Which Bike?

[Jamies]

I need help. I am looking for a bike to ride to work. Mostly on the road, with about 100m cobbles and 100m hard packed dirt path.

I have been disappointed by some of the hybrids and felt upright on a number of bikes (Specialised Sirrus Elite and Ridgeback velocity). All I know is that I want a 700 wheel and a flat bar. I am not fussed about disk brakes - but I don't dislike them.

I have tried a number of bikes and am currently thinking about the Giant Escape R1 and the Cannondale Bad Boy 700 (which is over budget).

Any recommendations?

 

[alecstilleyedye]

i'd recommend 25mm tyres for the cobbles, whichever bike you go for…

 

[Maz]

I have been disappointed by some of the hybrids and felt upright on a number of bikes (Specialised Sirrus Elite and Ridgeback velocity). All I know is that I want a 700 wheel and a flat bar. I am not fussed about disk brakes - but I don't dislike them.

You're always going to feel upright if you ride a flat bar, right? Different geometry to a road bike, isn't it?

 

[HJ]

i'd recommend 25mm tyres for the cobbles, whichever bike you go for…

Now, now there is no need to be nasty...

 

[HLaB]

Ive got a Spesh Sirrus an a Ridgeback Velocity there's a world of difference between them. The Velocity is much heavier lower spec'd and the wide tyres although more comfortable increase the rolling resistance. The Sirrus is higher spec'd and a much faster/ lighter bike. IMO the Velocity is more towards the MTB it a good reliable bike and handles well whereas the Sirrus is a flat bar road bike (well mine was before I converted it to drops). The Ridgeback will feel better on the rough stuff but to the detriment of upper end speed.

 

[J4CKO]

Cannondale Bad Boy 700 ?

 

[Wigsie]

Trek 7.5 or 7.6?

 

[Piemaster]

My son has a Carrera Gryphon. Disc version picked up on fleabay for £100. Believe it has a longer TT than equivalent drop bar bike to give a bit more stretch. I've just swapped an L pompino frame for an XL to get a longer TT - but I'm sort of between sizes anyway.
If TT length is the problem it can be altered with a longer stem, or even consider butterfly bars. I use them and like them as it stretches out a bit more than flats on forward position, but I can sit more upright when filtering to cover the brakes.

 

[Downward]

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/kona/dew-2009-hybrid-bike-ec017268

Kona Dew 2009 model
£299.99