Thoughts on a new bike?

[Maxf]

We've just had the cycle to work literature round, so I thought I'd go into it again (I bought a mtb a few years ago) - we have to go through Halfords, but they say they can source anything within reason.

I am currently playing around training for some triathlons (not super seriously) so would quite like something I could use for training for these, but really I just want something I can use around London for general fitness, days out with the girlfriend and perhaps even going to work ok

I'd like to be able to throw it into the car when I go camping and maybe do some bridleways, but nothing crazy really.

Would a cyclo-cross bike fit the bill?

I was looking at this: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Which looks pretty good, and painless to buy through the scheme... any other ideas?

[anonymous-user]

Maxf said:

We've just had the cycle to work literature round, so I thought I'd go into it again (I bought a mtb a few years ago) - we have to go through Halfords, but they say they can source anything within reason.

I am currently playing around training for some triathlons (not super seriously) so would quite like something I could use for training for these, but really I just want something I can use around London for general fitness, days out with the girlfriend and perhaps even going to work ok

I'd like to be able to throw it into the car when I go camping and maybe do some bridleways, but nothing crazy really.

Would a cyclo-cross bike fit the bill?

I was looking at this: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

Which looks pretty good, and painless to buy through the scheme... any other ideas?

not really designed for triathlons is it?! they are quite heavy and designed to withstand some serious abise. the Road Team fits the bill, i had one a few years back and used it on bridleways, old railway lines and some other unsealed surfaces, it was fine, actually it was great fun "off road", you got some funny looks from guys on full sus bikes which made it even more fun. Just fit some TT bars to the front and its fine for triathlons. It has a really nice wheelset and good component throughout.

I guess you need to sort out whats a priority, triathlons, the open road, the unsealed surfaces etc and how much time you'll realistically spend on them but remember that road bikes can take a lot more abuse than most people assume. I have a friend who races CX on a aksium wheelset.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Barbarossa]

A CX bike makes a good all round bike, extra clerence means that you can fit tyres up to 34mm - good off road or for commuting. This one seems a bit heavy and I would avoid the disc braked bike - it adds weight and makes upgrading wheels more difficult.