n+1 idle musings. What would you do?
Discussion
I won't be able to get another bike until I finish my current C2W cycle in April, so idle musings only, but I am trying to figure out what I want, so thought I'd invite advice here...
What I'm trying to satisfy is essentially wet weather commuting requirements. at present I have the following:
A decent road bike which I love riding anywhere and everywhere when it's dry, but don't like riding in the wet on rim brakes and 23C tyres. I'm also limited to what I can carry in a backpack.
An old snotter which is a fairly decent old road bike with a 105 groupset that I've converted to flat bars and fitted with 28c tyres. It also lacks pannier rack mounting points, but has an alloy seatpost rather than carbon, so I've got a cantilever rack which lets me carry more weight, but can knock against the spokes if I overload it. Problem with this is that the rims, cables and front rings are all f
ked, and I doubt the hubs and headset will be all that far behind! This, therefore, is the bike I'm planning to replace, as it doesn't make much economic sense to repair it. It's also, more importantly, very dull, and whilst it's far more stable, the rim brakes are still shocking in the wet, although that may be because the rims are so worn! 
A full suspension MTB which I enjoy, but it's too slow and bouncy, even when locked out, to commute a 31-mile round trip on.
So, I'm now musing over a disc-equipped cyclocross bike or a hardtail. Pros and cons that I see are:
Cyclocross will probably only get used for the commute, as I'd gravitate to the full susser for anything off road in my own time, but would be faster and narrower, so possibly more suited to the commute.
Hardtail would encourage me to more cross-country type riding in my own time, and would make me feel as though I'd be getting better value for money out of the purchase, but I fear I'd rapidly get annoyed with swapping over tyres or wheels to go from smooth to knobbly.
Any thoughts from anyone who has been in this position?
Also, if I went for the hardtail with a spare set of wheels, is there any implication for component wear of having a single chain sharing two cassettes?
What I'm trying to satisfy is essentially wet weather commuting requirements. at present I have the following:
A decent road bike which I love riding anywhere and everywhere when it's dry, but don't like riding in the wet on rim brakes and 23C tyres. I'm also limited to what I can carry in a backpack.
An old snotter which is a fairly decent old road bike with a 105 groupset that I've converted to flat bars and fitted with 28c tyres. It also lacks pannier rack mounting points, but has an alloy seatpost rather than carbon, so I've got a cantilever rack which lets me carry more weight, but can knock against the spokes if I overload it. Problem with this is that the rims, cables and front rings are all f
ked, and I doubt the hubs and headset will be all that far behind! This, therefore, is the bike I'm planning to replace, as it doesn't make much economic sense to repair it. It's also, more importantly, very dull, and whilst it's far more stable, the rim brakes are still shocking in the wet, although that may be because the rims are so worn! A full suspension MTB which I enjoy, but it's too slow and bouncy, even when locked out, to commute a 31-mile round trip on.
So, I'm now musing over a disc-equipped cyclocross bike or a hardtail. Pros and cons that I see are:
Cyclocross will probably only get used for the commute, as I'd gravitate to the full susser for anything off road in my own time, but would be faster and narrower, so possibly more suited to the commute.
Hardtail would encourage me to more cross-country type riding in my own time, and would make me feel as though I'd be getting better value for money out of the purchase, but I fear I'd rapidly get annoyed with swapping over tyres or wheels to go from smooth to knobbly.
Any thoughts from anyone who has been in this position?
Also, if I went for the hardtail with a spare set of wheels, is there any implication for component wear of having a single chain sharing two cassettes?
Cross bike hands down for the commute IMO.
You've got the bouncer for offraoding duties, and IMO if you were to buy the hardtail, you wouldn't bother swapping over wheels to use teh hartail offroad.. (plus if you commute a lot, you've potentially have drivetrain issues anyhow further down the line!)
So, yip, cross bike with discs (I wish mine had discs...), and then start thinking of what hardtail to get when funds permit..
You've got the bouncer for offraoding duties, and IMO if you were to buy the hardtail, you wouldn't bother swapping over wheels to use teh hartail offroad.. (plus if you commute a lot, you've potentially have drivetrain issues anyhow further down the line!)
So, yip, cross bike with discs (I wish mine had discs...), and then start thinking of what hardtail to get when funds permit..
Definitely a cross bike because once you find how capable they can be off road you will be hooked, there are loads coming out with discs this year it looks to be the next big thing. Be interesting to see if anyone releases a hydraulic drop lever with gears, can see SRAM being the first as they also own Avid.
+1 for the Cross bike, but don't dismiss it for XC duties - I have ridden mine along the Ridgeway, Swinley Forest, Surrey Hills - they are a hell of a lot more capable than most people think!
Without doubt my H/T or full susser is the tool for the job at trail centers or technical XC, but if you are planning an XC jaunt (Soutn Downs Way, Ridgeway etc) then you will be wanting a Crosser!
Without doubt my H/T or full susser is the tool for the job at trail centers or technical XC, but if you are planning an XC jaunt (Soutn Downs Way, Ridgeway etc) then you will be wanting a Crosser!
