Cycle to work scheme, not sure which bike to go for...

[gaz]

So i'll soon have £1000 to spend on a bike. Has to go through evans and i'm looking for a roadie, my first one at that as well. I've got a shortlist but not sure in the slightest what to go for.

The Line Up:

• Univega Via Modena Pro 2009
• Raleigh Avanti carbon COMP 2009
• Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Veloce 2010
• Bianchi Via Nirone 7 105 2010
• Raleigh Avanti U6 PRO 2009

I've posted them in the sort of order i want them. I do like the look of the Raleighs and i know some of there past work has been shody and the reviews for this bike are next to none.

 

[davidg]

compact or double?! first choice there.

Evans let you demo them, so I would get down to the relevant stores...isnt there a good one in Waterloo?

 

[gaz]

compact or double? thats the same thing, if you mean compact or triple. Compact.

The only problem i can see is that the univega and raleigh will be hard to get hold of, as there is not much stock. Guess i will have to go digging around. The biggest one is london bridge. so i might pop down there. it's just a shame my local one doesn't stock more.

 

[davidg]

compact or double? thats the same thing, if you mean compact or triple. Compact.

The only problem i can see is that the univega and raleigh will be hard to get hold of, as there is not much stock. Guess i will have to go digging around. The biggest one is london bridge. so i might pop down there. it's just a shame my local one doesn't stock more.

one of those there, is a double which is harder than a compact double so not exactly the same!

 

[John the Monkey]

compact or double? thats the same thing, if you mean compact or triple. Compact.

Not quite.

Compact doubles have smaller chainrings than the traditional "racing" double.

Whereas the latter might have a 52/42, a compact would probably have 50/34, or similar. The idea is to give a more usable spread of gears across the whole chainset/cassette, rather than mostly too high/not low enough. It's also easier to pass off a compact than a triple to people who care about what equipment your bike has on it, and might sneer at a triple.

 

[gaz]

ahhhhhhhh i see...
i'm not so bothered, i ride mainly around london and the south, so hills aren't so much of an issue.