Bike Dilemma

[Jumpingjalapeno]

Hi Guys,

New to the forum so go easy on me! .

I'm hoping some of you might be able to offer advice on a bike choice. It will mainly be a commuting bike. I've got a wee 7 month old boy and the plan would be to clamp a baby seat on the back at weekend. So the main thing I'm looking for is a bike that will be sturdy enough to handle me (85kg) and a baby on the back. Other things I would like are drop bars, hydraulic brakes, preferably 105 group set and the ability to stick on mudguards and a rear rack. So I'm pretty much looking for a cyclocross/ robust road bike, my budget is £1200 These are the choices I have come up with.

Merida ride 500 disc
http://www.merida-bikes.com/en_int/bikes/road-fitness/road-comfort/2016/ride-disc-500-4451.html
Has all the gear I'm looking for, plus a lifetime guarantee on the frame. Not a very sexy name tho and is a road bike, so would it be 'sturdy' enough?

Cube cross race pro
http://www.cube.eu/uk/products/road-race/cross-race/cube-cross-race-pro-rednblack-2016/
I love the look of cubes. This again has all the gear. However the welding on the frame and external cabling looks ugly. Can anyone tell me why the external cabling?

Focus Mares AX 105
http://www.focus-bikes.com/gb/en/bikes/2016/cyclocross/mares-ax/mares-ax-disc-105.html
love the look of this bike, but comes with TRP Hyrds, so might be considered lover specced than the others.

Which would you choose??
Other suggestions welcome.

Thanks
JJ

 

[vickster]

Any frame will be sturdy enough but given the weight on the bike, you might want to look at the spoke count of the wheels

Other than that, go test ride and see which floats your boat the most

The Focus is the best looking IMO

How about looking at a Kinesis for something a little different on the CX front http://www.freeborn.co.uk/kinesis-crosslight-pro6-bike

 

[BrumJim]

To give you a bit of background, I have 2 bikes: 1 road bike with 23mm tyres which is light, and a tourer with 32(?)mm tyres.

I'm only happy with using the touring bike with my lad on the back. He can be a little restless, and the wider tyres give me more stability. Also disc brakes make me a lot happier about stopping performance and modulation.

So, I'd avoid the Merida, as the tyres look a little too thin. Focus has more spokes on the wheel, so I'd recommend that one of the three.

 

[mustang1]

I have no experience carrying kids on a seat but I'd go with what @BrumJim said: wider tires for stability.

And I'll also add extra comfort. Id expect your little kid wants to be nice and comfortable when out riding; the wider tires will aid in this and get a comfortable seat.

Idk about the hyrd brakes as I've never used them but some friends tell me they prefer shimano hydraulics rather that hyrd. Something about the hydro fluid being at the brake end so when it comes time to servicing, you have to both change the brake cable AND the fluid.

 

[Dayvo]

The Focus gets my vote: durability and comfort. And very good looks.

 

[Jumpingjalapeno]

Cheers for the input guys! The spoke count wasn't something I had considered. Focus is getting a lot of love here! Anyone else think the hyrds are a disadvantage to full hydraulic, like mustang1 said?

 

[Jumpingjalapeno]

Any frame will be sturdy enough but given the weight on the bike, you might want to look at the spoke count of the wheels

Other than that, go test ride and see which floats your boat the most

The Focus is the best looking IMO

How about looking at a Kinesis for something a little different on the CX front http://www.freeborn.co.uk/kinesis-crosslight-pro6-bike

Cheers for the reply vickers. Great tip about the spoke count. That kinesis looks the business, looks like mech brakes tho.

 

[vickster]

Cheers for the reply vickers. Great tip about the spoke count. That kinesis looks the business, looks like mech brakes tho.

They sell the frameset separately, assume you can spec as desired, get it built by an LBS, just be careful costs don't run away from you

 

[Jumpingjalapeno]

They sell the frameset separately, assume you can spec as desired, get it built by an LBS, just be careful costs don't run away from you

Costs running away from me would be a v real concern! Cheers

 

[vickster]

Costs running away from me would be a v real concern! Cheers

Fatbirds might be worth a call, can build as desired

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/535/cyclocross-frames.aspx

I am very much a fan of build from the frame so you can have your perfect bike to the spec you want

 

[smutchin]

Which would I choose? Not a cross bike.

I'd choose a bike designed for uk roads. Here's one:
http://whyte.bike/gb/models/commuterroad/rd-7-road-disc/dorset/

Here's another:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/b-road/croix-de-fer-20

Kinesis is a good shout but I'd go for the 4S (now available with discs) rather than the Crosslight:
http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/racelight/4s

That Merida is a ridiculously good price for the spec.

 

[Jumpingjalapeno]

Which would I choose? Not a cross bike.

I'd choose a bike designed for uk roads. Here's one:
http://whyte.bike/gb/models/commuterroad/rd-7-road-disc/dorset/

Here's another:
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/adventure/b-road/croix-de-fer-20

Kinesis is a good shout but I'd go for the 4S (now available with discs) rather than the Crosslight:
http://www.kinesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/racelight/4s

That Merida is a ridiculously good price for the spec.

Smutchin thanks for the suggestions, I did ride a croix de fer and was pleasantly impressed by the ride on steel, I didn't think much of the mech disc brakes tho, perhaps then need time to break in. Kinesis does seem get a lot of love, the crosslight with discs would be a def contender. The guy at my not-so-LBS raved about that merida, which I gotta admit is a brand I'm looking more closely at!

Cheers
JJ

 

[vickster]

Merida do more rugged cx bikes too I think?

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Merida-Cyclo-Cross-500-2016-Cyclocross-Bike_81910.htm

 

[Jumpingjalapeno]

Merida do more rugged cx bikes too I think?

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Merida-Cyclo-Cross-500-2016-Cyclocross-Bike_81910.htm

Vickster I'm looking at that very bike thinking it could be the one. Decent price point and pretty much All the spec I want bar hydraulics. Good shout!

 

[vickster]

There is a higher version I think