Hybrid help - sorry, another newbie pleading for your advice!

[hedge]

If you don't mind a steel fork rather than carbon (they are P2s though...), then these are an option:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/dr-dew-2010-hybrid-bike-ec021778

A bit more, but with Alfine internal gears:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/dr-fine-2010-hybrid-bike-ec021779

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/hubs/product/alfine-disc-hub-31670

The geometry is good for us shorties and they're quite upright.

Thanks, I do like the idea of the internal gears. They seem to carry a reasonable premium, are they that much better??

 

[hedge]

Norm makes a very good point and I was only focusing on the bars/controls initially. I'd start by making a list of what you want around the key areas, so:-

frame material - at this pricepoint I'd look for steel or mix of carbon and aluminium, spend a bit more, full carbon, a lot more and take your choice. You also need to consider what fittings are on the frame for brakes, guards and rack.

tyres/guards you want to run - the size of tyres will be limited by frame clearances and brakes. If you get road caliper style brakes then you'd struggle to get better than a 28mm tyre with guards. If you want to run bigger tyres then you need cantilever brakes or v-brakes. If it's v-brakes then they take twice the amount of cable pull and will only work with specific v-brake levers. Disc brakes are another matter and you can get long or short pull road mechanical ones. but I don't know much about disc brakes, I find rim brakes work fine for my uses, and I can maintain them.

rack - do you want the option of a rack and panniers, I wouldn't commute with anything else.

controls - mtb and road bars have a different diameter tubing and the controls aren't interchangeable, hence making this key decision at the start.

If it was me I'd be looking for steel frame, clearances for tyres and guards up to 32mm at least, rack and mudguard fittings and cantilever brake bosses. I have other preferences but those would be a starting point. You can't really get a one bike does all but you can certainly get one that does nearly all.

Thanks, I think I agree and for what I am looking for need 32mm tyres which rule out a number of the options discussed. Is there much difference between 700 and 622 tyres? Cannondale seem to all be on the smaller size. Most of my riding will be on the road but I definitely need to be able to go on to a canal path or park trail without worrying about punctures/wheel damage etc.

Frame material - as light as I can get inside a c. £850 budget.

Bars - prefer the flat road bar setup. I need an upright riding position.

Rack - would be useful but not essential.

 

[HJ]

How about a Norco VFR covers what you are asking for...

 

[MacB]

Thanks, I think I agree and for what I am looking for need 32mm tyres which rule out a number of the options discussed. Is there much difference between 700 and 622 tyres? Cannondale seem to all be on the smaller size. Most of my riding will be on the road but I definitely need to be able to go on to a canal path or park trail without worrying about punctures/wheel damage etc.

Frame material - as light as I can get inside a c. £850 budget.

Bars - prefer the flat road bar setup. I need an upright riding position.

Rack - would be useful but not essential.

wheels and tyres get confusing because there is the internation ERTO standard but the MTB community and the USA seem to ignore this and carry on with inches. 700c is 622, 559 is 26", 29er or 29" is 700 and 622...etc. Basically rim size by ERTO is:-

xxx-xx - ie 622-19 - that means the rim diameter is 622mm and the internal width is 19mm. For a tyre to fit it needs to share the same diameter, ie 622, and the width should be linked to the rim width. So a 622-19 rim can take 622-28 to 622-62 tyres, the upper tyre width will be dictated by the manufacturers stated tolerance and, of course, the clearance of the frame. For example, two well respected touring/commuting rims:-

Rigida Sputnik 622-19 rim - accepts tyres in siizes 622x28 to 622x62, according to Rigidas website.

Mavic A719 622-19 rim - accepts tyres in range 622x28 to 622x47 according to the Mavic site.

 

[Arch]

Thanks, I do like the idea of the internal gears. They seem to carry a reasonable premium, are they that much better??

You have hub gears on the Brom I assume, if it's 3spd. So you know they are bombproof, low maintenance, convenient for city riding (no having to think ahead and change down when you stop)...

