Hybrid, Road, or Cyclocross?

[vickster]

Shimanos second level of road group set. Claris, sora, tiagra, 105 etc

 

[vickster]

Good cx option here, you can spec to budget

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-cyclo-cross/dolan-multi-x-aluminium-cyclo-cross-bike.html

 

[bigmig]

for n800 quid you could get a merida cyclocross 3. It has Tiagra group set. I have got a merida cyclocross 4 and its comfortable, the disc brakes are remarkably sharp and the bike weighs in at 10.9kg which is not really that heavy. I went the CX route as I am still a big geeser and I was worried about the fragility of a full out road bike.

 

[saul]

Okay, would I be better off searching for bikes that have either Sora or the Tiagra groupset? Can anyone explain the differences in these, if it is not too technical. Want to get this bike right this time and then keep it for a few years.

 

[vickster]

Sora - 9 speed, tiagra - 10 speed, bit lighter, bit smoother

 

[Wafer]

I asked that sort of question in an LBS, eyes glazed over slightly at the technical answer but Tiagra better than Sora and worth the upgrade if you can afford it is what I got from it.

 

[vickster]

@saul how about visiting these guys as you are in East London?

They often have really good deals on outgoing models

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/

Case in point

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-tcx-2-2012-15percent-worth-of-free-goods

 

[saul]

@saul how about visiting these guys as you are in East London?

They often have really good deals on outgoing models

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/

Case in point

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-tcx-2-2012-15percent-worth-of-free-goods

Thanks for the heads up, they are only a few miles from where I work. Might just go and see them over the weekend.