What type of bike

[rosco]

Hello all.

I commute daily to work its around 10 miles round trip. Ive been doing that since May and love it. I bought a Tricross however thinking of getting shot of it as I want somethign a little quicker and slicker.

Now here is the quandry.........I mainly cycle to and from work however recently I have been going out with my mates on road runs - nothing too drastic 20-30 milers - I can't keep up with them as they are faster than me on the road bikes but I tend to sit with my hands in the position of leaning on the up turned parts of the gears if that makes sense? Basically if it was my moutain bike I would be sitting on the bar ends as I find this comfyer than in the drop positon on sitting my hands on the flat bars. Main reason is comfort however I also feel that I dont get a sore neck looking at the road this way as my position in drop bar holding state means I tend to hurt my neck quite easily - probably bad technique.

So.............................if I get a new bike what do you reckon go for the road bike or would I be best with the boardman hybrid type thing with the bar ends as this is where I cycle 9/10 times or get a road bike?

I assume the hybrid I could use all year round rather than what i was intending to do - mountain bike during the winter, road bike in the summer.

Please help!

Confused from Edinburgh

 

[raindog]

hmmmm - I don't think this is the answer you're looking for, but I'm afraid you need two new bikes. A lightweight hybrid for commuting and a racing bike for riding with your mates at week-ends. Go on - spend alot of money - you know it makes sense.

 

[potsy]

Have you considered getting some faster tyres and sticking with the Tri? Could be that's all that's slowing you down.

 

[rosco]

I thought about sticking on some slicker tyres and that probably would be the most sensible thing to do but I'm never that sensible!!

 

[potsy]

I thought about sticking on some slicker tyres and that probably would be the most sensible thing to do but I'm never that sensible!!

I know what you mean rosco,why buy new tyres when you can buy a whole new bike

I still toy with the idea of getting a Tri-cross or similar as my winter/all rounder and keeping my Secteur for best,have you got any bikes in mind?

 

[rosco]

Have you considered getting some faster tyres and sticking with the Tri? Could be that's all that's slowing you down.

I know what you mean rosco,why buy new tyres when you can buy a whole new bike

I still toy with the idea of getting a Tri-cross or similar as my winter/all rounder and keeping my Secteur for best,have you got any bikes in mind?

I fancy the Boardman range. I think it may be best new tyres then just burst that through winter and summer. The sensible thing may be keep it and then rethink it through the start of next summer and as you say keep the road bike for good stuff.

Good thing for me is I can ge thte Boardman through the wife's bike to work scheme...............

 

[lordjenks]

people spend 95% of their riding time on the hoods, the rubber bits like bar ends, you only really usse the drops when decending or really pacing it

 

[HLaB]

Rosco, I don't know if it has been said but with the same tyres on a hybrid and your tricross, the tricross would be faster. A you say I'd keep the Tricross for winter maybe put new tyres on it to out with your mates and get the Boardman for the better weather; one can never have too many bikes as you are finding out, n+1

 

[rosco]

what would be good tyres to put on it? Also width? 23 or 25 or 28? Its currently sitting with 32s.

R

 

[HLaB]

what would be good tyres to put on it? Also width? 23 or 25 or 28? Its currently sitting with 32s.

R

23's would hypothetically be the fastest but you lose a lot of comfort. Also 23mm might not fit if you have wider than 15mm (interior) rims, the table at the bottom of this page sums it up simply. I'm guessing you have 17mm rims which would allow you 25s or 28s, again the choice is down to you, the narrower the faster but the lower the comfort.

 

[rosco]

23's would hypothetically be the fastest but you lose a lot of comfort. Also 23mm might not fit if you have wider than 15mm (interior) rims, the table at the bottom of this page sums it up simply. I'm guessing you have 17mm rims which would allow you 25s or 28s, again the choice is down to you, the narrower the faster but the lower the comfort.

nic eone had a quick look - they are Alex ACE-19 rims - According to the Alex website, the interior width on that rim is 17mm so I reckon from your table 25 upwards. Will go for the 25s and see how they go

 

[Brandane]

As another Tricross owner, I have done the change of tyres and it does make some difference! Like yours, mine came fitted with 700x32s. Also like yourself, I wanted the best of both worlds, a road bike with some off road capabilities.

I ended up buying another set of wheels from ChainReaction, Shimano RS20s which were well discounted. Fitted them with a pair of 700x28 Armadillo tyres (the new wheels will take tyre sizes 23 to 28, I went with 28 to keep some degree of comfort on the nasty road surfaces around here), a new cassette, et voila; a bike for all seasons! Plus the bonus of changing complete wheels rather than tyres when you feel the need.

Edit: The original wheels are now fitted with 700x38 tyres, so it wasn't a case of spending cash just to go down by 4mm .

 

[decca234uk]

Changing tyres will add speed but not to the extent that you will be able to keep up with a group on fast road bikes. Buy a good road bike, I was considering a boardman last year but opted for an Allez specialized. Visit a bike shop and get measured for your bike, the strains you've experienced in your neck is down to a bad cycling position, this can be easily solved with the help of someone who knows what they are doing. Simple adjustments can make all the difference. I know from experience. I rode for years before I realised that straining your neck was not normal. It took a word with someone who knew what they were doing to make some simple adjustments to my bike and I moved into easeful cycling.
You can use a road bike in winter, just change the tyres. I use mine for training, pleasure and comutting. I had a great hybrid bike for doing some off road on but my son nicked it when he moved out.

 

[Peter10]

You will get used to drop bars. I never thought I would but I use it 80% of the time now.

 

[jimboalee]

If you are sitting on a Spesh Tricross and your "Mates" leave you behind on a sub 50 km ride, they are not "Mates".
Real "Mates" will hang back and let you draft, until such time you have built the strength and stamina to keep their pace.