New bike advise

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

Hi I am looking to getting a new bike. My old bike was a crosstrail and thinner tyres and it served me well bit it is now slipping gears and the brakes playing up

I am soo confused with the options so I think I have narrowed it down to

1. Crosstrail. £550
2. Sirius
3. A cyclecross but never ridden a drop down bar before but like the look of genesis
4. A touring bike

I would but mudguards and a rack on any bike so that is about£60 plus

My main ride is to and back from work but I need the bike for weekend going on cyclepaths near the canal.

Can you help?? Please

 

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

Also like the look of giant roam and a ridgeback flight

 

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

The advantage of touring is that no need to pay extra for the mudguard and rack

 

[MikeW-71]

If you'll be staying on road or cyclepaths, ignore anything with suspension. It's just useless extra weight to haul around.

Sounds like your current bike may just needs a new chain and cassette, maybe chainrings too. That and sorting the brakes would be cheaper than a whole new bike, however...

If you want to try drop bars (can be more comfortable over longer distances) then a CX bike is a good choice. They tend to use disc brakes now and they have clearance for bigger tyres, great for both tarmac and cyclepaths. Rack and mudguards can often be mounted and they make great light/fast tourers. This is my Giant Revolt set up for a light tour: (you can add mudguards to it, but I haven't bothered)


A full Touring bike tends to be heavier and only really makes sense to me if you are going to be "fully loaded", otherwise a hybrid that is not restricted to super-thin tyres would also do well.

 

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

Like the look of the drop down. I tried one outand it felt weird. But. Would line one

When I took my current bike to shop he said that the suspension fork may need replacing, a near cassette!c(gears?) and for the cassette thing he said about120

 

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

How much was the giant

 

[vickster]

I think this is the entry level revolt, £700 in sale, but 'only' Claris, Shimano's most basic groupset

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/giant-revolt-2-14?bct=browse/bicycles/cyclocross-bikes

What's your budget? Drop bars are pretty quick to master, gears and brakes, you'll be on the hoods almost all the time anyhow

This is £100 less with Sora groupset

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/pro...-disc-14?bct=browse/bicycles/cyclocross-bikes

 

[MikeW-71]

Revolt range starts at £750, mine was £1k, but they will be on sale right now to clear out for next years model and it could be £200 off.

 

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

Too many options... I did take the genesis out for a test. I thought the tyres were quite thick. I was stretching to do brakes but that is because I am not use to the riding style. How long would it take to adjust to the riding style

 

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

My budget can be £1000 When you say on the hoods. Is that the bot near the top of the brakes? So when tested I was stretching more than my normal stance

 

[vickster]

Yes

If you were stretching, the bike was probably too big, your elbows should be bent and it should feel comfortable. But you do need to get used to the position versus a flatbar bike

 

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

I think it was just a different riding style. So you think cyclecross are better than hybrid? Which would you go for

I say 90% road to work and that
5 - 10 % cyclepaths nothing really out there

 

[vickster]

It it your only bike?

Cyclocross or a decent roadbike with clearance for guards and means to attach a rack will do you. Get the bike that makes your heart sing, forget the label

 

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

I went to the shop and liked the look of the blue crosstrail cyclecross. The sirrius elite £800 (do u think that is too much?)

I would like disk brakes as well

 

[Kevin ADDERLEY]

Yes it will be my main bike. My current is cyclecross bronze but it's getting on. I have to make a sound choice. My heart says genesis as it looks ace.