Hi all
when I lived in London I used to have a Charge Plug 0 (until some scrote nicked it). Lovely bike to commute on, gear ratio of 42/16 was fine for me - lived SE London so a few hills to navigate but nothing too bad - worst was up the side of Greenwich park into Blackheath, or maybe Dulwich college hill, but all do-able.
I'm now looking to join the ranks of SS again, but will want something that is good for long days out (have a 100 mile, 10,000 ft of climbing sportive coming up in June) so will need to be able to carry water. The Plug 0 had no eyelets to attached bottle cages which was a pain and so doesn't put this bike back in the running. This ride is quite hilly with 2-3 lumps of 20%, the rest rolling.
Budget is up to £600 (or £1000 if I can get it on ride to work scheme and the 40% discount).
I like the saddle of the Plug, very comfy. Today on my road bike (a boardman) I mostly ride on the hoods and pretty never on the drops. 70 gear inches is about right (could do a smidge more, wouldn't want too much less).
Given this info, what are the options out there? I was thinking Genesis one 10, or maybe even Plug 1 but are there any gems out there I should also consider?
TIA
when I lived in London I used to have a Charge Plug 0 (until some scrote nicked it). Lovely bike to commute on, gear ratio of 42/16 was fine for me - lived SE London so a few hills to navigate but nothing too bad - worst was up the side of Greenwich park into Blackheath, or maybe Dulwich college hill, but all do-able.
I'm now looking to join the ranks of SS again, but will want something that is good for long days out (have a 100 mile, 10,000 ft of climbing sportive coming up in June) so will need to be able to carry water. The Plug 0 had no eyelets to attached bottle cages which was a pain and so doesn't put this bike back in the running. This ride is quite hilly with 2-3 lumps of 20%, the rest rolling.
Budget is up to £600 (or £1000 if I can get it on ride to work scheme and the 40% discount).
I like the saddle of the Plug, very comfy. Today on my road bike (a boardman) I mostly ride on the hoods and pretty never on the drops. 70 gear inches is about right (could do a smidge more, wouldn't want too much less).
Given this info, what are the options out there? I was thinking Genesis one 10, or maybe even Plug 1 but are there any gems out there I should also consider?
TIA