Low maintenance winter/hack bike

[gadgetmind]

I've been commuting for ten years, mainly using Bromptons, but I've also had a couple of 'bents, which I use for days out and the occasional commute. All would be fine, but the CTW scheme is kicking off again, and the idea of only paying 44p in the £1 for a new bike is just too tempting.

The only gaps I perceive are for the icy/snowy days, where the Brompton is a handful, and some of my day rides that include mild off road sections. The Brompton handles the width restrictions that curse the off-road tracks, but the mudguard clearance is limited and you soon grind to a halt. My 'bent (currently a Grasshopper FX) is lively in the mud to say the least, but where it really is a pain is with all the metal barriers.

Both my bikes have hub+derailleur setups, which suits me as I do find front/rear derailleurs a pain in traffic. My 'bent has disc brakes, which are excellent, particularly compared to the weedy rim brakes of the Brompton. I like stopping and I hate wearing out a rim every year. Oh, and I also love dynamo hubs.

Anyway, I have up to £2500 plus vat to spend at Evans but have to decide this week.

I'm looking at -
Charge Mixer 11- Alfine 11 speed, flat bars, decent discs, mudguards fitted and can take a rack, reported to be good for commuting, tyres seem thin.
Genesis Day One - Alfine 8 speed, dropped bars, no guards/rack
Scott Sub 10 (and the "Solution" version in white) - Alfine 8 speed, flat bars, discs, no guards/rack
Cannondale Bad Boy - discontinued?

Is there anything else I should be looking at? Should I even consider dropped bars? Am I crazy for wanting hub gears and disc brakes? Why can't I see any dynamo hub options?

Thanks

 

[Furkz]

i got the last 2010 badboy and chuffed to bits with it. although i have not been on a bike for years but since i got the badboy i haven't walked anywhere

 

[gadgetmind]

Another option is the Trek Soho Deluxe. Belt drive, Nexus 8 hub, disc up front and roller at the rear, and comes with mudguards and rack.

Tempting.

 

[corshamjim]

Why can't I see any dynamo hub options?

Probably because you're not looking at German suppliers.

Rose bicycles have various models with hub gears, front dynamo and disk brakes, for example this one:

http://www.rosebikes...o-ii/aid:493707

I've never seen one in the flesh so can't vouch for quality etc,. Their UK distribution place is just down the road from me so if I ever get around to saving up enough for one I'll see if I can pay them a visit.

Otherwise, Focus bicycles have a few models too, for example...

http://www.focus-bik...aleta-11-1.html

I'm not sure if there's a distributor for those in the UK though. Wiggle sell focus bikes but I've not seen these models yet on their website.

[edit] Oops, sorry obviously none of these are available at Evans!

 

[gadgetmind]

Yes, the Evans restriction is a sod.

I understand the Genesis Day One Alfine has a following around here. How well do people think I'd adapt to the dropped bars? How easy/hard is it to brake when riding the ... errr ... tops? Hoods?

 

[MacB]

Yes, the Evans restriction is a sod.

I understand the Genesis Day One Alfine has a following around here. How well do people think I'd adapt to the dropped bars? How easy/hard is it to brake when riding the ... errr ... tops? Hoods?

Having been through almost every conceivable bar option, before settling on drops, I find the braking from the hoods very easy, and comfortable. However there is a huge array of shapes and sizes for drop bars and I hated a couple of the sets I tried. I also had to tinker a lot to get the lever position and bar angle to suit, it's surprising the difference small movements can make.

My previous favourites were probably butterfly bars and I still miss the extra wide position on the sides, especially for climbing. This is the one area I think drops aren't as good as other options, hoods for climbing isn't the same.

As for adapting, it took me one ride, but I initially added crosstop levers to the flats and have since removed the rear one and left front only. If I'm sitting up pootling it's nice to be able to modulate speed without having to move my hands.

 

[gadgetmind]

I have now read that someone returned a Genesis Day One Alfine as you can't brake and change gear at the same time. I could see that being a trifle annoying!