Day in day out city riding deposits a fair bit of gunk on your chain and sprockets, and derailleur chains wear out, and eventually the sprockets too, because not only does the chain run around them, it has to shift across them as well.. Whereas there are 70 year old hub geared roadsters out there still running the original chain....

Anyway, good luck in your search! And any bike looks good in a hallway. Or in my case, bedroom. Both of them, and the one downstairs in the lobby, and the one in the lock up, they're all beautiful....

 

[hedge]

wheels and tyres get confusing because there is the internation ERTO standard but the MTB community and the USA seem to ignore this and carry on with inches. 700c is 622, 559 is 26", 29er or 29" is 700 and 622...etc. Basically rim size by ERTO is:-

xxx-xx - ie 622-19 - that means the rim diameter is 622mm and the internal width is 19mm. For a tyre to fit it needs to share the same diameter, ie 622, and the width should be linked to the rim width. So a 622-19 rim can take 622-28 to 622-62 tyres, the upper tyre width will be dictated by the manufacturers stated tolerance and, of course, the clearance of the frame. For example, two well respected touring/commuting rims:-

Rigida Sputnik 622-19 rim - accepts tyres in siizes 622x28 to 622x62, according to Rigidas website.

Mavic A719 622-19 rim - accepts tyres in range 622x28 to 622x47 according to the Mavic site.

You sir are the bike-guru! I just had no idea it could be this complicated....!!! Thanks for the advice.

 

[hedge]

You have hub gears on the Brom I assume, if it's 3spd. So you know they are bombproof, low maintenance, convenient for city riding (no having to think ahead and change down when you stop)...

Day in day out city riding deposits a fair bit of gunk on your chain and sprockets, and derailleur chains wear out, and eventually the sprockets too, because not only does the chain run around them, it has to shift across them as well.. Whereas there are 70 year old hub geared roadsters out there still running the original chain....

Anyway, good luck in your search! And any bike looks good in a hallway. Or in my case, bedroom. Both of them, and the one downstairs in the lobby, and the one in the lock up, they're all beautiful....

Yes the B has hub gears and I am a fan, but only 3 of them so probably not representative of the range a 'big' bike with hubs can offer. Think it is a no brainer if I can find the right bike with this option though, thanks.

 

[hedge]

Hi all,

Thanks for advice so far, it has been invaluable in helping me shortlist and being able to have intelligent conversations with the Evans bike-dudes.

I test drove the Trek 7.6 today and was not blown away - nice and light and the brakes were awesome (calipers) but not very quick and I found the gear shifting very clunky.

Still plan to ride a couple of bikes with disc brakes and hub gears to rule them in or out but currently leaning towards calipers & derailliers from the advice I have taken and what I have read.

So I have ordered the following two bikes to test drive:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/synapse-flat-bar-105-triple-2009-road-bike-ec016637

and

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/sirrus-comp-2009-road-bike-ec016917

Quite a big difference in price so will be interesting to see if the ride is that different - does anyone know if the C3 reference to various components on the Cannondale, and the S.A.V.E system are carbon - I cannot find a definitive answer?

What are your views on these two bikes as a comparison?

Thanks,


Hedge

 

[hedge]

Sorted!

Thanks for advice. I have just bought this bike and very pleased with it:

Specialized Sirrus Comp 2009:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/sirrus-comp-2009-road-bike-ec016917

Got a stonking deal as it was the last one they had in stock, now discontinued, plus I get the 10% London Cycle Club discount - so £540 which through ride2work will cost about half that spread over a year - blinder!!!

Thanks again, safe cycling.

 

[ACS]

I have Sirrus sport for my 10 mile each way commute. I found the lack of different hand positions to be frustrating so I added a pair of Dirt Rodz Bar ends , add a bit of black handle tape and comfort is assured.

 

[hedge]

I have Sirrus sport for my 10 mile each way commute. I found the lack of different hand positions to be frustrating so I added a pair of Dirt Rodz Bar ends , add a bit of black handle tape and comfort is assured.

Thanks, it comes with the GM comfort grips and bar ends, will see how I get on, cheers!