help recommend bike - Road/cross/tourer?

[Richard P]

Was wondering whether the panel had any helpful suggestions regarding the N+1 dilemma......
be used mostly on roads at weekends but with occasional shortcuts/diversions (few miles) on reasonable bridleways to link-up minor roads. My perceived "problems" with a road bike are:

• harsh ride due to narrow tyres/rims. Many road bikes don't seem to have clearance for 28c or 32c tyres and mudguards.
• durability - I only weigh 60kg, but not sure whether the occasional light off-road use would ruin the rims etc.
• over-gearing: with dodgy knees a compact double with 12-25 cassette is missing the lower gears I need (have tried a Focus Mares CX with this setup). So either a 12-30 cassette or a triple.

A touring bike would offer the relaxed geometry, fatter tyres, guards but weigh a lot, slow and over-built for my likely use. A winter trainer/audax bike might be suitable? Lots of suggestions in LBS to consider cyclocross, but these are built for mud tolerance and have odd gearing (46/36?).

Have tried the Pinnacle Arkose Three (CX) at Evans this weekend. Loved the ride with carbon forks, and the light weight of the bike, plus it has Shinamo 105 STI 50/34 and 12-30t. Cheap looking tyres though.

I'm willing to buy and swap the cassette to get lower gears, maybe rear mech too. But not wanting to re-build the whole bike! Budget is up to £1k, must have drop bars, prefer carbon fork for smooth ride, and not too heavy overall. Have seen lots of "road" bikes which are 23c or 25c only

Richard

 

[samsbike]

other options include salsa casseroll, genesis croix de fer (the cdf version with 520 reynolds tubing), kaffenback 2, boardman cx

 

[Lard Armstrong]

I looked a the Genesis CDF, but it weighs a ton. Very heavy. The Croix de Fer was much lighter but more expensive

In the end I bought a Specialized Tricross Sport, with normal compact road chainset and mechanical disc brakes. It's reasonably light but durable, and not much slower than my Van Nicholas. It's very smooth ride too, with 32mm tyres, which are only marginally bigger than 25s.

Good luck.

 

[Richard P]

@Lard - agree the Genesis CdF is heavy!
Halfords have sold out of the Boardman CX team; am looking for s/h on ebay options.

Which "road" bikes have clearance for 28mm tyres and mudguards? The current fashion for road bikes is minimal clearance everywhere, but how many road bikes are actually used for racing?
Richard

 

[Globalti]

Specialized Tricross answers all your needs. Is also comfortbale and stable and excellent loaded with rack and panniers for touring. Discs are good and the gear ratios perfect with the triple.