[Poppyhal]

Hi I am a complete novice when it comes to bikes and would appreciate some advice. 

I would like to buy a decent commuter bike. This would be mainly on roads and pavement cycle paths.  Plus at weekends I’ll be using it off road on tow paths and bridleways etc. All steady riding with no intention of off-road mounting biking or extra fast road cycling. 

I will be carrying at least one rear pannier bag daily, two on longer rides. 

After a lot of research I have decided I’d like either the Jamis Aurora Elite 2018 Touring bike or the Genesis Croix de fer 30 2018 adventure bike. Is anyone able to give an opinion on which would be better for my needs, in layman’s terms?

Or if there is a better choice of bike then happy to hear ideas. Unfortunately due to the Ride to Work Scheme I am limited to bikes sold by Evans. 

Thank you

Topic

[mikeymustard]

Poppyhal wrote:

My journey will probably only be around six miles each way. Maximum 16 if I cycle the whole way without the train in between. Im sure that seems rather pathetic to most of you but I’m not a very fast cyclist! 

Don’t put yourself down: 12-16 miles a day is a fair whack, my commute is just slightly less than 2 miles there and back – and that’s only 3x a week! (I do ride a bit further for “fun” ).

I’m with mikethebike and the poster [monkeypuzzle?] who mentioned Genesis Equilibrium (other similar bikes available), having unnecessary weight just drags you down and takes the enjoyment out of a ride. Equilibrium is a nice compromise between comfy do [almost] anything commuter/adventure and faster roadie

[Poppyhal]

My journey will probably only

My journey will probably only be around six miles each way. Maximum 16 if I cycle the whole way without the train in between. Im sure that seems rather pathetic to most of you but I’m not a very fast cyclist! 

[MonkeyPuzzle]

Consider a Genesis

Consider a Genesis Equilibrium Disc as well as the CdF. Lighter and sportier, but still with room for 30mm tyres and a comfortable, if slightly less upright, riding position. Might be a bit more fun than the CdF.

The CdFs, however, as people have said above, are great bikes.

[rdmp2]

I have last year’s Arkose

I have last year’s Arkose (hydro Tiagra version)- I wanted something that could take 35c tyres + full guards and rack and have a slightly more upright position. I like it. It weighs a lot but with the sub-compact chainset and wide range cassette its got very sensible gearing. It feels quite dull on the road but actually comparing times its not too far off my nice bike in terms of speed- just doesn’t feel like its going as fast (probably because of 35c marathons @50psi vs 23c GP4000s @110psi). I only use it on road so I don’t like the wide (and flared) bars so will change them at some point but otherwise has been reliable (2k miles so far)

[Rich_cb]

I have a CdF, bought it for
I have a CdF, bought it for commuting and winter riding.

It’s been pretty much bomb proof on those fronts but it is heavy and the handling does feel a bit sluggish.

For what you’re after it would do a very good job as long as you’re willing to accept the compromises above.

[Goldfever4]

I can relate to Mike’s point

I can relate to Mike’s point – fundamentally the CdFs are a little heavy, but the adventures I’ve had on mine (as well as stout commuting reliability) mean it has prominence in my garage.

 

How far is your commute?

[Johnnystorm]

Another Arkose advocate here.
Another Arkose advocate here. Have done everything from commuting to the Dirty Reiver 200 to London-Edinburgh-London on it. Great bikes. The Dolomite is more road biased and the new Pyrolite looks pretty cool as well.

[Poppyhal]

Sage advice, thank you 

Sage advice, thank you 

[mike the bike]

 

 

About five years ago I retired from work and for reasons that are lost in the mists of time I decided to clear the garage of many years’ cycling clutter and have just one bike.  A bike that could do it all, a Genesis Croix de Fer.

Whilst it was a good bike, steady and reliable, it soon became clear that no bike can do it all, or anything close.  I took the Croix shopping and it couldn’t carry enough.  When we went touring progress  was a little too sedate.  Climbing exposed its excess weight.  And slowly I fell out of love with it, selling it to a good home for a respectable sum.

The garage is once again filling up with all the essentials as I diversify into a number of more specialised machines, one for speed, one for pootling and one for touring.  And maybe, just maybe, an e-bike at some point in the future.

Would I buy another bike that claims to be the ultimate in versatility?  No, it will require too many compromises.  Better, I think, to buy something that excels in one area, you will love it longer.

 

[Poppyhal]

Thanks for the responses.

Thanks for the responses.  Ideally I need to purchase on the scheme as it will be cheaper and easier to pay the bike off monthly. I’ll have a look at the other bikes mentioned anyway and the Pinnacle. Thanks 

[peted76]

I read half of your post and

I read half of your post and was thinking Shand Stooshie, Mason Definition and Kinesis 4S.. all perfect, then I got to the havnig to buy from Evans bit… does it have to be Evans for the C2W scheme?

[pockstone]

3rded on the Arkose,

3rded on the Arkose, especially if you’re limited to Evans. I’ve had my A3 2014 for 3 years plus and got a lot of use (and pleasure) out of it. Regular road commuting, plenty of weekend and holiday tarmac miles with 28mm slick tyres, woods, canal paths, snow and some heavily laden bridleway and rocky road touring  ( Hence the monicker) It’s never let me down, even over some pretty rough stuff. Wheels still true, only  failure was a bottom bracket. It’s no rocket, but neither am I

The latest incarnation is close to my upgraded version, with 1:1 lowest gear and upgraded wheels (Hunts in the post!) Try one out.

 

[Argos74]

2nded on the Arkose. It’s a

2nded on the Arkose. It’s a solid, reliable workhorse of a bike.

Also worth considering the hybrid option – Hoy Shizuoka has room for 35mm tyres with mudguards, 38mm without. Or one from the Pinnacle Lithium range (effectively an old school rigid MTB with modern components; this is a good thing).

[DoctorFish]

It is neither of the two you

It is neither of the two you have listed, but I’d read the review for the Pinnacle Arkose and consider that.  I have the older model and it is a great bike, certainly cheaper than the CdF.

 

[Author]

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