mrmacmusic
Veteran
- Location
- Tillicoultry
Maybe it's just the time of year, but I'm starting to think about upgrading my commuter, and would welcome some advice and input!
I bought a Ridgeback Flight 01 back in August (2010 stock) thinking it was a fairly sensible choice since I couldn't afford to spend any more, and couldn't bring myself to go for a proper drop-bar road bike. I've since built up my commuting frequency such that now I'm commuting 28.4 miles per day, 5 days a week. I plan to start putting in some weekend miles, and take part in a few sportives. Although I've fitted bar-ends to give me some hand position options, I realise that in hindsight, drops would have been a wise move.
Having fitted a rack (ALDI), SKS mudguards (P35) and changed to Marathon+ tyres, the Flight is sorted for commutes, but doesn't feel particularly spritely, even when I've taken the panniers off. It's not that my primary goal is going fast – commuting is not a race – it's just that there are times I feel that the bike feels slow and heavy. Maybe it's just my legs
Whoever came up with the statistic that it never rains during commuting hours is talking bol***s (or doesn't live in Central Scotland), and given that my regular commuting route covers cycle-paths (strewn with leaves, branches, horse-poo etc), main roads (potholed, naturally) and back roads (usually covered in tractor-laid mud) in all weather conditions, the Flight is usually shiny on a Monday and flithy by Tuesday, with variable braking performance to say the least. I'm fairly certain that when the bike goes in for a 6-month check up shortly, the LBS will confirm that my rims are on the way out.
So. My upgrade check list includes: drop bars, more responsive, better brakes, can take rack and mudguards, comfortable with long weekend runs and able to withstand a variety of road "surfaces"... sounds very much like a CX bike to me, wouldn't you say?
I've not created a shortlist yet, but hope to be able to swing an "up to £1000, maybe a touch more" purchase approval from the Boss
I really like the look of the Whyte Charing Cross and (whilst not cyclo-cross) the Giant Defy 1. Then there's the Boardman CX Team which I see some folks on here swear by, but I'm more of a Shimano man, and the Specialized Tricross (Elite Disc) which I looked at before I bought the Flight when I thought C2W might have been an option.
Looks shouldn't come into it, I know, but the current understated "stealthy" Tricross – and to some extent the Boardman – just don't float my boat, although that wouldn't necessarily put me off test riding them. The Tricross felt quite heavy when I was nosing around the LBS over Christmas, but Specialized are to my knowledge the only company that offers a lifetime warranty on the frame.
Since I do now have my second hand MTB (thanks Larry
) I do like the idea of a rack-friendly road bike (e.g. Giant Defy 1/Trek 1.5), but ultimately wonder if it would cope with the rigours of the daily commute's varying surfaces and less-than-perfect conditions, and whether their canti brakes/rims would last any longer or actually be more effective than my v-brakes.
Sorry for the long winded post... I felt that emptying my head with some background would be helpful! Pros and cons to the above models, plus any suggestions for other choice steeds that I should endeavour to test out would be very much appreciated
I bought a Ridgeback Flight 01 back in August (2010 stock) thinking it was a fairly sensible choice since I couldn't afford to spend any more, and couldn't bring myself to go for a proper drop-bar road bike. I've since built up my commuting frequency such that now I'm commuting 28.4 miles per day, 5 days a week. I plan to start putting in some weekend miles, and take part in a few sportives. Although I've fitted bar-ends to give me some hand position options, I realise that in hindsight, drops would have been a wise move.
Having fitted a rack (ALDI), SKS mudguards (P35) and changed to Marathon+ tyres, the Flight is sorted for commutes, but doesn't feel particularly spritely, even when I've taken the panniers off. It's not that my primary goal is going fast – commuting is not a race – it's just that there are times I feel that the bike feels slow and heavy. Maybe it's just my legs
Whoever came up with the statistic that it never rains during commuting hours is talking bol***s (or doesn't live in Central Scotland), and given that my regular commuting route covers cycle-paths (strewn with leaves, branches, horse-poo etc), main roads (potholed, naturally) and back roads (usually covered in tractor-laid mud) in all weather conditions, the Flight is usually shiny on a Monday and flithy by Tuesday, with variable braking performance to say the least. I'm fairly certain that when the bike goes in for a 6-month check up shortly, the LBS will confirm that my rims are on the way out.
So. My upgrade check list includes: drop bars, more responsive, better brakes, can take rack and mudguards, comfortable with long weekend runs and able to withstand a variety of road "surfaces"... sounds very much like a CX bike to me, wouldn't you say?
I've not created a shortlist yet, but hope to be able to swing an "up to £1000, maybe a touch more" purchase approval from the Boss
I really like the look of the Whyte Charing Cross and (whilst not cyclo-cross) the Giant Defy 1. Then there's the Boardman CX Team which I see some folks on here swear by, but I'm more of a Shimano man, and the Specialized Tricross (Elite Disc) which I looked at before I bought the Flight when I thought C2W might have been an option.Looks shouldn't come into it, I know, but the current understated "stealthy" Tricross – and to some extent the Boardman – just don't float my boat, although that wouldn't necessarily put me off test riding them. The Tricross felt quite heavy when I was nosing around the LBS over Christmas, but Specialized are to my knowledge the only company that offers a lifetime warranty on the frame.
Since I do now have my second hand MTB (thanks Larry
) I do like the idea of a rack-friendly road bike (e.g. Giant Defy 1/Trek 1.5), but ultimately wonder if it would cope with the rigours of the daily commute's varying surfaces and less-than-perfect conditions, and whether their canti brakes/rims would last any longer or actually be more effective than my v-brakes.Sorry for the long winded post... I felt that emptying my head with some background would be helpful! Pros and cons to the above models, plus any suggestions for other choice steeds that I should endeavour to test out would be very much appreciated
Seriously, what's the benefit of a fixed other than fitness?
