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TECH NEWS
Virtuso WomenHalfords launches 26 Carrera bikes with 28mm tyres and disc brakes for all road models
Carrera bikes are a common sight around town with the Halfords brand being popular for the low prices and un-fussy design. Calling its 2020 launch of 26 new bikes, of which 15 are road, leisure and urban bikes, a “technological first”, Halfords says it has redesigned the entire range with tweaked geometries, memory foam saddle and all tyres getting “Carrera puncture protection”.
The new range is made up of 5 bikes aimed at entry-level roadies, 5 urban bikes that will appeal to the growing number of cycle commuters, and 5 leisure bikes.
The biggest design changes can be found in the road range with all 5 new bikes now getting disc brakes, with a mix of cable and hydraulic systems. The move to disc brakes is a common one across the road market with customers favouring them for the increased braking power and control of this power.
eBikeTips review: Carrera Subway E
Another move that reflects the wider road market can be found in the frames which now come with space for 32mm tyres, though 28mm rubber is specified as standard. This, Halfords says, is aimed at increasing comfort for riders when on broken rural roads.
Halfords says that a poll that it ran with YouGov “shows that 88% of people considered saddle comfort the most important factor when choosing a bike.” As a result, Halfords has included a “memory foam” saddle on each of the new road, leisure and urban bikes which they say moulds to the rider’s body, helping uniform distribution of weight for maximum comfort.
Choose from 9 of the best 2020 road bikes under £500
The poll also suggested that 41% of people weren’t confident that they could repair a puncture. To help avoid a ride-ending flat tyre, Halfords says that each new bike “boasts reinforced tyres, layered with aramid and light flexible rubber together with ceramic particles to help stop sharp objects puncturing them.”
How to repair a puncture
Those are the key changes, let’s have a look at some of the bikes in the road, urban and leisure ranges.
Road
Zelos Disc Men's - £300
Vanquish Disc Men's - £400
“Performance, speed and comfort are perfectly combined in the Carrera Vanquish Disc which sits at the top of this exciting range. Thanks to the lightweight, triple-butted aluminium frame, you’ll barely notice the incline and the carbon fork with tapered steerer dampens any vibration and gives you precise steering control. This road bike can fly and you’ll be glad of the flat-mount road brakes which do their job whilst reducing weight further. Tackle the straights or the hills with ease on this top-tier road bike.”
Zelos Disc Women's - £300
Virtuoso Disc Women's - £350
“Venture further afield with the Carrera Virtuoso Women's Road Bike which comes with all the fantastic aspects of the Zelos and offers an even lighter ride, thanks to the added addition of the aluminium bladed fork. You get all the response you need with the Shimano Claris drivetrain making changing through the wider range of gears really slick and smooth. Integrated cables add to the clean lines and streamlined cockpit of the Virtuoso. A great choice to accomplish your cycling goals.”
Urban
Parva Men's - £250
“Whether you’re looking for an easier commute or there’s some unchartered territory crying out to be explored, the Carrera Parva Men's helps take you further. With its new geometry having been designed to offer new improved levels of comfort, the lightweight but durable alloy frame, which comes with a lifetime guarantee, is ideal for leisurely rides or around town.”
Subway 1 Women's - £300
“Inspired by the Carrera mountain bike range, this hybrid bike gives you the controlled handling and response you need for a hassle-free commute. 2x8 gears are easy to use and the large range shifts smoothly helping you find the right gear and tackle any steep climb without compromising on top-end speed. Created and designed by cyclists for cyclists, the all-new design features updated geometry with a lightweight and durable alloy frame which doesn’t just look good but has you feeling good after you’ve put in the miles.”
Leisure
Crossfire 3 Men's - £400
“At the top of the range, the Carrera Crossfire 3 is the ultimate ‘go-anywhere’ bike. The all-new design includes powerful hydraulic brakes that can handle any adventure that you throw at them. The triple-butted frame makes light work of those steep climbs whilst the 18-speed (2x9) Shimano gearing offers plenty of choice on all terrains. As does the lock-out fork which allows you to stop movement of the fork on a challenging incline. Enjoy the comfort of this top tier model that’s built for more.”
Crossfire 2 Women's - £325
“The Carrera Crossfire 2 Women's Hybrid Bike - Grey has all the features of the Crossfire 1 with some fantastic added benefits. Also featuring a new design, the suspension fork is extended in this model giving you advanced handling and allows you to tailor your level of comfort whether you’re on the road or on the canal path. A larger number of gears makes climbing hills even easier as well as helping you find the right gear when you need it. The Carrera memory foam saddle allows you to stay cycling comfortably for longer. And, if you’re really upping your cycling game, the mechanical disc brakes give you consistency, rain or shine.
