First proper bike.

[acrybb]

Hi,

My workplace takes part in the bike to work scheme and im thinking of taking part. I have been on a proper health kick which has been very successful so im thinking i might start cycling to work. Its about a 10 mile cycle there and a 10 miles cycle back (oddly enough). I am budgeting for around £750 for the bike and then some equipment on top i.e helmet etc. The £750 equates to a salary sacrifice of around £35 per month however the budget could be a little flexible.

Im not wanting to strictly limit myself to a road bike as i do some hillwalking which requires some lengthy walks in so a bike may be handy there. So im thinking hybrid probably with locking suspension to prevent loss of energy through the springs. Ill be wanting something lightweight probably not gonna stretch to a full carbon fibre frame lol.

So im open to your suggestions.

Ill come clean and say i didnt read the rules so im unsure about links so i wont post one. One of the bikes i saw was on the Dales Website its a Scott bike and its white. The only model info i can confidently tell you is that it is a 2012 scott sportster 30 it pops the bank balance at £659 and is on the hybrid/path bike section of the dales website.

Thanks
Andy

 

[acrybb]

also seen this:

2012 Scott Scale 80 on dales at £649. probably get some road tyres on it for a commute

Thanks
Andy

 

[acrybb]

i know its a sh***y subject mundane subject believe me i know im on a photography forum and this type of question is asked all the time. Its frustrating when you get the canon guy giving their advice the nikon guys giving their advice the sony guy giving their advice then they all start fighting among themselves and the OP get no further forward.

Here is what ill do.

Ill post a few bike i feel will fit my criteria which is:

Needs to be good for road use this means it can be full suspension however i dont want full suss i am happy with just front it must be lockable. Ill can swap out the nobblies for slicks for road use.

im looking at a budget of around £700 for bike.

It needs to be good for rugged terrain so cant be too flimsy.

Low maintenance.

http://www.dalescycles.com/2012-scott-aspect-29er-p3179
http://www.dalescycles.com/2011-scott-scale-29-comp-p3126
http://www.dalescycles.com/2012-scott-scale-80-p3216
http://www.dalescycles.com/2012-scott-aspect-40-p3164
http://www.dalescycles.com/2012-giant-revel-ltd-1-p2538
http://www.dalescycles.com/2012-giant-talon-2-p2557

Gimme a clue guys

Thanks
Andy

 

[BrumJim]

Bit difficult to say, really.

Scott and Giant are both good bikes, and both would be worthy purchases. The bikes that you have selected are really Mountain bikes, which is good if that is what you want. Personally, for a 10 mile commute, I'd want something that is a bit lighter and road based. Actually, I'd go for a full-on road bike, as 10 miles is a reasonable commute. However with a decent pair of road tyres, there is no reason why you can't commute these distances on any one of the bikes selected.

IMHO, it really depends on what the bike is to be used for. For the models chosen, you'd be looking at doing quite a bit of off-road trails riding as a diversion from hill-walking. Go for a more road-based hybrid if you want to forget getting another hobby (although you don't really have a choice), or a road bike if you want to get your kicks from getting to the top. You'd be limiting yourself to road climbs, but there are plenty around to get your "top-of-the-world" juices flowing.

Scott or Giant? Try one out and see. Although please visit Evans rather than your local LBS if you don't have a chance to try them out in the b-2-w scheme. Nothing more disheartening for a bike shop owner than to chat to a potential customer, and then see him buy on-line or through a b-2-w provider. Waste of his/her time and energies.

 

[acrybb]

how about these then these are hybrid however i fear they might not be up to the challenge of a ride down a bit of a rocky path. How much abuse can a hybrid take? will i be seriously limited? I would like to be able to use it for some off road granted it wont be lots.

http://www.dalescycles.com/2012-specialized-crosstrail-sport-disc-p2235
http://www.dalescycles.com/2012-scott-sportster-30-p3232

 

[acrybb]

Bit difficult to say, really.

Scott and Giant are both good bikes, and both would be worthy purchases. The bikes that you have selected are really Mountain bikes, which is good if that is what you want. Personally, for a 10 mile commute, I'd want something that is a bit lighter and road based. Actually, I'd go for a full-on road bike, as 10 miles is a reasonable commute. However with a decent pair of road tyres, there is no reason why you can't commute these distances on any one of the bikes selected.

