Commuting/Winter/do-it-all bike recommendations?

[vickster]

I think what I might be looking for is more like a tourer?

Check out spa cycles...or one of the Ti dealers...or Condor if pockets deep. Pearson also do a tourer in their range.

I love my equilibrium but it really is more of a road bike

 

[Yazzoo]

https://www.evanscycles.com/genesis-equilibrium-decade-2016-road-bike-EV258304

TBH something like this would be perfect, but it seems like a lot of money for the brand with a pretty naff groupset for the money, although it does come with guards, rack and lights and is pretty much ready to go!

 

[Yazzoo]

Just looked that one up, seems similar money as the genesis but not as nice looking!

Cheaper alternative maybe:
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/77139/Dawes_3IMA_Alloy_2016_Bike

 

[vickster]

https://www.evanscycles.com/genesis-equilibrium-decade-2016-road-bike-EV258304

TBH something like this would be perfect, but it seems like a lot of money for the brand with a pretty naff groupset for the money, although it does come with guards, rack and lights and is pretty much ready to go!

See if Freeborn have any deals on 2015 Genesis

Also they and Condor do appear on eBay

There's nothing naff about new Tiagra I think (although I'm a SRAM girl)

 

[Yazzoo]

thanks, will get googling

 

[mjr]

If you want a winter-capable do-it-all bike, then getting something with a derailleur dangling your chain in the spray, flimsy plastic guards and a thin rack is probably going to be disappointing. Something like the Pashley but Pashleys are heavy even for the type, so one of their lighter-weight competitors may be worth considering. I like my Dutchie but there are many more out there. However, I prefer swept bars, so if you're determined to have drops, you may find a tourer or audax bike is a better fit (excuse the pun).

 

[vickster]

£700 gets you the Ribble winter bike with 105. Customisation of parts such as bar width, stem, cranks a big benefit over off the peg. Hence my Genesis was built from the frame up

 

[Yazzoo]

There's nothing naff about new Tiagra I think (although I'm a SRAM girl)

I'm not saying Tiagra is naff, just I'd expect a higher spec for £1200!

 

[vickster]

I'm not saying Tiagra is naff, just I'd expect a higher spec for £1200!

Why? Smaller runs of bikes from a more niche manufacturer. You won't be able to match Ribble or PX say, not all about the components I guess

Also lower spec, cheaper to replace which could be helpful on an all weather bike

Do Spa still have the ti Sabbath Aspire for £1200, lush

 

[T4tomo]

A 2nd hand steel touring bike off ebay would fit the bill.

 

[vickster]

How tall are you? This is well reduced

http://www.freeborn.co.uk/genesis-equilibrium-30-bike-pearl-white-2015

Here's the decade under a grand
http://www.freeborn.co.uk/genesis-2016-equilibrium-decade-bike

£900 but dull black

http://www.freeborn.co.uk/genesis-2016-equilibrium-20-bike

£750, tiagra, but different steel

http://www.freeborn.co.uk/genesis-2016-equilibrium-10-bike

 

[Yazzoo]

lol just looking at that one as I saw your message! - edited to add that was for the Sabbath, other messages popped up before I could reply

 

[KneesUp]

It seems that what most people call a 'winter bike' I call a bike.

Aluminium has the advantage of not rusting, which is good when you chip the paint. Steel has the advantage of looking nicer because the tubes are thinner. Many say it is more comfortable, but to a certain extent that depends on the frame. Steel's failure mode is bending. Aluminium's failure mode is snapping.

Titanium is not as strong as steel so you need more of it, so although it's less dense than steel, a frame made of it won't be that much lighter, but infinitely more attractive to thieves.

I have a Ribble 'Winter/Audax' frame I haven't built up yet. It will be my 'going on a ride on roads with a few sandwiches and a flask on a nice day' bike though, as it has sod all room for mudguards.

People around here commute on all sorts. I regularly see people in full overalls on fully suspended 'Argos bikes' and I also see people in full team kit on bikes that look like they cost the same as my car (they tend to ruin the just-off-to-race-look somewhat by having a rucksack though).

I've thought about swapping forks on my bike to get a front disc (most braking effort is by the front wheel, and the frame has no disc mounts) but as I can lock the wheel of my bike with the current rim brakes, I don't see the benefit - the limit to my braking appears to be the tyres, not the brakes.

If you want something reliable and robust, get something with no more gears than you need (from memory beyond eight speed cassettes, you're in to the territory of thinner chains and more problematic setup) A tourer of some sort sounds ideal.

 

[Yazzoo]

Thanks, @vickster i'm only 5'4"

 

[vickster]

Thanks, @vickster i'm only 5'4"

Hmm, I think equilibriums start at 52cm...I'm nearly 5'10 and ride a 54cm (although a 56cm would probably be ok too)

I'm sure Spa would love to advise on Sabbath sizing, they do an XS

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s21p3404/SABBATH-Aspire-105

They have a lovely wider range too http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s21p0/Bikes/Touring-Audax-and-Sportive