Cycling UK Forum

Hi all

I have the opportunity with the cycle to work scheme to replace my ageing GT MTB hard tail, but I am a bit confused as to what might be a good replacement. I have been cycling for about 5 years now, mainly keeping off the roads, but I want to move onto the road more and go exploring, and maybe even join a local club. But at the same time I enjoy off road so looking for something that will cater for the lot, as I can only afford to have one bike. Also my normal commute to work involves both road and off road riding. I have looked at the possibility of keeping my GT, though it is needing some work on it, and buying a road bike, however they don't seem to have the facility for attaching racks and mug guards for possibly light touring. A cyclocross bike is another possibility, but I wonder how these will be received in the cubs, and if they are of any use for sportives etc. that I may like to get involved in, in the future. One big restriction that also concerns me, is my company use Halfords for the cycle to work scheme, and they don't appear to have a very wide range of suitable cycles on offer.

Many thanks for any advice...

At the risk of boring everyone, this is from Halfords and over the last few weeks it has been off road too. It has the gears and wheels for it, and, its nominally a commuter bike.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=36102&hilit=for+a+song

Al

An idea of how much your budget would be would help.

I believe the cycle to work max is £1000 so that will be my max, though I would prefer not to use it all on the bike, and have some left over for accessories....

southernsteve wrote: I wonder how these will be received in the cubs

a club that sneers at your choice of cycle isn't worth being part of, imho

good luck in your search for a bike that'll do everything.

hubgearfreak wrote:

southernsteve wrote: I wonder how these will be received in the cubs

a club that sneers at your choice of cycle isn't worth being part of, imho

good luck in your search for a bike that'll do everything.

I'm not sure that the cubs will mind what sort of bike you ride.

If you're looking to join a road riding club, then i suggest something with dropped handlebars. Depending on the severity of your off-road excursions, then either a tourer (which will cope with canal towpaths and reasonable tracks) or a cyclo-cross bike (which will cope with something a bit more extreme). However, if you choose a cross bike, then you could do with 2 sets of wheels, one with knobby tyres for off-road work and one with smooth tyres for on-road, to save you constantly having to swap tyres. You can ride cross tyres on the road, but they're not the best for grip or speed.

Cross bikes - perhaps a Genesis Vapour? Or a Planet X Kaffenback? Or the sometimes maligned Specialised Tricross?

Tourers - Dawes Horizon/Galaxy, Ridgeback Voyage.

These should all come in under your £1000 budget.

Halfords should be able to source any bike you choose, but they do stock the Voodoo Limba cross bike and their own range of Carrera bikes are v. good value for money. The Vanquish is capable of taking rack and mudguards, but wouldn't be very good off road.

southernsteve wrote:
One big restriction that also concerns me, is my company use Halfords for the cycle to work scheme, and they don't appear to have a very wide range of suitable cycles on offer.

The Halfords can order a wider to those that appear on the website. You can always try contacting them directly to see if they can get what you want. Scroll down to the bottom of this page: http://www.cycle2work.info/siteadvicecentrebrand to see what they claim to have.

Surly, Kona an Dawes are mentioned amongst others.

If you buy from Halfords I think you get any additional 10% in free accessories. Some independent retailers accept them, eg Condor, but you lose a % for administration and don't get the free accesories.

Thanks for the replies

Been having a hunt around and the Tricross Sport certainly looks good, though the thought of having to get an extra set of wheels does put me off a bit, especially when I look at my current set up on my MTB, having semi's on it already, and actually realising I tend to have the suspension set on lockout anyway. At a price of around £850 plus the wheels it doesn't leave much scope for extras, though I haven't dismissed it yet. A friend of mine has recently bought one and is about to use it for a LEJOG.

Going along the lines of keeping the MTB and having a separate road bike, I have been looking closely at the Specialzed Secteur Sport. It does come with an inferior groupset, however at around £650 I would have scope to upgrade. Looking at the promo stuff and one or two reviews, it seems to tick a number of boxes, ie comes with a triple chainring, can accommodate a rack, and appears to be designed for long rides. Also appears to be capable of taking some rough roads, though obviously not off road. Only downside I can see is it wont take mudguards, but then thats not the end of the world for a fair weather cyclist like me. I tend not to go out if it's wet.

Can anybody recommend this bike, or pass comment on it?

Many thanks, Steve

I've been looking at a new road bike and quite like the look of the Trek 1.2 and 1.5. 1.2 is mostly Sora equipment on a reasonable alu frame, and the 1.5 has Tiagra on the same frame, I think. The advantage of the Trek over the Specialised is that they will take mudguards. During the winter months, the roads tend to be wet, even if it's not raining and without guards, you and your bike get filthy. Both the 1.2 and 1.5 are available with triple groupset.

Thanks BigT.

Does the Trek 1.5 take a rack though? For me this is more important than mud guards

southernsteve wrote:Thanks for the replies

Been having a hunt around and the Tricross Sport certainly looks good, though the thought of having to get an extra set of wheels does put me off a bit, especially when I look at my current set up on my MTB, having semi's on it already, and actually realising I tend to have the suspension set on lockout anyway. At a price of around £850 plus the wheels it doesn't leave much scope for extras, though I haven't dismissed it yet. A friend of mine has recently bought one and is about to use it for a LEJOG.

Can anybody recommend this bike, or pass comment on it?

Many thanks, Steve

You don't have to have 2 sets of wheels its just better if you do, you can get hybrid tyres Which I believe the tricross comes with or you can just put road tyres on.

southernsteve wrote:Thanks BigT.

Does the Trek 1.5 take a rack though? For me this is more important than mud guards

Not seen one "in the flesh", but it has the fittings for a rack:

http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/1_series/15/

I'm in your situation and having a good look at the Kona Jake (£678 Wiggle) it ticks the boxes, now I just have to find one near me to try! Might go second hand if one turns up.

Well I have decided to keep the MTB and go for a road bike and have narrowed it down to a possible 3.

Specialized Allez Elite
Trek 1.5 Triple
Scott Speedster S30

They are all the same price and have pretty much the same spec. though the Allez Elite is only a double.

If I may, can anybody point me to which one may be the best choice. I will try all three if I can, but as new to road bikes I'd like to know a little about what I am looking for.

Many thanks, Steve