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New bike purchase advice required!

by LancsDan
Fri, Jun 30, 2017 11:10
6

A few months ago, I unfortunately had a crash (hit by a driver) and my Specialized Allez Sport was written off (stress damage to the forks, front tire crumpled and several bits of scuffing). I'm therefore using this as an excuse to upgrade.

Being indecisive and the quantity of money involved ... I'd like some help!

I've narrowed the choice of bike down to a couple of potentials:

Genesis Croix de Fer 20 2017 (concerned about the weight, reviews of easy paint scuffing and the narrow front forks)

or the Pinnacle 2017 Arkose (no front pannier bolts, not overly keen on internal cabling)

Ideally with a dynamo hub (not sure which) 

Purpose of the bike? Endurance, commuting and potentially touring. It's difficult finding the balance as I also want a very light weight bike as the former bike was.

Thoughts? My maximum budget for a bike is about £1300 ish and then any additional bits upto £1000 for example, I was going to purchase front and rear Cyliq cameras and lights. 

Dan 1

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6 comments

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kil0ran | 7 years ago
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If frame colour is important the '16 model CdF & CdA both had gorgeous white paint jobs (white with black for the CdF, white with red for the CdA). 

Sequoia didn't get great reviews, the usually Spesh problem of low quality wheels and finishing kit.

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BeatPoet | 7 years ago
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Cannondale Slate on sale for £1299. Job done.

https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-slate-apex-1-2017-adventure-road-bike-EV280334?esvt=54376-GOUKE2240804&esvq=&esvadt=999999-0-1215316-1&esvcrea=183930392611&esvplace=&esvd=c&esvtg=pla-367481021957&esvo=EV280334-M-BLU&esvaid=50080&gclid=Cj0KEQjwkN3KBRCu2fWmy9LLqN4BEiQANP9-Wgd1g4xeNmwb3dbVDfZnSRyPRPNt8Fm2ULmiwIAGwiAaAvVE8P8HAQ

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CXR94Di2 | 7 years ago
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Get a gravel/cyclo-cross/endurance bike. Wide tyres, comfy geometry, disc brakes. It will do everything you want.

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LancsDan | 7 years ago
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so I've actually narrowed it down to three now:

Trek Crossrip 1 or 2 or the Specialized Sequoia Road 2017

It's a shame all but the Trek 1 are black, the crossrip 2 has a better group set and two more gears than the specialized but it is placid grey... There's an appeal to shiny white frames.

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BehindTheBikesheds | 7 years ago
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Croix de fer is what, 11kg, i suspect your old allez wasn't much less than that.

Maybe a NOS Specialized Tricross or even think to convert/build a frame up yourself to your spec. This is maybe too big for you but all you want in a frame http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2015-Specialized-Road-Bike-Tri-Cross-Elite-Dis...

or a Roux Etape and just go crazy on upgrading the spec. https://www.edinburghbicycle.com/roux-etape-250.html

I built my spesh globe Expert up from a flat bar to a winter racer/audax cum tourer. With rack, full length guards, cages, brooks swift and 32 spoke wheels it's under 10kg, the frames are like rocking horse shit now but I have the expert and a 'pro' and they are the most solid frames I've ever owned and not too weighty.

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Daveyraveygravey | 7 years ago
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I'd go to your local Evans and talk to them initially.  When I was looking two years ago, they had the best demo bike system of any retailer.  You'll have to pay a deposit or leave your bank details, and you may have to book a test ride/test rides, but that isn't hard to arrange, and you can ride anything they sell.  If they don't have it in your shop, they can get it sent up from their warehouse. A lot of local independent shops only have one or two demo bikes, and they tend to be higher end machines - like £3k.  I nearly plumped for a bike that was a grand over my budget because it was so much better than anything else I had ever ridden, and a grand is a lot of money to find.

The Genesis gets good reviews, but is known to be heavy.  Pinnacle too get good reviews - Evans own brand.  I would suggest you want an alu bike with mudguard eyelets and a 105 groupset.  I don't know of many bikes that come with a dynamo hub, although the convenience of them does appeal to me, especially as I do quite a lot of proper night time riding.

Whyte make good bikes designed for UK roads and conditions, like Genesis.

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