Winter Road Bike

[Maherees]

Hi all,

having just being out in the rain and occasionally pot-holed roads I am coming over to the idea of a winter bike that can take a bit more punishment than my lightweight road bike, I'd welcome any opinions on the final 3 I have in my list:
https://www.boardmanbikes.com/gb_en/products/2232-adv-9.0.html
https://www.rutlandcycling.com/bike...VQf7l6WZn2LleiYYaSRoCgUYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
https://www.whyte.bike/wessex/

I have a Boardman 29er and love it to pieces but my road bike always feels a little unstable on the UK roads so I'd look for the speed of a road bike but with MTB characteristics. Possibly, also occasionally, ride along a stony canal path. I'd mainly use it for club rides in the 12-14 category.
thanks

 

[Racing roadkill]

https://www.cyclerepublic.com/catal...man-mtx-8-8-mens-hybrid-bike-2019/category/2/

This is superb, it’s the replacement for the old MX comp.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/riverside-920-hybrid-bike-id_8405267.html

This has a higher spec, and is also superb.

 

[Maherees]

Thanks for the suggestions - I was rather hoping to pay a little more so I narrowed it down to the choices I mentioned.

I like the fact that the Boardman will take either the 650b wide wheels of will also accept 700c. So could swing between some hard riding in the winter and pure road riding in the summer. Not sure how tough the frame is and there have no reviews on this bike as yet.

 

[wonderloaf]

Sounds like you had similar requirements to me, in the end I've gone for a Ribble CGR Ti:

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-ti/

It seems Ribble are really getting into this type of bike and have just announced a few new models which they call CGR (Cross, Gravel, Road):

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=cgr

Loads of models to suit every pocket and all can be customised through their Bikebuilder.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Sounds like you had similar requirements to me, in the end I've gone for a Ribble CGR Ti:

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-ti/

It seems Ribble are really getting into this type of bike and have just announced a few new models which they call CGR (Cross, Gravel, Road):

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=cgr

Loads of models to suit every pocket and all can be customised through their Bikebuilder.

They’ve still missed the ‘O from the stickers.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Thanks for the suggestions - I was rather hoping to pay a little more.

Okaaayyy.

I like the fact that the Boardman will take either the 650b wide wheels of will also accept 700c. So could swing between some hard riding in the winter and pure road riding in the summer. Not sure how tough the frame is and there have no reviews on this bike as yet.

It uses the frame design from the old MX bikes, based on that, I’d say it’s pretty sturdy.

 

[Racing roadkill]

My biggest concern with the drop bar ‘adventure / gravel’ bikes, is the fact they take all the worst bits from a CX bike, and the most unsuitable bits from a road bike, and stick it together, to give a bike that isn’t as quick as a CX bike, in CX conditions, and doesn’t work as a road bike either. I find them generally to be so wide of the mark, as far as the purpose they are supposedly designed for, as to be pointless.

 

[wonderloaf]

My biggest concern with the drop bar ‘adventure / gravel’ bikes, is the fact they take all the worst bits from a CX bike, and the most unsuitable bits from a road bike, and stick it together, to give a bike that isn’t as quick as a CX bike, in CX conditions, and doesn’t work as a road bike either. I find them generally to be so wide of the mark, as far as the purpose they are supposedly designed for, as to be pointless.

But it's not all about speed is it?

 

[Racing roadkill]

But it's not all about speed is it?

Yeah it is. If your not smashing it, what’s the point?

 

[StuAff]

+1 for the Ribble.
And as for gravel bikes being slower than more conventional road bikes...bunk, if you set them up right. My Litespeed (which is most definitely a gravel bike, and in my case most definitely set up for road use) is as fast as my Viner on good roads, and faster on grotty potholed ones.

 

[wonderloaf]

Yeah it is. If your not smashing it, what’s the point?

Spoken like a true pro. I can see where you got your forum moniker from!

 

[tom73]

I got to cast my eye over Ribble's new model's yesterday they are sure worth a look they plenty of options all round. In fact I think one will be heading my my. Play around with the bike builder and see what you get.

 

[tom73]

I like the fact that the Boardman will take either the 650b wide wheels of will also accept 700c. So could swing between some hard riding in the winter and pure road riding in the summer.

Ribble's new CGR will take both too.

 

[wonderloaf]

+1 for the Ribble.
And as for gravel bikes being slower than more conventional road bikes...bunk, if you set them up right. My Litespeed (which is most definitely a gravel bike, and in my case most definitely set up for road use) is as fast as my Viner on good roads, and faster on grotty potholed ones.

Before I ordered the Ribble CGR I compared it's geometry with my other bike (a PX Pro Carbon) and TBH I don't see a lot of difference, it's got a longer wheelbase and shorter top tube and a slacker fork angle. I'm very happy with the PX but just wanted to be able to put on bigger tyres and proper mudguards so that I could do a bit of soft off-roading. Also liked that it's got a threaded BB so easy to change and no creaks!

 

[Maherees]

Thanks for the useful replies. I do like those Ribble bikes!

I would add that I have once owned the Boardman CX and just could not get used to it. The geometry was really odd, it felt like I was lying over the bike!

I take the point about the worst of both but I'll never be a club class 'A' rider now but want something that can cope with the omnipresent British postholes and rough roads and not makes me feel like a juddering wreck post ride.