Charge plug 5

[Bicykell]

I'm going to look at an ex demo Charge plug 5 tomorrow. At £800 off it seems too good to miss - if it's what I want.
I have a Specialized Sirrus sport which I love but fancy disc brakes (this is Cumbria and I do a 13 mile round trip every day which includes 4 13% grades) and drops. And looking gool and croovy on the road. As you do.
Is the Charge too close to the Specialized? Should I be going for something carbon fibre and, er, well flash if I'm holding on to the Speciallized as a winter bike?
Advice and guidance please........

 

[Bicykell]

Not many Charge Plug 5 owners out there then....or was it something I said?
I had a long test ride on it this morning, and was impressed by its speed and comfort. The SRAM red 22 gears felt good, and the hydraulic disc brakes were very good. It all felt faster and lighter that the Sirrus, as it should.
Initially I found the whip of the steel frame slightly unsettling at first, but after a couple of hills settled in quite nicely.
Riding along, I was continually asking myself if I would enjoy the extra speed and lightness compared to the dependable solid Sirrus. And I couldn't say I was sure I would.
I decided that although the the bike was a bargain at £799, I would have to have a go on a carbon fibre and a good alloy frame to compare.
Which is just as well, as when I got back to the shop, the bike had been sold on the net.
For reasons that escape me, I felt a little relieved.
So my opinion ended up as being that the Charge is a great bike, but not the one for me.

 

[mythste]

I should think you'd notice quite a difference! Some swear by "comfortable" steel frames and the geometry will be very different. I'm a big fan of Charge and I hope and think you'll love it!

 

[mythste]

Ah, just missed you it appears! That's a shame, but good luck on the hunt!

 

[Bicykell]

Cheers mythste - there's a bike out there that will say "right you've found me, what are you going to do about it?"
When I got back to the shop and found I had been riding someone else's bike, I was surprised but not disappointed. I should have felt robbed.
I think whoever has bought it has got a great bargain. It's a great bike. Hope they love it. It's put me off buying on line though.

 

[mythste]

There's a saying about a bargain only being a bargain if you would have paid full price anyway (much more eloquently, I'm sure!)

Have you got an idea of what features you would like from your next bike?

 

[Bicykell]

Well, I know I need a 52 cm frame. Having tried hydraulic discs, I'm not sure they are that much better at stopping. They need less pressure, and look flash, but they seem to be a solution to a non existent problem. It's the tires that lock up. I'd like comfort ( which the charge was) and the ability to carry at least a rack. So road racers are out - I think. The Charge seemed to tick all the boxes, but I want to try at least a carbon fibre, and a Genesis croix de fer before deciding.
And I Want a Green One. Well maybe red......

 

[mythste]

@vickster - He wants a colourful bike.

You're up!

 

[simon.r]

Well, I know I need a 52 cm frame. Having tried hydraulic discs, I'm not sure they are that much better at stopping. They need less pressure, and look flash, but they seem to be a solution to a non existent problem. It's the tires that lock up. I'd like comfort ( which the charge was) and the ability to carry at least a rack. So road racers are out - I think. The Charge seemed to tick all the boxes, but I want to try at least a carbon fibre, and a Genesis croix de fer before deciding.
And I Want a Green One. Well maybe red......

Charge Plug 3 then!

I have a Charge Juicer which I love and a Plug 3. I haven't ridden the Plug 3 much yet as I bought it earlier this year as my bad weather bike (mudguards and discs), but so far so good and it is red

 

[vickster]

@vickster - He wants a colourful bike.

You're up!

I'll have a think more later...from the top of my head

Start by looking at the London Road in zesty lime

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXLDNRIV/planet-x-london-road-sram-rival-22-road-bike

or Evans seem to have some lairy beasts in their pinnacle range

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkose-three-2015-adventure-road-bike-ec071307

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkose-two-2015-adventure-road-bike-ec071306

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/arkose-four-2015-adventure-road-bike-ec071308

Kona Jake the daddy of CX

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/jake-2015-cyclocross-bike-ec103472

Or how's about an RX9 from Orange, in you've guessed it...orange

http://www.cyclesurgery.com/orange rx9 2014/orange-road-bikes/bikes-components-bikewear/fcp-product/53184

Croix comes in red or blue...or go for an equilibrium in yellow

http://www.londonbicycleworkshop.com/94153/products/genesis-equilibrium-disc-20-2015-yellow.aspx

 

[Bicykell]

Ooooh! Yellow equilibrium!
Planet X! Zesty lime! Oooooh!!!
And how's about, how's about.... how's about the croix de fer ltd in a sort of mushroom grey and orange? Getting matching shirt and shorts would be a problem - no more Adlis best -
I saw a red metallic Genesis on the road this afternoon, looked gorgeous in the sun.
On a more serious note, I was told the whippiness of the Charge is typical of steel frames.
Is this true compared to alloy?