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24 comments
Usual heavy crap from the car accessories outlet.
You’re a twat then.
Halfords obviously know their customers and how uninformed most of them are!
why anyone would want those awful cable disc brakes on the entry-level road bikes God only knows.
I used to work at that place fettling bikes and the cable discs were regularly an issue with customers for ever coming back with problems . only reason they fit them on those bikes is because they look bling to the masses and help them to sell more bikes. .
Nothing wrong with V brake or caliper brake at this price point .Cheap cable discs are awful, horrible things.The Parva or the crossfire 1 would be my recommendation for a cheap commuter bike.
Because customers who don't clean their bikes and keep an eye on their brake pads will only destroy a disk rather than their wheels within 6 months
Carrera Zelos wheels will be trash after a couple of months of commuting ie well before brake pads would have worn down the rims.
for a commuter, no, Id pick disc every time now, lot less hassle, rim brakes at that price point, and my commuter bike came from Halfords fwiw via C2W, are awful you just spend all your time having to constantly re-adjust them and clean them in winter, discs you just drop the pads in and occasionally turn an adjustment screw when the brakes feel long
Cheap Cable disc brakes on a £300 bike are almost as crap as cheap v brakes in terms of stoping power and they too need periodic adjustment same as a caliper brake which most people in this customer group seem incapable of doing.Plus you're carrying half a ton of extra monkey metal on an already heavy bike😂
It seems that casual cyclists now firmly believe that disc brakes are safer and stop better. In the same way that they believe Gatorskins are good tyres...
As you rightly state, cheap cable disc brakes are no better than V brakes or rim brakes and are more hassle in terms of maintenance.
Hopefully one day someone will work out how to make a cheap, STI hydraulic shifter so that the pricing is in line with how cheap hydraulic disc brakes are on flat bar bikes now.
Explain your issue with Gatorskins? I have run Gatorskins for the last 5 years, 15000miles, and ive had 3 punctures total.
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/road-bike-reviews
I'll stop at 5
Well personally i cant fault them.
Racer Joe you must be missing your sportiffs. Rolling resistance such an issue for the masses.
Rolling resistance is an even bigger issue for the masses... linear vs. quadratic &c.
I used Gatorskins for several years commuting in London. They were awesome - I only had 2 punctures in 3 years (so about 10,000 miles) on one pair.
I never had a problem with grip that some people complain about. The only problem was that, when I did have a puncture, they were an absolute pig to get off and back on my Campag Vento rims. Real thumb twisters.
Have Gatorskins on my winter wheels, 4 years and only puncture due to drawing pins! No they're not as fast as my GP4000s, but certainly dependable.
I use Gatorskins on my winter bike. They are very dependable as you say. It's about horses for courses. In the winter I want puncture resistance and longevity. Which they give.
A complete pain to get on the rim. I recently had my wheels rebuilt with a Kinlin 22xr rims to replace Mavic Openpro. I broke two plastic tyre levers getting them on. Never done that before in 30 years of riding.
However, I took one off a few weeks ago to see if they had 'stretched' a bit as the winter bike was having its summer strip down and service. I know I am a glutton for punishment!. Luckily for me they had as to remount it was significantly easier.
Well said sir! For a while there I thought I was the only Gatorophobe in England but if you dig a little deeper there are many of us, united in our disapproval of the hateful things.
The worst thing is that Conti charge a real premium for Skaterskins, at least most other bad tyres are cheap.
Maybe Road.cc can come to the rescue and do a dispassionate comparative review of the various brake systems, dry and wet. Down Hardknott Pass.
but that would only prove which one had the best stopping distance Im guessing is why you picked a steep down hill. My view is there is more to choosing a particular braking system than stopping distance alone.
and as I dont commute via Hardknott Pass, either up or down it, how a brake system works on it is of no consequence or value to my choice of brake system on a commuter bike
You used to work there - gosh, you poor thing.
oi Kev there’s a great article on sportiff bikes on here for you. Or do you think you need the latest aero, carbon, look what I’v bought into bike like the masses of middle aged new bike riders.
Halfords are just providing what most people want, not everyone thinks they are in a bike race when ever they raise a leg over a cross bar. Or when they pay their there 50 quid to ride mass participation bike even, telling everyone they are racing at the weekend.
You used to work there - gosh, you poor thing.
You used to work there - gosh, you poor thing.