Recommendations please for winter/light offroading bike

[Oldbloke]

Must be or have

Under 10 KGS
Drop bars
Tiagra or better
Internal cabling
Take mudguards
Under £1k
Tough enough for river paths and gravel tracks

And lastly comfortable, my main bike is a Roubaix so similar geometry would be good.
I've had a Crux which was a great bike but too full on CX racer.

Seen a few good reviews on the White Dorset, anyone know the geometry on these?

Will probably buy online from UK as limited choice where I live and hopeless after sales service

Thanks all...

 

[smokeysmoo]

RIBBLE 7005 AUDAX/WINTER, 'nuff said

It almost ticks all your boxes, however, I don't know the weights of all sizes but the 58cm as tested HERE is quoted at 10.2kg, (with guards), and although it's not got internal cabling IMO it doesn't matter with regular routine maintenance, at least I never had an issue with my two.

FWIW you see little else on the roads around here once the weather starts to change. Admittedly I do live only 20 minutes from their 'shop', but never the less the quantity you see speaks volumes.

It's a great bike that belies it's low price IMO

Note: if you Google Ribble Cycles you will eventually come across some CS horror stories, but IMO these are all historical and they've moved on massively since then. I've been dealing with them for years, have bought two bikes, well one bike and one frameset that I built myself, plus too many orders for parts and consumables to remember, and I've never had a single issue.

 

[broadway]

Serious question, is internal cabling better for winter bikes?

 

[Cycleops]

Serious question, is internal cabling better for winter bikes?

Yes, but hardly essential.

 

[Oldbloke]

Serious question, is internal cabling better for winter bikes?

Not sure, but it's better for the cleaner (me)

 

[smokeysmoo]

Serious question, is internal cabling better for winter bikes?

Personally I'd say no as you still have points where the outers enter the frame, so therefore you still have places that water can ingress anyway.

A dab of grease on any open ends, or a set of sealed cables are all you need to do to for winter IME.

I've never actually used sealed cables myself, I just put a dab of grease on the two open ends of the short outer cable that goes to the rear mech and Bob's your Uncle, never had any shifting issues since doing this

 

[PK99]

Must be or have

Under 10 KGS
Drop bars
Tiagra or better
Internal cabling
Take mudguards
Under £1k
Tough enough for river paths and gravel tracks

And lastly comfortable, my main bike is a Roubaix so similar geometry would be good.
I've had a Crux which was a great bike but too full on CX racer.

Seen a few good reviews on the White Dorset, anyone know the geometry on these?

Will probably buy online from UK as limited choice where I live and hopeless after sales service

Thanks all...

the new Specialized Diverge might be the one: - not sure on pricing but in terms of wish list it hits you buttons

"We are excited to announce that in two weeks time, Specialized will be launching their brand new Diverge bike into their 2015 road bike range! TheSpecialized Diverge has been built as an endurance bike that is similar to the Roubaix but is more prepared for taking the route that doesn't just stick to the smooth roads.

2015 Specialized Diverge Road Bike Features

• Endurance geometry for comfortable all day adventure rides
• Equipped with disc brakes to provide smooth braking in all conditions and across all terrains
• Clearance for up to 35c tyres,
• Mudguards
• Rack mounts"

 

[Oldbloke]

OK thanks for replies, the new Diverge looks good, cheers for that @PK99.

 

[outlash]

No internal cabling (again) but it ticks all the other boxes: http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s23p5171/CANNONDALE-CAADX-105-2013 . I have the cheaper Sora version and it's done everything I've asked of it off and on road.


Tony.

 

[Oldbloke]

No internal cabling (again) but size, icks all the other boxes: http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s23p5171/CANNONDALE-CAADX-105-2013 . I have the cheaper Sora version and it's done everything I've asked of it off and on road.


Tony.

Thanks, looks good. I read somewhere that their frames feel larger than actual size, is that right? I prefer a more upright ride without too much stretch - sciatica!

 

[outlash]

Well, I'm 6' 3" and both of mine (I own a CAAD8 and CAADX) are 58cm frames, my previous bike was a 60 so in my case that turned out to be true. The CAADX is very upright in comparison to my CAAD8, I believe a lot of CX bikes are like that as it's easier to ride off road. I've dropped the bars by a couple of spacers on mine and it's still a little higher than the 8. Even with the standard 35 tyres on it, it's still a nice enough ride on the road, actually it's pretty plush in comparison!


Tony.

 

[Oldbloke]

OKUOTE="outlash, post: 3223617, member: 23292"]Well, I'm 6' 3" and both of mine (I own a CAAD8 and CAADX) are 58cm frames, my previous bike was a 60 so in my case that turned out to be true. The CAADX is very upright in comparison to my CAAD8, I believe a lot of CX bikes are like that as it's easier to ride off road. I've dropped the bars by a couple of spacers on mine and it's still a little higher than the 8. Even with the standard 35 tyres on it, it's still a nice enough ride on the road, actually it's pretty plush in comparison!


Tony.[/QUOTE]
Ok thanks for that, will bear in mind

 

[Kestevan]

No Internal Cables....
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXKAFF2TIA/planet-x-kaffenback-2-shimano-tiagra-road-bike

But substitutes disk brakes and a comfortable steel frame.

 

[PaulSecteur]

OK thanks for replies, the new Diverge looks good, cheers for that @PK99.

A few more details on the diverge, but I think you will need another £100 to get tiagra, and wait till October

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/road-bikes/overview/diverge/15diverge