Bike stolen!! now need a new one...

[gillelive]

Some bastard stole my bike earlier this week while I was on a bike maintenance course!! not insured so that's about £700 down the grid for bike, lights, computer etc....aaarrrrrrrgh! ...can you believe having the bike stolen on a bike course......it was only about 5 months old

bye bye:

Now I have calmed down I need to think about a new bike. Advice needed on bikes to consider other than Specialized. I seem to be drawn to Spec bikes but would like to consider others on a budget of up to £700. Do I just get the same bike that was stolen, Crosstrail Comp, or consider the Sirrus or even Secteur. In the 900 miles covered on the Crosstrail about 800 have been commuting on mainly road and 100 on slightly rougher ground. I had the front suspension locked out most of the time and now think I don't need suspension. I like the look of the Sirrus but concerned about comfort, any thoughts on these bikes or similar bikes from Trek etc. Still unsure if I want to move to drops.

Also, a bit late after the horse has bolted but any views on bike insurance appreciated. Is it best to go for specific bike insurance or add to household policy.

 

[Shrim]

Sorry to hear about your bike, I was in the same position at the beginning of the year when my Sirrus was stolen and it was only a few months old. As for Sirrus's, personally I can't fault them and I now have another but the Sport model (courtesy of my household insurance + a little bit added by myself).
They are a little harder ride than other bikes I have ridden but you do get used to it and they are very nippy and of course look the part.

With regards to insurance, as said above, mine was covered on my household insurance, albeit I had to pay an excess of £100. Strangely enough and unbeknown to me, there was another part to my household insurance which covered the bike while not at the policy address. Basically if it got stolen while it was parked up while you were on a ride it was still covered and the excess in this case would only be £15. A good policy (with Tesco Finest) and something worth looking into and no questions asked by them. I just gave them a list of the bike and the accessories and one and a half weeks later, delivered!

 

[gillelive]

cheers shrim, i am a bit concerned about the ride, is it harsh? may go back to my lbs in the morning, they have offered me the comp version for £700 including most of what i lost - computer, gaurds, bottle and cage and pump...

i tried Evans but wasn't impressed, no budging on the £700 and that was just the bike.....also tried pushing me towards a cannonadale bad boy for £1k...

if anyone has any pics of a sirrus with race blades or other gaurds on can you put them up here.....i like the look of the sirrus but don't want it to look like a pensioners bike with naff gaurds....

also, if anyone can recommend a similar bike that would help, i did have a quick look at a Trek 7.5fx but not sure how the ride compares.....

 

[Cyclist33]

Stick with Spesh - you know the sizing and scale - and get a Sirrus at the budget, bollox to the suspension and phatness if you're a 90% roadie --- if you can get a 2010 model you'll probably save £100-£200 so thumbs up.

Get the ****er insured and don't bother with dedicated cycle insurers they are shoot. Get it added to your home insurance on a named schedule, it should be pretty well covered then.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products...e-2010-hybrid-bike-ec020016?query=sirrus 2010

Stu

 

[vickster]

I've got a 2010 Crosstrail Sport and now a 2010 Sirrus Sport - both in an XL (female, but 5'10, long arms and legs ). They are pretty different beasts, even though the same make, year and size.

I've only had a couple of rides on the Sirrus, so need to get used to it (I had to change the pedals, couldn't get on with clips and straps)- fair zips along on smooth roads, but is pretty bumpy on the majority of roads around here which are littered with lumps, bumps and holes! The higher specced Sirrus with carbon forks may be more forgiving (my Sirrus was £449 from LBS). Some of this may be due to the fact that I have a ladies saddle on the Crosstrail, but haven't changed from the men's one on the Sirrus (I may or may not do so). I don't have any mudguards as I don't ride in the wet as I am a wuss But you'd be able to fit one like in your photo ok, but not full guards I doubt?


Evans have the Crosstrail comp in their sale, depending on what size you need (no large), http://www.evanscycl...d-bike-ec019784 but only little ones of the Sirrus according to the link posted above

 

[gillelive]

I've got a 2010 Crosstrail Sport and now a 2010 Sirrus Sport - both in an XL (female, but 5'10, long arms and legs ). They are pretty different beasts, even though the same make, year and size.

I've only had a couple of rides on the Sirrus, so need to get used to it (I had to change the pedals, couldn't get on with clips and straps)- fair zips along on smooth roads, but is pretty bumpy on the majority of roads around here which are littered with lumps, bumps and holes! The higher specced Sirrus with carbon forks may be more forgiving (my Sirrus was £449 from LBS). Some of this may be due to the fact that I have a ladies saddle on the Crosstrail, but haven't changed from the men's one on the Sirrus (I may or may not do so). I don't have any mudguards as I don't ride in the wet as I am a wuss But you'd be able to fit one like in your photo ok, but not full guards I doubt?


