some decent tyres and you'll be okay.

x8swift9x

fast as fupp wrote:

tyres its spelt t-y-r-e-s

thankyou

Sorry sorry! Was too tired to notice. I blame my stupid macbook with it's american ways!

maddog 2

yep a CXer sounds ideal eg. the Tricross or numerous others. See Kona, Genesis, Focus, Trek, etc.

Have a look at the Trek Portland too. Good value do-it-all type bike. A bit over budget but you should be able to haggle it down to closer to £900

http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/product_11665.htm

It all depends on the balance between 'roadie' and 'offroadie' you pick. If it's mostly road with the odd towpath then a roadie with 28mm tyres will be fine. If it's at the other end of the spectrum and you want something stronger and tougher then the CXer or equivalent, possibly with discs, will be a better option.

fast as fupp

x8swift9x wrote:

fast as fupp wrote:

tyres its spelt t-y-r-e-s

thankyou

Sorry sorry! Was too tired to notice. I blame my stupid macbook with it's american ways!

you are forgiven but i have to go now- someone has used the word 'gotten' on another thread :evil:

AliR

Thanks for your posts, everyone!

Hadn't heard about the Trek Portland before, does anyone know if it is good for a winter road bike, too - distances of about 60 miles? I've done some more thinking on this and am really getting into road-biking so am now thinking of a winter road bike / all year commute bike / occasional mixed stuff with 25% forest tracks - and keeping my mountain bike for real off-road.

The reason the Trek is appealing is that I have a Trek 1400 and I love it and presumably the geometry would be the same / I'd need the same size frame (52cm).

AliR

Ooh didn't realise when you updated a topic it went to the front page again! Thought no one would see this from September.
I've also done a similar post called "Trek Portland?", please reply to either, I'll keep an eye on both,
Ta!

pmurph

fast as fupp wrote:

tyres its spelt t-y-r-e-s

thankyou

If we're being pedantic, "thank you" is two words, and surely you mean "tyres is spelled t-y-r-e-s"?

("Spelt" is not wrong, but as it can also refer to a type of wheat, it's probably better to use the "ed" ending to avoid ambiguity.)

Edit: Sorry, posted before answering the OP. I bought a cyclocross bike, as I thought it was a good compromise and would allow me to take a road bike off road at times. In reality, it's never been used off road, and I realise now that I should have just got a road bike. I'd make a decision based on what type of riding you want to do. Compromises have a tendency to be disappointing, IME.