buying advice - please

lowcall

I have a road bike (well a couple) and i am looking for something to ride on the roads in the winter, round the local tracks .. mostly gravel and muddy paths and commuting to work.
Looking to buy as part of the company cycle to work scheme which is Evans cycles only. I have been doing some investigation and have come up with these possibilities but being new I wanted some expert input.

Due to the N+1 I have a budget of aprox. 1k else it will be a wife - 1 situation.
I ride a 58 road bike so figure that shoudl be the same.

https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale- ... e-EV280340 - available for 950 on a price match (and I like the colour)

https://www.evanscycles.com/gt-grade-x- ... e-EV240490 -

https://www.evanscycles.com/kona-jake-2 ... e-EV291751

https://www.evanscycles.com/rapide-rl2- ... e-EV297770

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Jterrier

The gt is unique insofar as its the only bike there with hydraulic brakes and a full sram.1x drivetrain. That makes it a good bet in my book. But then i am biased as i already own one. If you were going to buy the cannondale or the kona then you may as well buy the rapide as its basically same spec for less money.

beasty1711

Have a look at the Planet X stuff... You can get full carbon for around that price

http://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/cyclocross-bikes/xls

davesnothere

What about the Cube Cross Race? 105 groupset, I test rode one of these before i bought my bike, not for cyclocross purposes but for a more relaxed road ride

https://www.evanscycles.com/cube-cross-race-2017-cyclocross-bike-EV287846

trek_dan

Cannondale. Undoubtedly the best quality frameset out of the bunch, can always upgrade brakes/groupo parts later if you want to.

lowcall

thanks I am going to take a trip to Evans to see the GT and connondale.
one more question .. what are the opinions of sram 1x11 against a 22 gear shimano 105.
not looking to do long or particularly hilly rides on the bike but I am also not really looking to race.

the reason for asking is there are 2 GT bikes at comparable
https://www.evanscycles.com/gt-grade-10 ... e-EV281668

https://www.evanscycles.com/gt-grade-x- ... e-EV240490

I am used to shimano 105 and have no experience of SRAM. To my non expert eye the components on the 2016 bike look better but I am mostly interested in the gears and brakes and would welcome any views on the gearing on the bikes.

Thanks

beasty1711

Rival is SRAM's version of 105's so in terms of technology level within the range they are equivalent.

I've got Rival 1 and love it. So nice not having to worry about should i be in small or big at the front, less to go wrong as no FD etc... The one thing i would say is that the jumps between the gears tend to be a bit bigger.. and i've recently had a couple of issues with the chain jumping off in really thick heavy sticky mud. I can happily ride at 22mph on it with slicks tyres so worry about spinning out (with a 42 front ring)

kentphil

Make sure you get the right size cyclocross bike as I found the sizing to be different to road bikes as frame geometry is different too. I love my Caadx, great bike.

Jterrier

trek_dan wrote:

Cannondale. Undoubtedly the best quality frameset out of the bunch, can always upgrade brakes/groupo parts later if you want to.

I dont agree with this; its unquantifiable, and even if the dale was a better frame (which is impossible to measure meaningfully) it would be weighed down by crap finishing kit at this pricepoint (promax brakes for example) and the cost of upgrades is so high that you may as well buy a higher spec straight off.

trek_dan

Disagree. Frame is the most important part of a bike. Components wear out and can be replaced. Cannondale are renowned for making exceptional quality alu frames.

tsarouxaz

trek_dan wrote:

Disagree. Frame is the most important part of a bike. Components wear out and can be replaced. Cannondale are renowned for making exceptional quality alu frames.

only when made in usa. now, the cheap one are worse than some chineese from ebay, and the cannondale's components are TOO crap to even ride (look at their brakes, promax something, comeooon!!)

the Gt is the best in terms of borth frame and components relative to its price. and always look for HYDRAULIC brakes, the mechanicals have no real power (except the hyrd)

tsarouxaz

lowcall wrote:

thanks I am going to take a trip to Evans to see the GT and connondale.
one more question .. what are the opinions of sram 1x11 against a 22 gear shimano 105.
not looking to do long or particularly hilly rides on the bike but I am also not really looking to race.

the reason for asking is there are 2 GT bikes at comparable
https://www.evanscycles.com/gt-grade-10 ... e-EV281668

https://www.evanscycles.com/gt-grade-x- ... e-EV240490

I am used to shimano 105 and have no experience of SRAM. To my non expert eye the components on the 2016 bike look better but I am mostly interested in the gears and brakes and would welcome any views on the gearing on the bikes.

Thanks

well, the x is a cyclocross with a bit limited range of gears. if you live in the uk where there are no mountains and you are comfortable with the gearing of the x then this is your bike. the 105 is a road bike with a relaxed geometry, the 105 are very good, and the brakes are VERY good (I own a set of them on my bike).