Newbie commuter needs bike advice...please

collini
collini Posts: 4
edited February 2011 in Commuting chat
My company has recently signed up to Cyclescheme and I want to take advantage of this so have been pricing up various cyclo-cross bikes. I have up to £1000 to spend and I need a bike and all the equipment (am starting from scratch!)
I was unsure which biketo go for but it was between a Giant TCX2 (£800) and a Cannondale Caadx 6 (£900) until I visited a specialist cyclocross shop in Bradford (Paul Milnes). He offered to build be a bike with his own (albeit imported) 7005 double butted frame with carbon forks, shimano tiagra front and back derailleurs and loads of other stuff which seems to be better on spec than the bikes I've looked at. The only thing I'm unsure about is the frame because the other frames (Giant and Cannnondale) have excellent reviews.
Basically I'm unsure whether or not this frame is cheap for a reason (selling on Ebay for £120 brand new)
Sorry for the ramblngs - as you can tell I'm very new to this so I apologise for my ignorance

cheers

Comments

  • kelsen
    kelsen Posts: 2,003
    Can't really comment on Paul Milnes as I have no experience of their bikes, but do they accept cyclescheme vouchers? If he doesn't, that takes him out of the equation. There's usually a cost to the retailer and if he accepts the voucher, will the cost be passed on to you?

    The Cannondale frame is an excellent choice, but I believe there are major problems with stocks at the moment. I've ordered a Cannondale from Evans and the estimated delivery date has changed several times ranging from 2 weeks to 5 months!
  • EKE_38BPM
    EKE_38BPM Posts: 5,821
    Hi collini,

    Welcome.
    have a look at theInformation for Beginners sticky over in General (keep an eye out for rolling tumble weeds). It may answer a few of your questions.

    Paging Kieran_Burns to the thread.
    The CX perverts on here rave about the Specialized Tricross. Maybe look for the 2010 model and use the ~£200+ savings to buy bits (panniers, helmet, lights, lock, SPDs, SPD shoes, clothing etc).

    I can't comment on the frame of the Paul Milnes build. How much is the finished bike going to cost?

    I think the question you should be asking is:
    My company has recently signed up to Cyclescheme and I want to take advantage of this so have been pricing up various cyclo-cross bikes. I have up to £1000 to spend and I need a bike and all the equipment (am starting from scratch!)
    Given a £1000 budget, how much should I allocate to the bike and how much to things like lights, lock etc. What should I buy now out of the initial £1000 and what can wait until later and therefore out of my own pocket (track pump)?
    cheers

    I think that would be a great help to the newbies on the C2W scheme.

    If I'm putting words that you don't like into your mouth, feel free to tell me to go away.
    FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
    FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
    FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees

    I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!
  • Thanks for that - just found the forums a little daunting!

    The whole bike and all equipment (spd pedals, spd shoes, shorts, lights, mudguards, rear rack extra brakes) comes in at £980 - which is a lot better than the other bike deals but still unsure about the frame - he comes with a very good reputation (from other cycle shops in the area) but I really don't know what "7005 double butted" means!

    You're revised question is just what I was trying to ask - ta!
  • Dudu
    Dudu Posts: 4,637
    EKE_38BPM wrote:

    The CX perverts on here rave about the Specialized Tricross. Maybe look for the 2010 model and use the ~£200+ savings to buy bits (panniers, helmet, lights, lock, SPDs, SPD shoes, clothing etc).

    I've never owned a CX bike but, if I was starting out commuting regularly now, I'd get one.
    ___________________________________________
    People need to be told what to do so badly they'll listen to anyone
  • EKE_38BPM
    EKE_38BPM Posts: 5,821
    collini wrote:
    ...I really don't know what "7005 double butted" means!

    You're revised question is just what I was trying to ask - ta!

    7005 is the alloy of aluminium used in the frame tubing.
    Double butted means the frame tubes are twice as thick at the ends of the tubes than they are in the middle. It saves on weight whilst keeping the strength of the frame.

    You're welcome.
    FCN 3: Raleigh Record Ace fixie-to be resurrected sometime in the future
    FCN 4: Planet X Schmaffenschmack 2- workhorse
    FCN 9: B Twin Vitamin - winter commuter/loan bike for trainees

    I'm hungry. I'm always hungry!
  • Marcus_C
    Marcus_C Posts: 183
    I had a ride of the tcx2 when I was looking for a cx bike, it rides very well though I thought the black/white didn't suit it hence I went elsewhere, I turned down a tricross simply because it was a specialized so everyone would have one, right? As far as C2W budget goes, i'd leave about £200 aside for equipment unless you have a lot already, then you should be able to start straight away and have everything you need.

    There's no substitute for trying a bike out, go to an LBS with 2/3 in stock in a vaguely appropriate size if there is one.

    Out of interest how far's your commute?
    - Genesis Equilibrium Athena
    - Cannondale CAADX Force/105/Rival
  • cheers Marcus - went to my LBS this morning and have been sized up for a 56cm frame - I agree with the look of the TCX 2 (previous year's blue and black were much better) and that's what puts me off the frame I've been offered (see link below) - shallow I know but you want it to look right!
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/paul-milnes-sl-56 ... 255f633032


    Commute is 8.5 miles each way - am in training for a marathon in May and am getting a little sick of running home - thought cycling would vary the workout!