Which bike for commute to complement MTB?

[Custom24]

Get a Fixie. perfect winter bike and great fun in the summer.

thanks but no thanks

 

[samsbike]

For my money it would be the genesis aether or cannondale synpase.

Another option is Kinesis but I am not sure which model

 

[Custom24]

Tried a trek 1.5 and a giant defy 1 today, the latter only on a turbo.

The trek felt fine but has middling reviews. The giant seems to have quite good reviews, so leaning towards that at the moment.

 

[geekinaseat]

Get the planet x, you want it.

Fit some raceblades, they'll do.

If you get something more practical, you'll just wish you'd bought the sexy carbon.

 

[Custom24]

I am sorry to say I am still having problems making a decision and it's kind of messing with my head now.

There is no actual rush on me getting my new bike, because I still have the use of the MTB, but I just want this over and done with to be honest. On the other hand, I

The Giant Defy 1 is still my favourite, but I've not managed to try it on the road yet, only on a turbo.

The problem with a lot of the suggestions initially above is that, like Planet X, their showrooms are a long way away from me (near Didcot, Oxfordshire). As I am longer legged than average for my height (33" legs for just over 5'9") I need to sit on the bike on a turbo and take it for a road spin and satisfy myself as well as hopefully the helpful shop guy that the bike can be fitted to me.

The limit is definitely £1,000 because it will probably go through cycle to work.

One other aspect I am concerned about is braking. I am slightly alarmed by how difficult it is to brake the bikes I've tried from the brake hood position. I am used to Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakes on the MTB.

The drop position is fine, because I can get the leverage to really squeeze, but the hood position, where I expect to spend most of my time, is a bit scary, especially when I factor in a wet mucky day.

The other aspect to this is how well brake pads and rims will last with all year round use. A shop guy yesterday estimated that I'd be changing pads every 2 months and rims every 2 years for a 50 mile a week road commute, although that was just off the cuff. Really? Every 2 months?

The obvious choice is just a flat bar bike with hydraulic brakes, but that's a bit too similar to what I'm using at the moment for my liking. I think I want drops.

The long winded question is - if I were to go for something with cable disc brakes, like Avid BB5 or BB7, would the hood braking power be significantly better than on a rim braked bike?

Thanks
Mark

 

[vickster]

I am a smidge over 5'9 with similar length legs ( quite usual for the superior sex ), I ride 54cm frames. A medium defy felt too big for me, but might have been ok with narrower bars and a shorter stem. I ended up with a medium avail. I had cross levers which I used as my hands don't fit well to shimano hoods (sram works for me), so you could get those fitted

How about a cx bike with disc brakes and cross levers?

E.g. http://www.rutlandcycling.com/15061...gin=pla?kwd=&gclid=CK6ar4Kghb0CFQnpwgod8DcARg

 

[Custom24]

I am a smidge over 5'9 with similar length legs ( quite usual for the superior sex ), I ride 54cm frames. A medium defy felt too big for me, but might have been ok with narrower bars and a shorter stem. I ended up with a medium avail. I had cross levers which I used as my hands don't fit well to shimano hoods (sram works for me), so you could get those fitted

How about a cx bike with disc brakes and cross levers?

E.g. http://www.rutlandcycling.com/15061...gin=pla?kwd=&gclid=CK6ar4Kghb0CFQnpwgod8DcARg

You are pretty much the same proportions as me. They had me on a defy medium large in the shop and said it looked good.

I tried the fit calculator at http://www.competitivecyclist.com which uses 8 measurements. I had high hopes for it, but the results don't make any sense to me. According to its "Competitive fit", meaning aggressive, small frame and low position, I get this

Top Tube Length 56.6 - 57 Cm
Seat Tube Range CC 54.3 - 54.8 Cm
Seat Tube Range CT 56 - 56.5 Cm
Stem Length 11.6 - 12.2 Cm
BB Saddle Position 77.8 - 79.8 Cm
Saddle Handlebar 54.9 - 55.5 Cm
Saddle Setback 4.1 - 4.5 Cm
Seatpost Type Not Setback

And according to its "French fit", meaning larger frame, more upright position and more comfortable (which is what I want), I get this

Top Tube Length 57.8 - 58.2 Cm
Seat Tube Range CC 57.2 - 57.7 Cm
Seat Tube Range CT 58.9 - 59.4 Cm
Stem Length 10.7 - 11.3 Cm
BB Saddle Position 75.3 - 77.3 Cm
Saddle Handlebar 57.4 - 58 Cm
Saddle Setback 4.8 - 5.2 Cm
Seatpost Type Setback

The thing that's confusing me is that won't a longer seat tube mean a longer reach, mean a lower position?

My inputs are

Actual Inseam33 In
Trunk24.2 In
Forearm15 In
Arm26.7 In
Thigh23.6 In
Lower Leg22.4 In
Sternal Notch58.2 In
Total Height69.3 In

I did like the cross levers when I tried one of the CX bikes.

 

[vickster]

Medium large, way too big for me, as was the medium, but probably narrower shoulders (I need a 38cm bar), maybe shorter arms, although mine are long for a woman and smaller hands etc. I use a 100mm stem, the avail had a 90mm but I always felt a little cramp and had seat quite far back

I like an upright position. My new roadbike is a genesis equilibrium, but I am yet to ride it. 54cm frame, but being built to spec with the narrower bars and shorter stem, also sram so narrower hoods for braking. Cross levers also

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/road/sportive/equilibrium-20

 

[MikeW-71]

One other aspect I am concerned about is braking. I am slightly alarmed by how difficult it is to brake the bikes I've tried from the brake hood position. I am used to Shimano XT hydraulic disc brakes on the MTB.

The drop position is fine, because I can get the leverage to really squeeze, but the hood position, where I expect to spend most of my time, is a bit scary, especially when I factor in a wet mucky day.

The other aspect to this is how well brake pads and rims will last with all year round use. A shop guy yesterday estimated that I'd be changing pads every 2 months and rims every 2 years for a 50 mile a week road commute, although that was just off the cuff. Really? Every 2 months?

With some time getting used to them, and some decent brake pads, you can happily send yourself over the bars braking from the hoods. You can't apply full power there, the drops is the place for that. It'll be a bit of a shock coming from hydraulic discs.

New pads every 2 months? Noooooo. The ones I have on now have been there since last summer and the best part of 1000 miles. Fronts may need changed after a couple more months. My stock rims have 2500 miles on them and I would say I have at least the same still to go before the brake track wears out, which is near to 3 years.

 

[Custom24]

It is done. Thanks to everyone for their ideas, and sorry for not going for any of them, and finding my own solution! But the ideas definitely helped.
It is a Whyte RD7 Suffolk. I will let you know my thoughts on it after I've ridden it some more. They are new bikes, designed it seems exactly for me. I was sold on the hydraulic disc brakes and so I went for the top of the range.
It's a 56cm frame, which is "large". 5'9" is between 54cm (medium) and 56cm (large) according to their chart. The shop shortened the stem by 2cm. I would have liked to have ridden a 54cm, but they didn't have one in, so he set the bike up to mimic a 54cm for me, and convinced me it would be too small by looking at me on the turbo.
I felt comfortable during the test ride, and didn't want to turn round back to the shop, so I am happy.