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Asking for advice on a new bike

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  • March 19, 2014 at 1:24 pm #20983
    Singletrack

    Hi

    I’m looking for something via Cycle to Work scheme, maximum budget is £1000.

    I like the idea of a road bike, but I’ve no experience of one. I’ll also need it for commuting and I’m worried about damaging the wheels.

    I’m looking for something reasonably reliable for the week that I can have a lot of fun on at the weekend. Seems like I have two options:

    1) Get a road bike, put some chicken brakes on it for the commute and just be careful with it(!);
    2) Maybe get a cyclo cross type bike.

    So far, I like the look of these but only viewed on-line so far and I’ve not looked in detail at pure road bikes yet.

    Trek Crossrip;
    Merida CC 4;
    Cotic Road Rat
    I also looked at the Kinesis Tripster – that seems to be frame only then custom components.

    What would you suggest – road or cyclo cross and what would you recommend in each category?

    Many thanks in advance for your time and your help, James

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Viewing 7 replies - 16 through 22 (of 22 total)
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  • March 19, 2014 at 3:45 pm #781835
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    Singletrack

    @Shanefutcher
    Thanks for your
    @Shanefutcher

    Thanks for your comment!

    Yeah, I like the idea of the Cotic and fixies generally. I’m not sure about long weekend rides though… would I not really be limiting myself just to the commute?

    March 19, 2014 at 3:43 pm #781833
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    Singletrack

    @Shades
    Thanks for your
    @Shades

    Thanks for your advice!

    I really like the look of that Crossrip. I used to own a Trek mountain bike back in the day and loved it and of all the ones I listed the Crossrip is probably edging it as my favourite – I like the good brakes, the ‘don’t nick me’ colour scheme and the internally routed cables. Only thing is, the Merida has better kit on it and is a kilo lighter…

    March 19, 2014 at 3:32 pm #781831
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    Shades

    I have a pretty trusty old
    I have a pretty trusty old Cannondale Hybrid commuter but if I was starting from scratch again I’d go for the Trek Crossrip (best seller according to my LBS). I particularly like the fact that it’s got disc brakes with additional levers on top of the bars, which means you can stop quickly if you haven’t got your hands in the drops. I had an ‘altercation’ with a car the other day which jammed it’s brakes on right in front of me (on purpose). With flat bars and hydraulic brakes I stopped just in time. Not sure I’d have managed it on my road bike (travelling faster with my hands on the hoods).

    March 19, 2014 at 3:26 pm #781829
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    Singletrack

    @ Nick T
    Thanks for your
    @ Nick T

    Thanks for your question – I’m worried about damaging the wheels on a road bike because they’re so thin and I guess I’d have to take way more care than I’m used to with my old bike. I can remember kids at school getting bollocked for going up the kerbs on racers and buckling their wheels.

    By ‘chicken brakes’ I meant the extra set of levers on the straight part of the handlebars so I can sit upright and still brake quickly.

    March 19, 2014 at 3:20 pm #781827
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    Shades

    I have a pretty trusty old
    I have a pretty trusty old Cannondale Hybrid commuter but if I was starting from scratch again I’d go for the Trek Crossrip (best seller according to my LBS). I particularly like the fact that it’s got disc brakes with additional levers on top of the bars, which means you can stop quickly if you haven’t got your hands in the drops. I had an ‘altercation’ with a car the other day which jammed it’s brakes on right in front of me (on purpose). With flat bars and hydraulic brakes I stopped just in time. Not sure I’d have managed it on my road bike (travelling faster with my hands on the hoods).

    March 19, 2014 at 3:08 pm #781825
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    Nick T

    Why would you damage the
    Why would you damage the wheels, and what’s a chicken brake?

    March 19, 2014 at 2:45 pm #781823
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    Shanefutcher

    Hi mate I always commuted on
    Hi mate I always commuted on my specialized allez road bike,however I was constantly fixing/replacing cassettes,chains,derailleurs etc.then I bought a single speed/fixie bike,its the best ever thing for commuting.unless you live in the hills its THE only thing you need.i do my 10mile journey to work in 27mins

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