Which quick flat-bar bike? Also, wisdom of 650b/47 tyres?

[aynjrz]

Hello,

I'm looking into getting a new flat-bar bike, for commuting and leisure riding, but also with the goal of increasing the distance I can ride (beyond 20 miles or so). I would want mudguards and a rear rack, but I'm also looking for a bike that is better-suited to covering distance quickly and efficiently than a town hybrid might be. My budget is up to around £800, though somewhat flexible. I will only be using it on road. What should I be looking for, either in terms of specific bikes, or just characteristics to look for?

Secondly, one of the bikes I've tried that I've liked is the Kona Dew Plus (https://www.konaworld.com/dew_plus.cfm). But is it wise to buy something that uses such an unusual wheel and tyre size?

 

[vickster]

Whyte R7 range. Standard 700c wheels

There are some bargains out there depending on size needed
Eg https://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=20753&Item='Whyte Cambridge Hybrid/Commuter Bike'

Independents and Cyclesurgery sell...current range broadly here
https://www.cyclesurgery.com/brands...ter%3Duk_cs_bike_type_new%3A%28urban_bikes%29

 

[aynjrz]

Whyte R7 range. Standard 700c wheels

There are some bargains out there depending on size needed
Eg https://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/catalog/product.php?CI_ID=20753&Item='Whyte Cambridge Hybrid/Commuter Bike'

Independents and Cyclesurgery sell...current range broadly here
https://www.cyclesurgery.com/brands/whyte.html?page=0&size=48&filter=%26filter%3Duk_cs_bike_type_new%3A%28urban_bikes%29

Thank you - those look interesting. There's a Whyte dealer locally, so I should be able to try one out.

 

[John_S]

Hi aynjrz,

Yes as vickster has said it's a great idea to look at the Whyte bikes.

If you want some additional options to loom at there is a flat bar version of the Genesis Croix de Her which although would be more expensive than your £800 budget if you look at offers there could well be discounts to be found.

https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes?categories=Bikes~Adventure & Gravel~Croix de Fer

Also another bike that could perhaps suit you there is the Temple Cycles Classic Lightweight and if you're anywhere near either Bristol or London you can visit their stores to check out their bikes.

https://www.templecycles.co.uk/pages/bikes-everyday

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...t-steel-frame-bike-review-bristol-martin-love

Also if you can try to get a test ride on as many bikes as you can to see what works and which bikes feel right for you.

Good luck finding your new bike.

John

 

[aynjrz]

Hi aynjrz,

Yes as vickster has said it's a great idea to look at the Whyte bikes.

If you want some additional options to loom at there is a flat bar version of the Genesis Croix de Her which although would be more expensive than your £800 budget if you look at offers there could well be discounts to be found.

https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes?categories=Bikes~Adventure & Gravel~Croix de Fer

Also another bike that could perhaps suit you there is the Temple Cycles Classic Lightweight and if you're anywhere near either Bristol or London you can visit their stores to check out their bikes.

https://www.templecycles.co.uk/pages/bikes-everyday

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...t-steel-frame-bike-review-bristol-martin-love

Also if you can try to get a test ride on as many bikes as you can to see what works and which bikes feel right for you.

Good luck finding your new bike.

John

Thanks - I hadn't thought of Genesis for flat-bar bikes, and they also have some local dealers. My budget's a bit flexible, if I really like a particular bike. I probably wouldn't go to see the Temple unless I run out of possibilities I can try locally.

 

[vickster]

Thanks - I hadn't thought of Genesis for flat-bar bikes, and they also have some local dealers. My budget's a bit flexible, if I really like a particular bike. I probably wouldn't go to see the Temple unless I run out of possibilities I can try locally.

whereabouts are you?

 

[John_S]

Hi aynjrz,

I completely appreciate that if you're not near Bristol or London that makes trying Temple Bikes difficult but if you do want one of their bikes then they deliver to you. Plus you can choose mudguards and a rack under their optional extras for the bike.

