Replacement bike - recommendations - ?

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simongt

Guru
Location
Norwich
My beloved GT Bravado has been written off after I was rear ended by a car in April. I sustained a broken hip, but I'm on the mend. Now I'd specced my Bravado to tourer standard and need a replacement. I'm working with Evan's Cycles who have been very helpful and as there's such a choice on the market, can anyone suggest a suitable steed for me please - ? As a guide, the Genesis Tour de Fer 10 is good, the TDF 20 is excellent, but only come with flat bars and the TDF 30 is spot on, but it isn't carried as standard stock by Evan's, so returns would be an issue.
The specs I need are -
Reynolds chromoly frame, pref. 725.
Wire operated disc brakes.
Dynohub lighting.
Fitted touring racks; but front racks not essential.
Drop handlebars.
Pref 3 fitted bottle cages, or the bosses to take same.
Rims; 700c or 26".

Am I being too fussy, or is it simply that from experience, I know what suits me - ? :thumbsup: :rofl:

Thanks all in advance.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Genesis equilibrium disc? Get a frameset and spec it to your exact needs? Or buy off the peg. All assuming you don’t need tyres fatter than 28 (poss 32)

Do you have to buy at Evans?
 

John_S

Über Member
Hi simongt,

Sorry to hear about your accident and injuries but I'm glad to hear that you're now on the mend.

Like Vickster has said above if you don't need to be restricted to Evans talking to Spa about your options is a great idea.

Thinking of other bikes I'm not sure if Evans can get them but if they can how about a Fairlight Faran as a drop bar touring bike:-

https://fairlightcycles.com/faran/?v=7516fd43adaa

http://fairlightcycles.com/faran-concept-design-notes/?v=7516fd43adaa

Also Fairlight have a principle called Fit Form Function but basically what the Fit part of it means is that they offer both a regular and tall version of each of their frames meaning that their bikes will provide a good fit to a greater number of people. The following video does a far better explanation of the idea than I ever could:-


View: https://vimeo.com/180866780


http://fairlightcycles.com/why-fairlight/fit-function-form/?v=7516fd43adaa

http://www.cyclist.co.uk/reviews/2117/fairlight-faran-review

http://www.headsetpress.co.uk/fairlight-cycles-faran/

In terms of capabilities I'd not seen this before but recently saw a video of people doing a bike tour of the Western Isles in Scotland whilst towing surf boards on trailers using their Fairlight Faran bikes. The short film can be seen here and if it can cope with this then it must be a fairly capable bike:-

https://www.pannier.cc/journal/beyond-the-north-wind-tour-headwindhaters-film-bikesurfing (link is external)

If you wanted to look at Fairlight bikes although not in Norwich there is a shop in London at the other end of the train line from you not too far from Liverpool Street I think although I've not been there so I can't confirm that for definite.

https://www.swiftcycles.co.uk/


Other options:-

Kona Sutra or Sutra Ltd
http://www.konaworld.com/sutra.cfmhttp://www.konaworld.com/sutra_ltd.cfm

One of the Surly bikes:-
https://surlybikes.com/bikes

One of the Bombtrack bikes:-
http://bombtrack.com/touring/

Or if you've got quite a bit of money the Stanforth bike in respect of their link up with Sean Conway. Or one of the other Stanforth bikes in their range:-
https://www.stanforthbikes.co.uk/product-page/conway
http://road.cc/content/tech-news/237085-stanforth-team-sean-conway-signature-touring-bike


If absolutely tied to Evans then I think that they sell Jamis bikes which could be one to consider:-

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/auroraseries.html


Hope that you continue to recover from your injuries and good luck finding your next bike!

John
 
OP
OP
simongt

simongt

Guru
Location
Norwich
Many thanks for the suggestions folks.
Evans have been very helpful with everything so far, thus I do feel it would be good to buy the bike form them. I also need a new set of clothing - the whole lot having been sliced off me by concerned paramedics at the scene - ! Plus of course, bash hat; the 'dead' one only being a month old - ! :cursing:
I realised afterwards that the dyno lighting isn't essential, as I have a very good battery pack type front light anyway and the rear is covered by a good LED.
Evans did say that there is a very promising looking Pinnacle model coming out in the summer, so as they said, get well first, back in a saddle and then look for the bike. After all, the insurance isn't going to be sorted in five minutes - ! ^_^
 
OP
OP
simongt

simongt

Guru
Location
Norwich
The Jamis Aurora Elite looks a promising candidate; Reynolds 631 frame + all the bells & whistles I'm likely to need. And it's a standard stock at Evans. :thumbsup:
 

SkipdiverJohn

Deplorable Brexiteer
Location
London
I can never get my head around all these "what replacement bike" threads, where the OP was clearly happy with their old bike, but it gets stolen or smashed up.
The answer to me is staring you in the face - simply go out and get another bike of exactly the same model as you had, even if it means sourcing a secondhand one. If you've had a payout for a crash and buy wisely, you might end up with a replacement bike that suits you exactly and still have some cash left over.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Maybe he simply wants a new bike with the funds being made available? Maybe it’s not possible to get the same bike?
There’s nothing wrong with buying new things if the finance isn’t an issue :smile:
 
OP
OP
simongt

simongt

Guru
Location
Norwich
Maybe it’s not possible to get the same bike?
There’s nothing wrong with buying new things if the finance isn’t an issue :smile:
Hit the nail on the head vickster. As I'd said in a previous post on this thread, GT ceased production of the Bravado some years ago; mine was bought in 1999 and at the time, Reynolds 631 tubing was quite pricey.
Thus one reason I'm considering the Jamis Aurora Elite; Reynolds 631 double butted tubing. :thumbsup:
 

Serge

Über Member
Location
Nuneaton
The Jamis Aurora Elite looks a promising candidate; Reynolds 631 frame + all the bells & whistles I'm likely to need. And it's a standard stock at Evans. :thumbsup:
It looks like a belter that one, I'm jealous (not about the broken hip obviously).
 
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