Anyone know of any decent bike selection tools?

[Kermit power]

Even though I have a few months to find what I'm looking for, and will doubtless end up changing everything based on next year's models, I'm getting frustrated trying to find some way of narrowing down all the gazillions of bikes out there to get a short list.

Pretty much everywhere lets you narrow down by price and basic bike type, but nowhere seems to go further than that?

I basically want a road bike. It has to be suitable for commuting (30 mile round trip), so has to have rack mounting eyelets, but on the assumption I'm going to get fitter and lighter, I want something I can strip down to take around the Surrey Hills on weekends.

There's the first point - I'd love to be able to chuck out anything that doesn't have eyelets!

Next point up, I don't think I want a carbon frame - I'd be too worried about scratching it on the commute and buggering the frame - but am happy to look at aluminium, steel or titanium. Again, I can't find anywhere that lets me select by frame material.

Does anyone know of anywhere I can do this sort of search?

[Beyond Rational]

I don't know where you'd find such a thing, but it does sound like a brilliant idea. It would be great to enter a set of geometry, weight, travel etc. parameters and in return receive a list of bikes or frames that fit the bill.

[dubbs]

Why a rack if it is only 15 each way out of interest? I've always used a decent bike rucksack that clips across the waist as well and never had any problems, you got a lot to carry?

Maybe a Dawes? You'd be looking for a more touring style bike with relaxed geometry... I don't think any road racer will have mudguard and rack allowance.

[anonymous-user]

How much stuff a you carrying every day? Do you have to carry a laptop and charger or could you carry a memory stick? Could you get what you need to carry in a courier bag or a backpack? If so, ditch the rack and panniers idea. Ride with a bag, and look for a proper road bike or CX bike. At 15m e/way, you will really see the value over time of a light bike.

Next, what is your budget? That will take a lot of bikes off the table.

Then: are you very tall, very short, or do you have a very long torso or very long legs?

Last (for now): is your route all on road, or part on road and part off road?

Then pop back with answers to these questions.

[Kermit power]

Basically all on road bar about 200 yards of rough track. Currently doing it on 700x28 with no problems.

Budget is up to £2k.

Luggage rack is because I have to take a house brick of a laptop, charger, notebook etc in and out once or twice per week, plus clothing and other stuff. It's about 8-9kg all in, and fairly bulky, so not really suited to a rucksack.

I definitely don't want a hybrid though. Something more sporting for the weekend which can double up for this!

One option I've seen is the Spa Audax, but interested to know what competition it has.

[Jimbo.]

No such tool, but going by what you say may I suggest a Genesis Equilibrium? Road bike, steel frame, rack mounts, long-drop brakes (clearance for wider tyres and/or mudguards), 105...sorted.

[anonymous-user]

Custom build Kenesis crosslight...

[Roman]

Kermit power said:

Basically all on road bar about 200 yards of rough track. Currently doing it on 700x28 with no problems.

Budget is up to £2k.

Luggage rack is because I have to take a house brick of a laptop, charger, notebook etc in and out once or twice per week, plus clothing and other stuff. It's about 8-9kg all in, and fairly bulky, so not really suited to a rucksack.

I definitely don't want a hybrid though. Something more sporting for the weekend which can double up for this!

One option I've seen is the Spa Audax, but interested to know what competition it has.

A titanium Audax bike like the Spa sounds like your best bet to me. I'd also look at the Van Nicholas Yukon (or Amazon) and Sabbath Autumn:
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=RD050/Van...

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=sabbathse...

Edited by Roman on Thursday 21st July 08:54

[Rouleur]

I was looking at titanium frames recently and came across this lot for the audax types:

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/product/modanoctu... My local dealer retails Modas at less than the RRP so you might get one for less than this.

Or a Sabbath Silk Route or Van Nicholas Yukon with a tweaked spec
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=sabbath-s...

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=RD050/Van...