Main transport bike + offroad

elgansayer

New here, new to bikes, not owned one in years.

I know this has been asked quite a lot, so I do apologize, but times and bikes seem to change often?

I am after predominantly a road bike, I think?

I am visually impaired, can not drive, I am very fit, but I don't ride, I need a bike to use as main transport. I am moving to a rural area on friday. Lackford lakes in Suffolk, UK. I will be cycling 10 miles to bury (town nearest) every day and back (once I find a job). I will cycle most of it on roads, but will likely cross two fields and possibly cycle a long trails and paths which go through forest areas. so the ground is uneven.

I want a very lightweight bike, something I can cart about, possibly cycle further if I need.
it will mainly be to cycle into town, but it would be nice to be able to cycle a long the trails and paths which go through the "st Edmund way" or the "icknield way" maybe some of you know it? there is also thetford forest.

I have been reading a lot but am so confused. I am not rich , I have like 0 money but am happy to go around 500 give or take. is it worth going further?

I was thinking a road bike, and swap out the tires if I am going to do a bit more than cross the fields, into the forest or so on.

reading here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/w ... ing-29898/

it suggests
Touring bike..
Budget: Specialized Tricross, £749.99
Budget: Specialized Allez, £589.99
Sensible: Cube Attempt, £999

the Cube Attempt here is £700.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=57244

Which seems not too bad, maybe I could push for that, but again, I'm on a big budget....but would like to go light as possible.

I don't want to be cycling forever, I would like to get to town as quick as possible and back. As time is limited, I'm late for everything! haha ....

sloppyschleckonds

If you don't have a job surely you have unlimited time?

diy

Wonder if you might be better off with a flat bar bike or decent hybrid?

e.g.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165534

They are still nippy on road, but much easier to handle on dirt.

passout

Look at a Revolution cross bike - great value & various models. Better value than Specailised.

mr_sj

I would take a look at cross bikes. My commute sounds similar to yours, some on roads, bridleways and gravel tracks and isnt really suitable for a road bike. I use a planet x uncle john cyclocross bike with schwalbe land cruiser tyres and its perfect for what i need.

MichaelW

Tyre diameter is limited by the clearance at the brakes and frame. Most roadbikes have a max of about 25mm, some have 28mm. Light touring usually go to 28/32mm. Touring , cyclo-cross and hybrid can often go to 35/38mm.
For riding on tracks and trails, 32mm is about what you need, with the option for a bit wider.
At your budget, you wont find a cyclo-cross but you may find a good used touring bike.

elgansayer

MichaelW wrote:

Tyre diameter is limited by the clearance at the brakes and frame. Most roadbikes have a max of about 25mm, some have 28mm. Light touring usually go to 28/32mm. Touring , cyclo-cross and hybrid can often go to 35/38mm.
For riding on tracks and trails, 32mm is about what you need, with the option for a bit wider.
At your budget, you wont find a cyclo-cross but you may find a good used touring bike.

Do you have a budget cyclo-cross / entry level that's fair game example? If I need to, I can push the price if I'm convinced its worth it..as its my only way to get around.



Thanx for all the comments, going to have a proper look over them all and get back ; search ebay too.

Can someone explain a proper difference in touring and cross/hybrid?

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

If you don't have a job surely you have unlimited time?

haha, I'm writing several portfolio pieces, and working freelance for little money to time constraint on website stuff. Also I'm training for a boxing fight which I will get some cash for. so pretty busy, either training, writing for someone or writing my own. Not many blind semi pro boxing programmers. Hope to get a job in a hospital scanning the old user documents !

diy

Cyclo Cross - are basically road bikes adapted for dirt. They do however, have their focus in still racing.
Touring - bikes are road bikes that are softened for long distances. They are adapted for carrying equipment, have more comfortable geometry than race bikes and tend to have much wider gear ranges.
Hybrid - try to be the best of mountain bikes and road bikes combined, they arguably do neither very well, however, some of the better versions are fairly well spec'd.

A touring bike wont have much capability off road on anything other than a rough gravel trail. Cyclocross will fair better in mud, but its still a race bike. Hybrid, will cope with trail riding and road riding, but is not particularly good at either.

The other option is putting slicks on an MTB - realistically an MTB with slicks will cruise at 14-18mph nicely wheras a road race bike will cruise at 18-22mph in the same conditions. It really only makes a difference once you start needing to go over 10-15 miles.

MichaelW

Pinnacle and Revolution do CX bikes around the £500 mark.
Personally I prefer discs to cantilever brakes.
CX bikes have a higher bottom bracket than tourers, for better pedal clearance over logs. Touring bikes sometimes have longer chainstays for better behaviour when fully loaded. You can ride a tourer off road, I crossed the Picos de Europas, fully loaded on rutted, rocky 4x4 trails that were really MTB territory.

passout

MichaelW wrote:

Pinnacle and Revolution do CX bikes around the £500 mark.
Personally I prefer discs to cantilever brakes.
CX bikes have a higher bottom bracket than tourers, for better pedal clearance over logs. Touring bikes sometimes have longer chainstays for better behaviour when fully loaded. You can ride a tourer off road, I crossed the Picos de Europas, fully loaded on rutted, rocky 4x4 trails that were really MTB territory.

Agreed.

Seriously though, a Revolution cross bike is your answer (pinnacle maybe). There are few cross bikes, at this price - and these are decent too. Go for these. A hybrid woyuld do the job but less flexible & more boring.

elgansayer

Thanx for all the comments:

just scouting ebay
Probably going to get,
Revolution Cross '13
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... ross-bikes

but as I like hype and not the best eyes... was thinking disc brakes? and weight...as I will have to lug it about at times..

Revolution Cross Pro '12 Was £849.99 Now Only £699.99
seems a fair bit more for cheap discs and ..lighter coggythings?
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... ross-bikes

Is the Revolution Cross '13 upgradable? could it have discs? if so, I may just get this and add discs in the future if I find things a problem...and it sounds kinda fun?

I also found this but not much information on it; seems ok, discs, similar weight, <- quit ea nice price
Jamis Nova Sport 2013 Cyclocross Bike £580.00
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/jam ... e-ec041504


I'm nearly tempted to just allow myself to spend £1000 and be more stuck for choice!, researching all this...think I could get into bikes...esp as I cant drive....

passout

Last time a look last years Revolution cross bike pro model did not have discs but had cantis - it was reduced to 699. Really nice bike - sounds ideal. This years model comes with BB5 disc brakes but costs 850. Still great value for carbon fork, tiagra and decent parts more generally. In both cases these are the pro model i.e. the top model, just different years.

There are cheaper models at under 500 quid, such as: http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... ross-bikes This is what I had in mind.

If you want discs & don't know if the cantis frames take them or not but you'd have to consider the fork and wheels too. Will be much cheaper just to buy with discs. again there is a cheaper model, see:
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... ross-bikes

Frames are more or less the same throughout the range, just painted differently. They are aluminium. Apparently they ride nicely, are forgiving, will last ages and are very flexible bits of kit. They get good reviews.

They are not lightweights though; probably less than steel equivalents but not by much. Obviously the cheaper models will be adorned by heavier parts & disc brakes will add a bit more. To get a really lightweight bike, you'll be paying 'a lot' more. I think they weight is a non issue - the bike will ride well & still be lighter than most mid range mountain bikes, and similar priced steel cross bikes (if you can find one).

I'd either go for the bottom model which looks solid to me or last years reduced pro model at 699, if you want something a bit lighter.

They also do cyclescheme, if that helps.