OK, back into the saddle - getting into cycling

[47p2]

I'm in the south side of Glasgow, the roads here are dreadful, definitely consider a CX with 32 tyres. Makes your ride so much smoother

[qska]

47p2 said:

I'm in the south side of Glasgow, the roads here are dreadful, definitely consider a CX with 32 tyres. Makes your ride so much smoother

Hardtail MTB with a nice suspension fork will make the road surface magically disappear

And you can fit it with slick tyres, mudguards if you wish, and a rear rack for transporting commuting stuff.

Plus it takes more effort to ride, so better exercise!

[AC43]

Daveyraveygravey said:

I'd second Evans, if you really want to try one or two, you can book it with them, give them your bank details so they know you're not going to ride round the corner never to be seen again and you can try anything they have for as long as you like. It helped me rule out a couple of possibilities when I was looking.

Agree

Daveyraveygravey said:

I would not rule out a road bike. They are plenty strong enough for the roads, so long as you don't crash up and down kerbs or actively look for potholes to ride into.

Not so sure on this one; I spend my commute in London battering across broken tarmac, hitting dropped drain covers and crashing into fissures, cracks and potholes. I'd rather be able to go straight through/over this sort of thing than weave erratically from side to side trying to avoid all the imperfections with fast approaching traffic behind me.

For cobbles this x 100.

Daveyraveygravey said:

I would rule out a flat bar bike.

I don't personally agree on this one. I can ride with flat bars for hours on end without a problem up to an including the London to Brighton.

In town I basically want to be (reasonably) upright at all times so I can easily see ahead and behind with my hands permanently hovering over the brake levers.

I grew up riding drops in traffic and once I want flat I never looked back.

But, back to you the point, the only way for the OP to decide is to try for himself.

[bakerstreet]

Magic919 said:

You are not meant to pay more than the voucher amount for the bike. Safety equipment to take you up to the voucher amount is ok. Separate bill and payment over that is fine.

Done it twice using the RTW scheme from Evans and it wasn't a problem. I know others who have used different schemes where they have paid more and it hasn't been an issue.

[Magic919]

Note the word 'meant'. I understand that people have done it. It makes the arrangement ineligible under the HMRC scheme.

[egor110]

Dr_Rick said:

Voucher for the bike, separate purchase and cash for anything else if it's over the limit. Fair enough.

Ideally I'd like to get everything inside the voucher. I just like to know the limits / systems before making the jump.

I couldn't even do that at halfords.

I had my cycle to work letter for £800 and i couldn't add any cash to make it up to £1000 which limited my choice.

My company give you a 2 week period to cancel before they send the paper work off , trouble is once the 2 weeks ended and the cycle2work people process it they'd increased the price of the bike i wanted !

[AC43]

The Canondale Bad Boy 2 might be worth a look. I haven't tried one but like the idea of the little suspension bung in the front forks.

https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-bad-boy-2-2...

[anonymous-user]

Dr_Rick said:

- I don't think a mountain bike is going to be explicitly needed.
- I just don't like the look / idea of a hybrid.
- I do like the look / idea of a cyclocross bike.
- Our roads are in such a poor condition, plus in Edinburgh there's the trams that means I'm unsure of the benefits of a roadbike.
- There appears to be a change of bike season, which means a bunch of bikes are on Sale at the moment, which could be financially beneficial.

Bang on right thinking.

If you're going to Evans, I've heard good things about the Jamis CX bikes. If you have a Halfords handy, have a look at the Boardmans.

[AC43]

Greg66 said:

I've heard good things about the Jamis CX bikes.

Jamis are a decent (if almost unknown) brand.

My OH has a Jamis hybrid with carbon forks and it's a great bit of kit for the money. My 12 year old has a Jamis MTB, also good.

[Daveyraveygravey]

Greg66 said:

Bang on right thinking.

If you're going to Evans, I've heard good things about the Jamis CX bikes. If you have a Halfords handy, have a look at the Boardmans.

Word of warning on the Boardman, a mate had one from Halfords on a CTW scheme. It had a squeaky bottom bracket, they had three goes at fixing it and he ended up with a better model. I think it is a known issue.

