adrianlondon
New Member
- Location
- London, UK
A bit of background ... I have one bike which I use for everything. Daily commuting (usually just a few miles), weekend rides, and touring in Europe.
I recently spent a year working in Stuttgart and took my bike (thanks BA - bikes are free and didn't even need wrapping or covering at all!) with me.
It's held up very well - Shimano nexave components, aluminium frame, suspension front fork (been replaced once) and seems to survive baggage handlers and the occasional fall without damage. It was bought in Germany as they seem to do "trekking / hybrid" bikes there better than we do in the UK. I hate drop bars and like the mainland European style of cycling.
Anyway, as the front fork is wobbly again, the frame has scratches, the back rack is bent, the saddle needs replacing etc etc I've decided to treat myself.
Ideally, I'd keep my wheels as they're Mavic A719s, XT rear, SON dynohub front, and they're quite new.
My current thoughts are :
1. Something built around a Santos frame
http://www.benhaywardcycles.co.uk/info/cycles/santos_bikes/santos_trekking/
2. Something biult around a Surly LHT frame
http://www.brixtoncycles.co.uk/surly.html
3. A complete bike from Germany (selling the wheels or keeping as spares)
http://www.focus-bikes.de/bike_detail.asp?active=1&lang=english&rub=fit&pr=90000189
The last one is my "treat" option as it's more than the rest. It also has internal cable routing which, although people seem not to like it, I think looks great and also means I can pick the bike up anyhow without getting cables pressing against my hands.
It's also a full carbon framed bike. Will Heathrow's luggage handlers snap it in half? If I have another argument with a left-turning van (happened once before - another scratch on the frame, not a mark on me, van's wing mirror flung across the road and squished by another vehicle) will it break?
Sheldon (love him or hate him) says carbon touring bikes don't yet exist. Well, I've found one
Anyone got one? Apologies for the waffle. That's who I am.
I recently spent a year working in Stuttgart and took my bike (thanks BA - bikes are free and didn't even need wrapping or covering at all!) with me.
It's held up very well - Shimano nexave components, aluminium frame, suspension front fork (been replaced once) and seems to survive baggage handlers and the occasional fall without damage. It was bought in Germany as they seem to do "trekking / hybrid" bikes there better than we do in the UK. I hate drop bars and like the mainland European style of cycling.
Anyway, as the front fork is wobbly again, the frame has scratches, the back rack is bent, the saddle needs replacing etc etc I've decided to treat myself.
Ideally, I'd keep my wheels as they're Mavic A719s, XT rear, SON dynohub front, and they're quite new.
My current thoughts are :
1. Something built around a Santos frame
http://www.benhaywardcycles.co.uk/info/cycles/santos_bikes/santos_trekking/
2. Something biult around a Surly LHT frame
http://www.brixtoncycles.co.uk/surly.html
3. A complete bike from Germany (selling the wheels or keeping as spares)
http://www.focus-bikes.de/bike_detail.asp?active=1&lang=english&rub=fit&pr=90000189
The last one is my "treat" option as it's more than the rest. It also has internal cable routing which, although people seem not to like it, I think looks great and also means I can pick the bike up anyhow without getting cables pressing against my hands.
It's also a full carbon framed bike. Will Heathrow's luggage handlers snap it in half? If I have another argument with a left-turning van (happened once before - another scratch on the frame, not a mark on me, van's wing mirror flung across the road and squished by another vehicle) will it break?
Sheldon (love him or hate him) says carbon touring bikes don't yet exist. Well, I've found one
Anyone got one? Apologies for the waffle. That's who I am.
