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Help – Which bike for all year round commuter?

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  • August 14, 2014 at 11:16 am #22150
    zedbedboy

    My commute is about to change. From 8miles each way to 12. The nature of the roads will aslo change from suburban roads to country lanes. I need a new commuter bike that’s up to the task. My requirements are,

    Drop bar
    Disk brakes
    Must take minimum 28mm tyres
    Must take full mudguards
    No singlespeeds
    Max cost is £900

    What should I be considering?

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  • August 14, 2014 at 2:00 pm #809777
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    Anonymous

    zedbedboy wrote:I notice you

    zedbedboy wrote:
    I notice you didn’t recommend the Boardman CX Team on your roster! Any reason for that? I went and took a look at one and the Comp yesterday.

    Yes, it may be the first time ever that someone has failed to recommend the bike they ride 😉

    I commute on my CX, 10 miles each way (direct route). It’s… fine. It works. But despite it having a hole front-rear through the fork crown for guards, it doesn’t have any mudguard eyes on the front fork. So about the only guards you can fit are the SKS clip-on Raceblades – I’m going to get a set soon. http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sks-race-blade-xl-clip-on-mudguard-set/

    It’s not a >bad< bike, I just wouldn't recommend it unless someone is genuinely going to be riding it on and off-road frequently. The BB5 discs are a nightmare to set up, the OEM cables stretch badly (still!) and it's a very, very stiff bike (far less comfortable than my CAAD8 was). And finally - the higher BB clearance of the CX means it's harder for me to put my foot down at lights. TL;DR - If you're going to be riding on the road: buy a road bike, either one that's designed for guards or get a set of Crud Roadracers.

    August 14, 2014 at 1:45 pm #809775
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    Shades

    Trek Crossrip looked pretty
    Trek Crossrip looked pretty good and was a ‘best seller’ in my LBS. I liked the ‘chicken brakes’ (ie on the flat part of the bar) for when you’re riding in town. One I saw had a triple chainset (not sure if it was MTB gearing) which would be pretty handy if it’s hilly where you live. Touring bike could be another option, but then I view a CX bike with mudguards and rack as a ‘lite’ tourer and better suited to commuting.

    August 14, 2014 at 1:18 pm #809773
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    parksey

    Can’t offer any immediate
    Can’t offer any immediate suggestions myself, but will be interested to see what recommendations do come up as I’m on the lookout for a broadly similar-spec bike to you too.

    The Genesis CdF should fall within your budget though, it’s the cheaper version of the actual Croix de Fer range using a lower grade steel frame and presumably some compromises elsewhere on the build too.

    Ticks all your boxes above and is £850 normally, but an apparent bargain at £720 in my LBS at the mo:

    http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/bikes/cyclocross-bikes/genesis-cdf-silver-2014-cyclocross-bike.html

    August 14, 2014 at 12:53 pm #809771
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    zedbedboy

    Thanks for the suggestions. I
    Thanks for the suggestions. I looked at the Charge Plug 3 this morning on t’internet. It’s heavily discouted at the moment. It could be an option. The weight might be putting me off a bit. I suppose I could consider it good training.

    The Canyon and Cdf look like really nice bikes, but are out of my price range unfortunately. The Canyon in particlar looks to be well though through. I notice you didn’t recommend the Boardman CX Team on your roster! Any reason for that? I went and took a look at one and the Comp yesterday.

    August 14, 2014 at 12:30 pm #809769
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    Anonymous

    Lots of people will recommend
    Lots of people will recommend CX bikes – but a lot of them fall down on mudguard requirement.

    I’d be taking a serious look at the Canyon Inflite 8.0S – http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3201

    And probably a Genesis Croix de Fer / CdF / Equilibrium http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/equilibrium-10-2014-road-bike-ec055510#features

    Evans’ Pinnacle range has some good bikes too.

    August 14, 2014 at 12:06 pm #809767
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    barbarus

    I have a Charge Plug 3 which
    I have a Charge Plug 3 which ticks all those boxes. I’ve been really happy with it, I’ve used it for commuting and longer rides up to 100k where it’s been very comfortable.

    It’s not the lightest, but I don’t find it a problem.

    Personally I really like the skinny tube steel aesthetic and the ride is very smooth even across the appalling surfaces of my commute (7 miles of Devon hills). I wouldn’t necessarily make a claims about it being a better ride than aluminium.

    I changed the tyres to 25mm gaterskins which sped things up a bit.

    I’m not entirely convinced about the brakes (promax render). They are fine and consistent in the wet but not a patch on mtb hydraulics. Maybe I’m expecting too much.

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