New "Winter" Bike?

[DuncanBeaumont]

I am looking to buy a bike in order to get back into cycling rather more seriously........

I have put "Winter" bike in the title as that possibly best describes what I am looking for, although the bike is intended for year round use. I am retiring very soon, at the moment I am using an MTB, which for road use I find very heavy.

I used to cycle quite a lot in my yoof, but then the internal comustion engine took over. I am looking for a bike, mainly for road use, which won't scream too loudly if I take it on a towpath occasionally.

I am considering - in no special order -

Ribble 7005 Winter Traing Bike £520 - is the geomatry a little too race orientated?

Ridgeback Voyage 2010 £593 or 2011 £800 - not too difficult a choice there!

Trek 1.2 with mudguards £550

Wigglw Tifiosi CK7 £740

The money isn't the critical factor, although I don't treally want to spend more than, say, £800. Are there any other bikes I should be thinking about? I did think about the Cannondale CAAD9 that is in the 'For Sale' section at £450? is it? I think that would perhaps be a little bit too 'racer' for me.

Any advice gratefully received.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I have the Ribble frame on my winter bike and it gives a relaxed ride, nothing harsh about it. It's on it's 4th winter and I would certainly buy another.

 

[PaulSecteur]

These seem to get good reviews, and come with mudguards fitted and fitting points for a rack. (£900)

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Verenti_Kilmeston/5360048366/

If a medium would fit you then they have an ex-demo for £630
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Verenti_Kilmeston_Ex-Demo/5360051814/

 

[pwh91]

I have a Ribble winter training bike with Campag Khamsin wheels. With decent tyres the ride is perfectly acceptable. Highly recommended and great value.

Just one point tho; I believe there's a bit of know-how needed in order to fit a pannier rack to the bike if you think you need one. Not a big deal but just to set expectations, there can be interference between rack and brake in some cases, which needs a bit of metal-bending to avoid (as far as I remember reading on the interweb somewhere...)

 

[Peter10]

I would go for a cyclecross bike.I wish I could justify getting one. I love my road bike but at times I see a towpath and think "damn I want to go down there."

 

[DuncanBeaumont]

Cycling Active magazine has this month tested four tourers and three cyclocross bikes. In the tourer test they mention en passant the Ridgeback Voyage and in the cyclocross test they refer to the Specialized Tricross which has mounts for mudguards and a rack.

Useful for year round cycling perhaps?