A little bit of history:
I've been cycling to work for the last three years now after a fifteen year hiatus and have been truly bitten by the cycling bug.
I started out on a Giant FCR3 hybrid inherited from my late step-father which was subsequently stolen from a busy, town centre bike stand (they must have had some balls to whip out a set of bolt cutters in such a busy location).
Since then, I've been using my old GT Timberline MTB that I bought in 1997 as a commuter down the canal towpath.
After I started a new job in April 2017, I became aware of the cycle to work scheme so started feverishly hunting for hybrid bikes online similar to my original Giant. It was at this point I fell in love with the Cube range and set my heart on the Cube Nature Pro in reef blue / flash orange (there's no accounting for taste is there!).
Unfortunately / fortunately, the company I was working for at the time lost the contract and the new company were not part of the cycle to work scheme. Having a poor credit score, this meant any purchases would have to be cash.
In the meantime, I attempted to cycle down the Oxford canal from Nuneaton to Oxford on my GT. After battling through three inches of mud for about twenty five miles, I eventually gave up and finished the ride on busy A roads. After that debacle I decided I was going to stick to roads and get myself a decent road bike.
I then started reading the Easy As Riding A Bike blog and realised cycling didn't have to involve pouring yourself into Day-Glo condoms and wearing polystyrene hats to race at 30mph to stay ahead of the motor traffic.
This is when I decided a touring bike with all the bells and whistles may be the thing for me.
Which, rather convolutedly, brings me to the reason for this post.
Bearing in mind my previously admitted Cube fetish, I've managed to whittle down my choices to the Travel or the Touring. I've read quite a few of your posts and was quite determined not to have front shocks but I've found a great deal on a Touring EXC 2017 with front Suntour suspension but I'm still conflicted.
I could still get the fixed fork Travel for an extra £85, but that would mean having the Tektro brakes rather than Shimano and would only save me half a kilo in weight.
I'm leaning towards the Touring as we stand but I'd appreciate everyone's input.
Many thanks in advance guys and guyesses.
I've been cycling to work for the last three years now after a fifteen year hiatus and have been truly bitten by the cycling bug.
I started out on a Giant FCR3 hybrid inherited from my late step-father which was subsequently stolen from a busy, town centre bike stand (they must have had some balls to whip out a set of bolt cutters in such a busy location).
Since then, I've been using my old GT Timberline MTB that I bought in 1997 as a commuter down the canal towpath.
After I started a new job in April 2017, I became aware of the cycle to work scheme so started feverishly hunting for hybrid bikes online similar to my original Giant. It was at this point I fell in love with the Cube range and set my heart on the Cube Nature Pro in reef blue / flash orange (there's no accounting for taste is there!).
Unfortunately / fortunately, the company I was working for at the time lost the contract and the new company were not part of the cycle to work scheme. Having a poor credit score, this meant any purchases would have to be cash.
In the meantime, I attempted to cycle down the Oxford canal from Nuneaton to Oxford on my GT. After battling through three inches of mud for about twenty five miles, I eventually gave up and finished the ride on busy A roads. After that debacle I decided I was going to stick to roads and get myself a decent road bike.
I then started reading the Easy As Riding A Bike blog and realised cycling didn't have to involve pouring yourself into Day-Glo condoms and wearing polystyrene hats to race at 30mph to stay ahead of the motor traffic.
This is when I decided a touring bike with all the bells and whistles may be the thing for me.
Which, rather convolutedly, brings me to the reason for this post.
Bearing in mind my previously admitted Cube fetish, I've managed to whittle down my choices to the Travel or the Touring. I've read quite a few of your posts and was quite determined not to have front shocks but I've found a great deal on a Touring EXC 2017 with front Suntour suspension but I'm still conflicted.
I could still get the fixed fork Travel for an extra £85, but that would mean having the Tektro brakes rather than Shimano and would only save me half a kilo in weight.
I'm leaning towards the Touring as we stand but I'd appreciate everyone's input.
Many thanks in advance guys and guyesses.