Another What Bike For The Commute

[AhThisFeckinThing]

Beore you read this, my lower case 'F' will not work on my PC. I have just discovered this problem!

I am seriously looking at getting a new bike or my 20 mile a day/aFternoon/night commute. I currently have the old Specialized Crossroads and I am Feeling more uncomFortable than ever with the sitting up position. I have been commuting For over 12 months now, so I am now reasonably Fit. I have to commute in all weathers and even managed in the snow last year. I intend to keep my old bike For the bad weather but I was looking at something like a Specialized Tricross. The cycle to work scheme is on at present, so I am looking at 500-750 approximately For the bike(I am on a drastic budget, does this amount seem reasonable). I do not do any racing and I am in no club. It is For commute only, but getting to work quicker with less weight would be brilliant. I oFten take either panniers or a small ruck sack, I have to take my own Food with me due to diet. I ride 99% oF the way by road, which varies From bumpy rural road to dual carriageway in the nationals. The dual-carriageway is sometimes but not very oFten changed For the pavement with Fear oF death, the pavement is 3/4 mile long and bumpy as hell. I have been speaking to a Few people who recommend titanium Frames, whats the score with diFFerent Frame materials, does it make that much diFFerence. Even now I Find when I have Finished work and Face the journey ahead I think oF the weight oF my old Crossroads and it Fills me with dread ie 'AhThisFeckinThing'. I thinks thats everything, IF I've missed some piece oF inFormation you need let me know.

Thanks

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[david1701]

I got a tricross yesterday (21st present) for a commute 5 mile+ each way (I always extend unless I'm tight on time) and I think I've done almost 50 miles on it already because I love it so, its a good way into a drop bar bike because of the cross levers so you can hold the flat parts and still brake, though according to a friend the steering is very sharp (I hadn't had any issues).

Worth considering is the extra cost of guards and a rack (I got guards, a rack, lights and a topeak bag that locks onto the rack on it as a surprise) which would push budget if you max out on getting the bike, see if you can get a 2010 for a bit less.

With frame materials in a fairly basic way;
Steel - heavy and soft so absorbs bumps and is comfy for long distances
Ali - lighter but v rigid so transmits all the bumps straight through and can be tiring on a no suspension bike
Carbon - lighter still and soft but bloody expensive
Titanium - Lighter than steel but similarly comfy, a pretty good trade off but very expensive

The tricross is ali and carbon so light and comfy and cheaper than if it was full carbon

 

[Easytigers]

Hi there,
Just ordered myself a Specialized Sirrus Elite. Have already got both a road bike and a workhorse hybrid. Found that the road bike just couldn't cope well with the load of me and the laptop plus books that I have to mark! The hybrid is a Raleigh Urban...steel and very heavy (although it did just see me through a 5 day tour, cycling about 8 hours a day). I guess that was what made me decide to spend a chunk of money. The Sirrus is as light as my road bike plus can take rack and mud guards....hopefully it will get me to school without me going into meltdown (especially in summer) and will also be fine for the weekend rides :-)
Good luck finding a bike...I love buying new toys!

 

[BentMikey]

A tricross seems like a good choice to me - it's a super all-rounder and you can fit studded tyres if we get snow and ice again next winter, or for most of the year you can put on skinny slicks for the extra speed. I think it can take a rack, or a saddlebag to carry your stuff.

 

[smiorgan]

I am seriously looking at getting a new bike or my 20 mile a day/aFternoon/night commute. I currently have the old Specialized Crossroads and I am Feeling more uncomFortable than ever with the sitting up position. I have been commuting For over 12 months now, so I am now reasonably Fit. I have to commute in all weathers and even managed in the snow last year. I intend to keep my old bike For the bad weather but I was looking at something like a Specialized Tricross.

1. Before you plonk down the cash for a new bike, can you say what's uncomfortable about the old bike? It your back/wrists/shoulders/backside? Or are bits of the bike worn out and making it less fun to ride, so you might be able to just fix it with a new saddle/stem etc. However

2. You've been commuting for 12 months, so you deserve a nice new bike

3. Tricross is probably a good starting point since you can probably test ride and it will fit into the price bracket. I just bought a CX frameset for long rides because I wanted fat tyres, and it's great. It's a Surly Cross Check, which is steel, which I like but YMMV. It's probably outside your budget but if you can take one for a test ride... also there might be other brands like Kona that you can look at.

4. Getting a bike fitting is a great idea. I used the online one here which might not be the best way but it gave me a good appreciation of what I needed on my bike to make it fit well, and (as I recall) it gave three different fits. Biggest change was getting a layback seatpost (and now a frame with more relaxed angles) and a shorter + higher stem with the same top tube length; this put my weight backwards over the wheel and took pressure off my hands.

5. Drop bars are great, I wouldn't go back.

6. Once you have the new bike which can take fat tyres and mudguards, you won't want to ride the old one again

 

[AhThisFeckinThing]

Thanks For the replies.
Firstly david1701,
regarding getting an older model, I have Found a new 2010 model For £599. Whats the diFFerence between 2010 and 2011. I noticed the 2010 has

Cassette:
Shimano HG50, 8-speed, 11-32 tooth range

and the 2011 has

Cassette - Shimano HG-50, 8-speed, 13-26 tooth range.

How does that aFFect the journey?

I am also looking at the Sirrus so I am a bit torn, I want to get it right, thanks For making the decision harder, RussLunn!!

1. Before you plonk down the cash for a new bike, can you say what's uncomfortable about the old bike? It your back/wrists/shoulders/backside? Or are bits of the bike worn out and making it less fun to ride, so you might be able to just fix it with a new saddle/stem etc.

It's the sitting up that is doing me in. So many times I am wanted to bend lower For comFort and wind resistance. I had a racer bike as a kid and so oFten I Feel the urge now to get working harder For more speed. Thanks For the measure chart as well, didnt know about that one, thanks smiorgan

 

[david1701]

the cassette is the same quality level but with different gears, the 2011 has a higher top and bottom gear so is faster but harder work laden and on hills, I wish my 2010 had lower gears for some of the climbs I've been doing This is a consumable part and will be replaced with the chain anyway so if you decide you never use the bottom end and want to go faster or if you want a granny gear you could swap.

If its the right size go for it at that price, its what mine was

 

[jay1lk]

I have 2009 sirrus elite. Done me well for about 6500 miles. Good for the commute and for doing extended journeys. Recently did the 73 miles of the Cornwall Tor using a 12-25 on the back end. I am however looking for an undecided drop model for those dry sunny days and the sirrus will become the general workhorse.

 

[AhThisFeckinThing]

Well, I decided on the Tricross 2010 at £599.00. But as I was going through the process on the cycle to work scheme I got told it would cost an extra 10%, £60!! To be honest at First I thought this part oF the scheme and left a very little deposit. I have since Found out this is not the norm. I am now thinking I am that close to £750 I might as well get the Tricross 2011. Is there any real improvement or the extra £90?

 

[Tynan]

front fork shudder all solved now? what size frame are you looking at?

 

[AhThisFeckinThing]

Advised 56, as 176cm tall with 31" inside leg

 

[AhThisFeckinThing]

The choices get worse. Now I can get a TRicross Sport 2011 For £850 From same shop. It is a 54cm size Frame. It has SPD pedals and a computer already Fitted. MAde For someone, who then didn't buy. Is it worth going the extra, again?