New all year around, all weathers commuter bike

[John_S]

Hi rideswithmoobs,

Thanks for the tip about the ACF50 and I'll have to take a look at that stuff because protecting aircraft at sea and keeping them airworthy sounds like a blooming tough job and so anything that can achieve that has to be worth checking out.

Hi mythste,

Thanks very much for taking the time to take photos of your EQ20 to show your rack fitted without the disc brake callipers causing any problems. I appreciate your advice that it's a disk specific rack but it all looks pretty meet & tidy and like you say there is a fair bit of spare room so it might be possible to fit some non-disc specific racks. Your help posting this is much appreciated!

Cheers,

John

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Hi rideswithmoobs,

Thanks for the tip about the ACF50 and I'll have to take a look at that stuff because protecting aircraft at sea and keeping them airworthy sounds like a blooming tough job and so anything that can achieve that has to be worth checking out.

Hi mythste,

Thanks very much for taking the time to take photos of your EQ20 to show your rack fitted without the disc brake callipers causing any problems. I appreciate your advice that it's a disk specific rack but it all looks pretty meet & tidy and like you say there is a fair bit of spare room so it might be possible to fit some non-disc specific racks. Your help posting this is much appreciated!

Cheers,

John

ACF50 is a knockout protection product.


http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&...vptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_61skp9owtn_b

 

[rideswithmoobs]

Freshly covered in it for winter. 5 years old and still looks pristine. Top stuff

 

[EasyPeez]

Hi @John_S

Did you get any further with your decision-making?

Of the bikes you've linked to, and for the purpose you have in mind, I would lean towards the Jamis both for spec and aesthetic reasons. It has hyrdaulic discs, comes with rack and guards, looks the part and should last a lifetime if well cared for. My only reservation with it would be the wheels. I have Mavic 319s on my Boardman Team CX (not sure if they are an upgrade or downgrade on the 119s that the Jamis comes with?) and they are the worst thing about the bike - very heavy and dull.
I have never ridden most of the bikes you're contemplating, so can't speak about them with any authority; I do own a Genesis Disc 10 and have done just over 4,000 miles on it so far this year, including regular commuting, so feel I can offer a decent insight into how it is to live with -

Pros:
- The frame rides really well. It's stiff and responsive without being in the least twitchy. Sturdy and strong without being sluggish. I commute 16-20 miles a day on mine and have done lots of rides of 60-100 miles and love it to bits.
- It's a fantastic looking bike in the metal and draws lots of admiring comments.
- You're getting a bucket-load of wheels for your money. The Fulcrum Racing Sport DB CX that it comes stocked with are sturdy but very nimble. I think they climb really well considering they are not super-light, and mine have stood up to some nasty potholes and ruts no problem, while giving confidence when descending at 45mph+. To put it in context a bit, if you pick up an Eq10 for £850 you're getting the same wheels that come specced on a Ridley X-Night (£1,900) and a Datum 30 (£3,200).
- It is versatile; it will not just handle the commute, but make it fun, whilst also providing a bike that, when time allows, you can really cut loose on and enjoy some long and/or fast rides on with friends. Not all the bikes on your list can do the latter.

Cons:
- It's a great looking bike. In my case, too pretty to use as a winter slogger - so I bought it intending to use all year round but ended up shelling out on a whole new bike a few weeks ago as I couldn't face running the Eq10 through winter salt and mud! You might be less sentimental than me....!
- The frame is stiff - my one reservation would be that you might find it too stiff and racy compared to what you're used to.
- The tyres are decent but at 25mm are prob neither wide and comfy enough nor puncture-proof enough for your needs, so you'd need to budget for something else. Maybe Conti 4 seasons or Durano Plus? Also, the tyres it comes with are a right sod to get back onto the rims when you do have a puncture. I've just about got the hang of it now (albeit with special VAR levers still) but it's not something you'd want to be struggling with on a dark, wet journey home from work.

 

[EasyPeez]

Some further more general thoughts -

Disc brakes; I'd say these are a must for your purposes. I wouldn't get too hung up on the hydraulic element though; if you can find a bike you love that has them, great, but any good disc brakes ought to be fine for your needs so I wouldn't let it become a deal-breaker. The 'good' bit is important though - the BB5s on my Boardman are poor compared to the TRP Spyres on the Genesis. My friend has a Synapse Disc and his Promax discs are not great either. If you go for TRP you won't go far wrong and I think (others may correct me here) that most of Shimanos range are well-regarded.

Panniers; do you need them? I use this Carradice saddle-bag for my commute and it is surprisingly spacious. I've had an SLR Camera, walking boots and pack-up in the main section with tubes, tool, levers, wallet phone etc in the side pockets. Also done a 2 day ride with all spare clothes and kit crammed in. It whips on and off in seconds, which means your bike can go from commute mode to performance mode whenever you like, and the aesthetics of your bike aren't spoiled (and extra weight added) by the constant presence a rack:View media item 7824
Weight/speed; I know you say it's not that important to you, but a lighter frame and decent wheels are not only about making a bike quicker, they can make it much easier and more fun to ride. So while you might not want to race anyone on your commute, being able to do that commute enjoyably without slogging your guts out has to be a consideration, surely? Also, if you buy a full-on commuter kind of bike, in a few years when the kids are older and you have a little more time on your hands, are you likely to be eyeing up a second bike purchase in order to acquire something that will allow you to take to the lanes for some real weekend fun? If you can find a bike that is versatile enough to commute on whilst also being quick and fun on pleasure rides (maybe you'll even consider joining a local non-competative club or doing the odd sportive in the future?) then perhaps you'll save yourself a lot of money in the long run? Of course, going for a one-bike solution could mean sacrificing some comfort over a proper commuting bike which will likely have a more upright riding position and wider rims and tyres. With your commute I'd say comfort is paramount if you;re going to stick at it week after week. But with some shopping round and some test rides you could find a bike that is comfy and sporty. The Synapse works for my friend in this respect, and the Eq10 for me.

