Surly & Halo - any cheaper alternatives?

allen-uk
allen-uk Posts: 146
edited December 2013 in Road buying advice
I want to build a strong hybrid bike, and have been advised that a Surly frame, and Halo rims, would suit.

I am sure the advice is good, but the prices are (to me) very high.

Are there any equivalent brands, not quite so good possibly, that are kinder to the pocket?

Thanks.


Allen.

Comments

  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    Your requirment are what exactly? Touring, racing, club runs.... Halo rims are rebadged Kinlin's mostly. Lot of good sturdy rim out there try talking to a good bike shop/wheelbuilder if you are going the custom route. I can think of many tough road frames but I have nothing to go one to suggest anything more.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • allen-uk
    allen-uk Posts: 146
    Rough north west London roads - i.e. NOT bowling along merrily on nice smooth tarmac, but rattling along over potholes, cracked concrete, etc. Plus some minor off-road - park paths, gravel, grass sometimes. Very heavy rider as well.

    Not for racing, more for getting from A to B safely, fairly quickly. Heavy on brakes and spokes (past experience) so thinking of hydraulic discs and more rather than less spokes.

    Hope this helps your thinking.

    A
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    Genesis day one disk?
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    any decent steel 700c bike will do - Genesis, On One, Kona, Cotic, there are plenty.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Planet X Kaffenback
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    The roads everywhere are cracked and holed. A steel bike is fine but so would one made of aluminium or carbon fibre. I think however look for a bike with a long headtube - i.e a audax/light touring bikes these generally are comfortable and have clearance for wider tyres. You could try a CX bike, Tifosi CK7, Tifosi CK5 (steel) Genesis equilibrium Genesis Croix der Fer... All these are comfortable bikes on todays roads and with the right tyres will handle a bit of rough (the CDF will handle more than a bit rough).
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Halo Aerorage rims are pretty bomb-proof IME and at £25/rim pretty cheap too. Don't let anyone talk you into skinnier tyres, the fatter the better for comfort, grip and durability.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • allen-uk
    allen-uk Posts: 146
    Thanks for the comments - it gives me plenty of ideas.

    A

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