Evans have the Crosstrail comp in their sale, depending on what size you need (no large), http://www.evanscycl...d-bike-ec019784 but only little ones of the Sirrus according to the link posted above

not being funny but if you are 5'10'' an XL seems very big to me, my crosstrail was a L and the sirrus i have just ordered is also a L, i am 5'11''

i have gone for the sirrus comp with carbon forks etc. and i am expecting a very different ride from the crosstrail

i do ride in the wet so have gone for race blades, they look better than cruds on the 28 wheels

cheers

 

[gillelive]

Stick with Spesh - you know the sizing and scale - and get a Sirrus at the budget, bollox to the suspension and phatness if you're a 90% roadie --- if you can get a 2010 model you'll probably save £100-£200 so thumbs up.

Get the ****er insured and don't bother with dedicated cycle insurers they are shoot. Get it added to your home insurance on a named schedule, it should be pretty well covered then.

http://www.evanscycl...y=sirrus%202010

Stu

cheers, have opted for the sirrus comp with the extras from my lbs and will be checking out my house insurance later today, hope i have made the right choice!

 

[vickster]

not being funny but if you are 5'10'' an XL seems very big to me, my crosstrail was a L and the sirrus i have just ordered is also a L, i am 5'11''

i have gone for the sirrus comp with carbon forks etc. and i am expecting a very different ride from the crosstrail

i do ride in the wet so have gone for race blades, they look better than cruds on the 28 wheels

cheers

Well, I sat on an L Sirrus and it felt too small. I test rode the women's equivalent to the Crosstrail (Ariel) in the largest size (L equivalent) and it felt small too To be honest, the XL Sirrus doesn't feel big at all if you look at Specialized sizing for Crosstrail, they say XL for 5'9-6'2 so perhaps yours was a bit small (it is different for the Sirrus, a large for that height, but I can't stand being hunched over). It doesn't really matter either way, whatever suits each individual. I like to be high up and upright but not with the saddle high on the post. I also have a bad knee so find it uncomfortable if knee is over bent or cramped. Remember, height for height women have longer legs than blokes - mine are 33-34".

Enjoy your new bike, sort the insurance and spent £60 on an Abus Granit D Lock - they weigh a ton but are solid!

 

[gillelive]

Well, I sat on an L Sirrus and it felt too small. I test rode the women's equivalent to the Crosstrail (Ariel) in the largest size (L equivalent) and it felt small too To be honest, the XL Sirrus doesn't feel big at all if you look at Specialized sizing for Crosstrail, they say XL for 5'9-6'2 so perhaps yours was a bit small (it is different for the Sirrus, a large for that height, but I can't stand being hunched over). It doesn't really matter either way, whatever suits each individual. I like to be high up and upright but not with the saddle high on the post. I also have a bad knee so find it uncomfortable if knee is over bent or cramped. Remember, height for height women have longer legs than blokes - mine are 33-34".

Enjoy your new bike, sort the insurance and spent £60 on an Abus Granit D Lock - they weigh a ton but are solid!

vickster, your just boasting now about having long legs ...... I tried a medium in the sirrus and that did feel small but hoping that the large will be good for me when it comes, if it's not then it will be going back, should have it by Wed......

 

[gillelive]

Sorry to hear about your bike, I was in the same position at the beginning of the year when my Sirrus was stolen and it was only a few months old. As for Sirrus's, personally I can't fault them and I now have another but the Sport model (courtesy of my household insurance + a little bit added by myself).
They are a little harder ride than other bikes I have ridden but you do get used to it and they are very nippy and of course look the part.

With regards to insurance, as said above, mine was covered on my household insurance, albeit I had to pay an excess of £100. Strangely enough and unbeknown to me, there was another part to my household insurance which covered the bike while not at the policy address. Basically if it got stolen while it was parked up while you were on a ride it was still covered and the excess in this case would only be £15. A good policy (with Tesco Finest) and something worth looking into and no questions asked by them. I just gave them a list of the bike and the accessories and one and a half weeks later, delivered!

shrim, how tall are you and what size sirrus do you have?

 

[vickster]

Longer legs is just one of the many ways in which women are superior to men

 

[Scoosh]

HLaB has had a Sirrus for a while - and he uses it a lot.

Might be worth sending him a PM for any specialist info you want. I believe he liked it so much he converted it to drop bars.

 

[Scoosh]

Longer legs is just one of the many ways in which women are superior to men

"This thread is useless without photos"

 

[Shrim]

shrim, how tall are you and what size sirrus do you have?

I'm 5'11" and have a large, seems perfect for me.

 

[cyberknight]

Longer legs is just one of the many ways in which women are superior to men

Holy c**p i must have womens legs then ! i am 5 foot 7" and have 31 " inside leg, as long as they do not lead me away from cyle shops and into Marks + sparks i can manage