Can’t make up my mind

Daveyraveygravey wrote:

Apart from that, I wouldn’t worry about thru-axles, there are plenty of disc bikes around that don’t have them.

 

Correct, and I agree from my experience that QRs are fine.

I ride a Giant TCX SLR 2 from 2014 and it has QRs front and rear; the higher-spec models from that year had a 15 mm through-axle, but only at the front. Even so, my bike is plenty stiff at both ends, and has never displayed any desire to spit out the hubs from its open dropouts under hard braking. Be diligent on the tightness of your QR skewers and you should be golden.

Replacement hubs shouldn’t be too hard to find for a QR road disc bike either – the 100 mm front and 135 mm rear QR hub spacing is lifted almost directly from mountain bikes with the same dropouts, and currently there are a lot of hubs and wheelsets that cater to QR dropouts via swappable end caps.

Daveyraveygravey wrote:

paulinblack wrote:

– I favour the semi-compact 52/36 with 11-36t combo.

 

 

Does this exist?  A 36 and a 36?

 

Apart from that, I wouldn’t worry about thru-axles, there are plenty of disc bikes around that don’t have them.

A friend has a Giant Contend as his winter bike, which he really likes.  If it was me, I would be looking for ally frame, 28mm tyres min, 105 and disc brakes.  

I’ve ridden in the winter on my Propel which has 25 mm tyres, and they don’t grip enough when it is 3 degrees or lower.  I broke my wrist one time and it puts the wind up you; if there had been anything else anywhere near me it could have been a horrific accident.

The Propel has a peculiar design of rim brakes that are especially bad with UK winter roads, not helped by the lack of mudguards.

Sorry, I meant 52/36 chainset with 11-32t cassette.

I looked at the Contend SL 1. Some great offers on the 2017 model for £900, but there is no clearance on the front forks for mudguard with a 28mm tyre. My OCD doesn’t let me cut the front part of the mudguard off! 🙂

PS. Thanks for the ‘thru axle’ comment.

paulinblack wrote:

– I favour the semi-compact 52/36 with 11-36t combo.

 

Does this exist?  A 36 and a 36?

Apart from that, I wouldn’t worry about thru-axles, there are plenty of disc bikes around that don’t have them.

A friend has a Giant Contend as his winter bike, which he really likes.  If it was me, I would be looking for ally frame, 28mm tyres min, 105 and disc brakes.  

I’ve ridden in the winter on my Propel which has 25 mm tyres, and they don’t grip enough when it is 3 degrees or lower.  I broke my wrist one time and it puts the wind up you; if there had been anything else anywhere near me it could have been a horrific accident.

The Propel has a peculiar design of rim brakes that are especially bad with UK winter roads, not helped by the lack of mudguards.

I’m in the same position. I

I’m in the same position. I want an aluminium bike with 105, hydraulic discs for year round commuting and regular 30-40 mile winter sides. My current ‘winter hack’ has Sora and is limited to 23mm tyres – Its true that I can just about get away with 25mm Schwalbe Luganos & Crud 2s, but I have to adjust them every ride and the build up of grey muck on the rims is awful. I figured 28mm tyres (with room for mudguards) and discs would be a bit safer and easier to on wet and frosty winter roads.

After copious research I have come to the conclusion that the Dolan RDX offers all of what I want at the lowest price. Really pleased that I can configure the bike to have smiliar geometry and the same crankset and cassette as my summer bike at no significant extra cost – I favour the semi-compact 52/36 with 11-36t combo.

However,  I can’t find too many reviews on line for the RDX, which I find strange. I also live too far away to make it practical to go and try an RDX and £1k is a lot of money to me. So, I’m a little nervous.

Finally, I note that the RDX frame has quick release skewers rather than ‘thru axles’. I am a big chap, but I’m not going to be doing any arduous off roading. I just want better braking in the wet and less build up of grey muck on the rims!  I’ve read lots of articles and watched GCN videos. Seems that everyone is saying that ‘thru axles’ are the way things are going, although there is no set standard at the moment. Articles suggest you shouldn’t be worried about going to thru axles, but nothings says ‘Don’t buy a new bike with discs if it doesn’t have thru axles’.  If I did go for a bike with ‘thru axles’ it would cost me at least £300-500 (which I’m not keen to pay) to have all the other things I want on it. So, should lack of ‘thru axles’ be a deal breaker – Yes or no?

I don’t think this hijacks the OP’s post. But goes to show that the RDX ‘looks good’ from my research (apart from one thing). But, I (and presumably the OP) would value thoughts about whether lack of thru axle is an issue. Also, I’d be interested to know more about weight issues discussed above – Is the RDX significantly heavier than the other disc braked aluminium bikes that the OP lists (and others at the £1k price point)?

Many thanks in advance.

I have a Dolan Prefissio as

I have a Dolan Prefissio as my bad weather bike and a 5 year old (not the one on thier website at the moment) Ribble carbon Sportive/Racing as my good weather bike.  My comments on the Dolan are:

Plus points:

It uses shallow drop brake calipers.

It takes 25mm tyres with full mudguards.

It has fittings for a rear panier rack and mudguards.

Minus points:

None that I can think of.

Observations:

It feels like I am dragging it around behind me when I swap from the Ribble but that only lasts for one or two rides.

The seat angle is steep (50cm size frame) and I need a seatpost with 25mm layback to get my saddle where I want it which also results in having to use quite a short stem.

Put a chain stay protector on, the paint is prone to chipping quite easilly.

My advice is, and is always the same to anyone looking to buy a new bike, as long as the bike fits you buy with your heart, the best bike is the one you will want to ride even through the grotty British weather, a real bargain or recommendation by a total stranger on a website is a waste of money if you dont want to get on it and ride.

If you want a winter bike can

If you want a winter bike can I suggest checking how much clearance the Ribble models have for mudguards and 25mm tyres? I know nothing about the Dolan bikes.