Also if you want extra options to consider then Cube do quite a few flat bar bikes:-

https://www.cube.eu/uk/2020/bikes/urban/

As do VSF and many come with both mudguards and a rack:-

https://www.fahrradmanufaktur.de/en/fahrrad/trekkingrad.php

There's also some flat bar bikes in the Bombtrack range and they'd be over your £800 budget but I thought I'd mention them just in case they appeal as you've said that your budget is flexible for a bike that you like.

http://bombtrack.com/2020-urban/

According to the distributors website there are shops in Ambleside, Manchester, Congleton, Worcester, Cardiff, Bristol, Oxford, Lyndhurst and London.

https://www.lyon.co.uk/cycle/bombtrack-uk-stockists

 

[tribanjules]

I’ve bought pinnacle Pirolite with those 650x 47 rubbers.
very smoooooth indeed and great on road or canal path.

 

[aynjrz]

I'm near Oxford. I think I'd definitely prefer to look at bikes I can test ride here than try to buy mail order. Another possibility I was thinking of is the Decathlon flat bar Triban 500.

I should say that I really liked the 650b 47 tyres on the Konas I tried. My main concern is the fact that they're an unusual size, and would leave me with limited choices of alternative brands, plus a limited choice of other accessories like fenders.

One other thing - what would make a particular flat bar bike "faster" than another? Is it mainly a matter of how leaned-over or stretched-out the riding position is?

 

[vickster]

I'm near Oxford. I think I'd definitely prefer to look at bikes I can test ride here than try to buy mail order. Another possibility I was thinking of is the Decathlon flat bar Triban 500.

I should say that I really liked the 650b 47 tyres on the Konas I tried. My main concern is the fact that they're an unusual size, and would leave me with limited choices of alternative brands, plus a limited choice of other accessories like fenders.

One other thing - what would make a particular flat bar bike "faster" than another? Is it mainly a matter of how leaned-over or stretched-out the riding position is?

Nothing much. Slick tyres maybe. Lower weight a little depending on your weight. Comfort.
Speed comes more from the rider
Of course none of this matters much in traffic, an urban environment especualky on poor road surface

 

[HLaB]

I'm near Oxford. I think I'd definitely prefer to look at bikes I can test ride here than try to buy mail order. Another possibility I was thinking of is the Decathlon flat bar Triban 500.

I should say that I really liked the 650b 47 tyres on the Konas I tried. My main concern is the fact that they're an unusual size, and would leave me with limited choices of alternative brands, plus a limited choice of other accessories like fenders.

One other thing - what would make a particular flat bar bike "faster" than another? Is it mainly a matter of how leaned-over or stretched-out the riding position is?

A quicker road orientated hybrid will generally be lighter, have narrower tyres and will have a slightly more aggressive geometry. Whereas a slower MTB orientated hybrid is generally built for comfort it'll be heavier, have wider tyres and be more relaxed geometry wise/ more up right position.

Its several years since I owned both type of hybrid (road orientated and mtb orientated) but for the same motor (me) but IIRC the road orientated Sirrus would ave comfortably 15.5mph and the MTB orientated hybrid would comfortably ave 14mph. The weight, tyre size and geometry was the main difference.

FWIW, I commute on a drop bar triban 500 and a colleague commutes on a flat bar triban, they are great value for money IMO

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

One other thing - what would make a particular flat bar bike "faster" than another? Is it mainly a matter of how leaned-over or stretched-out the riding position is?

The laws of physics can't be disobeyed, and they apply to all cyclists regardless of how new and shiny a bike is. Even red painted Italian racing bikes are not exempt, despite what their owners might believe. If you want to go faster you have to reduce total drag, or increase rider power, or a combination of both..Flat bar bikes are inherently poor in aerodynamic terms, and the only big variable that can affect speed is tyre drag.
If you want a bike that you can ride longer distances on you need to focus on maximum comfort, not maximum speed. Cycle Tourists can cover some impressive mileages, but they will not usually be averaging more than about 10 or 11 mph.

 

[aynjrz]

Just saying thank you for the suggestions and advice. This gives me a few promising-looking options to try.

 

[SuperHans123]

Cannondale Treadwell perhaps?

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Ugly looking frame with those dropped seatstays. Doesn't look very rack-friendly either.
Much easier to commuterise something with a conventional frame design so long as it has clearance and mounts.