Bike purchase question

[magnatom]

At last I think I have the go ahead for a new bike!

So I need something that is tough enough for commuting (I will use my hybrid for the really grotty days) so ideally it should be able to take mudguards etc. However, I also want to use it for the odd longer road ride, so it needs to be reasonably light and have a reasonable gearing.

I think a cyclocross bike is probably what I am looking for and I will be having a look at the Specialized Tricross sport, Kona Jake, Planet X Kaffenback etc.

Not being into road bikes up until now though, I am unsure what components are reasonable in my price range (about £750 max), i.e. is there much difference in the type of gears at this price range Tiagra, Deore LX. Or does it not matter too much in this range.

What parts of the bike matter?

Of course I will be test riding, but it is good to be clued up!

 

[RedBike]

CX bikes don't make great road bikes. They're often heavier (Built to take abuse off-road). The cantilever brakes are rubbish compared to duel pivots and the geometry is far more biased towards off-road handling than road performance. Given that you've already got a hybrid bike I would probably go for a winter trainer / audax type bike.

I ride a Ribble for my commuter bike (With panniers / mudguards). It's not the lightest of bikes but there's no doubt what so ever that its quicker than my cx bike on the road. Have a read of this. http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=25466

 

[RedBike]

At £750 I would probably want a partial 10 speed 105 groupset or a full Tiagra groupset (Brakes / cranks etc are either shimano Tiagra or a better part brand-named part).

Deore LX is for MTBs.

 

[fossyant]

One of these..... Dolan Preffisio ?

http://www.dolan-bikes.co.uk/preffisio.html

 

[Crackle]

Tricross is good and Redbike makes some good points but you know what. My experience is that most road bikes will do for road commuting with the exception of out and out race bikes. If you are thinking of longer rides I think I'd tend towards an audax which will take chunkier tyres, that's all you need. That said, you wouldn't be dissapointed with the Tricross.

Componentry wise, probably 105/Tiagra for your price range. 105 levers are better (unless my knowledge is now out of date) and Tiagra changers. It's all good stuff though which will do the job. Pay more attention to the wheels for commuting. 32 spokers with clearance for 28/32mm tyres.

You also want mudguards and presumably a rack if you and the family are off for a tour. That will limit your frame choice, hence my audax suggestion.

 

[Joe]

If it were me I'd try and go for a winter trainer style road bike that will take a rack rather than a cyclocross bike. Full on road bikes can take more of a beating than you'd think and are way more fun to ride!
I like the look of the Dolan mentioned earlier. I was close to buying one before deciding to go for a full on tourer instead. Cyclexpress have the framest for £225 with headset and seatpost included. Pretty good if you can get the rest of the parts together cheaply.
Or maybe look into audax style bikes?

 

[magnatom]

I had a feeling I would be steared towards a road bike! I'm a little limited in that I am buying through cyclescheme (bike to work) although they do have a number of dealers. But that means the dolan etc might be off limits. So if I was to go from a larger manufacturers auduax/winter type road bike, what would be a good suggestion? I come from a complete lack of knowledge in this area (perhaps this should be in beginners!)

 

[Crackle]

What can you get then, makes wise?

 

[magnatom]

What can you get then, makes wise?

Difficult question to answer! Basically anything from any bike shop within about 20 miles of Glasgow (edinburgh at a push), that is in cyclescheme! So I expect most of the main brands should be accessable, just not the likes of Dolan etc, which look a bit more specialist (unless there is a dealer in Glasgow!)

 

[Madcyclist]

Browsing through Cycling Weekly this afternoon I noticed that Dolan bikes advertised by Itailian-Solutions are available through the Halfords cycle 2 work scheme.

 

[kyuss]

Do you need to stick to a dealer in Glasgow? I know trying out a bike before you buy is a good idea but there are online retailers in the cyclescheme. I'm thinking specifically of buyabikedirect.co.uk who have the Jamis Quest within your budget. A 105/Ultegra equipped Reynolds 631 framed audax machine, with clearance for guards at that price is a proper bargain.

 

[magnatom]

Do you need to stick to a dealer in Glasgow? I know trying out a bike before you buy is a good idea but there are online retailers in the cyclescheme. I'm thinking specifically of buyabikedirect.co.uk who have the Jamis Quest within your budget. A 105/Ultegra equipped Reynolds 631 framed audax machine, with clearance for guards at that price is a proper bargain.

Mmm. Reduced from £1200 to £700. It certainly looks the business. How would I know my sizing for this. I am about 5ft 10inches (and a bit!) in height.

Has anyone tried this bike? Would I be crazy to buy something like this without trying it?

 

[Crackle]

Has anyone tried this bike? Would I be crazy to buy something like this without trying it?

My view is yes you would, especially as it's your first road bike. If you pretty much knew what you need in a bike then possibly not, though it's always wise to try them but in your case you need to sling your leg over a good few and mull a bit.

 

[magnatom]

My view is yes you would, especially as it's your first road bike. If you pretty much knew what you need in a bike then possibly not, though it's always wise to try them but in your case you need to sling your leg over a good few and mull a bit.

I thought that might be the case. It does look like a good bargain though!

 

[magnatom]

Any other suggestions then? I'd really hate going along to a bike shop and saying.... ummm errr, I want a road bike shaped thingy for abou £750 that will do x,y and z. I have limited time outside work to try these things so having a list to start with is a bonus!