I am looking for some advise on new bike

trejmas

Hi there,
I am looking for some advise on new bike. I am currently commuting around 15 miles a day to work in London on mountain bike but I would like to upgrade and get something faster and more challenging (I am very much into spinning classes). I would like something that I can use regardless the weather (summer or winter, sunshine or rain) on London roads, something reasonably durably and puncture resistant. I can not make up mind between fast hybrids, road or cross bikes.

Here is some bikes that I have on my list:
- hybrids: Specialized Sirrus Elite,
Ridgeback Flight 01
Giant Rapid 2

- road bikes: Giant Defy
Specialized Allez
Specialized Allez Elite

And finally cross bikes: Specialized Tricross
Marin Lombard ( Does anyone have any experience with this bike, I really like it?)
Giant TCX 2


I would really appreciate any help and advice!

Thomas

the_village_idiot

i was in a similar situation to you a few months back- i kept on going around in circles!!!

This was my thought process:

1) MTB are way too heavy & off road. You think it doesn't make a difference- until you try a commuter bike!

2) Pure road bikes have v agressive posture and vv thin tyres. Not ideal for commuting- and you would have to be vv careful if going onto a curb etc etc

3) Most bikes can be customised to your needs- but IMO it makes sense to start with the most appropriate bike then just tweak!

4) The type of tyres you have will be a major factor- go for pretty narrow tyres with some tread but not too much- if there is horrendous snow/rain and you are really worried you can always put more knobly tyres on!

For me- a cyclocross bike fitted the requirements pefectly! My only complaints are:

a) stopping power isn't as good as brake discs

b) my cyclocross bike is geared for a fit rider!!! Very steep hills are therefore tough! I think the Tricross bikes have broader gears

I went for a Kona Jake Snake Cyclocross bike and dont regret it- havn't needed to do ANYTHING to her to make her commute suitable. I did really like the tricross when i rode it too.

Unless you plan on touring for MILES (hence a road bike) or want to mount curbs at speed/do serious off road (MTB) a cyclocross or commuting bike makes the most sense IMO

Headhuunter

Welcome. Best thing is to try the bkes an find out which one you feel most comfortable on. If you think that you might start to want to join a bike club and do club runs an eventually sportives then go for a road bike, of you want something relatively fast for commuting but that feels familiar after a mountain bike, then a racing hybrid may be better.

Aidy

For London commuting, I don't think weather limits bike choice.

I've been riding a road bike throughout (sun, rain, wind, snow and slush), and I don't reckon I'd've been better off on anything else.
After a particularly snowy/slushy day, I did ride one of the mountain bikes in - mainly because it had better brakes. Still reckon I'd've been better off on a road bike.

I think my ideal would be some sort of bike with proper road geometry, drop bars, rack mounts, and disc mounts. Hmm.... Cotic Roadrats...

Oddjob62

trejmas wrote:

London
more challenging
spinning classes

Ever thought of going fixed?

Eau Rouge

You have to be north of 100 mph to get a 100psi tyre to aquaplane, regardless of whether it has any thread pattern or not. Any bike will slip just the same on ice so I don't think weather is a factor here.
"durable" only really effects wheels, and the wheels on a similarly priced hybrid aren't going to be any better than on a road bike.
"puncture proof" is a function of the tyres alone, and you'll buy the same tyres for any bike.

So if you're going to be on the road, in London, a road bike would seem ideal. Where on the race->touring scale you look depends on how much you'll be carrying and how fast you want to go.

Rothsay

I have recently purchased a new bike for fitness, commuting and a bit of touring. I was looking at Giant and Ridgeback but was introduced to a make I had never heard of before - Merida. They are big frame manufacturers and own a large chunk of Specialised. I bought a Merida Crossway and so far have been very pleased. Definately worth a look at their website.

Canny Jock

I would forget the hybrid option and go for a road or CX bike. My preference as a commuter is to have something which takes full mudguards, so either a Tricross or maybe a Ribble winter/audax bike would work? The Ribbles are great value.

And if your commute is generally flat, fixed/single speed isn't a bad option if you're fit enough, I quite fancy a ss Tricross next time.

woodford2barbican

If you are coomuting on the road get a road bike, at a push a CX. Never a hybrid or a mountain bike. The Genesis CX bike is meant to be good.....

cjcp

Welcome - another London commuter. What's your route?

Another vote here for a road or cross bike depending on whether you want to use the bike for some light off-roading (although you have a mtb for that already, I suppose).

I used to have an alu frame before the frame cracked last year (cue discussion about whether steel is better for the commuter ), so bought a Kona Jake frame and fork. It's the bottom of their range, but it's great for my 15-mile each way commute.

BUT, what I find to be a royal PITA is the front-brake squeal which arises after a few wet or muddy rides. The brake and pad set-up can be adjusted to alleviate the problem, but I'm finding it a bit too much of a faff to be @rsed with it for much longer - I want to ride my bikes rather than faff with them regularly. (That's just me though.) Also, the stopping power of the cantilever brakes isn't as good as good as that of the caliper brakes on road bikes, especially in the wet, so, all in all, I'm looking at switching back to an alu road bike for the commute and keeping the crosser for use in the Park and racing.

As mentioned above, Ribble are worth a look - good value for money - as are the Planet X bikes (Uncle John or Kaffenback, if you fancy the cross frame) or their alu Team frame. PX offer a bike-build option on your website, I think, if that's something you fancy doing.

coopster_the_1st

I agree with the previous posters to forget the Hybrid.

I brought a hybrid as I wanted to be sure I liked commuting by bike but I am now looking to upgrade to a road bike after only a few months. (oh the choices )

In your position I would go for a road bike. You already have a MTB if needed for bad weather rides.

geordiefella

I have a hybrid: and i agree wth the other posters.

A slick road mainly route to work and get the road bike, even for poor weather, roads are usually pretty clear of obstacles so test a few road bikes when you've got a day off.

a cross bike help you handle paths, bridleways, winter stud tyres if you fancied and also faster commutes than can be had on a hybrid. See my bikes, i've got a top end hybrid and its good, but its not fast enough for the speedier commutes you'll hanker for eventually one you get to know your route really well and as your fitness goes up. You'd end up keep your hybrid for the pub/shops/town/rides with girlfriend.

Road or cx!