New bike

hfidgen

I know this is a repeat thread, and I have read through some in the forum already BUT...

My trusty MTB is finally on it's last London commuting legs and I can't see the point of buying more spares to replace the worn out bits. It's literally knackered and I'm tweaking the tweaks and repairing the repairs.

I've had this one for a good 12 years now, and in that time I can see bikes have:
1) All become made by Specialized and sold by Evans Cycles
2) Gone up in price by 2000%

So I'm looking for a bit of advice on what to get next. I've got a 12 mile commute which I do at least 3 times weekly, and I'm currently in love with a hardtail MTB on skinnies. Saying that, I rarely go on much other than roads or at worst some bridleways so probably don't use the full "MTB" side of things.

I'm interested in:
- Disc brakes
- Upright position (have rucksack, will commute)
- Quick on the road (light, low rolling resistance) with the occasional foray down trails and paths
- FCN rating of 6 or above (that site made me laugh)

Have i just described a Cyclocross bike? Any recommendations or starting points?

Cheers,
H

waddlie

Sounds like a Genesis Croix De Fer would be right up your street?

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/croix-de-fer/croix-de-fer/overview/

Alphabet

i use a 2009 kona kula and it's aces for commuting. really responsive frame and wsuper quick, especially up hills...

g00se

I have a Kona Dew Plus which may suit - quite a few in the Dew range.



If you want to try drops - but still reasonably upright, the Dew Drop will start being discounted soon as the 2011 models are out and they're not making the Dew Drop any more.

hfidgen

Alphabet wrote:

i use a 2009 kona kula and it's aces for commuting. really responsive frame and wsuper quick, especially up hills...

That looks a nice setup! I think that's the sort of thing I'm after though I'm not averse to going for a proper road bike at all! Evans have it on sale at £850, though that'd hit £900 with some road tyres. Ouch.

How's the gearing when it comes to opening up on the flat? I tend to push quite hard so it'd be good to have a top gear which I struggle to spin out on.

sc999cs

Boardman Hybrid?

Alphabet

hfidgen wrote:

That looks a nice setup! I think that's the sort of thing I'm after though I'm not averse to going for a proper road bike at all! Evans have it on sale at £850, though that'd hit £900 with some road tyres. Ouch.

How's the gearing when it comes to opening up on the flat? I tend to push quite hard so it'd be good to have a top gear which I struggle to spin out on.

I got it once the 2010 models had come out. if you hunt around you can still find an 08 or 09 for sale here and there (same bike, different paintjob - 08 actually has better brakes). I got mine at the beginning of the year from Paul's Cycles. They've got one 08 (16" only though) for 599.95

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b7s2p1539

and the 09 in every size except 17" for 699.95

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.p ... 1b7s2p1934

I love it. I've maxed out at about 37mph downhill with some serious spinning and happily whizz past road bikes on the flat, so gears aren't that much of an issue and i tend to ride fairly mashy.

saying that, i have just put a singlespeed racer together for a bit of commuting variety and it's a bit speedier.

hfidgen

Waddlie wrote:

Sounds like a Genesis Croix De Fer would be right up your street?

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/croix-de-fer/croix-de-fer/overview/

Oooo - that looks sweet! Absolutely love it! Just need to find a test ride somewhere...

thebig25

After 3 months commuting a 25 mile round trip 3 times a week on my Devinci Hectik 6" travel bike I decided that I wanted to go faster and in more comfort so I bought one of these:


Giant Seek 3- In general I'm really happy with it as it fits what I wanted at the time (road bike wheels with larger tyres, discs, mountainbike-ish geometry).

BUT I wish i'd thought more about a road bike. When I was buying this the salesman tried to get me to try one and said to me that in the end I'd likely want one as i'd want to go faster than the hybrid would allow. But I was nervous about the whole skinny tyres, skitish handling thing so dismissed it as an option. As much as I like this bike (and I really like it) there is a nagging doubt that he might of been right :roll:

oodboo

I recently asked a very similar question but I had two bikes in mind. I went for the Genesis Croix De Fer and have just picked it up today. I've added a picture in my thread if you want to see it.
http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtop ... t=12720273

I've been for a quick ride round some local forest roads and so far I'm really please with it. I'm hoping to use it a lot next week and my commute is approx 30 mile so I should have more to say about it this time next week.

cjcp

Waddlie wrote:

Sounds like a Genesis Croix De Fer would be right up your street?

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/croix-de-fer/croix-de-fer/overview/

+1.

greg66_tri_v2.0

cjcp wrote:

Waddlie wrote:

Sounds like a Genesis Croix De Fer would be right up your street?

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/croix-de-fer/croix-de-fer/overview/

+1.

+1. Everything else mentioned in this thread, with the exception of the Boardman (just) is skip fodder.

hfidgen

Got a test ride on one this morning! Really quite looking forward to it - if they let me I'll take it out on the main roads and open up (and find some potholes).

