Winter Commuter & Shopping

[confusedcyclist]

Time for N+1

With autumn fast approaching I'm looking for a winter commuter which takes full fenders and mudguards. I'll be using it to do a bit of food shopping too. I'm not particularly fussed about choosing between drops or flat bar. I'd like to be able to take to canal tow paths, I don't currently do any off roading, but I'd like the option incase I move house and I get to choose a new route.

I have a Giant Defy 1 which I love to bits, but it doesn't take racks and my particular frame size has really poor clearance for mudguards so I need a new bike!

Budget £1000 absolute max which should include the rack and mudguards if at all possible. I have always fancied a cyclocross bike, I won't be racing, but taking it into the local woods when I'm not picking up milk would be awesome.

Any thoughts?

 

[outlash]

Get a crosser, you won't regret it.

 

[KneesUp]

Nice old rigid mountain bike for £100 off eBay and over £800 spare even after you've bought the racks and appropriate tyres?

 

[vickster]

Planet X London road?

 

[BigCoops]

Planet X London road?

This +1

The cable disc version (Avid BB7) comes in at £800, I've got one as a winter commuter, to be honest, since it arrived, I've not touched the road bike.

 

[confusedcyclist]

Nice old rigid mountain bike for £100 off eBay and over £800 spare even after you've bought the racks and appropriate tyres?

I already have a hack, just no fun to ride. Too heavy, had a nightmare trying to find fitting components etc, while I'm all up for saving cash, hassle of dealing with old MTB rebuilds is no fun for me anymore

P X London looks good, I'll try get down to the Sheffield store this weekend to test ride one.

 

[KneesUp]

I already have a hack, just no fun to ride. Too heavy, had a nightmare trying to find fitting components etc, while I'm all up for saving cash, hassle of dealing with old MTB rebuilds is no fun for me anymore

P X London looks good, I'll try get down to the Sheffield store this weekend to test ride one.

I already have a hack, just no fun to ride. Too heavy, had a nightmare trying to find fitting components etc, while I'm all up for saving cash, hassle of dealing with old MTB rebuilds is no fun for me anymore

P X London looks good, I'll try get down to the Sheffield store this weekend to test ride one.

Nice 1" non-suspension corrected forks are hard to find but apart from that (and it's not an every day item!) not much has changed has it?

As you said you wanted it for shopping and commuting I didn't think weight was that important .

 

[vickster]

If you fancy steel and a bit of a bargain, look at this too at PX

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXKAFFAPEX/planet-x-kaffenback-sram-apex-road-bike

Or if you are taller and take a L or XL frame and want something more rufty tufty

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBOODDAPEX/on-one-dirty-disco-sram-apex-cyclocross-bike

Although carbon may be a bit full on for shopping and fitting a rack needs more imagination

 

[vickster]

Or on special from Dolan with 105 if preferred over SRAM

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/dolan-cy...ti-x-aluminium-cyclo-cross-bike-105-5800.html

 

[confusedcyclist]

As you said you wanted it for shopping and commuting I didn't think weight was that important .

For shopping no, but I like to get to work as quickly as possible, it's 9 miles at the moment with lots of steep hills! Add panniers and mudguards and I'll have some tired ole' legs.

By fitting components, I meant the pannier rack, this particular frame was a nightmare. I've been through three different types of rack, the only one that worked as a seatpost but with a max weight of 10kg including the pannier sacks, it's useless for shopping!

 

[confusedcyclist]

If you fancy steel and a bit of a bargain, look at this too at PX
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXKAFFAPEX/planet-x-kaffenback-sram-apex-road-bike

I actually quite fancy a steel for longevity of frame... the blue one looks pretty

 

[vickster]

Other options from genesis of course, croix de fer

 

[vickster]

SRAM good for hills with compact double and 11-32 on the back

 

[confusedcyclist]

Thanks Vickster, you've given me plenty to go on there

 

[vickster]

@confusedcyclist

http://www.wheelbase.co.uk/genesis-croix-de-fer-20-2015.html?___SID=U