Crumbs this is tricky - buying a new bike?

rollingp

Oh help please.

A couple of months ago my new Kona Sutra 2009 was stolen from my office. Alas, my bike wasn't insured. (I learned that lesson). Anyway I need to buy a replacement bike and I am really struggling to know what to buy?

I didn't really like the Kona Sutra as it was tooo heavy and I didn't get on very well with the bar-end shifters.

Anywho ...current thinking is very mixed-up as you can see from my short-list?!

a. Touring (Titanium) - Van Nicholas Amazon
Very versatile, could be touring bike and a commuter? However, quite expensive top end of budget. (Budget is constrained by guilt and if I have to fess-up to the missus, current guilt threshold is at about £2,500 anymore and my face would give it away).

b. Commuting (Aluminum) - Trek Pilot 2.1
Its a solid commuting bike, with possibilities for racks etc for touring. Its under £1k and so could buy on Cycle to work scheme? Sensible choice, but........

c. Touring (Steel) - Condor Fratello
Looks interesting option and it would hit touring needs. Solid commuter as well.

d. Mountain hard tail - Trek 8000
I know, but .......hmmm not sure if I could use it for commuting, but trails are calling ..... rats I think I need to buy three bikes.

So this is my dilemma. I have a tried and trusted Trek 1500 sitting in the garage, which I love and use at w/e but wouldn't want to use for commuting. I have ideas of dropping work and venturing out for a tour around the world, alas family and work, means that will probably never happen, however I could delude myself by buying a touring bike, which is daft. Probably what I really need is a good commuting bike. I also can't decide if I should go for a mountain bike as I also would quite like to hit the trails occasionally, however I'm a roadie at heart.

Besides competing in some sportives next year I'm also riding the "Ride Across Britain" and so I might need to splurge and buy a bike suitable for that event?

Oh bother, bother, I really can't decide ...... any help or advice would be greatly welcomed.

Cheers


Paul

redddraggon

I'd go for the Van Nicholas out of those.

skyd0g

*thought*
...for your potential budget, you could buy yourself a very nice tourer/commuter and buy the missus a nice bike too! Thereby shifting the guilt, and it would be a potential early X**s prezzie for her.

rollingp

After much dithering I've finally decided. I need three new bikes.

1. Commuter
I ordered Boardman Hybrid Pro bike on Monday should arrive sometime this week. I need a reliable commuting bike, and the boardman hybrid pro seems to hit the mark.

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_pro.html

2. Mountain bike
I plan on using my cycle to work vouchers to buy a Trek 6500 to hit the trials over the winter.

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/mo ... ies/6500e/

3. Replacement road bike
I will buy a new road bike sometime next year for the 2010 Ride Across Britain. Dithering between a Trek Madone 5.9 or a Cervelo R3.

So that's the plan, however, probably will get shot down when the missus finds out.

Chip \'oyler

rollingp wrote:

After much dithering I've finally decided. I need three new bikes.

1. Commuter
I ordered Boardman Hybrid Pro bike on Monday should arrive sometime this week. I need a reliable commuting bike, and the boardman hybrid pro seems to hit the mark.

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/hybrid/hybrid_pro.html

2. Mountain bike
I plan on using my cycle to work vouchers to buy a Trek 6500 to hit the trials over the winter.

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/mo ... ies/6500e/

3. Replacement road bike
I will buy a new road bike sometime next year for the 2010 Ride Across Britain. Dithering between a Trek Madone 5.9 or a Cervelo R3.

So that's the plan, however, probably will get shot down when the missus finds out.

Either your boss is very kind or you have very deep pockets. I was interested in doing this myself but then saw the price!