UKC

Contemplating a new bike but don't know what to go for. Currently ride a Specialized Stumpjumper FS for everything but it's perhaps overkill for my gentle commute to work

Not sure whether to go for a hardtail or perhaps a cross bike?

Would be used for commuting (cinder track/hard packed cycle tracks + some road), cycle touring, gentle off road e.g. high peak trail sort of thing.

Budget maybe somewhere around £600

In reply to ebygomm:

I'm currently looking at one of these for similar purposes, will be test riding it this weekend hopefully:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/norco/indie-drop-2-2013-road-bike-ec041...

http://www.norco.com/bikes/city/urban/indie-drop/indie-drop-2/

Compact road layout, but a slightly sturdier build than a full roadie. Takes panniers.

Bloke in the shop described it as one of a genre of bikes starting to emerge in North America known as "Gravel bikes" - basically a road bike beefed up for gentle off road, but lighter than a cyclocross bike.

Might be worth a look.

In reply to ebygomm:


Can only say good things about the Specialized Tricross. Have had it over 3 years now and use it precisely for what you describe above. Other CX bikes are probably just as good, never had a need to try any of them though.

In reply to ebygomm: Maybe the wrong size but how about a tourer/audax bike like this one:

ebay no 181205182478

I have a Nomad which is great as a do it all and you can load it with luggage and bags.

cheers

Toby

In reply to Toby_W:

Ideally i want something with disk brakes and not keen on drops.

No idea on sizing, don't understand anything beyond small/medium and large!

In reply to ebygomm: drops are the business...recently made the change from flats and they are just so much more comfortable.
although my commute is 30 miles each way and would highl;y reccommend a cross bike

In reply to ebygomm:

Yes a Tricross makes an excellent commuter / winter bike with mudguards / tourer with rack / all-surface bike on standard 32mm tyres. You can even fit 23mm road tyres and it will go quite fast. Mine has disc brakes, which are even better for wet muddy conditions.

CX bikes are fast up hills and on the flat but fairly rubbish on rocky downhill stuff.

In reply to Chris Harris:


I thought they were slightly heavier than CX bikes and generally had flat bars? Planet X are doing the Dirty Disco gravel made up that way.

Although here, the bikes seem a real mix http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/sports/wind-cant-stop-cyclings-gravel-gri...

In reply to TobyA:

Cycling 100 miles on gravel sounds fairly hideous to me!

As I currently only have a full suspension mountainbike wondering if something that could take on some light mountainbike duties would be more suitable for me

e.g. something like this http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/crosstrail-comp-disc-2014-h...

In reply to ebygomm:

Crosstrail ruled out, just doesn't fit. Stupidly wide bars 660cm on a small bike seems like madness to me.

Current front runner

http://www.cyclesuk.com/50359/products/merida-speeder-t2d-road-bike.aspx

Although tempted by this also

http://merida-bikes.com/en_gb/bike/2013/59/CROSS/Cyclo+Cross+4

In reply to ebygomm:

I have the merida cross 4

Excellent value for money.

Try before you buy and check the toe overlap.A bit challenging at low speed tight turns but ok once you get used to it. Not a problem offroad tbh

Hayes disc brake- perfectly adequate for offroad duties including steep balls on the back wheel descents but not as good as avid bb7

saddle - weird design for arses larger than mine

Also has full rack mounts to set up as a touring machine

great overall first cross bike. If you are axnywhere near kendal you are welcome to come out for a proper test ride on mine ( i now have another cross bike,. n+1 )

In reply to ebygomm:


reckon youre getting to middle age now so you should be looking to get a Harley or at least a 190mph Japanese jobby .