Edited by MadDad on Friday 19th October 13:30
Currently I have:
Reasonable Hardtail 29er
Reasonable Aluminium Roadbike
My next n+1 is either:
Cyclo-cross with discs for commuting and a baby seat and so on.
or
Custom fit Titanium Roadbike, and Alu roadbike --> commuting duties.
Heart says later, head says former.
For your dilemma I suggest the Cyclo-cross.
Reasonable Hardtail 29er
Reasonable Aluminium Roadbike
My next n+1 is either:
Cyclo-cross with discs for commuting and a baby seat and so on.
or
Custom fit Titanium Roadbike, and Alu roadbike --> commuting duties.
Heart says later, head says former.
For your dilemma I suggest the Cyclo-cross.
how about a rigid 29er with carbon forks? easily fast enough for the commute and also suitable for some fairly serious off road stuff...two birds one stone etc etc and I'll bet it would be a hoot in both environments and you could build a well spec'd bike on a fairly reasonable budget....
Conti race kings would be more than suitable for commuting and off road so you wouldnt need to faff with changing tyres. there are loads of deals around at the moment, had an email from Merlin advertising an SLX groupset below £300 this morning....
build you own, give planet x a call or check out their frameset bundles on line...
Conti race kings would be more than suitable for commuting and off road so you wouldnt need to faff with changing tyres. there are loads of deals around at the moment, had an email from Merlin advertising an SLX groupset below £300 this morning....
build you own, give planet x a call or check out their frameset bundles on line...
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 19th October 14:14
Alas I only have an old snotter of a road bike, and that's it.
It is getting swapped for something much shinier tomorrow though (well shiney for me, a cheap hack for many on here).
Ideally I would have a cheapish MB so I could make use of the Malverns - but wouldn't be serious mud plugging.
It is getting swapped for something much shinier tomorrow though (well shiney for me, a cheap hack for many on here).
Ideally I would have a cheapish MB so I could make use of the Malverns - but wouldn't be serious mud plugging.
I've just commutified my Cannondale R600 with rear rack and mudguards, Gatorskin tyres and general service. The rack mounts to an extended QR skewer and onto the rear brake mount. The bikeshop fabricated a cunning bracket for the mudguards that also hangs off the brake mounts.
Still rim brakes but I haven't found them that poor in the wet as long as the rims are in good condition and the pads aren't knackered.
Unfortunately n+1 has already hit s-1 with just 2 bikes for me (and no more storage) so modifying the road bike was my best option.
Still rim brakes but I haven't found them that poor in the wet as long as the rims are in good condition and the pads aren't knackered.
Unfortunately n+1 has already hit s-1 with just 2 bikes for me (and no more storage) so modifying the road bike was my best option.
I'm really happy with my current fleet, cotic x, stumpy evo comp, demo 8.
The x is marketed as a cyclocross bike but it would be terrible at a race. Think more sports tourer, more vfr than cbr. I love it for a mixed gravel and tarmac commute. When my first was stolen I borrowed a dawes galaxy which was too slow and heavy then a cheap alloy road bike which was really uncomfortable. I then bought another x.
John
The x is marketed as a cyclocross bike but it would be terrible at a race. Think more sports tourer, more vfr than cbr. I love it for a mixed gravel and tarmac commute. When my first was stolen I borrowed a dawes galaxy which was too slow and heavy then a cheap alloy road bike which was really uncomfortable. I then bought another x.
John
Kermit power said:
slomax said:
just out of interest, what is your old arthritic road bike?
It's a 2001 GT ZR 3.0 converted to flat bars with U-shaped rims where the pads have worn a groove into them! Its funny, with everything there comes a stage when things stop losing money, and then head back up the scale. I imagine the GT is pretty well at the bottom of the scale, otherwise i would have suggested a light tickle up.
slomax said:
Not gonna lie, i was hoping for some real olde bike, like an 80's merckx, Rourke or koga.
Its funny, with everything there comes a stage when things stop losing money, and then head back up the scale. I imagine the GT is pretty well at the bottom of the scale, otherwise i would have suggested a light tickle up.
It's done given pretty good service over the years, especially considering the only things I've ever replaced are the brakes (calipers once, pads often), chain and rear cassette, but I think it really is on its last legs now.Its funny, with everything there comes a stage when things stop losing money, and then head back up the scale. I imagine the GT is pretty well at the bottom of the scale, otherwise i would have suggested a light tickle up.
pablo said:
ok, so if you go down the CX route, do the right thing and make sure it says Ridley or Stevens on the down tube....
I think that's the first time someone has posted up something like that which hasn't turned out to be about 3 times my max possible budget! What makes them so special?
shouldbworking said:
Genesis Day one alfine. job jobbed.
I was giving thought to those until picking up an Alfine-equipped On-One which belongs to a colleague at work. It felt like 80% of the weight was in the back wheel!Are they better to ride than the weight distribution might suggest?
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