So - I'm looking to buy my first-ish bike ideally with the help of C2W vouchers (I don't believe there are any restrictions on them by the way) for a four days UK-Amsterdam tour...
Day 1 - Gatwick - Dover - 80 miles
Day 2 - Dunkirk - Bruges - 50 miles
Day 3 - Bruges - Delft - 95 miles (oh dear)
Day 4 - Delft - Amsterdam - 40 miles
Because I'm not sure how comfortable I feel about cycling on the road in the UK, and live very close to the South Downs (Brighton here), cyclocross bikes have caught my eyes as they have drop handlebars and should be fast enough for the road compared to a more common hybrid. Also maybe commuting to work from train station.
Because this is my first bike, I'm quite hesitant about buying online even though there seems to be fairly good bikes out there as I want to try them, especially for fit before buying (which probably rules out the Wiggle Vitus Energie range). Budget would probably be around £1K (C2W!) max...? Maybe more in a pinch? I gather its the end of the season as cyclocross bikes goes (According to Southdowns Bikes who don't have any cyclocross stock) so thought I'd come in here and see what more experienced cyclists could recommend. I was advised "go for hydraulic discs", but not sure they're in my price range.
The Evans Cannondale CAADX Tiagra seems well regarded... Recommendations for any others that I could find in shops locally?
Thanks in advance!
Day 1 - Gatwick - Dover - 80 miles
Day 2 - Dunkirk - Bruges - 50 miles
Day 3 - Bruges - Delft - 95 miles (oh dear)
Day 4 - Delft - Amsterdam - 40 miles
Because I'm not sure how comfortable I feel about cycling on the road in the UK, and live very close to the South Downs (Brighton here), cyclocross bikes have caught my eyes as they have drop handlebars and should be fast enough for the road compared to a more common hybrid. Also maybe commuting to work from train station.
Because this is my first bike, I'm quite hesitant about buying online even though there seems to be fairly good bikes out there as I want to try them, especially for fit before buying (which probably rules out the Wiggle Vitus Energie range). Budget would probably be around £1K (C2W!) max...? Maybe more in a pinch? I gather its the end of the season as cyclocross bikes goes (According to Southdowns Bikes who don't have any cyclocross stock) so thought I'd come in here and see what more experienced cyclists could recommend. I was advised "go for hydraulic discs", but not sure they're in my price range.
The Evans Cannondale CAADX Tiagra seems well regarded... Recommendations for any others that I could find in shops locally?
Thanks in advance!