Hub Gears; when originally shopping for my winter bike I was looking at a Cube similar to the one on your list. They look good in the metal and seem decent value. I really liked the idea of Hub gears and kevlar drive chain. In the end however I was put off by the dealer who told me that of the 4 he's ordered in for customers 3 have had issues with the hub gears. If I knew they would work perfectly it'd definately be my preferred option - you can just stick it in the shed at the end of a wet winter ride with no fears about it rotting away. But the worries about faults, plus the extra faff when changing punctures and the extra weight made me change my mind. if you do go for hub gears I'd be inerested to hear how you get on with them as they are still in my mind for the future.

Cheers, and sorry for such a long-winded reply!
Andy

 

[MichaelW2]

Alfine works fine through multiple UK winters.
Aluminium frames are not a problem for commuters. Modern versions are more comfortable than the pioneering versions.
Rear disk brakes should be located on the chainstay so that you can use a std rear rack.

Many eyelet-equipped frames still use MTB style chainstay location, needing a special rack. Many road bikes with chainstay brake mounts lack the eyelets that are the whole reason for this location. Durrr.

 

[EasyPeez]

Alfine works fine through multiple UK winters.
Aluminium frames are not a problem for commuters. Modern versions are more comfortable than the pioneering versions.
Rear disk brakes should be located on the chainstay so that you can use a std rear rack.

Alu frames actually offer some advantages as they don't rust in the same way. Of the two my steel frame is noticeable more forgiving and soaky-uppy of road buzz, and if I could only have 1 bike I'd take steel over alu every time, but tyres make a bigger difference than frame material to comfort in my experience, so if riding 32mm+ it shouldn't make a huge difference to comfort either way.
Eq10 rear brake caliper is mounted on the seatstay not chainstay. Caliper sits flush with frame but one of the bolts does protrude a few mm past the frame. I should hope this wouldn't make fitting a rack an issue but if I were after one I'd want to visit an LBS to check first. Carradice Super C > rack and panniers in any case for me.

 

[John_S]

Hi EasyPeez,

Many thanks for your reply and advice which is much appreciated!

Being honest I've not really made any progress thinking about my next bike but that's because just over a couple of weeks ago I was knocked off my bike by a car whilst commuting to work. A car decided that I was completely invisible when I was traveling staright along a main road past a junction and they thought that it would be a great idea to turn left into a side road staright through me. Fortunately x-rays didn't show up any breaks but I came down really hard on my hip and I've been in a heck of a lot of pain since so my focus has been on just trying to start recovering.

There's no need at all to apologise for the long message because the detail and infornation that you've provided is really helpful. Your Genesis Equilibrium Disc 10 is indeed a lovely looking bike and the paint scheme definitely looks better than some of the 2016 models that I've seen so far.

Thanks for the tip about your saddle bag. At the moment I use an older and slightly different version of the Deuter Rack Top Pack ( http://www.deutergb.co.uk/products/bike/rack-top-pack/ ) and looking at the Carradice Saddle bag that you use my rack top bag is probably a similar size if not a bit smaller.

Cheers for taking the time to post your replies because all of your advice about bikes, brakes, frame material etc. is very helpful and much appreciated.


Hi MichaelW2,

Thanks for the advice about hub gears, brakes and frame meterials.

In respect of IGH your advice about your Alfine making it through several UK winters is good to hear. At the moment I'm still slightly in two minds about the durability of the Shimano Alfine IGH because there seem to be a similar number of reports from people who are really pleased with them and can provide feedback for them performing well in all seasons of the UK weather. However there also seem to be quite a few people posting details of Shimano IGH failures after relatively short periods of time. I'm not sure whether this is perhaps down to differences in peoples maintenance regimes, dependent on what weather the individual ends up riding through and how much salt & moisture the IGH is exposed to or maybe even sheer luck in terms of how well greased and sealed the original IGH was when it came from the factory originally,

Anyway thanks for the positive feedback on the Alfine IGH because that's certainly good to hear.

Thanks,

John

 

[EasyPeez]

Being honest I've not really made any progress thinking about my next bike but that's because just over a couple of weeks ago I was knocked off my bike by a car whilst commuting to work. A car decided that I was completely invisible when I was traveling staright along a main road past a junction and they thought that it would be a great idea to turn left into a side road staright through me. Fortunately x-rays didn't show up any breaks but I came down really hard on my hip and I've been in a heck of a lot of pain since so my focus has been on just trying to start recovering.

Sorry to hear that, John. I hope the culprit had the decency to stop and help and has in some way tried to make amends? Best wishes with your recovery, I hope you won't be in pain for much longer and that it won't put you off cycling in the long run. Like most cycling commuters, I should imagine, I generally experience a near-miss or some dangerous driving on a weekly basis so I do feel for anyone that falls victim to careless driving. Keep your chin up mate and get well soon.

 

[John_S]

Thanks EasyPeez!

Fortunately they did stop and sincerely apologised for having done something so stupid but it didn't make me feel too much better at the time seeing as I was the one in lots of pain.

Now I'm just looking forward to feeling better and getting over my injuries so that I can get back to cycling as soon as I can and then I can stop having to rely upon lifts or the bus to get to work.

Hope that you have a good weekend.

John