Only problem is that after my current bike ANYTHING will feel amazing, so need to get some benchmarking in :P

hfidgen

Well the test ride was really fun. The bike looks every bit as nice as the publicity photos, and the ride is really smooth. I took it from Fenchurch st out around Buckingham palace, making sure to hit the potholes and have some fun with the traffic.

It's:
- Very smooth riding - all the little bumps are filtered out
- Gears are instant and smooth changing
- Brakes are equivalent to some decent v brakes, but you do have to squeeze pretty hard to lock the wheels

The only problems I had were:
- Not used to drops. I'm on a MTB the rest of the time, so having to crouch over to hit the brakes seemed weird, and a little bit dangerous tbh. I'm using to being able to react instantly from an upright position; on this I'm going to have to pay a lot more attention!
- The saddle & handlebars weren't adjusted properly so I couldnt get the power I normally do, never got the chance to try and open right up off the lights.
- SPD pedals... I know they give you much better power, but they are so much faff at the lights! Click out, stand around click in.. No wonder I leave everyone behind on my flats.

I think i'm going to have a look at a Boardman Pro just to see whether the upright position agrees with me, then I might have another test ride of the Genesis (taking a multitool with me).

waddlie

hfidgen wrote:

Well the test ride was really fun. The bike looks every bit as nice as the publicity photos, and the ride is really smooth. I took it from Fenchurch st out around Buckingham palace, making sure to hit the potholes and have some fun with the traffic.

It's:
- Very smooth riding - all the little bumps are filtered out
- Gears are instant and smooth changing
- Brakes are equivalent to some decent v brakes, but you do have to squeeze pretty hard to lock the wheels

The only problems I had were:
- Not used to drops. I'm on a MTB the rest of the time, so having to crouch over to hit the brakes seemed weird, and a little bit dangerous tbh. I'm using to being able to react instantly from an upright position; on this I'm going to have to pay a lot more attention!
- The saddle & handlebars weren't adjusted properly so I couldnt get the power I normally do, never got the chance to try and open right up off the lights.
- SPD pedals... I know they give you much better power, but they are so much faff at the lights! Click out, stand around click in.. No wonder I leave everyone behind on my flats.

I think i'm going to have a look at a Boardman Pro just to see whether the upright position agrees with me, then I might have another test ride of the Genesis (taking a multitool with me).

Even speaking as someone who's just bought a flatvar roadbike, forget the Boardman and get the Genesis. You'll ge used to (and benefit from) the drops and the SPuDs. Setting it up right will take you 5 minutes.

stuman69er

Cotic Roadrat. not the absolute lightest machine out there. but its damn quick and very well built. it also gives loads of build options depending on what you fancy. gears or not, disks or not. drops or not.

also weight wise i went from an ally GT MTB and its worlds lighter and faster.

biondino

SPD (and other clipless) pedals. They are a nuisance for a few rides, and can even result in toppling over, usually without much damage except to your pride. But, when you bear in mind that thereafter, they will make the rest of your cycling life MUCH more satisfying - and they will, I can't think of a single bigger positive adjustment to my cycling - they're a no-brainer.

Though I still like the versatility of old-school toe-clips on my commuting bike. Hmm.

biondino

A rucksack is actually more comfortable when you are somewhat leaning forward as the weight is more evenly spread. And the aero disadvantages of sitting upright are genuinely massive!

hfidgen

Well, I've now test ridden a whole fleet of bikes, and I'm no nearer to a decision

While the Genesis looks the part on paper, we've just not "clicked" and my main complaints are that the disc brakes are actually quite weak, and I've just been unable to get properly comfortable on it in terms of unleashing power and getting up to speed quickly. The Tiagra set is also a bit temperamental imo.

So... I've started looking at road bikes and the BMC cross, would be interested if anyone has opinions on specs or alternatives?

My main requirements are the same really - fast, able to take potholes, and tough enough to last a number of years. What I might have relaxed on now are the disc brakes and being able to take it off-road a bit, I think I'm coming round to the idea that you get different bikes for different purposes.

Pinnacle Carbon - rides like a dream, felt instant in the power transfer and light as anything.
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pin ... e-ec023559

Not tried this yet, but the spec looks right. Not entirely sure about the geometry though, seems a bit long?
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc ... e-ec020520

Awesome bike too, but out-specced by the Pinnacle and the BMC
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec020232

hfidgen

well after all that - I went for one of these: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc ... e-ec020520

Really chuffed with it and looking forward to seeing how much time I can shave off my daily rides!

sc999cs

hfidgen wrote:

well after all that - I went for one of these: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/bmc ... e-ec020520

Really chuffed with it and looking forward to seeing how much time I can shave off my daily rides!

Have fun on it.