Which Spa cycles bike?

[Tangled Metal]

I know there's some on here who rate spa cycles and own one so I thought I'd ask.

What spa cycle beat suits daily commute with one cycle tour a year? Both myself and my partner are looking at something better to hopefully get a motivation factor and to become faster.

I do half hour commute and my partner 1 hour 15 minutes (I can do her route in less than an hour but not boasting,I'm still slow).

Current bikes are London road from PX and a hard tail mtb with 1.75" City slickers on.

Looked at things like steel tourer, wayfarer and audax from spa. I'm thinking something with a rear rack and guards. If not Spa then what else? Budget not much but we both considered a £1600 TdF from genesis once (o% credit over 3 years was a good deal, even give that after September sales reduced it to £1300 last year). So think on that as an "if we must" sort of top limit for price.

[irc]

I can't see past the Spa Tourer for the money - £985. Including a choice of ratios on the chainrings and a choice of rims. And top quality rear rack.

I own one and find the handling flawless. I've toured with two full rear panniers and a 2kg tent on the rack and it still handled great. If £985 is a stretch get a new credit card that allows interest free purchses and pay it off over a couple of years. For example

https://www.sainsburysbank.co.uk/credit ... ALL_091501

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/credi ... ngestdeals

The Surly Long Haul trucker, for example is a great bike but it's £200 more than the Spa and doesn't include a rack or mudguards so tht's another £100 for a bike that isn't any better. I think my Trucker has more stable steering than my Spa but it's really marginal and just down to preference. I could't say it's any better or worse.

[reohn2]

^^^ This!

[pwa]

For the money, have to agree.

[PH]

I have absolutely no need for another bike, or the space, or the cash, yet I still keep looking at the Elan...
I wouldn't let your one tour a year overly influence the decision, yes it needs to be capable of it, but I'd prefer a little compromise there rather than the hundreds of other hours you'll be riding it. Price - yes it's a little over your specified budget, but I don't buy stuff that way, I choose what I want and then work out how to pay for it. IME I tend to keep those things I haven't compromised over longer, which in the long run is better value.
I think I heard mention of a steel version of the Elan coming sometime, though that may well have been wishful thinking. Having had a Ti bike and a few good quality steel ones, I'm not sold on the Ti advantages other than having no paint to scratch.
This is the only bike Spa advertise thus:
"Come to the shop and take a test ride. If it doesn't put a grin on your face, don't buy one."

[pwa]

I have a Spa Ti Audax and is is great, but it wouldn't handle so well with a lot of baggage. And as the Dad in the party you will be carrying a lot on expeditions. I'd not go down the Audax bike route if I expected to have to load up occasionally. And a tourer makes a good commuter.

[gbnz]

Have to suggest that if the bulk of your cycling is on your commute, I'd pick up something suitable for that.

I've a Spa Tourer and it's perfectly ok, but nothing special. Have to admit my touring mileage on a flat barred road bike and a cyclo cross bike, hugely outweigh my touring mileage on a purpose built touring bike (Nb. Though the Spa is more comfortable for touring than the cyclo cross bike).

But it's notable that I've only ever had one rear wheel distort out of shape after relatively limited use - my only hand made, touring wheel from a certain touring specialist. Likewise I've only ever had headset problems on one bike - my only purpose built touring bike, c/w with a "heavy duty" set of headset bearings. Likewise I've only ever owned one bike where the paint finish deteriated to the point of ideally needing a respray after 2-3 years use.....my purpose built touring bike. In short, Spa bikes are ok, but like many small scale, craftsman designed/built products, you may suffer from a range of issues we've all forgotten about, in this day of perfect, factory built bikes!

[iandriver]

Magic question might be is that tour a loaded camping one. If you are after a bike for both of you, then if one is a slightly built female who doesn't weigh 10 stone sopping wet, then the tourer might be overkill for them, especially if only BnB stays are involved.

[geocycle]

Take a careful look at their demonstrator models, there are some bargains to be had. I agree the tourer is excellent value. I’m enjoying the spa audax, but as an all round bike the tourer or for more money the elan look great.

[Brucey]

FWIW it sounds like your partner needs a swifter bike a bit more than you do. Are they going to get on with dropped handlebars etc?

cheers

[thelawnet]

FWIW it sounds like your partner needs a swifter bike a bit more than you do. Are they going to get on with dropped handlebars etc?

cheers

Indeed, a 75 minute commute on a suspended mtb?

