Looking to replace my Ridgeback Flight 01 - Suggestions ?

[Goobs]

I already have a Boardman Sport MTB and a Raleigh Air 400 road bike.

When out with the missus at weekends I use the Ridgeback with rack and panniers but after a trek round the Peak District last weekend I found it heavy on hills and uncomfortable for the hands/arms when on trails due to vibration.
The missus was flying up hills on her Specialized Vita Elite and I started to consider the Specialized Sirrus Elite (without discs). I've seen these around £550 to £580 but expect they will drop a bit more when the 2015 model comes out soon.

I have ruled out the 2013 one as they stopped fitting carbon forks that year.

Has anyone got a suggestion for something lighter than the Flight01 that takes rack/panniers/guards and has decent spec components at around the £600 mark ?

 

[vickster]

Whyte r7, can get the Cambridge older models for that sort of cost

 

[MikeW-71]

Giant Escape 1 at £500

Flat bar road bike with carbon fork and 32mm tyres with huge gear range.

 

[Goobs]

Whyte r7, can get the Cambridge older models for that sort of cost

I like the weight - 10Kg
The new price is more like £800+
Also I would prefer a triple like the Flight 01 and Sirrus Elite - damned hills and panniers !

 

[vickster]

50/34; 11-32 is meant to be a climbing set up

Deal here http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=12322&Item='Whyte Cambridge 2012 Hybrid/Commuter Bike'

Or Portobello in budget

http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=10719&Item='Whyte Portobello 2011 Hybrid/Commuter Bike'

Don't get a Sirrus, zzzz

 

[Phixion]

Specialized specs have gone downhill year on year without fail, whilst I don't doubt they are nice bikes (enough people ride them), there's far better out there for the money.

The only decently spec'd budget bike from them (imo) is the Allez Sport C2.

 

[Goobs]

I can't get over the weight of the Whyte Cambridge - shame that link was for a large as a medium would probably suit me better at 5ft10in.

I've rung round the LBS and they are pushing the Giant Escape 1 but I cannot get a proper weight for it anywhere. Anyone know ?

Agreed Phixion - the specs have dropped each year. I nearly grabbed a Sirrus Elite 2013 as it had a decent groupset but the forks put me off even though the bike was around £500.

I'm totally fixated on the weight now and ideally want something 10Kg, flat bars and carbon forks. Not bothered about discs but if they do it at the right weight its a bonus. I could just stick flats on my Raleigh... nah!

 

[vickster]

I can't get over the weight of the Whyte Cambridge - shame that link was for a large as a medium would probably suit me better at 5ft10in.

I've rung round the LBS and they are pushing the Giant Escape 1 but I cannot get a proper weight for it anywhere. Anyone know ?

Agreed Phixion - the specs have dropped each year. I nearly grabbed a Sirrus Elite 2013 as it had a decent groupset but the forks put me off even though the bike was around £500.

I'm totally fixated on the weight now and ideally want something 10Kg, flat bars and carbon forks. Not bothered about discs but if they do it at the right weight its a bonus. I could just stick flats on my Raleigh... nah!

I am just under 5'10 and ride a medium, I think it may be a little small with a lot of seatpost, but I am wary of being overstretched as a previous bike gave me chronic tennis elbow. At 5'10 you are on the cusp according to Whyte

How heavy are you? It's often cheaper and easier to take the weight off you than the bike (unless you have to lug it up 10 flights of stairs say)

Have a look at the Boardman hybrids perhaps?

Carbon forks = much more important than groupset on a hybrid in my book

 

[MikeW-71]

Giant tend not to publish weights, which isn't always helpful.

I can make a bit of a guess. An aluminium Defy is about 9.5kg, the Rapid should be about the same, I would estimate the Escape at 10-11kg. The extra will mainly come from the fatter tyres and the MTB groupset. It does have a triple and an MTB cassette, so some really low gearing available for load-carrying.

Rapids will also take a rack, but I don't think they'd be best suited to carrying a decent load as they come with 25mm tyres and no clearance for anything bigger.

 

[mcnulty]

50/34; 11-32 is meant to be a climbing set up

Deal here http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=12322&Item='Whyte Cambridge 2012 Hybrid/Commuter Bike'

Or Portobello in budget

http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=10719&Item='Whyte Portobello 2011 Hybrid/Commuter Bike'

Don't get a Sirrus, zzzz

Shoreditch looks better spec than portobello and ticks many of your boxes. . If it has the gear range for your climbs though with 1x10..

 

[Goobs]

Shoreditch looks better spec than portobello and ticks many of your boxes. . If it has the gear range for your climbs though with 1x10..

I can't see me getting up Monsal Head hill in a 10 speed - saying that I can't see me doing it laden with panniers full stop !

 

[vickster]

There's a lightly used Cambridge for sale on fleabay

 

[Goobs]

There's a lightly used Cambridge for sale on fleabay

Collection only and too far from me.
Thanks for looking though.

 

[vickster]

£600 new is pretty good, I reckon you could try a haggle with broadribb or whatever they are called for an old model

 

[Goobs]

£600 new is pretty good, I reckon you could try a haggle with broadribb or whatever they are called for an old model

600 for the used one you mean ?
Broadribb also didn't have a medium in older Cambridge bikes.