Dawes or Specialized?

[Bugner]

Wife is looking for a new bike, mainly commuting 10 miles each way, occasional trail and woodlands bike path.

Looking at Dawes 501 or Specialized Globe. Any opinions would be welcome.

Also, I see there is an option on Globe for hub gears! potentially less maintenance, but what is the range of the gears compared to a derailleur set up? couple of hills (nothing to major) on commute, would the hub go low enough?

Thanks in advance

 

[mickle]

+1

Specialised's design, build and quality assurance is second to none.

Dawes's design, build and quality assurance is second to most.

 

[Sittingduck]

I have a Globe and I love it Not too sure about Dawes but I have read some negative things in other posts about the quality of the modern ones. I guess it comes down to which one she prefers / seems more comfortable on though.

 

[louise]

Also take a look at Specialized Vita its currently reduced in Evans, I am picking mine up tomorrow.

Its part of Specialized D4W range-designed for women

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/vita-2009-road-bike-ec016892

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=40905&eid=215

 

[ianrauk]

I love my Specialized Globe Comp... love it, love it, love it...

 

[Bugner]

thanks for responses. To be honest, specialized was my choice as well (being a specialized tricross owner) so think the mrs now agrees on specialized.

So the question now is whether to go for geared hub or standard gears?

With having to keep the chain under tension, obvioulsy QR isn't an option, so how difficult is it to remove and refit wheel, would it be a hassle for the wife if she had a rear wheel puncture mid commute??

 

[ianrauk]

Specialized Globe has QR on rear wheel. Just get her to practice a couple of times. You could also change the tyres to Schwalbe Marathon Plus'

However if she doesn't want the hassle with derraillieurs then go for the hub gears, unless she will schlepping up major hills, hub gears will be fine for a commute

 

[gbb]

My wife has a Dawes kalahari hybrid, and although it's everything she wants it to be, the only thing i feel let down with is the paintwork....it scratches so easily
Such a shame....it's been brilliant in every other way.

 

[ed_o_brain]

I think the Dawes is getting an unnecessary pasting here.

Having had a look at both, I think there is little to pick between them. If you want a hub gear, then go for the Globe.

I've no experience of the Discovery solo bikes, but the Discovery Discovery Twin Tandem we have, bought second hand, has taken everything we've thrown at it quite respectably so far. The paint is okay too.l

The Dolce my partner has sheared a crank within a handful of short rides. A sequoia I had siezed a freewheel after a thousand miles.

 

[Radius]

Dawes had an issue a little while ago with complaints about quality control (not from my own experience, just what I've read), but that's not to say they haven't got back on track. I do think though, that the Spesh will just be better in general. They're customer support is good too should things go wrong as far as I'm aware...