Yes, another which bike thread

stuart_c-2

Hi,

So, standard issue “which bike” thread.

Time to replace the aging Felt with a new all round road bike. Usage is year round commuting and weekend training/sportive type stuff. Requirements I am after I reckon are disc brakes (hydraulic), mudguards (proper mounted ones), clearance for 28-30mm tyres. I do NOT foresee myself ever needing it for gravel riding, I have a mountain bike for that kind of stuff. Budget would say is £1200-1300. I think I am down to a choice of 4 so would like to hear the respective thoughts/reviews/horror stories. Purchase will be through cyclescheme so discounted older models can’t really be considered.

Dolan RDX (with newer 105 option)

https://www.dolan-bikes.com/road/disc-road/aluminium/dolan-rdx-bike-shimano-hydro-build.html

Seen some odd bike sizing discussions but pretty sure I can work round this with some Dolan guidance. QR with discs, having used thru axles on MTB QR on a newer bike just feels like a possible annoyance. Cable routing under BB, seen discussion about this being a royal mess but reckon I can handle this. They also seem to add an admin fee on cyclescheme so pushes the budget.

Boardman ASR 8.9

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/1573-asr-8.9.html

Comes good to go for year round riding, mudguards fitted. Apparently will outlast me as “Steel is real” and all that. QR again. Older spec 105 but not fussed by the looks of the hoods. Heavier than most, but I know I could lose more than the 1kg difference from my gut if I thought about it. Like Boardmans and would match the MTB.

Cube Attain SL Disc

https://www.cube.eu/en/2019/bikes/road/road-cyclocross/attain/cube-attain-sl-disc-greynorange-2019/

Comes with new 105. Apparently only takes Cube own brand mudguards and said guards are supposed to be a bit rubbish.

Ribble Endurance AL Disc

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-endurance-al-shimano-105-disc/

New 105. Been reading horror stories of poor customer service lately and loads of stuff about rubbish frame quality but having seen so many of their old blue do it all bikes over the years they obviously keep selling bikes well.

Aware I’ve focused on the negative above, but I think if I can debunk the fear mongering moans it’ll make the decision easier. I’m leaning more towards the Ribble or Cube at the moment. Or, am I missing an obvious alternative that 1 of you has got and loves….

Thanks in advance

joe_totale-2

If you're willing to forgo the mudguard mounts and are on the small side then this is a bargain:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/ultra-520-a ... 90785.html

zeee

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIVHRD/planet-x-london-road-sram-rival-22-hydraulic-disc-road-bike

This ^

Edit: just seen you said cycle to work so ignore my suggestion :roll:

Tyresome

Get the one you can pull the ‘sickest’ wheelies on.

janwal

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/pro ... v-8.9.html
Only ten speed Tiagra but is hydro disc. Lighter and £300 cheaper and looks nicer!

wotnoshoeseh

Stuart_C wrote:

Boardman ASR 8.9

https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/1573-asr-8.9.html

Comes good to go for year round riding, mudguards fitted. Apparently will outlast me as “Steel is real” and all that. QR again. Older spec 105 but not fussed by the looks of the hoods. Heavier than most, but I know I could lose more than the 1kg difference from my gut if I thought about it. Like Boardmans and would match the MTB.

Liking that - nice to see steel coming back in, and by all accounts looks like a decent package, although would be good to see the new 105 R7000 on it, at the same ££

stuart_c-2

Joe, too tall I’m afraid

Zeee, didn’t realise they’d stopped C2W, had half looked at that

Tyresome, can’t wheelie on anything so afraid I need different criteria

Janwai, interesting but would likely go Ribble CGR if I was going to do that

Watno, it is a shame, bet you next year it will have it

skooter

Just done this myself.
Bought an Evans Arkose 3 with 105 11sp and 505 disc brakes ( not cable ) plus an extra 10% off for the UK Cycle membership which costs about £25.00 total £900.
Great deal in my book?

Tyresome

https://road.cc/content/review/252475-t ... -road-bike

Road CC rate this very highly.

bongofish

How's nobody said this yet?

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-rc-5 ... GZEALw_wcB

Rave reviews everywhere. 105 groupset. Hydro discs (well partly) tyre clearance for whatever you want and it's £500 below your budget. Honestly if I was looking for a do it all bike this would be top of my list and the price is outstanding.

Tyresome

Bongofish wrote:

How's nobody said this yet?

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-rc-5 ... GZEALw_wcB

Rave reviews everywhere. 105 groupset. Hydro discs (well partly) tyre clearance for whatever you want and it's £500 below your budget. Honestly if I was looking for a do it all bike this would be top of my list and the price is outstanding.

Yes I did, the post above yours.

bongofish

Tyresome wrote:

Bongofish wrote:

How's nobody said this yet?

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-rc-5 ... GZEALw_wcB

Rave reviews everywhere. 105 groupset. Hydro discs (well partly) tyre clearance for whatever you want and it's £500 below your budget. Honestly if I was looking for a do it all bike this would be top of my list and the price is outstanding.

Yes I did, the post above yours.

Oh crap. I need to start clicking links. Problem is last time I clicked a link it was in 2008, I was only found last year in Brazil after clicking it.

stuart_c-2

I really want to like that Decathlon bike (there's a store right next to my work so been to see it) but it's those poxy hybrid brakes. They could've easily made the bike £900, specced the proper brakes and they'd make a killing.

cougie

Tyresome wrote:

Get the one you can pull the ‘sickest’ wheelies on.

Wheelies and full mudguards don't go well together.

stuart_c-2

So, an update (well, rant).

Went for the Ribble AL Disc. Specced with 28mm tyres and mudguards as I wanted (having emailed them to be sure). Bike turned up today with 25mm tyres fitted.

Phoned them to find out they downsized me as they have now realised that 28 doesn't actually fit! Offered me a bottle cage as a sorry for dropping basically £1300 on something not to spec.

So, now what? Have been told I can do return and refund but then my search starts again. Can't really push the budget any more but seems trying to get that spec with actual stated clearance (is 28 so hard these days?) is difficult.

Is the compromise on 25 v 28 really going to kill me? (The wife has asked so need a reasoned response at least)

At a minimum I would push for a bigger sorry offer than that. Said I can return after riding it and seeing what I think.

Will stop now before I go into full on ramble...

daniel_b

Wowsas, disappointed to hear that, what an assumption to make without contacting the customer!

Guessing they had mostly built the whole bike up before trying to fit wheels and tyres, but no excuse.

Only you can decide if you 'need' the 28's - 23's used to be the norm, and even my commuter had them.
I haven't gone full wideboy, my widest tyres on my roadies (25mm Durano Pluses on my winter bike) are 25's, although I do have wider still on my commuter\child towing hybrid thing.

Personally, I suspect if I had specced it as such, and was expecting it in that configuration, unless I was in love with the frame style\colour, it would nag at the back of my mind.