Yet another 'what bike?' post :-)

drummer_boy
drummer_boy Posts: 236
edited October 2013 in Commuting general
I've been commuting on my Kona Caldera for 2 years now, racking up around 2k miles per year.

My route is 10 mile each way roughly half road and half metaled tow path, in various states of British road and tow path repair!!

I've always had mountain bikes, but borrowed a road bike off a friend recently (BeOne Storm 2.0), and am really liking the extra speed on road.

As my work offers C2W i thought I'd take the plunge and get a more road orientated bike for winter. I really like the discs on my Kona, and would like discs on the road bike.

My needs are for a more road orientated bike, which can also handle dodgy tarmac towpaths, in winter. So not an out and out race bike, something I can fit larger tyres to (probably 32mm), and mudguards.

After doing a bit of online, and shop work, I thought I had narrowed the choice down to a few CX models (particularly the tricross 2014 disc).

I've have seen a couple of other bike which also look like they might do. These are a 2013 Specialised Secteur Sport Disc, and a 2014 Cannondale Synapse 105 disc.

The reason I am adding these 2 to my list is that they have a good clearance for mudguards, and look like they would also take the larger tyre.

I've ridden both Specializeds and like them both, and am going to ride the Cannondale next weekend.

I'm edging towards the Cannondale right now, due to the 105 groupset, over the Sora on the Secteur.

Pricing wise, the Cannondale is around the £1k mark, as is the Tricross, and the Secteur is on end of season offer at £800.

I'd appreciate any thoughts people might have out there. :)

Comments

  • starside
    starside Posts: 20
    Whyte Dorset? rims can take 25-32mm tires (subject to clearances), mudguards and rack, with disc brakes too.

    Or try boardman CX team from Halfords.
  • drummer_boy
    drummer_boy Posts: 236
    2 good suggestions there. I've been trying to get a look at a Boardman, but all my local Halfrods don't have any in.

    The Whyte looks intersting as it's a similar spec to the Cannondale.

    Thanks for making my list bigger!!
  • drummer_boy
    drummer_boy Posts: 236
    Local shop has a Sussex in. This is the £799 version of the Dorset, with none carbon fork and Sora kit.

    Going for a look at lunchtime to see what the frame geometry looks like.
  • starside
    starside Posts: 20
    Please let me know what you think. I mmight be looking at a Whyte Dorset this weekend.
  • drummer_boy
    drummer_boy Posts: 236
    Drummer_Boy wrote:
    Local shop has a Sussex in. This is the £799 version of the Dorset, with none carbon fork and Sora kit.

    Going for a look at lunchtime to see what the frame geometry looks like.

    Had a look. First impressions are it's nice looking, and the weight (on a Medium 54cm frame) is about right.

    Geometry for hood reach etc is good for me, I'd normally be on a 54/5cm frame.

    Bike wasn't setup for riding, so I had to get more air in the tyres, and the gearing hadn't been adjusted so wouldn't get onto the large front chain ring.

    Downsides: Brakes felt unsure, and didn't stop as I thought they ought to. This might be down to the bike not being properly setup. The other big negative was that the internal cabling pops out near the bottom bracket in such away that some of the cable outers were rubbing on the inner chainring. This seems a big design flaw to me!!

    So, for a £800-£1200 machine the parts seems good, but the build seems lacking a little, which is a shame, as this could have been a really good frame set for commuting.
  • starside
    starside Posts: 20
    i am thinking of going to look at the Whyte Dorst this Saturday.

    You can consider a Specialised Secteur Disc sport as well, but this seems like a lot of money for Sora equipment.

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec042263
  • drummer_boy
    drummer_boy Posts: 236
    starSide wrote:
    i am thinking of going to look at the Whyte Dorst this Saturday.

    You can consider a Specialised Secteur Disc sport as well, but this seems like a lot of money for Sora equipment.

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec042263

    It's that bike I can get for £800, but as you mention, the Sora kit level puts me off. I have higher hopes for the Cannondale Synapse 105 Disc when I finally get a test ride this coming weekend.
  • drummer_boy
    drummer_boy Posts: 236
    Even more confusion now!!!

    I have come across the Planet-X SLX. Full carbon bike, Shimano 105 group set and Avid BB7 brakes for £999.

    It's more of a race machine (no guard mounts), but I think I might take a trip to the factory shop this weekend for a look see!!
  • starside
    starside Posts: 20
    Have a look at Ribble as well who are based on Preston.
  • drummer_boy
    drummer_boy Posts: 236
    starSide wrote:
    Have a look at Ribble as well who are based on Preston.

    I can throw a stone from my house and hit their premises :-). I did look at Ribble, but they don't do any bikes with either discs, or which will cope with dodgy tow path commutes.

    I also looked at Dolan, who aren't a million miles away from me. They do an excellent spec CX bike, but, again, no disc brakes.
  • drummer_boy
    drummer_boy Posts: 236
    Update time!! I test rode the Cannondale and the Planet X at weekend, and the Planet X got my vote. Even better they had an SRAM equipped model, in my size, on clearance!!

    Needless to say deposit paid, and C2W paperwork in:-)

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