New Winter Bike Ideas

essex-commuter

minnnt wrote:

Have you considered the Boardman Team CX? It takes full mudguards, can run massive tyres and comes stock with Sram Rival 1x11.

I’m 5ft 11” and ride the 53cm.

£900 in Halfords with a potential extra £90 off if you’re a BC member...

Or there are some bargains on eBay for around £600-700. IMO you can’t beat it although the Vitus does look nice.

Yep, but done 18K on my current Boardman, just fancy a change.

graeme_s-2

I'd want bigger than 25C tyres on a winter trainer. I've been pleasantly surprised about the advantages of riding big fat wide rubber, also how few disadvantages there are.

Have a read of this review:

http://road.cc/content/review/237487-co ... ss-tc-tyre

Also this linked article (admittedly written by the guy who makes those tyres):

https://janheine.wordpress.com/2016/03/ ... take-home/

If you're buying a new bike for winter riding it would seem a shame to limit yourself to such skinny rubber. I'd want 30C with guards minimum, preferably bigger.

bendertherobot

Yep. Anyone doubting how fast these things can be have a look at the rolling resistance of Vittoria Hyper Voyager.

prawny

I’ve got hyper voyagers on my hack, they’re stupidly fast. Not as grippy as I’d hoped though.

graeme_s-2

I’m currently running 38C Hyper Voyagers on my London Road set up as tubeless on non-tubeless rims. They’ve been amazing so far

essex-commuter

I've ordered the Energie.

Never bought a bike from Wiggle or CRC before, interesting to see they offer a ride it for 30 days and if you don't like it let us know and we'll pick it up and issue a refund. All they ask is that you give it a clean before you return it, that's a pretty good service I reckon.

anonymousblackfg

Too late to change your mind but I bought a spesh diverge for £800 from Evans. Clearance up to 40s though am running 32s. Fits guards, screws at the chain stays and under side of the front fork crown. No chain stay bridge but would have been fine but have strung a couple of zip ties across just to stop the little bit of wobble there was. I swapped the Claris 8sp with a mate for some 2nd hand 105 but even paying for this it would have been well under your budget.

Also I wanted bolt thru axels and fit after market guards so hence my choice...

bendertherobot

essex-commuter wrote:

I've ordered the Energie.

Never bought a bike from Wiggle or CRC before, interesting to see they offer a ride it for 30 days and if you don't like it let us know and we'll pick it up and issue a refund. All they ask is that you give it a clean before you return it, that's a pretty good service I reckon.

Good choice. I’ve even come to like the saddle. Getting some nano 40c in tan wall next.

whatleytom

I've just ordered the Genesis Equilibrium mentioned earlier in the thread for £800. Seemed like a decent deal, and was looking for something similar from another thread. Interested to see how I get on with something steel.

essex-commuter

Well it's just been delivered next door as I'm at work. Unfortunately next door is the Mother In-law...I've got 7 hours to think up a story as the purchase wasn't particularly discussed prior to pushing the button :-)

asprilla

essex-commuter wrote:

Well it's just been delivered next door as I'm at work. Unfortunately next door is the Mother In-law...I've got 7 hours to think up a story as the purchase wasn't particularly discussed prior to pushing the button :-)

You definitely had the discussion before. Absolutely. However, you do remember that on each of the occasions you discussed it (there were many) the other party did seem distracted, like they had something else on their mind. That's why you mentioned it so frequently.

essex-commuter

Asprilla wrote:

You definitely had the discussion before. Absolutely. However, you do remember that on each of the occasions you discussed it (there were many) the other party did seem distracted, like they had something else on their mind. That's why you mentioned it so frequently.

Quick response, you've obviously had experience in this conundrum before and understand my pre-empted concerns!

I was thinking to explain that Wiggle are an online DIY store and the 4 foot box contains all the materials I need to keep the house looking lovely for many years to come...my love. Trouble is, 'if' she's believed that I'll be decorating with no excuse to get out of it!

I'll be fine!

veronese68

essex-commuter wrote:

Well it's just been delivered next door as I'm at work. Unfortunately next door is the Mother In-law...I've got 7 hours to think up a story as the purchase wasn't particularly discussed prior to pushing the button :-)

What Asprilla said has to be worth a go, if it doesn't work I wish you all the best.

graeme_s-2

The way I like to look at it: if I have to go and live in the garage, at least I'll be with my bikes

essex-commuter

As long as when I'm no longer around she doesn't sell them for what I told her I bought them for....

bendertherobot

It's not as if you've bought a bright orange bike......oh

elbowloh

The bigger mistake was living next to your mother in law!

anonymousblackfg

I'd spin a warranty on another bike story, they had a product recall and they obviously got confused, you've called them and they said keep the whole bike.

essex-commuter

elbowloh wrote:

The bigger mistake was living next to your mother in law!

She lives next door to me, I was here first. I'm the butt of many a joke!

essex-commuter

anonymousblackfg wrote:

I'd spin a warranty on another bike story, they had a product recall and they obviously got confused, you've called them and they said keep the whole bike.

Smart guy.

essex-commuter

First impressions...wow. Lot of bike for the money, quality looks amazing. Love the colour too.

Flared drop bars..feel comfortable in the garage, time will tell.
Saddle actually looks usable.
Stem looks short, a ride will decide.
Build quality, paint...amazing.

As per another thread I was looking for locking thru-axle skewers...didn't need to. Supplied skewers lock and then an Allen bolt allows you to remove the lever...ingenious. Better than an Allen bolt locking skewer, with these you need an actual quick release lever to remove them.

bendertherobot

Good innit? It’s probably in my top 3 bikes I’ve owned.

bendertherobot

Ow, Essex-Commuter, you got any 650b wheels nearby you could have a try to see what tyre widths fit?

essex-commuter

bendertherobot wrote:

Ow, Essex-Commuter, you got any 650b wheels nearby you could have a try to see what tyre widths fit?

Sorry Sir I have no such thing.

prawny

If the saddle is the same as the one on my Vitus MTB it's pretty nice, it's first saddle I've had that came with that has lasted more than a week in a long time.

bendertherobot

prawny wrote:

If the saddle is the same as the one on my Vitus MTB it's pretty nice, it's first saddle I've had that came with that has lasted more than a week in a long time.

I detested it for the first 2 miles. Couldn't see how I would ever get on with it. Then it melted away into the background. Now I don't know that it's there. It's nice.

essex-commuter

Finished off fitting the mudguards yesterday, first commute on it this morning (in the rain). Apart from needing a longer stem (tonight's job) I'd say it's the best commuting bike I've ever had.

A few surprises and delights along the way. I was expecting to buy locking thru axles, the bike comes with removable arms - sorted. Looked in the box of bits that came with the bike and found a seat stay bridge - brilliant. Even a small pot of touch up paint...and Haribo's of course.

Gearing seems perfect for my route.

bendertherobot

Looks epic! I must look through my box now!

davis

Is that in-frame routing for hydro discs?

bendertherobot

It is.