Cycling UK Forum

First post so a quick intro:-

I have been in to cycling for around 25 years, started in early eighties with a Raleigh Pulsar, cycling about 100 miles a week to school and back. First job enabled me to build a 531c frame up with shimano 600 groupset - still hanging in the garage, looking a bit sorry for itself now.

I have been riding a Scott Competition XC mountain bike for the last 6 years or so, and love it, however I am now looking for something a bit quicker for the road. Had considered just buying new rims/tyres/chainring for the Scott but that seems a bit of a pain.

Through the Government scheme, I am able to get a £1k bike for just £14.09 a month over 3 years - total of around £500.

So, on my list at the moment are:-

Kona PHD
Trek 7.7fx
Marin Mill Valley

Does anyone have any experience of these, or anything similar that is not on the list that they would recommend?

Many thanks

Matt

The Trek looks nice.

Matt,

I'm not familiar with your Scott, but have recently bought a 2007 PhD bike as a replacement/alternative to an old 531c race bike and a mountain bike.

I'm keeping the mountain bike for rough trails, so allowing the road bike to concentrate on being fast on the road - hence the PhD. The PhD really is very light, fast, confidence inspiring and I've just got back from a light tour of the Lakes fells and it did brilliantly. My only reservations are (i) clearances for mudguards at the front aren't great, so check the 2008 model out carefully (2008 forks are now made in-house at Kona). On the 2007 model a slim race guard just fits past 25mm tires, but foot clearances are so tight its a fine adjustment (ii) you get more vibration through the crank from rutted tarmac that a steel 531c frame, but that's Ali for you. Otherwise, the highest recommendations.

If you have a grand to play with I'd also check out the Thorn Audax Mk3.

Paul

Are you sure you wouldn't be better off with a tourer? I only ask because it's a mistake I've already made myself.

What sort of commuting do you want to do? I would second johnmac about considering a tourer, or at least an Audax. Mind you if you have to have flat bars then your options are smaller.

I suppose where I'm coming from is that I commute once a week an road but they are pot-holed and with plenty of tramlines etc. I'm not sure that I'd want to have such lightweight wheels (the kona has 20 spokes, my tourer has 36!). Also worth considering is whether you want to carry clobber and if so how much? Also will it rain when you commute, answer probably yes! Final question is whether you need low gears? Are there any major hills around you.

If I had a grand I'd go for a drop bar audax (if I didn't need to carry much) or a tourer if I did!

Worth noting that many of the posters on this forum are riders of touring bikes so you'll get them recommended to you. Much of the rest of the world hasn't even heard of them so won't!

My choice would be a Hewitt Cheviot or maybe the Thorn equivalent (Club tour or Sherpa) with straight bars
as a possible alternative..............................but then, that's me !!