Bike Recommendations

[mudskipper]

For the resident cycling experts...

I need a new bike. Been riding a hybrid for the last few years but thinking of getting a road bike as I'm fed up of being overtaken on the morning commute & I want to go quicker. There are some fitness issues here too but wtf.
I also do quite a bit of riding for fun at weekends doing about 50 - 100 miles on a Saturday.

Quite tempted on one of these:



I'll be doing quite a bit of mileage on bumpy country lanes & apparently this style frame is perfect for soaking up the bumps, according to the salesman. My only reservation is with the lifespan of the graphite frame. I've heard that cracks can develop after a relatively short period of time.

Anyone got any recommendations? Don't want to spend more than £1.5k. TIA.

Looks nice. But it's going to be embarrassing when Brillo and Dallas whizz past you on their fold-ups - best to stick to something that doesn't look like it should be going fast.

[wurzel]

Looks nice. But it's going to be embarrassing when Brillo and Dallas whizz past you on their fold-ups - best to stick to something that doesn't look like it should be going fast.

Yes, good point. Maybe I should get up to speed on one of those indoor trainers before I go out and embarrass myself.

[hyperD]

I've got a Specialized Secteur Apex Elite with Fulcrum 7 racing wheels and ceramic cogs. Costs ~ £1,300 and I do 8,000 miles/year in rush-hour.

'Tis very good.

[wurzel]

I've got a Specialized Secteur Apex Elite with Fulcrum 7 racing wheels and ceramic cogs. Costs ~ £1,300 and I do 8,000 miles/year in rush-hour.

'Tis very good.

Hmm.. the one I'm looking at is a Specialised Roubaix (can't remember the exact spec) but it's on for £1200 & they'll let me have it for £900.

Of course, with my level of fitness (which isn't bad) whether or not spending the extra on this as opposed to getting something for about £500 actually shows any performance gains remains to be seen. Other posters seem to suggest not.

May just as well pop into Halfords

[Dallas]

+1. Depending on commute distance and the road conditions. Personally I need a racer for the first 6 miles and mountain bike for the last 6.

And when are YOU going to man up? And don't quote that iron woman stuff at me....

Just coz someone today learned what a smackdown is

[Notascooby]

If you get a folding bike -

A) you look like a tit

There is no B)

You pay more for better components, so whilst the frame might be very similar, you'll get better brakes, wheels, gears etc.

The advantage of going in at the £500 range is if you do want to take cycling seriously, then you can throw that bike on the indoor trainer and buy a flash bike for £2k+

Then you can buy new wheels at £1K+

Then you can buy a power meter for £1k etc etc

This is a reasonable bike and you'll be hard pushed to find a better component spec for the price PX bike

[Dallas]

If you get a folding bike -

A) you look like a tit

There is no B)

You pay more for better components, so whilst the frame might be very similar, you'll get better brakes, wheels, gears etc.

The advantage of going in at the £500 range is if you do want to take cycling seriously, then you can throw that bike on the indoor trainer and buy a flash bike for £2k+

Then you can buy new wheels at £1K+

Then you can buy a power meter for £1k etc etc

This is a reasonable bike and you'll be hard pushed to find a better component spec for the price PX bike

Not suggesting he gets a foldup, just implying the speed gains will be minimal with the same power output

I got a foldup because my road and TT are too blinged up to leave on the streets of the old smoke, something to consider when you buy a flash one is security considerations.

I dont care what I look like as I am overtaking you

[Notascooby]

Depends on the gearing you have. If your brompton has a 53/11 then fair enough but I think the dinky wheels may be a factor too.

Thankfully I can leave my bike(s) in a car park at my current gig and regularly commute on both my road a TT bikes (TT if extending the commute).

I assume you know of It’s Not A Race

Suppose its the wrong forum for a bike porn thread....shame as my CD0.1 looks nice...will be even better with new Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR wheels

[Dallas]

Depends on the gearing you have. If your brompton has a 53/11 then fair enough but I think the dinky wheels may be a factor too.

Thankfully I can leave my bike(s) in a car park at my current gig and regularly commute on both my road a TT bikes (TT if extending the commute).

I assume you know of It’s Not A Race

Suppose its the wrong forum for a bike porn thread....shame as my CD0.1 looks nice...will be even better with new Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR wheels

I saw the CD0.1 in Evans with adamo saddles and the staff were clueless! In the Republic of east London I wouldnt make the end of the street on that or mine in civilised hours (felt b2pro - Bing Images) .

Mine is not even a brompton: Btwin - Hoptown 5 Eden - BIKES / BICYCLES / CYCLES bikes town bike - Designed for REGULAR journeys and easy space-saving storage. (Ideal for use in the public transport).

Smaller wheels = twitchier

any how we are off topic - sorry OP

[Notascooby]

Nice frame - had my heart set on a DA for years then they lauched the DA, DA2, DA3 buy a whole bike thing and I couldn't justify it.

I bought the frame from Evans as it was 55% off and got it built somewhere else.

aaaaany way....