I'm now considering either -
1) Trek Soho Deluxe
2) Scott Sub 10 Alfine
3) Something else
4) Not bloody bothering. :-)

 

[corshamjim]

I have now read that someone returned a Genesis Day One Alfine as you can't brake and change gear at the same time. I could see that being a trifle annoying!

I'm not sure I follow you. Surely one of the great things about a hub gear when compared with derailleurs is you can change gear while stationary? I also somehow doubt that using the back brake would prevent you changing down (assuming the changer is on the right hand brake lever). I've not tried a Day One myself mind ...

 

[gadgetmind]

Here is gaz's explanatiion.

http://croydoncyclist.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/the-return-of-the-genesis-day01-alfine/

 

[GrumpyGregry]

cotic road rat 'short' is no longer made so I can't suggest that...

a singular peregrine or gryphon with an 8 speed alfine with a jtek shifter would build up to a lovely bike, or for your budget a Rohloff is in reach.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I have now read that someone returned a Genesis Day One Alfine as you can't brake and change gear at the same time. I could see that being a trifle annoying!

Is that really an issue? Shame about Gaz's Genesis, I've got the same bike, discs and hubs were new to me so the tweaking aspect was uncharted territory but on the whole I really like the bike.

 

[gadgetmind]

cotic road rat 'short' is no longer made so I can't suggest that...

a singular peregrine or gryphon with an 8 speed alfine with a jtek shifter would build up to a lovely bike, or for your budget a Rohloff is in reach.

Needs to be from Evans, so limited choice.

 

[MacB]

Is that really an issue? Shame about Gaz's Genesis, I've got the same bike, discs and hubs were new to me so the tweaking aspect was uncharted territory but on the whole I really like the bike.

reading Gaz's review I think the shifting was the most minor point and wouldn't have made a bike return happen if that had been it. The brakes seem to have been his main issue, having to adjust every 50 miles and one of them would release totally under pressure. Almost like the spring gave way and the brake had to be released and re-applied to work. There's also the big jump on the A8 from gear 5 to gear 6, about 22% I think, which seems to end up in the middle of the general riding range when using it on road. The Alfine 11 doesn't suffer from this gear jump problem. His one other problem was with the Versa lever and accidentally knocking the adjuster barrel putting indexing out....though this could be put down to a meatware error as I haven't read of this issue with other Versa users

For my take I would add that, though I had the Pompetamine, I did prefer the look of the Genesis but having now experienced trackend dropouts I wouldn't use them again. I'd rather go vertical and have a chain tensioner than use them with mudguards etc.

Regarding the Alfine I'm actually awaiting a wheelset that includes the 8 speed, but it will be flat bars so the trigger shifter. Also it will be run with a double chainring and the original Alfine tensioner, that looks like a mini RD. This solves the big gear jump thing and gives me plenty of range for off and on road. About 22 to 100 gear inches according to my calcs and 12 distinct gears. This is running a 28/40 with a 19t cog and 700x56 tyres.

Regarding mechanical disc brakes I can report that, so far, the Avid BB7s have been flawless, some minor adjustments over the first 30 miles or so. Haven't had to touch them for the 500 miles they've done since. As I now have my third set of them(MTB version this time), ready for the new frame, then I think you could say I like them.

 

[gadgetmind]

Is that really an issue? Shame about Gaz's Genesis, I've got the same bike, discs and hubs were new to me so the tweaking aspect was uncharted territory but on the whole I really like the bike.

I've got bikes with discs and hub gears, and the whole ideal is really that they are intended to be "tweak free". If you're having to tweak, then something is wrong. Hubs need mild attention to bearings every few k miles, and disc brakes need new pads at the same frequency, other than that, it should be just a matter of turning the pedals.

OK, rear wheel punctures can be more involved, but I fix 95% of those with the wheel on the bike by slapping on a patch.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Needs to be from Evans, so limited choice.

Sorry. you said that already. Does it have to be an evans off-the-shelf bike or can you build it up from bits through them?

I'd fantasising about a Croix de Fer with BB7's a carbon fork and an 11 speed alfine rear hub.