[Daveyraveygravey]

AC43 said:

...

In town I basically want to be (reasonably) upright at all times so I can easily see ahead and behind with my hands permanently hovering over the brake levers.

I don't understand why people think flat bars are that much more upright? If you ride on the tops of dropped handlebars, I think you are just as upright as a flat bar bike, and you can work the brakes from the top of the hoods. I don't have any issues riding in traffic with drop bars.
[quote]
But, back to you the point, the only way for the OP to decide is to try for himself.

Yup, there is no substitute for being able to ride it, preferably on the roads you will use it on.

[AC43]

Greg66 said:

If you have a Halfords handy, have a look at the Boardmans.

My BIL swears by his Boardman Hybrid Pro (now £800 instead of £1000).

Last year he toured the Orkneys on it and this year he did a few hundred miles in Germany.

[Dr_Rick]

Can't do Halfords as they're not in CycleScheme.co.uk

[egor110]

Daveyraveygravey said:

Greg66 said:

Bang on right thinking.

If you're going to Evans, I've heard good things about the Jamis CX bikes. If you have a Halfords handy, have a look at the Boardmans.

Word of warning on the Boardman, a mate had one from Halfords on a CTW scheme. It had a squeaky bottom bracket, they had three goes at fixing it and he ended up with a better model. I think it is a known issue.

Bear in mind canondale use the same make of bottom bracket as the boardman.

[egor110]

Dr_Rick said:

Can't do Halfords as they're not in CycleScheme.co.uk

In which case check out the eastway cx at wiggle , full hydraulic and 105

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/eastway-balun-c1-105-2016/

or the pinnacle 3 at evans

https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-arkose-3-2016...

[Magic919]

There was some talk of Boardman CX bikes with dry bottom brackets. Can just add grease if caught early.

[AC43]

Daveyraveygravey said:

I don't understand why people think flat bars are that much more upright? If you ride on the tops of dropped handlebars, I think you are just as upright as a flat bar bike, and you can work the brakes from the top of the hoods.

Well if i was going to ride round town of the top of the drops I might as well get straight bars.

Each to their own and all that.

In my case, when I was young I preferred drops when I was often doing 30-50 miles on deserted back roads in Fife and was trying to cycle through horrible headwinds/get the very last MPH on the descents.

But I've lived in cities ever since and prefer straight bars for that environment.

[anonymous-user]

egor110 said:

Daveyraveygravey said:

Greg66 said:

Bang on right thinking.

If you're going to Evans, I've heard good things about the Jamis CX bikes. If you have a Halfords handy, have a look at the Boardmans.

Word of warning on the Boardman, a mate had one from Halfords on a CTW scheme. It had a squeaky bottom bracket, they had three goes at fixing it and he ended up with a better model. I think it is a known issue.

Bear in mind canondale use the same make of bottom bracket as the boardman.

There is no way a squeaky bottom bracket will be cured by a new frame. A loose bottom bracket shell might be a reason to change the frame.

Single data points generally aren't helpful in deciding what to buy though.

[Banana Boy]

For all the talk of CXs MTBs etc. I wouldn't discount a good old touring bike!

You'll get a versatile frame that'll take decent sized tyres, drop bars, mud guards, back rack for paniers etc.

My Dawes Galaxy AL was £600 when new two years ago and I love it. I've probably spent another £600 on wheels, tyres and group set out of choice but even so. So far I've stripped it down and 'raced' it in the Tour of Cambridgeshire, it spent last winter with knobbly tyres on as a CX bike of sorts and this year she's kitted out to be my winter commuting/training bike!

[Dr_Rick]

So a little more education down the line, and I'm getting there (I think).

Is it better, under C2W scheme, to go for max bang for the buck on the bike? Or should I go sensible for the complete package within the voucher?

Examples being:

All the voucher on the bike: https://www.evanscycles.com/pinnacle-arkose-4-2016...
Space for extras: [url]

Some spare for accessories: https://www.evanscycles.com/cannondale-caadx-105-d...