Roadhump
Time you enjoyed wasting was not wasted
- Location
- The flatlands of South West Lancs
I have never considered gearing specs until now, but since starting to look at prospective road bikes to complement my 4 year old Specialized Sirrus Pro hybrid, the issue has got me perplexed. All I knew was that my Sirrus is quite light and quick for a hybrid, and that it is 20 speed. I take it out 3 or 4 times a week and usually cover about 30-35 miles a ride. Having been grounded due to mechanical failure for a week or so I have decided to buy another bike and thought a road bike would be a good choice.
My budget is around £600 to £700, but I would stretch a bit further for the right bike. Looking at websites of big suppliers like Evans, it seems that many bikes in my budget range have 8 or 9 speed cassettes, usually with a range between 11-32; to get a 10 speed cassette you usually have to spend a bit more, but the lowest gear is often 28t, rather than 32t which I would prefer for more challenging hills (being in my mid 50s and a bit overweight).
I don't know if I am being a bit too fussy about this, but I would prefer the extra versatility of the 10 speed cassette as well as the lower 32t ratio. After all, whilst I want a quicker bike to be able to cover more distance, my main aim is that distance rather than sports-like performance.
Having looked around and visited a local bike shop, I am quite taken by the Merida Ride 100, which is £675 and has an 8 speed 11-32 cassette, but for another £200 that could be the Merida Ride 300 which has a 10 speed 11-32 cassette and a slightly lighter frame.
Would be interested to know what anyone thinks about whether £200 pound extra for 2 more cogs is worth it.
My budget is around £600 to £700, but I would stretch a bit further for the right bike. Looking at websites of big suppliers like Evans, it seems that many bikes in my budget range have 8 or 9 speed cassettes, usually with a range between 11-32; to get a 10 speed cassette you usually have to spend a bit more, but the lowest gear is often 28t, rather than 32t which I would prefer for more challenging hills (being in my mid 50s and a bit overweight).
I don't know if I am being a bit too fussy about this, but I would prefer the extra versatility of the 10 speed cassette as well as the lower 32t ratio. After all, whilst I want a quicker bike to be able to cover more distance, my main aim is that distance rather than sports-like performance.
Having looked around and visited a local bike shop, I am quite taken by the Merida Ride 100, which is £675 and has an 8 speed 11-32 cassette, but for another £200 that could be the Merida Ride 300 which has a 10 speed 11-32 cassette and a slightly lighter frame.
Would be interested to know what anyone thinks about whether £200 pound extra for 2 more cogs is worth it.