Bike Advice For Friend - £700 for comfortable long distancer and town.

[Jezston]

Pretty much as subject! A friend is looking to buy a bike as he's going a 75 mile bike ride soon, and would like a bike for, well he doesn't know yet not having ridden very much for years.

He was originally looking at the Cannondale Bad Boy but advised him against that as fixed hand position on flat bars won't be much fun for a long ride.

Been looking around sites but having difficulty finding what would be right - I feel a proper racing orientated road bike wouldn't be right as I'd imagine he'd find the aggressive ride position a bit much, the lack of comfort and practical elements such as clearance and fittings for mudguards potentially a problem. A touring bike may be too much the other way, and there doesn't seem to be much within budget. Cyclocross is an option but he'd need to change tyres and again hard to tell looking at thumbnails on websites what has brazons and adequate clearances. And shame you can't filter by 'audax' on most bike shop sites!

So what would be a good bike for going on a long ride, and also suitable for potential general purposes?

I should add it's highly unlikely the bike would get used for commuting, as his current commute is over 40 miles!

 

[AndyRM]

The Dolan Preffisio is bang on the money and sounds like it could be an option:

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/road-bikes/aluminium/Sram/Preffisio Road Bike

Same with the Ribble Audax, which comes in a variety of flavours:

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bbg/r...training-audax-bikes?sub=conf_BBRW&type=RIBMO

 

[MacB]

I would automatically discount the Cannondale he could put a set of these inside the controls:-

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BTOOBE/on_one_bob_on_bar_ends__black

and replace the grips with these:-

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ergon-gp3-formerly-gr2-handlebar-grips/

that will give at least 3 main hand positions and I reckon I get 5 from this setup. The inboard ones are good for a headwind and the wide position, especially if the bars sweep back a bit, is good for climbing.

 

[postman]

i put some butterfly bars on my Giant Rincon just after xmas.less than £20 from e bay.What a difference.

 

[vickster]

Now I don't know what it is like, but this is a nice spec for under £700

http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-sh...-road-bikes/merlin-malt-r-road-bike-2013.html

Doing 75 miles on flatbars is perfectly achievable, add bar ends. Something like a Specialized Sirrus or Trek 7.x or a Giant rapid will happily take a rack and full guards

 

[Jezston]

I would automatically discount the Cannondale he could put a set of these inside the controls:-

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BTOOBE/on_one_bob_on_bar_ends__black

and replace the grips with these:-

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ergon-gp3-formerly-gr2-handlebar-grips/

that will give at least 3 main hand positions and I reckon I get 5 from this setup. The inboard ones are good for a headwind and the wide position, especially if the bars sweep back a bit, is good for climbing.

True, and I've not ruled out hybrids entirely - although the Bad Boy also doesn't take mudguards or a rack so have at least ruled that one out.

 

[Jezston]

The Dolan Preffisio is bang on the money and sounds like it could be an option:

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/road-bikes/aluminium/Sram/Preffisio Road Bike

Ooh I like that.

 

[AndyRM]

Ooh I like that.

Understandable, a mate of mine has one and it is a joy to ride. I was sorely tempted myself before embarking on my own build.

 

[Jezston]

Anyone have any knowledge / opinions on this bike?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/threshold-a3-disc-2013-cyclocross-bike-ec041207#features

Can't find any proper reviews of in online, haven't heard of the make before, and don't know what the components are like, but after sending my friend a bunch of links and options he was quite attracted to this, and the Dolan.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Anyone have any knowledge / opinions on this bike?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/threshold-a3-disc-2013-cyclocross-bike-ec041207#features

Can't find any proper reviews of in online, haven't heard of the make before, and don't know what the components are like, but after sending my friend a bunch of links and options he was quite attracted to this, and the Dolan.

Not ridden any but I think it's a Canadian company and pretty well respected.

 

[slowmotion]

I have a Specialized Secteur which has quite a relaxed riding position for a road bike. It has a four position stem so you can raise or lower the bars a fair bit. Another plus is that it has lugs to take a rack. I use it for commuting and also longer rides. Give it a try.

 

[mcshroom]

How about this one: -

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-audax

 

[MacB]

True, and I've not ruled out hybrids entirely - although the Bad Boy also doesn't take mudguards or a rack so have at least ruled that one out.

fair point, I hadn't looked, that would have ruled it out for me as well. Which also reminds me, just because a bike has fittings for a rack doesn't mean it will work well with one. Certainly I felt my first fast hybrid was a great bike in stripped down mode but a mediocre to poor performer once rack and panniers were added. A 28 or 24 spoke(can't quite remember now) rear wheel and a hefty guy didn't help either. Even in stripped down mode it preferred a smoother surface and laden it was a positive dog when the going got tough.

If I compare that to its replacement Crosscheck or subsequent bikes designed with a load in mind, they positively glide over rough surfaces in a way the fast/light hybrid never did.

 

[mcshroom]

Not having bosses for a rack can often be overcome as well with p-clips without any real trouble. Lack of rack mounts is far more restrictive.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Specialized tri-cross perhaps an option @ £750
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/tricross-triple-2013-cyclocross-bike-ec042557

The Specialized Tricross Triple 2013 Cyclocross Bike is the perfect do-it-all bike for anything from trails to commuting to touring. With a Shimano triple drivetrain, rack/fender mounts, wide-range gearing, and secondary brake levers, it will make the most of every ride.​