Help! Bikes for new-to-be cyclist

[Whiz]

Hi all,
After some advice please as getting a bike through cycle2work scheme.
32 year old male, buying first bike in about 17 years for 12 mile round trip commute on country lanes and then park / south downs riding at weekends with dog.
Have to buy from here http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/hyb...DESC&search=2014&sPrice=545&ePrice=800#page=2
Provisionally ordered the GT transeo 2.0 but now reading brakes are terrible and confused as to what to do.
Also looking at Specialized Crosstrail Sports and Elite, Giant Roam 0 or 1 and also Kona Splice Deluxe.

Never spent this amount on a bike, last one was a £100 apollo that I maybe rode twice because it was awful.
Not particularly fit although I'm sure 60 miles a week will help improve that.
Can you recommend either of the above or make another suggestion from that site?
Think I want front suspension with lockout but other than that, I'm pretty clueless.
Many thanks in advance.

 

[L14M]

Well the front suspension you'll want to ditch for the road. It takes much of your effort out and usually makes the bike heavier. Carbon fork would be best for the road dampening. This bike: http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p50528/raleigh-airlite-sf200-2012-road-bike offers good value for money if you want a flat bar bike. I'd consider getting a drop bar bike. Have you test ridden the GT?

Liam

 

[Whiz]

Thanks for reply Liam.
I want front suspension because of the weekend riding I'm hoping to enjoy as well as the roads aren't all that great either.
The lockout feature does give me the ability to stiffen the front end if I want / need to.
I don't think I'd be comfortable using drop handlebars for parkland / countryside riding... Plus my paunch might get in the way :-)
Haven't test ridden anything yet to be honest.

 

[Kies]

As above , ditch the idea of front suspension as the majority of your riding will be roads and pathways. A road hybrid (flatbar road bike) or a proper road bike would be more suitable

 

[Whiz]

Ok I'm leaning towards cyclocross bikes now after chat in LBS as will be going off road a bit and id prefer a slightly more upright position than a full on road bike.
Hadn't heard of these before so it's even newer to me.

 

[vickster]

Not sure on your max budget, but how about one of these?

http://www.questadventure.co.uk/whytekingscross 2012
http://www.airevalleycycles.com/m1b0s6p7178/WHYTE-KINGS-CROSS-2013 2013

 

[Whiz]

Thanks vickster.
Unfortunately I have to buy from www.cyclesolutions.co.uk so the range is a bit more limited.
£1000 is max although I'd be more comfortable spending £800... Perhaps £900 for right bike

 

[vickster]

A few options, but you need to test ride of you can - Evans cycles quite good for that

American muscle http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p66039/cannondale-caadx-sora-2014-cyclocross-bike

Steelie http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p67493/genesis-cdf-2014-cyclocross-bike

A Brit http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p60727/roux-conquest-3500-2014-cyclocross-bike

Taiwanese with better groupset
http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p64927/merida-cyclo-cross-3-2014-cyclocross-bike

 

[Whiz]

It was Evans (not quite local as 30 miles away) I went to speak to.
Young lad seemed very knowledgeable.
Although can't remember whether he said to go with or avoid tiagra Gears.
I like idea of going British although it's apparently heavier than some. But I prob wouldn't notice much difference I guess.

 

[Peteaud]

http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p66040/cannondale-caadx-tiagra-disc-2014-cyclocross-bike

The CAAD X Sora is good, but i would go for the full Tiagra version with disc.

Nothing wrong with Tiagra, in fact for what you want it is brilliant.

Regarding the price tag, remember that you are paying via C2W so you actually pay a lot less. I am on a Synapse 105 (£1099 on C2W) but i am in reallity paying around £680.00 when tax breaks etc are calculated.

As you are buying on C2W you also want a bike that will last.

Also like the Merida, but i am a CDale fanboy..

 

[doog]

So what are you gaining from using http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/ ?

I did a cycle to work scheme in 2008 when it really made a difference but those prices look horrendous for the poor quality on show.What is the financial gain nowadays ?

 

[Peteaud]

So what are you gaining from using http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/ ?

I did a cycle to work scheme in 2008 when it really made a difference but those prices look horrendous for the poor quality on show.What is the financial gain nowadays ?

I think (dont know for sure) that it depends on your company. As i said above , i got the £1099 bike for £680.00 so a massive saving for me, and yes i have it all documented etc.

 

[Whiz]

So what are you gaining from using http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/ ?

I did a cycle to work scheme in 2008 when it really made a difference but those prices look horrendous for the poor quality on show.What is the financial gain nowadays ?

Stipulated by company unfortunately.
On the plus side, we do get a £100 voucher for safety accessories as well as an additional free gift worth about £20.
Most bikes also get 10% discount on top of tax savings but I think that only affects the FMV at the end of the 3 year period (only pay over first 12 months).

 

[Whiz]

http://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/p66040/cannondale-caadx-tiagra-disc-2014-cyclocross-bike

I Iooked at this bike too but was put off by promax brake reviews. .. But maybe the models do vary enough to warrant more investigation

 

[doog]

I think (dont know for sure) that it depends on your company. As i said above , i got the £1099 bike for £680.00 so a massive saving for me, and yes i have it all documented etc.

Excellent result. Theres still life left in the scheme I guess, it was a no brainer when it came out, I paid virtually half price for my Tricross.

Stipulated by company unfortunately.
On the plus side, we do get a £100 voucher for safety accessories as well as an additional free gift worth about £20.
Most bikes also get 10% discount on top of tax savings but I think that only affects the FMV at the end of the 3 year period (only pay over first 12 months).

Is there a final payment ? Recall a final payment (to buy) was due on mine, not much but it increased to silly money in recent years and It put a lot of people off our scheme.

Im probably not helping here