Sara_H
Guru
I have a Dawes Sonoran bike and a Specialized Myka Elie disc bike.
I love both bikes in their own way, but neither are perfect.
I live the step thorough frame of the Dawes, I love the overall look, the thinner 700c wheels are prettier IMO!
But it's hard work getting it up hill compared to the Myka - The gears on the Dawes are a good range I'm told but it is a lot harder. Since I live at the top of one of Sheffields biggest hills this is not inconsequential! The Dawes gears don't work so well as the Myka and I need to know in advance if I'm gonna have to use the granny ring as it wont change down if I'm going uphill!
I love the mudguards and the chain guard on the Dawes - I cycle mostly in normal clothes and my legs are covered in bike oil from the chain ring on the Myka. Durin the recent spell off heavy rain, it was quite unpleasant on the Myka with the spray coming up off the road into my face, but fitting decent mdguards onto a suspension fork seems to be a problem?
I've put a rear rack on the Myka, but I also like to have a basket on the front to have my handbag to hand, place to put bread when I go shopping and also to quickly dump my waterproof/ cardi into when I get too hot going up the hill - try as I might I can't find a basket that fits onto the Myka.
I love the Disc brakes on the Myka - I've had all kinds of trouble with the Dawes brakes, they are difficult to adjust and I end up taking them to the LBS every time they need adjusting.
I use my bike for my every day transport - cycling to work, shopping etc but I also do day leisure rides and done one tour last year and planning a cycle camp adventure with my son this summer. I'm never really do more than 30 miles a day and prefer trails to road riding. I've fitted semi slicks onto the Myka and this seems to suit my need nicely.
In theory the Dawes suits better, but I've always felt that the frame was a little too big. Its also so much harder getting up the hills on the Dawes.
I 've threatened to sell both bikes at some stage over the last year.
If I could make some changes (chain guard, mudguards, basket, more upright position) to the Myka I think it would be a good all purpose bike for me.
Or should I sell them both and buy a new one?
I love both bikes in their own way, but neither are perfect.
I live the step thorough frame of the Dawes, I love the overall look, the thinner 700c wheels are prettier IMO!
But it's hard work getting it up hill compared to the Myka - The gears on the Dawes are a good range I'm told but it is a lot harder. Since I live at the top of one of Sheffields biggest hills this is not inconsequential! The Dawes gears don't work so well as the Myka and I need to know in advance if I'm gonna have to use the granny ring as it wont change down if I'm going uphill!
I love the mudguards and the chain guard on the Dawes - I cycle mostly in normal clothes and my legs are covered in bike oil from the chain ring on the Myka. Durin the recent spell off heavy rain, it was quite unpleasant on the Myka with the spray coming up off the road into my face, but fitting decent mdguards onto a suspension fork seems to be a problem?
I've put a rear rack on the Myka, but I also like to have a basket on the front to have my handbag to hand, place to put bread when I go shopping and also to quickly dump my waterproof/ cardi into when I get too hot going up the hill - try as I might I can't find a basket that fits onto the Myka.
I love the Disc brakes on the Myka - I've had all kinds of trouble with the Dawes brakes, they are difficult to adjust and I end up taking them to the LBS every time they need adjusting.
I use my bike for my every day transport - cycling to work, shopping etc but I also do day leisure rides and done one tour last year and planning a cycle camp adventure with my son this summer. I'm never really do more than 30 miles a day and prefer trails to road riding. I've fitted semi slicks onto the Myka and this seems to suit my need nicely.
In theory the Dawes suits better, but I've always felt that the frame was a little too big. Its also so much harder getting up the hills on the Dawes.
I 've threatened to sell both bikes at some stage over the last year.
If I could make some changes (chain guard, mudguards, basket, more upright position) to the Myka I think it would be a good all purpose bike for me.
Or should I sell them both and buy a new one?