[slowster]

daily commute with one cycle tour a year

This is key. At this stage of the decision making process, I would suggest you forget about the annual tour for the moment and forget about particular bike brands, Spa or otherwise. If the bikes will be used for daily commuting, especially if that means summer and winter, rain or shine, then that needs to be your priority.

Since your partner has a much longer commute, is slower and has a much less suitable bike than you, I would start by focusing on what criteria would define the optimum bike for her daily commute, taking into account all the relevant factors, e.g.
- the distance
- how hilly it is
- how bad or good the road surfaces are
- what the luggage requirements are and the weight of what will be carried
- braking requirements (if my commute would include significant descents in the rain and/or muddy roads, then I would probably want good quality cable disc brakes)
- the need for lighting to see by vs. lighting just to be seen by
- the compromises that she might or might not be willing to make, e.g. whether to sacrifice a bit of speed for the inferior ride and weight of Marathon Plus tyres in return for the greater puncture resistance.

Once she has a clear idea of what she wants and needs for that commute, only then consider if a touring type bike would fit those requirements, possibly with some tweaks, e.g. flat bars instead of drops or a triple instead of a compact double. And only then look at what bikes Spa and others had that would fit the bill.

If I were in your shoes I would also just get her sorted out for now, and be prepared to use your current budget just on her bike and any necessary accessories. If you end up getting her something a lot better (and more expensive) than what you are currently considering, and it provides her with the extra pleasure and motivation that you are both seeking, then it will also motivate you both to save up (or spend savings) on something similarly nice for you.

[Tangled Metal]

I've got a recumbent for loaded touring. I fancy going back to upright touring (after one 'bent tour). However tbh I've got the feeling this year we're foregoing a cycle tour. There's talk of a nice, warm holiday somewhere with lots of pools. Or a fortnight in Pembrokeshire. Very fluid plans. Might also do the Danube with rental trekkers.

I think for us both a faster bike that can take panniers for commuting and leisure rides might be better than a tourer. I thought the audax bike might handle a commuting load but be a bit nippier than a fully specced tourer.

Past ideas have been the pinnacle road hybrids from Evans, the tour de fer on flat bar (the 20 version iirc) for my partner. You're right about not 10 stone when wet through. She prefers a flat bar but I did nearly get her thinking about drops.

I thought about the croix or tour de fer for me in the past but I got the bent instead for £500 secondhand. Used that fully loaded and then some. Realised I don't like being the pack mule for the family. At least we got the lad carrying his toys in panniers or id have had them too.

Just did my first commute of the year. Yes! I know I've been lazy. By now of have done most commutes by bike so I know I've been lazy. I've not been on a bike since last working week before Xmas. So I found it slow and hard. My commute is approximately half the length of my partner's I used to do it consistently at 26 to 28 minutes without fail. Last year in spring my times dropped to 28-30 minutes. Today it was 38 minutes.

I'm simply not able to get the speed. My pulse rarely gets into the higher hr levels for peak fitness. I used to do 8 minutes in peak levels about 85 to 90% of theoretical max hr according to my fitbit surge. Not got much further than fat burning levels since last spring.

Basically I need a new bike too for motivation and to n reduce weight if possible. As the wind strength picked up in the lead up to the halfway hill I even thought switching bags to my custom frame bag and possibly the rack top bag. Possibly remove the rack and get a seat pack instead. I need something to get back to fitness. A change in bone or use of new gadget sometimes gives me that motivation.

My partner just needs something lighter and more road oriented I think. A faster, hybrid fit her. Reduce the weight to below 10kg should help with say 35mm tyres like hypers.

My bike is about 10kg with rack my old road bike is 9.5 kg without a rack (nearly 30 year old steel road bike). I think a genesis equinox type of bike might be ok for me. Also with hypers but perhaps 32mm for me.

Perhaps there's something better.

BTW this thread started after my partner suggested a £740 spa tourer ex demo.

[pwa]

A classic Audax bike, like the Spa one, would be a good commuter. They do take a moderate load very nicely. It is what they are built for.

10 kg is light enough for the bike. Think of the weight it will be carrying. You and your baggage. And water. Keep the wheel / tyre weight down and don't worry too much about saving grams off a fork.

[Tangled Metal]

I'm about 86kg and probably carry about 10kg of kit. It all adds up.