IMHO, it really depends on what the bike is to be used for. For the models chosen, you'd be looking at doing quite a bit of off-road trails riding as a diversion from hill-walking. Go for a more road-based hybrid if you want to forget getting another hobby (although you don't really have a choice), or a road bike if you want to get your kicks from getting to the top. You'd be limiting yourself to road climbs, but there are plenty around to get your "top-of-the-world" juices flowing.

Scott or Giant? Try one out and see. Although please visit Evans rather than your local LBS if you don't have a chance to try them out in the b-2-w scheme. Nothing more disheartening for a bike shop owner than to chat to a potential customer, and then see him buy on-line or through a b-2-w provider. Waste of his/her time and energies.

i intend to use dales as they participate in the B-2-W scheme.

 

[acrybb]

seen this well within budget its a 2011 bike but what do you think?

http://www.dalescycles.com/2011-specialized-hardrock-pro-p3117

 

[jowwy]

seen this well within budget its a 2011 bike but what do you think?

http://www.dalescycles.com/2011-specialized-hardrock-pro-p3117

i'm liking the look of that machine - and it'll cope with a few rocky paths too

 

[WorcesteRob]

i'm liking the look of that machine - and it'll cope with a few rocky paths too

I ride one and very comfy and great to throw around! The tyres I found puncture easy so changed them and since never had an issue.

 

[acrybb]

Righty.

Went to Dales today. 'ad a look around and spoke to a guy about the specialized and scott bikes. Which had the suntour shocks on them and lower spec changer kit. He pointed me in the direction of THIS which seems to be much better speced than the scott and specialized. I was looking at the £800 rockhopper as they didnt have the 2011 models. He just said TBH mate that one is cheaper and better specced.

What do you think?​

Andy

 

[acrybb]

Well had some advice from other keen cyclists and they reckon its a well specced bike. They seem to be unsure of the Giant brand being that great but agree its better value for money given that the kit on the giant is superior to that on the Specialized or scott of the same price range. So i think ill go with it.

Only bad thing is that my work isnt releasing the B2W scheme until May . So this means about 2 months. On one hand it gives me time to source kit as Dales are not the cheapest for accessories although they are competitively priced for the actual bike itself. I do wonder if i had them quote me on the bike and a couple bits of kit they ARE competitively priced with and front the money as a refundable deposit pending the B2W voucher............??

 

[acrybb]

Anyone? Still trying to get some thoughts on the chosen bike

 

[acrybb]

Nobody in this community willing to share their thoughts?

Andy

 

[simon.r]

I'll share

You're asking a difficult question, because you're looking for a bike that is capable of a 10 mile commute (presumably on road) and one that will 'work' on fairly rough trails.

For the commute I think most people would point you towards a road bike (surprise surprise) or at least a hybrid without suspension.

For the off road a MTB is the obvious choice.

It's difficult to get a bike that will perform well in both situations. The obvious answer is that a MTB will cope with roads but a road bike won't cope (well) with off-road. Swapping the tyres will make life easier, but a MTB is always going to be a MTB. You really don't need the suspension on road, it will be undergeared, relatively heavy etc etc.

I think you have 3 options:

1 - Buy a MTB and accept that it won't be ideal for the road. Any of the big brands will be fine, especially at that price point. More importantly, IMO, is the fit. Try as many as possible and see what feels right for you.

2 - Buy a road bike and accept it won't be ideal off-road. In fact it may be impractical to take it anywhere except light trails.

3 - Buy 2 bikes At £350 each you'll get 2 reasonable quality bikes, 'tho obviously not as good as 1 at £700. Or split the money - say £500 for a decent road bike and £200 on a cheap (or secondhand) MTB - it sounds as if the road bike will get more use?

 

[simon.r]

Fourth option!!

4 - Buy 2 bikes - the £450 Specialised MTB you've linked to (which will be more than capable of some fairly serious off-roading) and a road singlespeed for your commute. If you're reasonably fit and your commute isn't too hilly a singlespeed meets your requirement of being low maintenance and you should get an OK one for £250.