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Commuter/City Bike stolen, advice on replacement?

by Forvak
Thu, Jun 07, 2018 13:14
8

Hello folks!

I have been using a bike for my main transport for nearly 10 years now: commuting, shopping, weekend rides along rivers, etc. I had a Trek FX 7.4 that was serving my needs really nicely, but unfortunately it was stolen about a year ago when I moved to Cardiff and I've been on foot since. I'm interested in getting back on the road and am hoping to get some advice given I'm a decade behind on cycling tech.

The biggest question I have is does anyone know of an ok bike with disc brakes and dynamo for ~£700 that weighs less than 19.3 Kg?

I've been looking around comparing options and the B'Twin Hoprider 900 seems like a nearly ideal out of the box bike. I love that it comes standard with a hub dynamo and hydraulic disc brakes as well as mudguards, rack, and kickstand. For £549 I haven't yet found an equally equipped bike. The only downside I can find is that it is relatively heavy, 19.3 Kg, in part due to the front suspension which I don't particularly care about.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/hoprider-900-urban-hybrid-bike-id_8405475.html

The Hoy Shizuoka 001 (£585) or 002 (£650) are nearly half the weight (10.8kg) and have disc breaks but no dynamo or accessories. This is probably a strong choice for buying now and upgrading over time. Can anyone comment about the difficulty/cost of adding a dynamo and lighting to a bike after the fact? It looks like aftermarket 700c wheels with Shimano hubs aren't too dear.
https://www.evanscycles.com/hoy-shizuoka-001-2018-hybrid-bike-EV246154

The B'Twin Triban 520 seems a frequent recommendation for a budget road bike (£429). No disc brakes, dynamo, or any other accessories. But, somehow I survived the last 10 years V brakes and AA's, so it's not completely ruled out.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/triban-520-flat-bar-road-bike-sora-id_832279...

Thanks very much for your time and any advice! I'm looking forward to getting back on the road, hopefully with something better than I had before.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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8 comments

Avatar
Forvak | 5 years ago
1 like

Hi Argos,

I looked at the Boardman Hybrids earlier on. They do look like solid bikes. I really appreciate all the links, particularily the less expensive ones. Since I used to ride every day and expect to be doing so again for the next 10 years

 

I'm feeling really good about the Kalkhoff Durban Pro. In budget, nice hardware, smooth wide tyres. Not as light as a dedicated road bike, but I'm not as light as a dedicated racer... so that last 3 Kg can be saved by not going on a carb heavy pasta diet. 3 There's room for upgrades over time but no obvious ones needed to be very happy cycling around the city.

 

As you say Argos any bike is better than no bike, and this looks like a better bike!

 

Thanks all! I'm happy with the options and will likely buy the Druban Pro shortly. See you on the road.

Avatar
Argos74 | 5 years ago
1 like

For basic, do it all commuting and mixed leisure riding, if my my bike got stolen, I'd be picking from: 

Budget option: Carrera Subway 2 - £350, very average components, 14kg

Alternate budget option: 2nd hand old school 1980s/90s rigid MTB - cost £75-150 - weight 13-14kg (probably cantilever brakes)

More trails / offroad - Pinnacle Lithium 5 - £695, decent components, 11.1kg

Raleigh Strada 5 - £550, decent component, 12kg

Calibre Dark Peak - £549, good components, 10.1kg

Kona Big Dew - £599, decent components, 11.5kg

More roads with offroad capability - Pinnacle Neon 4 - £700, good components, 10.1kg

Boardman Hybrid Bike Pro - £750, good components, 9kg, arguably the luxury option if more road riding

Luxury option - Cotic Roadrat - £999, good components, weight - who cares, but probably 10.5-11kg

All disc brakes, none have dynamo lighting. But putting lights on the frame is cheaper and less faff to my mind. Whatever bike you get, and you must get a bike, possibly more than one, happy riding 1

Avatar
Forvak | 5 years ago
0 likes

Hi Rich, thanks for the pointer.

John, thanks for the great list! A few are up in the pasta range, but you've got at least two gems in there for me.

 

The Cube Travel SL 2017 is 13.8 Kg and has a belt and sealed hub gearing! Looks like stunning value at £879. The Canyon Commuter 5.0 is a similar load out and comes in at £1200ish!

The Cube Travel (not SL) 2017 is also still available, slightly heavier at 15.45 Kg, but has the dynamo, disc brake, and accessories. At £599 it's a contender for best match! 29er wheels are interesting. I'll have to readup more there.

 

The Kalkhoff Durban 7 has rim brakes but hub gearing, an interesting tradeoff. I do want to be able to think about hills from time to time so the 7 speed is something I'd have to try, I've been so used to 3x9+.

However, the Kalkhoff Durban Pro is a gem. 15.64 Kg and £599. Disc brakes, dynamo, the works.

 

VSF will have to wait till I have a little more time, their lineup is a bit hard to navigate.

 

Thanks again! I have to say, this is a great selection of bikes and I've not seen any list that covers this space! I'd rather given up hope of good Contiental European style bikes being available here. The local bike shops were pretty disappointing. Any road.cc editors here interested in doing a write up? 3

Avatar
John_S | 5 years ago
2 likes

Hi Forvak,

I'm sorry to hear that you had your bike stolen and I hope that you manage to find something that fits your needs to replace it.

