Another 'what bike?' question

mrtuk

Hi All,

New to this forum, so please be gentle with me !

I'm looking to upgrade my commuting bike on the bike to work scheme. I currently have an old Marin Larkspur, and looking for:
- something lighter (shouldn't be difficult)
- something that will hopefully speed up my commute.
- will allow full guards and pannier rack to be fitted.
I am prepared to go up to the max 1K for the right bike, and at the moment not keen on a full road bike, so probably aiming for a flat bar or hybrid.

Primary use would be for a twice weekly commute of 15 miles each way (so 30 mile round trip each day i commute), which is pretty much 100% road (with a few potholes though)!

Initially I was looking at Marin, so thinking fairfax (as lucas valey doesn't seem to be great for a rack), then got looking at Trek's FX range (7.5/7.6), but now thinking that maybe Giant Rapid 2 or 1, or a ridgeback flight 03 might be the way to go. The more i look, the more confused I am getting, so looking for any thoughts from the forum here.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Foxtrot Oscar

My initial reaction, is that spending £1k on a bike to do 30 miles a day on tarmac and not buying a road-specific bike, is madness! Why are you not keen on a road bike? You can just keep your Larkspur for trails and have a dedicated tool for commuting. Just make sure you buy a bike with a frame that has threads for a rack.

fatherted

If I was in your shoes I would get a road bike with a steel frame.

I have a Bob Jackson 531 frame which I built up with a Veloce groupset and Mavic Open Sport rims.

Why not give a well established UK bike shop a call and tell them your requirements , they'd be pleased to help out.

Too many people get told to buy Specialised this, Giant that , Trek etc that we forget what good bike frame builders we still have and who can build you something within your £1k budget.

mrtuk

Foxtrot Oscar wrote:

Why are you not keen on a road bike? .

It's mainly the riding position - I tried a dorp bar road bike out, and didn't like it but that could just be because it's an unfamiliar position for me. About 1/2 my journey is in traffic, so again more comfortable position for me with the hands (and brakes) on top of the bar.

I guess that this is why I was looking at the Rapid - seems to effectively be a road bike, but with a flat bar?

mrtuk

mrtuk wrote:

Hi All,

Initially I was looking at Marin, so thinking fairfax (as lucas valey doesn't seem to be great for a rack), then got looking at Trek's FX range (7.5/7.6), but now thinking that maybe Giant Rapid 2 or 1, or a ridgeback flight 03 might be the way to go.

Was coming down on the side of the Giant Rapid as seems to effectively be a road bike, but with flat bars (which I am do want) ... however looking at the web site, now also seen the giant escape rx which again says it's a road bike with flat bar.

Anyone know what the difference is between these - top end they both come with 105 rear derailleuer/cassette, so look very similar to me?

jonny_trousers

fatherted wrote:

If I was in your shoes I would get a road bike with a steel frame.

I have a Bob Jackson 531 frame which I built up with a Veloce groupset and Mavic Open Sport rims.

Why not give a well established UK bike shop a call and tell them your requirements , they'd be pleased to help out.

Too many people get told to buy Specialised this, Giant that , Trek etc that we forget what good bike frame builders we still have and who can build you something within your £1k budget.

Totally agree with you, but part of the problem with British small scale manufacturers is that they inevitably have a long waiting list, which will put a lot of people off.

OP: I would strongly advise you give drop bars another go as they really aren't any harder to deal with than flats, yet they give you so many more hand position options. When you first get on a bike with drops the front end feels way more twitchy than a flat barred bike, but within about twenty minutes that turns into being far more responsive and you naturally adapt to it no problem at all. I ride in and among London traffic and find drops way better than a flat bar.

If you were to take my advice then have a look at the Genesis Equilibrium 10. Comes in under a grand, the steel frame makes riding on potholed roads way more comfortable than on an aluminium bike, the frame gets incredible reviews, it takes full mudguards and a rack can be fitted and the ride position is very relaxed if you want it to be.

mrtuk

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

OP: I would strongly advise you give drop bars another go as they really aren't any harder to deal with than flats, yet they give you so many more hand position options.

Hmm ... I am hearing this a few times. Will be trying to pay a visit to my loal bike shop again this weekend, so might give it another go ... problem with trial rides is it's generally only 5 mins, so not really long enough to get a real feel of it. I have to say i liked the position of the giant rapid though the bar end gave a couple of extra riding positions to a std flat bar.

Also, wondering how feasible it is to have a set of brake levers on the flat part of a drop bar (like they do on some cx bikes) ? I think that would help as it's the braking that i really found hard to get to grips with on a drop bar bike.

jonny_trousers

mrtuk wrote:

Also, wondering how feasible it is to have a set of brake levers on the flat part of a drop bar (like they do on some cx bikes) ? I think that would help as it's the braking that i really found hard to get to grips with on a drop bar bike.

Very easy, but you really do get used to braking from the hoods very quickly. If you really do like the feel of the Scott, however, then there is a lot to be said for that.

bails87

For 15 miles get a road bike with drop bars, unless there's a serious reason not to.

I was an MTBer and got a Ribble Carbon Sportive through the cyclescheme, I'd never ridden a drop bar bike before, so it was a bit of a gamble, but I also do 15 miles and it's a fair trip, you'll want the most appropriate tool for the job. It felt twitchy and skittish at first, but I got used to it pretty quickly.

BTW, Ribble were very good, I've also bought a new MTB from On One, sister company of Planet X who've been truly excellent on the customer service side of things, so i'd reccomend a look at both of them.

As for guards, Crud Road Racers do a good job, but pannier rack points is probably a wise idea. I'm kind of wishing my bike had them now....

mrtuk

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

If you really do like the feel of the Scott, however, then there is a lot to be said for that.

Think that may have been a different thread ... not tried any scott bikes. It was the Giant Rapid that i thought felt comfortable, but not had much feedback either way on that frame/set-up. Felt less upright than my current hybrid, and with the bar ends gave a couple of extra riding positions.

Anyone tried the rapid? and got views on it vs a drop bar equivalent?

jonny_trousers

mrtuk wrote:

Jonny_Trousers wrote:

If you really do like the feel of the Scott, however, then there is a lot to be said for that.

Think that may have been a different thread ... not tried any scott bikes.

My bad, sorry! Far too many people I'm trying to persuade to go for drop bars right now.

chrishumes

mrtuk

ive a ridgeback flight 04, cracking bike (with hub gears). id recommend it, i also looked at the rapid.....nice also. try boardman as well.

Bi50N

I'd recommend my Pompetamine Versa Pro as an ideal all-year all-rounder, which I use for my commute, weekend rides and light touring.

Steel frame, disc brakes, Alfine 8, takes full guards + rack. Fast and low maintenance to boot. Cost me £1000 direct from On-One

They've since discontinued the Pro, but you can get the standard Versa for £800:

http://on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPETVERSA/on-one-pompetamine-versa

Or a flat bar version for £750:

http://on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPALF/on-one-pompetamine-alfine

Or the new 11 speed Alfine version for £1200

http://on-one.co.uk/i/q/CBOOPOMPALF11PRO/on-one-pompetamine-alfine-11-speed