mrmacmusic
Veteran
- Location
- Tillicoultry
Been a while since I've posted here and although a long-winded back story probably isn't necessary a short version might be useful. Essentially I've never quite felt the same about cycling since I crashed in June 2016 and it's taken me over a year to get back to a place (mentally) where I actually want to cycle to work... Over that time I avoided rainy day commutes but more often than not would lift the car keys rather than push myself to cycle even when the weather was nice. A few prescribed breaks to prevent additional stress of deciding whether or not to cycle (I knew I should) and I found myself finally getting to the point a month or so back where I was looking at my Croix de Fer leaning against the garage wall thinking "I really want to get back to cycling", however every time it was always followed by the thought that I wasn't sure I wanted to cycle that particular bike again...
I've come to the conclusion that whilst the Croix de Fer came out of the crash far better than I did (unmarked apart from broken shifter/derailleur, now upgraded) and is a lovely bike, I'm just not enjoying riding it. I do also miss my old 2-bike strategy where I had the option of more dynamic ride (Trek Madone) or the security of a flat-bar (Boardman hybrid). So, with winter fast approaching I'd like to get a confidence-inspiring flat-bar bike sorted but I'm not sure which way to go...
My first thought is to convert the Genesis to flat-bar – it would turn it into a very different feeling bike but I worry that it wouldn't be different enough... I guess investing in bars, grips, shifters and upgrading the brakes to full hydraulics would set me back about £200 all in, so certainly cheaper than a new bike and sorted for winter given it's got dynamo lighting and I know that it's happy to take fat Snow Studs (just) or Conti Winters under the 'guards.
The alternative option is obviously a new flat-bar bike and here I realise the options are endless (although I've scored Boardman off the list as I swore I'd never buy another one) and don't want to buy something online. Of all the models I've seen locally (and beyond) I do really quite like the look of Whyte's 'Fast Urban/Commute' range, in particular a 2016 Shoreditch which certainly looks like it fits the bill and being lighter than my Croix might even feel a bit more dynamic too (although I'm not expected Madone power transfer). That simpler 1x10 Deore drivetrain is interesting and I suppose I would just need to get used to having bigger jumps between gears... could always step a model up (Portobello) for a more familiar 2x9 setup or even lose the carbon fork and go 1x9 with the Whitechapel. The Shoreditch I've seen looks like it'll take 35C Marathon Winters with mudguards no problem (which is my preferred setup for winter 2016/7 rather than the Snow Studs) but if anyone here can confirm that for definite it would be very helpful...
So, what would you do? It would be great to hear the experiences of those who have converted their drop-bar bike and what difference it made (did that flat bar really turn it into a different bike?) and thoughts on or experiences of the Whyte commuter range...
I've come to the conclusion that whilst the Croix de Fer came out of the crash far better than I did (unmarked apart from broken shifter/derailleur, now upgraded) and is a lovely bike, I'm just not enjoying riding it. I do also miss my old 2-bike strategy where I had the option of more dynamic ride (Trek Madone) or the security of a flat-bar (Boardman hybrid). So, with winter fast approaching I'd like to get a confidence-inspiring flat-bar bike sorted but I'm not sure which way to go...
My first thought is to convert the Genesis to flat-bar – it would turn it into a very different feeling bike but I worry that it wouldn't be different enough... I guess investing in bars, grips, shifters and upgrading the brakes to full hydraulics would set me back about £200 all in, so certainly cheaper than a new bike and sorted for winter given it's got dynamo lighting and I know that it's happy to take fat Snow Studs (just) or Conti Winters under the 'guards.
The alternative option is obviously a new flat-bar bike and here I realise the options are endless (although I've scored Boardman off the list as I swore I'd never buy another one) and don't want to buy something online. Of all the models I've seen locally (and beyond) I do really quite like the look of Whyte's 'Fast Urban/Commute' range, in particular a 2016 Shoreditch which certainly looks like it fits the bill and being lighter than my Croix might even feel a bit more dynamic too (although I'm not expected Madone power transfer). That simpler 1x10 Deore drivetrain is interesting and I suppose I would just need to get used to having bigger jumps between gears... could always step a model up (Portobello) for a more familiar 2x9 setup or even lose the carbon fork and go 1x9 with the Whitechapel. The Shoreditch I've seen looks like it'll take 35C Marathon Winters with mudguards no problem (which is my preferred setup for winter 2016/7 rather than the Snow Studs) but if anyone here can confirm that for definite it would be very helpful...
So, what would you do? It would be great to hear the experiences of those who have converted their drop-bar bike and what difference it made (did that flat bar really turn it into a different bike?) and thoughts on or experiences of the Whyte commuter range...
My first commuter back in 2011 was a Flight and I wouldn't be averse to another – local shop had a 2016 '01 but it was too small and I also wasn't sure it would be happy with studded 35C's and guards, but I could be wrong? A cycling buddy who does a similar but opposite direction commute swears by hub gearing, so maybe I should be giving the Flight '04 a closer look, especially given the availability of remaining 2016 stock around £600...
