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Commuter bike - £700 budget
Hey all,
Replacing bikes and getting a new commuter bike for my daily ride to work. However also want something nippy and enjoyable to ride at other times.
Anyone have any suggestions; am looking at including:
- no suspension
- hydraulic disks
- flat bar style rather than traditional hybrid
- straight fork
Had a look at the Orange Express O.... but not convinced.
Anyone got any suggestions..?
Thanks.
Alex
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Late to the party I know.. but for anyone else interested in a similar spec & price, you can't go wrong with a Sirrus: http://www.bikesheduk.com/specialized-sirrus-sport-disc-2016
Guys,
just to say thanks for the comments on here - i ended up getting a 7-month old 2015 Boardman Hybrid Pro from a chap who's wife was making him sell it as he no longer used it. He was genuinely sorry to be selling it, but no longer used it commute, so couldn't justify having it in the corner of the sitting room all day - and it's in mint condition.
Very happy with the purchase, and the ride - and will be getting a back seat for the little chap to enjoy.
Al.
I've been riding a BTwin Triban 540 for the last few months. Loving it. And well under your £700 budget. Flat bar but not hydraulic disks. Worth a look.
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-540-flat-bar-road-bike-tiagra-id_83227...
Felt QX 85
Felt QX 85
If you can find one in the correct size. Or build one yourself.
Evans do a pinacle frame ~£120
Shimano SLX groupset ~£200
Wheels £100
Hydraulic shimano brakes kit~£120
+Handlebars, forks, grips and tyres, you will have a great bike, satisfaction that you built it and will last years
I'll give you my 2012 Cannondale Bad Boy Fatty R4, ticks all your boxes.
When I say give I mean sell.
Seriously though, give me a shout if you're interested.
My first bike, what a cracking ride that was. Really wished I had not sold it shame the don't offer a road bike drive mech rather than the triple MTB ones.
Ridgeback Flight 2.0 fits your budget and spec. http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/flight-2-0
If you can find the 4.0 under budget then that would be a much better deal.
I have an older Ridgeback Nemesis, which is the same spec as the Flight 4.0, but with 26" wheels. I love it and it's supremely practical as a commuter.
Hydraulic disc brakes make a huge difference to maintenance and also cleanliness as you have no rim brake muck dribbled down the frame after a wet ride.
If you can afford the step up to a hub gear it's just so cheap to run because you use 7/8spd chains (about £5), the sprockets are £8 and the maintenance between chain and sprocket changes is zero. Just a bit of a wipe down with an oily rag to get the dirt off and then re-lube the chain. With the amount of mileage I've done on mine, I'd be on the second derailleur, needed new gear cables, probably replaced at least one chainring and be on my 5th of 6th set of sprockets. The extra cost of the hub gear really does pay off in savings in maintenance costs.
The Boardman Hybrid Team is £650 at the moment and seems to tick most of your boxes and is very well reviewed.
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-hybrid-team-...
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/hybrid/product/review-board...
No hydraulic discs but the giant rapid 2 2016 @£649
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/rapid.2/22034/83623/
The next one up the rapid 1 gets the hydraulics for £799.
I think you might struggle with hydraulic discs but this is worth a look
http://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/940348962415634881?q=felt+z85+d...