A cheaper option? (Cx/Touring bike)

[Mike!]

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/65401/Whyte_Sussex_Disc_2014_Bike

Slightly above budget (aren't they always?) but a cracking bike and in my experience once you have tyres much over 28/30c alloy or carbon fork makes little difference

 

[Drago]

[QUOTE 3269461, member: 259"]You'll not get an Alfine Genesis for £500.

Slightly over budget, but I'd look at the Revolution Cross Disc on sale at £600 at the moment. I've got a Cross Pro and it's a smashing bike, and a nicer ride than the Tricross it replaced, which was stolen from the car park at work[/QUOTE]

In was thinking more of used, but should have qualified that. Last autumn Evans were selling 2012 models for sub £600 on the last few, so it's not beyond reach for a patient and canny buyer.

 

[nirurin]

[QUOTE 3269461, member: 259"]You'll not get an Alfine Genesis for £500.

Slightly over budget, but I'd look at the Revolution Cross Disc on sale at £600 at the moment. I've got a Cross Pro and it's a smashing bike, and a nicer ride than the Tricross it replaced, which was stolen from the car park at work[/QUOTE]

The Revolution Cross and the Whyte Sussex are both very nice, they will both cost a chunk more than the boardman though, and with a much more difficult returns and repair procedure if there are any problems. Not sure its worth it, as the goal is to try and spend less than the boardman will cost lol.

My original budget was £400, so I'm already massively over it

However I have and will search ebay/gumtree for any local people selling them, I may be lucky!

 

[Mike!]

Then stick with one of the boardmans, second hand you will have no returns :-)

 

[outlash]

Unless you're at either end of the size range: http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s23p5169/CANNONDALE-CAADX-SORA-2013 . I have one and as a 'does everything the nice bike doesn't do' bike, it fits the bill so far .


Tony.

 

[nirurin]

Unless you're at either end of the size range: http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s23p5169/CANNONDALE-CAADX-SORA-2013 . I have one and as a 'does everything the nice bike doesn't do' bike, it fits the bill so far .


Tony.

Seems like a nice bike, ticks all the right boxes, but again is £75 more than the boardman. If I didnt get a discount at halfords then that would certainly be a good option

I'll take a look on ebay and gumtree for it, same as the others, but so far I've not found any of these bikes within pickup distance of where I live. There seems to be a lot in london and up north though. Perhaps stolen lol.

 

[outlash]

I nearly bought the boardman, but the brakes don't have the best reputation, and replacement wheels for disc brakes are generally more expensive than 'normal' wheels so I figure for a bike that's going to take a bit of punishment, the Cannondale would be a cheaper option long term.

Tony.

 

[nirurin]

From what I've been told, the advantage of disks (other than being better) is that they also cause less rim wear. So I would assume a wheel with disks would also wear out less often. I doubt it works out as a big enough reason to choose one over the other.

In theory I'd be happy to drop the disk brakes, as well as the sora set. I'd prefer to spend £300 on a fairly basic reliable bike like a triban, but with a bigger clearance for a 28c tyre. Just doesn't seem to happen. I guess I'm the only person who wants it lol. though I believe part of the problem is that cheaper brakes are cantilever, which have smaller clearances. The V-Brake style is the one used on the hybrids with larger clearances, just not on any drop-bar bikes.

I guess when people are looking for comfort they pick a hybrid, and if they want just speed they go for road.

 

[vickster]

The Revolution Cross and the Whyte Sussex are both very nice, they will both cost a chunk more than the boardman though, and with a much more difficult returns and repair procedure if there are any problems. Not sure its worth it, as the goal is to try and spend less than the boardman will cost lol.

My original budget was £400, so I'm already massively over it

However I have and will search ebay/gumtree for any local people selling them, I may be lucky!

You think returning a bike to Halfords will definitely be less troublesome? You must have a good branch nearby and hope the competent staff don't leave

 

[nirurin]

You think returning a bike to Halfords will definitely be less troublesome? You must have a good branch nearby and hope the competent staff don't leave

Well, I can drive it up to halfords in about 10 minutes and get them to sort it while I'm there, would take an hour or so in an afternoon, and I can test it before I go home to make sure its sorted... besides I'd only return it if there was an actual fault, if its a loose nut I can sort that myself.

Getting it back to edinburghcycles or similar will involve ordering a courier, waiting in all day between 9-6 for pickup (unless they have time slots but many dont), waiting a week or two for the bike to get there/be fixed/shipped back, and then being in for another delivery... and then finding out if the job is done or not.

And thats just for repairs, if its a return then Halfords is again a quick and easy job, in comparison. Get my money back same day instead of waiting.

I know halfords gets a lot of bad reputation cos there has been stories about people with badly built bikes... but that's bound to happen simply because Halfords sells a lot lot lot more bikes as a chain than anywhere else, and so there will be more bad stories. Its the internet, people with good stories of places never write about it lol.

I've tried local bike stores, but their prices have all been higher, and their selection not very good. Guess I've been spoilt with the age of internet shopping.

 

[nirurin]

However, saying that, I was looking though EdinburghBicycle and found the following:

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-cross-14

I did think it rang a bell, and realised that someone on here did recommend the £600 disk brake version, which I turned down 'cos its £100 over my budget limit. I didnt realise there was a cheaper option though. £150 cheaper than the CX Comp, though the components are Tourney which I think are the 'lowest' of the shimano sets. No disks either obviously.

Saves money in the beginning, but it seems to have cheaper components than a Triban/merlin, but the advantage of the right size wheels. May regret it in the long run.

 

[Mike!]

Halfords got 10% off online between 12-2pm tomorrow.

Order online for 10% discount, go and pick it up paying as a British Cycling Club Member for another 10% on top of that. Bargain....

 

[nirurin]

what the... how did you know about this? lol I cant see it on their site anywhere...

Do you get the discount if you order online but pick up in store? Cos I already get the 10% from british cycling, and then another 10% off through a work discount... if I can do the order online and then pay in store I would get another 10% off lol.

Seems pretty good! Assuming they let you stack all 3 seperate discounts

 

[Mike!]

They let you stack the 10% offer and the BC discount so 3 is worth a shot!

Just replied to your message, it came through on email tonight

 

[nirurin]

Thanks Even more reason to reach a decision tonight then!