Cycling UK Forum

PH wrote:

horizon wrote:jake: with the greatest respect (and I mean that) I cannot see how this bike could possibly meet his needs even if he was given one for free. It is hopelessly over specc'ed in some ways (titanium frame) and woefully underspecc'ed in others (no rack or mudguards). Am I completely missing the point here?? This bike may be wonderful to ride but I cannot see how it is fit for purpose and certainly isn't worth the money for the use it will be put to. Please someone tell me that I haven't fallen asleep and woken up on a different planet!

It's often sold as a touring bike, titanium has a reputation for a comfy ride and it has all the fittings for rack and mudguards.
It wouldn't be my choice, but with the price no more than some of the steel frames being suggested it certainly deserves consideration.

PH: fair points. I got most of my information from Cass Gilbert's review. He rated it highly but time and time again he flagged up things that weren't quite right for touring (eg wheels and gear ratios). My impression is that bikes like this really come from the direction of road to touring - ideal for fast getting about with just a little more of what it takes to be able to stay overnight somewhere. I suppose I have an unusually high opinion of the rugged tourer - the bike that can get you anywhere with everything at a reasonable and comfortable pace. I accept that that is not everyone's idea of heaven - lots of people want it faster and lighter. Would it be better for the OP? I still don't think so - he doesn't need the speed. But who knows....

PS I also agree that the way forward very often is that second bike, just as you cannot expect to be able to do everything with just one pair of shoes.

I've enjoyed reading all of your responses and, until the titanium posting, I think we'd concluded that the ride difference between 520 and 725/853 et al was minimal and didn't warrant spending 1k or more to get back to more or less the same position. That's fair enough, I can accept that and would be quite happy to, say get some new wheels and improve the braking and conclude that's as (relatively) good as its going to get. That leaves me with a shedload of change to perhaps think about another faster tourer as PH suggests or perhaps even a budget road bike for those evening exercise runs. That said ...

... the titanium suggestion is not one I'd previously considered but it certainly is giving me some food for thought! Looking at the Van Nicholas Amazon, this does indeed seem to be a fast tourer/audax style with provision for rack, guards etc although I'm not taken with the idea of a carbon fork and generally roadie kit and, really, the price is a bit much.

I think the problem with todays consumer market is that there are just too many choices, I usually try and analyse all of them, get fed up and end up doing nothing! If only Dawes would bring out a ti framed Horizon!

If the current bike is comfortable why change it?
Why not spend a couple of hundred quid on a new set of wheels and the rest of your budget going touring somewhere?

reohn2 wrote:

NewHorizon wrote:reohn2: re SJS, no, I haven't looked at the SJS Club, but I will, although I've never really felt comfortable with Thorn's way of doing business ...

Could you explain?

You could start here http://www.anothercyclingforum.com/inde ... iewResults

The Club Tour spec is actually pretty good, apart from the two ugly colours on offer, which don't make it look too good. Obviously Thorn's redheaded stepchild, given that they eschew both derailleurs and 700c wheels with a vengeance these days ...

iaincullen wrote:If the current bike is comfortable why change it?

Indeed. A friend related something the late George Longstaff had told him. People would order a bike 'just like my old one' and insist on the same fork rake, geometry and tube lengths saying how comfortable it was. His answer was, 'don't bother, hang onto your old one'.

My original post said the Horizon was relatively comfortable but that I didn't have anything to compare it to. My question was if I splashed £1k on an Ultra Galaxy or similar would it make a difference? I think we concluded it would, but it would be marginal and the money might be better spent on holidays/peripherals etc. I've thought about better wheels but I've thought more about jake's suggestion of Van Nicholas Amazon which moves into Audax geometry, something I'd not really considered before, and being titanium is something a little unusual. VN seem to have really thought through what’s required for light touring, not just added a couple of token mudguard eyes. I like the semi-compact sloping top tube but more appealing is the 10lb weight reduction from the Horizon!

Spa cycles have recently started selling "Sunday" racing/audax titanium bikes. They have also been road testing a "tourer" and this will be on sale in a month or so. They were unsure of the final prices but it will be a bit cheaper than the Van Nick.

Very interesting, thanks, I'll keep a keen eye out for news on that. Would that be the 'Lucky Seven; that's obliquely mentioned on the Sunday web site?

I'm sorry I don't know. "Lucky Seven" doesn't sound like a great name for a touring bike!!
My experience of dealing with Spa over the years has been totally positive and I'm sure when they help develop a titanium tourer it will be up there with the best of them. Lets wait and see.

NewHorizon wrote:

reohn2 wrote:

NewHorizon wrote:reohn2: re SJS, no, I haven't looked at the SJS Club, but I will, although I've never really felt comfortable with Thorn's way of doing business ...

Could you explain?

You could start here http://www.anothercyclingforum.com/inde ... iewResults

The Club Tour spec is actually pretty good, apart from the two ugly colours on offer, which don't make it look too good. Obviously Thorn's redheaded stepchild, given that they eschew both derailleurs and 700c wheels with a vengeance these days ...

I haven't read the whole thread in the link but 68%said good service 29% fair service and 2.6% bad service, seems like SJS are doing pretty good according to that poll IMO.

PS, though I do agree about colour choice,it could be a little more varied/exciting.

I suppose it will nearly always be the case that those who are dissatisfied will often post and those that are satisfied will often not. I had both good and bad service from SJS in my Moulton days, I generally go elsewhere these days now I'm back to 700c and the choice is so much wider.

NewHorizon wrote:I suppose it will nearly always be the case that those who are dissatisfied will often post and those that are satisfied will often not. I had both good and bad service from SJS in my Moulton days, I generally go elsewhere these days now I'm back to 700c and the choice is so much wider.

I can only speak as I find and on the occasions I've used them find them quite good

Years ago whilst living not far from SJS, I visited a good few times. I found that if you knew what you wanted and were prepared to discuss with them then they were very good. If they got the feeling that you were not an experienced rider they could be a bit dismissive. They are also overpriced in my view. After looking around for a budget tourer I ended up going to another shop in Bridgwater and bought a Dawes Horizon. I really loved that machine but unfortunately it died after about 13000 miles when the bottom bracket shell corroded away, perhaps with a little more care from me it would have had a longer life.

D