Which Winter Bike

bmxboy10

After taking the Cinelli out on Sunday and riding through 12" of water its time for a winter bike on the cycle to work scheme. Really wanted discs but not sure if I really need them?

Narrowed to down to these

£1150 Genesis Croix de Fer

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gen ... e-ec052633

£999 CaadX Tiagra or 105

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/can ... e-ec053953

£1200 Genesis Volare 00
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gen ... e-ec055517

Any thoughts???

IrishMac

I don't know enough to which is the best, but that Volare is sexy!

bendertherobot

As usual the answer is, do you want proper mudguards? If so, count the Volare out and consider the Equilibrium.

DiscoBoy

Be aware that you can only spend over £1000 if your employer has a consumer credit license (not just a CTW one).

Source:
http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/credit-li ... vPg87SpxKU

Please note that the group licence covers the loan of bicycle(s) and/ or bicycle equipment up to the value of £1,000 (including VAT and not taking into account an income tax exemption). If you carry out regulated transactions other than that described in the group licence, you will need to apply for a standard consumer credit licence.

bmxboy10

Evans say I can pay the extra in the store and my work are pretty relaxed about this.

DiscoBoy

solboy10 wrote:

Evans say I can pay the extra in the store and my work are pretty relaxed about this.

That's great, but it's still a criminal offence.

bmxboy10

What are you a policeman? Not sure why it is "illegal" as my hire agreement is only for goods of the value of £1000 as I have actually paid or the extra value of the goods myself. Anyway I don't want another boring C2W thread cheers!

DiscoBoy

solboy10 wrote:

What are you a policeman? Not sure why it is "illegal" as my hire agreement is only for goods of the value of £1000 as I have actually paid or the extra value of the goods myself. Anyway I don't want another boring C2W thread cheers!

I believe that it would be your employer breaking the law because they are the ones breaking the terms of their license.

http://www.oft.gov.uk/OFTwork/credit-li ... ts/#named2

bendertherobot

How are they breaking the terms of a licence if YOU top up the difference?

bmxboy10

exactly....now back to the bike please:)

bendertherobot

You can order bits now rather than whole bikes. IF you choose the Croix option you might find it better to get what you can within the £1k and then spend your own money to buy the other bits. That doesn't create dual ownership because your employer only owns what they bought.

So, for example, a Croix Frame and Forks is about £349 I recollect. Apex group set about £300. Wheels (Kinesis), £280. Leaving you to finish off with stuff like BB7 and finishing kit. Makes a better bike IF you can be bothered and IF you can get those prices.

sparklehedgehog

IrishMac wrote:

I don't know enough to which is the best, but that Volare is sexy!

should've gone to specsavers! It's rank!

Each to their own

ianbar

volare is nice but i am looking at a genesis equilibrium 10 think that sabot £1000 with mudguard mounts, which is my personal reason for wanting a winter bike

philclubman

How about a Kinesis TK3 (4s)? Takes full length guards and looks pretty racy.

http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/racelight/tk3

pmannion9

Build up a TK3 at end of last summer with full Ultegra...
Amazing bike and joy to ride...
Full mudguards are so much better than Cruds...

mpatts

I have an equilibrium - mudguards are a must. I love it.

markhewitt1978

bendertherobot wrote:

How are they breaking the terms of a licence if YOU top up the difference?

Because under the hire agreement they must own all of the bike. If you top up the difference the bike is part owned by you, part by the employer. Just one of the ways C2W is messed up, but don't blame the messenger, it is the way it is.

edhornby

if you want discs there is the pinnacle Arkose 1, BB7s and 105 I think (or tiagra which is just as good frankly), billed as a cross bike but you could easily chuck some slicks on

proper mudguards are the way to go, better than crudguards

kim10

+1 for the Equilibrium. I don't know how it compares to your original choices, but I have had mine for 2 years now and it's a really good bike. Build it up from old components and the full mudguards is much better than crud's or similar, in my opinion.

Hart1969

Have a look at Merlin's Malt 4 Season - its a traditional alloy (7000 series) frame with Carbon Fork, and with the full 105 upgrade (for another £85) it comes in at just over £800 (with 20% off at the moment). Nice looking bike in matt black. The frame is actually a Dolan Prefissio which is an old school winter trainer, so its looks at bit retro.

I took mine out for the first time on a club run last night and it goes well - nice response ride, handles well and comes in at just over 9.5kg. Just the job for winter bike without going OTT.

2poc

This would get my vote:

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/809589/produc ... white.aspx

bendertherobot

markhewitt1978 wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

How are they breaking the terms of a licence if YOU top up the difference?

Because under the hire agreement they must own all of the bike. If you top up the difference the bike is part owned by you, part by the employer. Just one of the ways C2W is messed up, but don't blame the messenger, it is the way it is.

Disagree. It was tolerated by HMRC because the likely legal effect was that the entire bike, including the bit you paid for, was owned by the employer. So essentially you said goodbye to it. Most big schemes won't do it now. Most LBS will. As long as you're happy to accept you don't own it then no-one loses.

night_porter

Will take mudguards with Disc brakes & up to 32mm tyres, made of steel and a very good price http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXKAFF2T ... -road-bike