 

I've put a few sugestions below and apologies as I've not had time to search around to see if they are all available within your budget but even if the RRP for some of them is higher than your budget sometimes if you search and get lucky you can find some good discounts available.

 

Although I've not had one before I've heard good things about bikes from VSF.

https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/en/

If you look down the left hand side of this website there's links to info about some of the VSF models.

http://www.chrisbikes.co.uk/chris-blog/

The VSF T500 which is now available in both the rim, V brake, and disc brake versions:-
https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/en/katalog/trekking-2018/t-500-shimano-alfine-8-gang-disc-778
Also from VSF Fahrrad manufacture T500 there is the cheaper T100 but this comes with rim brakes not discs:-

https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/en/katalog/trekking-2018/t-100-shimano-nexus-8-gang-freilauf-790

Regarding the T100 if you look at this link from Chris Bikes, in Cambridge, it previously cost £649
http://blog.chrisbikes.co.uk/2012/03/vsf-fahrrad-manufaktur-t100.html

 

Cube Travel SL (weight 13.7kg)
https://www.cube.eu/en/2018/bikes/trekking/tour/travel/cube-travel-sl-blacknblack-2018/
The price of the 2018 model seems to be £1,150 per the example link below. But one thing about the Cube that bugs me is that for me personally the mudguards are too short.

I looked at this a little while ago but not sure if it's still available here or not
https://www.damianharriscycles.co.u...MIlY-a-_iq1wIVTX69Ch2WcAoOEAkYAiABEgIfX_D_BwE

But a month or so ago this place had the 2017 version for £879:-
https://www.freeborn.co.uk/cube-tra...MIxMXykvCq1wIVhpO9Ch06JwvPEAkYBiABEgI0QvD_BwE

There are also other bikes in the same range being the Travel Pro, Travel Exec and just the Travel (all with disc brakes) which might still fit your wish list but be cheaper than the SL version.

https://www.cube.eu/uk/2018/bikes/trekking/tour/travel/

 

Kalkhoff Durban 7
https://www.kalkhoff-bikes.com/en/bikes/2018/bikes/urban/durban-7.html

Ignore the photo of the step through frame on the main picture because it is available as either a step through frame or with a top tube.   A while ago it was available here for £529 however it's rim brakes only I'm afraid but this is probably reflected in the price:-
https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/kalkhoff-durban-7-2018-mens.html
 

If you wanted all of the accessories and drop bars instead of flats then there is the Genesis Day One Ltd which might perhaps tick your boxes apart from the price one because along with coming with the extras the RRP price is £1,300 and I think that it would be pretty impossible to find a reduced one within your budget.

https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/urban/urban-and-cross-utility/day-one/day-one-ltd

 

There could also be some bikes in the Bombtrack range that could fit your requirements but again unfortunately I think that they'd come out over budget:-

http://bombtrack.com/touring/arise-tour/

http://bombtrack.com/touring/beyond-xpd/

http://bombtrack.com/urban-2/arise-geared/

 

In terms of retrofitting things then as long as you buy an appropriate bike with the required mudguard clearance and the right braze ons/mounting points then you can always fit mudguards, racks and dynamo lights etc. to a bike.  However in addition to buying these components you're also going to have to have to buy a dynamo hub and get your front wheel rebuilt with the dynamo hub unless you know how to rebuild a wheel yourself.  Therefore if the bike doesn't come with them you'll have to add on top the cost of quite a few extra componemts to get to the bike that you want.

 

My apologies if some of the links are outdated but I sent these links to somone else a couple of months ago and if the bikes are no longer available at these shops then perhaps if any of the bikes interest you they might be available at another shop at a price within your budget.

Good luck finding the right bike for you!

John 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avatar
Rich_cb | 5 years ago
0 likes

It doesn't have discs and is a bit heavier than the Bergamont but the Scott Sub is £100 cheaper. Might be worth a look.

https://www.evanscycles.com/scott-sub-sport-30-2018-hybrid-bike-EV314459...

Avatar
Forvak | 5 years ago
0 likes

Thanks Ratfink!

4.6 Kg (24%) of weight lost and no front suspension to maintain/break! Just the kind of recommendation I was hoping someone would have. City road commuting is the name of the game.

I'll get a test ride of the Bergamont Vitess, thankfully there's a Tredz store here in Cardiff.

Any others?

Avatar
Ratfink | 5 years ago
0 likes

Check out Bergamont bikes they do a few commuters with dynamo lights fitted and a couple of road bikes with them too (the cheapest of these is in your pasta budget range though).

This commuter hits your budget and is pretty much fully kitted out for what you want,Rack,dynamo,lights and hydraulic discs. it hits the scales at 14.7kg So i guess it answers your biggest question.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Bergamont-Vitess-6-0-2018-Hybrid-Sports-Bike_11...

Avatar
Forvak | 5 years ago
0 likes

I realized I omitted the Canyon Commuter 4.0 (£899) which is what I would likely get if I were to simply throw out my budget and go on pasta for the next few months. Maybe the link will be useful to someone else coming along with a different budget.
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/urban/commuter/2018/commuter-4.html

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