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Does the ” All Rounder” exist?

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  • February 27, 2013 at 12:20 pm #18087
    twosparetubes

    Hi,
    Does the “all rounder” exist?
    Looking for a bike suitable for commuting, touring with racks & panniers etc some lightish off road and that won’t look out of place on sportives too. Does this bike actually exist? If so what do you recommend? Thinking on the lines of specialised tricross. Any good?
    Thanks
    Andrew

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Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)
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  • March 2, 2013 at 7:32 am #719277
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    Nzlucas

    Must say i’m pretty happy
    Must say i’m pretty happy with my Croix de fee. Last year I cycled to paris and toured 7 days in Devon and Cornwall, rode a few charity rides, and rode to work almost every day for the whole year and did the Rapha superross on it.

    I do feel the weight a little after now buying a nice lightweight road bike but with a brooks b17 on it its like sitting on a cloud, but still with a turn of pace when needed.

    Had to replace the rear hub but got a hope evo pro now for trouble re running.

    Truly a swiss army bike

    March 1, 2013 at 11:52 pm #719275
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    Bedfordshire Clanger

    Condor. My friend bought his
    Condor. My friend bought his in 1993, it still runs perfectly. If you spend the extra money wisely it’s an excellent investment. Remember that you’ll get a fitting from a professional when you buy the bike and your choice a of components so no need to retro fit a stem, saddle, other contact points or wheels after you’ve made the purchase.

    March 1, 2013 at 6:21 pm #719273
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    twosparetubes

    Thanks for all the advice
    Thanks for all the advice guys. Like the look of the Croix de Fer and the Tricross. Condor looks great but out of my budget ! Ok then. Genesis or Specalized?
    Andrew

    February 28, 2013 at 7:43 am #719271
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    ubercurmudgeon

    A single-wheel trailer could
    A single-wheel trailer could allow a bike that is suitable for all your needs except touring to perform that duty too. It can be unhitched while on tour, giving you a lightweight bike to go on off-road or climbing detours. Or you could use it at home to do the weekly shop. And most hitch up to a mount point integrated into, or held in place by, the rear wheel quick release, so don’t interfere with disc brakes (although hub brakes could be a problem.)

    It is a sizeable extra expense, especially since Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op seem to have stopped selling their cheap BOB-a-like. Perhaps the cheapest option, if you already have a spare wheel and pannier bags, is the Extrawheel, which probably also puts the least strain on a road bike’s lightly-built rear wheel.

    February 28, 2013 at 7:21 am #719269
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    Forester

    I have been using a base
    I have been using a base model Specialized Tricross through the winter, with the ‘dodgy’ carbon fork (mine is fine)and have come to respect it for its comfort and rideability; only a couple of kph slower than my Giant Defy 2 on 1 hour plus rides; ideal for things like round the Isle of Wight and mixed terrain Sportives I would think

    February 28, 2013 at 12:23 am #719267
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    andrewduffy

    I have a Thorn Audax Mk3 with
    I have a Thorn Audax Mk3 with rear rack and mudguards. It is sturdy and comfortable (steel frame/fork), without being too heavy. I use it for commuting, light-medium touring, recreational riding, sportives and it copes with some fairly rough surfaces. A perfect compromise IMO!

    February 27, 2013 at 9:26 pm #719265
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    Raleigh

    On One Dirty Disco?
    That guy
    On One Dirty Disco?

    That guy went round the world on one…

    February 27, 2013 at 9:08 pm #719263
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    African_swallows

    My Ridgeback world voyage
    My Ridgeback world voyage serves me well for all that. Obviously the panama if you’re feeling flush.

    Confy and hard wearing, 6000 miles with 2 broken spokes being only failure, both with massively overloaded rear panniers.

    February 27, 2013 at 6:02 pm #719261
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    700c

    No, the ‘all rounder’ doesn’t
    No, the ‘all rounder’ doesn’t really exist – you’ll have to compromise somewhere. Get a sportive type bike that could take wider tyres and rack if speed is the priority, get a tourer if touring is the priority! I don’t think a cyclocross bike is it either, since you didn’t mention that in your post..

    February 27, 2013 at 5:12 pm #719259
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    Bedfordshire Clanger

    The Condor Fratello was made
    The Condor Fratello was made for exactly the purpose you describe. Mine has a rack and panniers on the rear and does 150-200 miles a week of commuting plus winter rides and sportives with the rack removed. I’ve ridden on some horrible Sustrans paths with it and intend to do the Rapha Hell of the North on it in a few weeks time. It’s a really great bike.

    February 27, 2013 at 2:27 pm #719257
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    niceguysean

    A Boardman Cross? I bought
    A Boardman Cross? I bought mine (a Boardman CX Pro 2011) after working on a Specialized Tricross whilst doing my cycle maintenance course, and not liking the inerts in the forks. My Boardman has served as a commuter here in Rome (…you think you have potholes in the UK?), did the Gran Fondo do Roma on it, full day jaunts on it in Lazio and Umbria, including Strada Bianca. yet to tour on it, but have mounted rear rack on it with no problems.

    February 27, 2013 at 1:51 pm #719255
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    Pickypong

    I have a Specialized tricross
    I have a Specialized tricross comp, does everything from fast rides to a long audax, can’t recommend highly enough

    February 27, 2013 at 1:50 pm #719253
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    Super Domestique

    FatDadOnABike wrote:Genesis

    FatDadOnABike wrote:
    Genesis Croix de Fer will quite happily do all of the above and more.

    That would be my choice too.

    February 27, 2013 at 1:36 pm #719251
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    Skibish

    My wife has a Specialized
    My wife has a Specialized tricross sport which has a carrier on the back for commuting but also serves well for longer rides up and down in the Peak District so would say definitely worth a look.

    February 27, 2013 at 1:25 pm #719249
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    netclectic

    Disc brakes can be
    Disc brakes can be problematic for touring reducing the number of suitable racks to choose from.

    Perhaps a Surly Cross-Check?

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