Racer Tourer or cyclo cross?

[Accy cyclist]

I've been thinking about as new bike for a while. I think that a thousand pounds is my limit as i'm a leisure cyclist not a commuter or a competitor.
I've been to a LBS today, they had some nice bikes three of which caught my eye. One was a Trek Domane, one a Rigdeback Horizon, the other a Genesis Croi de Feux. Yes i know they are all different but i can't make my mind up as to what'll suit my needs for the coming winter and beyond. I already have a race/road bike but i'm really after something that i can use in light snow, icy or muddy roads, so although the Trek looks and feels nice is it an extravagance rather than a necessity? Will the Ridgeback be ok but look a bit daft for those Sunday afternoon runs when all us Mamils eye up each others bikes as we pass each other? Is the Croi de Feux ok for those Sunday runs or would that look daft also?
I'm after a bike that can go out in the snow, but looks sporty and won't be scoffed at! So please help me decide which of these three would be best and which would you buy(If any)?



http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/sport/domane_2_series/dom...


http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Ridgeback-Ridgeback-Voyage-2012-Touring-Bik...


http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/cyclo-cross/product/re...

 

[The Brewer]

How many days of snow do we really get

Out of those I'd get the Trek, but I'd test lots before buying

 

[PpPete]

I'd look closely at waht size tyres they can take especially if you are serious about going out on snow covered roads.
The Domane for example ships with 25mm tyres and has fittings for guards.... - but would it take Marathon Winters under the guards ? I'd guess probably not.
CBA to look at the specs on the others - sorry !

 

[Accy cyclist]

"Obvious frame flex – to the point of the front mech grinding when you put the hammer down – also discourages determined pedalling, and the weight (11.52kg) rules the Croix out for any sort of racing or competition.
The Reynolds steel frame sucks up a lot of money, which leaves the price high for a nine-speed Shimano Tiagra-equipped bike. Also, while the white bar and seatpost look slick, our sample already had a lot of cosmetic rust inside the top of the seat tube, so keep the insides greased if you buy one."


This puts me off the Genesis.

 

[Sankey46]

Have you seen the Trek Crossrip, due out mid Nov?
I am tempted, current C2W scheme ends on the 31st......

 

[Accy cyclist]

I think i'll settle for the Ridgeback, not because it's the cheapest , but after having a test run on it i was impressed with the comfy ride, and it has many gears!

 

[Ron-da-Valli]

I'm looking at winter bike options and I've settled on a cheapish tourer ( not sure which one yet) for the same reasons as you, the wider tyres and comfy ride in poor conditions, plus the sand that can drift on the coastal path here. Like the new avatar too Accy!! On Stanley On!!

 

[Accy cyclist]

I'm looking at winter bike options and I've settled on a cheapish tourer ( not sure which one yet) for the same reasons as you, the wider tyres and comfy ride in poor conditions, plus the sand that can drift on the coastal path here. Like the new avatar too Accy!! On Stanley On!!

"Coley"(ex manager) got a decent reception Ron, when we played Rochdale last Saturday. He didn't celebrate any of his new club's goals, and he came over to the Stanley fans after the final whistle giving and receiving mutual applause!
He'll be back in charge one day i reckon!

 

[tigger]

I have a Boardman CX team. Great all round mile muncher in my view. Change the tyres for your use, add some guards and its a proper winter road bike. Not light, but not CDF heavy either. I'd happily take this on a long club ride provided there's nothing super steep to climb. 10% off with British Cycling membership. Just one thing to note, I'm assuming the 2013 range will be out soon so could be worth waiting.

 

[Ron-da-Valli]

"Coley"(ex manager) got a decent reception Ron, when we played Rochdale last Saturday. He didn't celebrate any of his new club's goals, and he came over to the Stanley fans after the final whistle giving and receiving mutual applause!
He'll be back in charge one day i reckon!

John & Jimmy ARE legends Accy, they've put Stanley firmly back on the footballing map!

 

[Andrew Br]

It's perhaps going to be a little over budget but I can highly recommend the On-One Dirty Disco.
There is clearance for wide tyres and with narrow ones (like I have) it's a very capable road bike; light and it rides well. Discs in Winter, and Summer come to that, are just great

Drawbacks are price (considering what you want to pay) and you can't easily fit a rack or mudguards but I got around that by using Raceblades and a Carradice on an SQR.

Here's mine on a night ride:-


12-09-29 Carlisle-Newcastle Dirty Disco Baby by Chocolatebike1, on Flickr

You know, despite having lived in Accrington from age 18 to 28, I never went to watch the Stanley play

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[Accy cyclist]

It's perhaps going to be a little over budget but I can highly recommend the On-One Dirty Disco.
There is clearance for wide tyres and with narrow ones (like I have) it's a very capable road bike; light and it rides well. Discs in Winter, and Summer come to that, are just great

Drawbacks are price (considering what you want to pay) and you can't easily fit a rack or mudguards but I got around that by using Raceblades and a Carradice on an SQR.

Here's mine on a night ride:-


12-09-29 Carlisle-Newcastle Dirty Disco Baby by Chocolatebike1, on Flickr

You know, despite having lived in Accrington from age 18 to 28, I never went to watch the Stanley play

.

I'll let you off seeing as they were probably very low non-league then.
I like the spoke reflectors in your pic' by the way. I've decided to buy some, i didn't think they worked that well!!!

 

[Andrew Br]

I'll let you off seeing as they were probably very low non-league then.

I've no excuse: they were my home team.
Having said that, I did go to watch Haslingden (where I was born and lived before we moved to Accrington). A significant part of going to watch was that my dad played for them and I think it was part of the deal with my mum. If he was playing football on Saturday afternoon, he had to take at least one of us.
Since Haslingden's ground was next to a river (the Irwell), apparently he spent most of the game watching what I was doing rather than concentrating on play.
I didn't inherit the football gene, my younger brother did.

The spoke reflectors are really good but the reflective strip on most Schwalbe tyres are almost as effective.


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