Money burning a hole in my pocket

[Mr Creosote]

I have decided to get a new commuter bike. I currently use my old Trek 4900 for this after converting it (just in case I didn't stick with it) rather than spending the money and getting a dedicated commuter bike.

Well I have stuck with it and I have decided to break the 4900 for spares. I have shortlisted the following bikes:

Claude Butler Urban 500
Claude Butler Urban 400
Claude Butler Urban Commuter

Trek 7500
Trek 7.5 FX

But which one should I go for? Are there any others that should make it onto a short list of up to £550?

TIA

 

[Mr Creosote]

If I'd wanted a road bike I'd have said so. The bike needs to be able to take panniers and mudguards for cycling through rural Englanshire (think mud and crap (literally) on roads. A fixed and/or singlespeed it out because I have up to (short) 1:5 and longer 1:10 gradients with a load to deal with.

 

[andylaw79]

If I'd wanted a road bike I'd have said so. The bike needs to be able to take panniers and mudguards for cycling through rural Englanshire (think mud and crap (literally) on roads. A fixed and/or singlespeed it out because I have up to (short) 1:5 and longer 1:10 gradients with a load to deal with.

A bit short with your reply, it was only a suggestion from Lee. You hadn't explained in your OP the nature of your commute.

A cyclocross or a tourer might be just up your street, both will handle crappy road conditions and will take full guards and rack as well as giving you a triple on the front for the steeper hills. If you're dead against having drops the Trek isn't a bad bike.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

With 1 in 5's and 1 in 10's on your travels, then anything with front suspension isn't going to be much fun. I had a CB Urban 300 which was an OK bike ruined by it's front fork. I think the 500 is the same frame with a carbon fork instead of suspenders, but the carbon fork is shorter than the suspension fork, so the geometry will be very different to my old bike.

FWIW I'd go for the Trek 7.5 fx, I wouldn't have another Claud.

 

[iwf]

I've a Trek 7.5 with all the bits you mention. i upgraded the tires when new for the Armadillo tires and haven't had puncture in the 8 months i've been using it.

I got mine through the cycle to work scheme and I was starting to wonder what to buy next year; but in truth i like the Trek and given I've weighed it down with panniers mudguards I don't see the point of trying for something even lighter.