Fuji Gran Fondo 2.5 or Vitus Venon

[Scuderia]

Hello,
I'm going to start cycling to work (10 miles each way through London to Westminster) and I'm looking for a suitable bike. I'm using the cycle to work scheme so I have an absolute limit of about £1000. I want something that isn't too energy sapping to ride so I get to work without being covered in sweat (although I do have showers there) and to be quick enough to not be a danger (lots of B roads, traffic and other cyclists on my commute).

I'm attracted to two carbon road bikes, both are more endurance rather than race bikes as I think this will be better for commuting and the odd long ride for fun at the weekends, however I'd be grateful for thoughts on my assumptions as well as the bikes. This is my 1st road blue. My current is a very heavy 1927 Raleigh Sports Model! The two bikes are:

The Fuji Gran Fondo 2.5 from Evans Cycles http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/gran-fondo-25-2015-road-bike-ec069062 and the Virus Venon from Chain Reaction Cycles http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/vitus-bikes-venon-road-bike-2015/rp-prod120688

I'm planning to pair them with Clip'r pedals so I can unclip easily in London traffic. We have very secure internal bike storage at work so security isn't an issue.

Thanks very much!

 

[vickster]

You can't easily fit a pannier rack (which you'll want if avoiding sweatiness) and full mudguards (to avoid brown back streak) to a carbon roadbike so you may want to consider that in your choice

 

[Scuderia]

You can't easily fit a pannier rack (which you'll want if avoiding sweatiness) and full mudguards (to avoid brown back streak) to a carbon roadbike so you may want to consider that in your choice

I've thought about panniers but don't intend to use them. I keep my suit and shirts at work anyway as I use the cheap dry cleaner next to the office and we get bigger clothes lockers for cyclists for that reason. I intend to use a small rucksack for other bits and shower at work before I get changed. Evans has a couple of road bike specific mudguards that got decent reviews.

I partially want a road bike because I also intend to do some long rides on the weekend.

 

[vickster]

If the mudguards are crud road racers, they are flimsy rubbish IMO but better than nothing I guess

You can get roadbikes that will take proper mudguards but they are mostly made of aluminium, steel or titanium and not carbon

Of the two, I'd choose the Fuji because of can buy it in store, whereas vitus are mail order only unless you able to buy in N Ireland

But the Fuji is available in a 50cm or 58cm, so you need to be shorter than about 5'5 or taller than about 6'2

Can you buy from any retailer or only Evans or CRC?

The vitus is £1100 so over your limit too. Not all retailers will let you add cash on top

They have v similar component spec, so it'll come down to which fits you best...although in London you can't test ride the vitus

 

[Scuderia]

I think I may have posted the wrong link. The virus I'm after is £1009 and they'll let me pay the £9 separately. I think your point about fit is a good one. I'll try out a Fuji and see how I get on. The problem I have is that Evans charges a £50 deposit to send a bike to your local store to try (fair enough) so if I try and don't like it I lose my £50

 

[vickster]

No, it's refundable. Or it certainly was when a friend ordered a bike from there earlier in the year

One of the London branches must have that bike on the shop floor?

 

[Scuderia]

Apparently it's only refundable if you buy it. I'll phone around and see if I can find a branch with it in stock.

 

[vickster]

That isn't what we were told in Wimbledon

 

[Crandoggler]

Definitely refundable.