What disc braked, chunky tyred, road bike?
Discussion
This may sound daft but I'm planning my bike purchasing strategy for the year ahead.
My current good bike is a Wilier Gran Turismo which I adore, geometry suits me perfectly and I can't imagine a much better bike.
My winter bike is based on a generic Aluminium frame kitted out in a mixture of Ultegra & 105, geometry is very similar to the Wilier so it's not too much of a culture shock when I jump on board. Being limited to 23mm tyres and a very harsh frame means that after several months of riding through the winter I'm sick of it!
I'm looking to sell the current winter bike and replace it with something that has disc brakes and clearance for up 33mm tyres, the Genesis Datum looks appealing but I'm looking to see what else is out there.
Any suggestions as to what would suit?
Being a second bike have to be sensible with the budget, around the 1.5k mark.
My current good bike is a Wilier Gran Turismo which I adore, geometry suits me perfectly and I can't imagine a much better bike.
My winter bike is based on a generic Aluminium frame kitted out in a mixture of Ultegra & 105, geometry is very similar to the Wilier so it's not too much of a culture shock when I jump on board. Being limited to 23mm tyres and a very harsh frame means that after several months of riding through the winter I'm sick of it!
I'm looking to sell the current winter bike and replace it with something that has disc brakes and clearance for up 33mm tyres, the Genesis Datum looks appealing but I'm looking to see what else is out there.
Any suggestions as to what would suit?
Being a second bike have to be sensible with the budget, around the 1.5k mark.
Sensible...£1.5K for a winter bike? Surely it'd be better buying a "proper" winter frame (with rim brakes, good tyre/mudguard clearances, mudguard mounts and of course, mudguards) and chucking all the bits from the old winter bike onto it. You'd save a packet and be able to throw anything discarded from your best bike onto it too, to be sacrificed over winter?
I've just built up a Singular Kite Disc and it's a fantastic bike.
It'll run up to 42mm tyres but I'm currently using a set of 38mm Compass tyres. I've used it for road riding with these tyres on and done some off-road stuff with a set of CX tyres fitted and it's a really capable bike off-road as well.
You could probably build one up for £1.5k with 105 hydraulics quite easily or possibly Ultegra if there's any good deals about on the groupset.
If you're anywhere near the Surrey area you're welcome to give mine a try.
It'll run up to 42mm tyres but I'm currently using a set of 38mm Compass tyres. I've used it for road riding with these tyres on and done some off-road stuff with a set of CX tyres fitted and it's a really capable bike off-road as well.
You could probably build one up for £1.5k with 105 hydraulics quite easily or possibly Ultegra if there's any good deals about on the groupset.
If you're anywhere near the Surrey area you're welcome to give mine a try.
Jimbo. said:
Sensible...£1.5K for a winter bike? Surely it'd be better buying a "proper" winter frame (with rim brakes, good tyre/mudguard clearances, mudguard mounts and of course, mudguards) and chucking all the bits from the old winter bike onto it. You'd save a packet and be able to throw anything discarded from your best bike onto it too, to be sacrificed over winter?
If I did that I'd have the bike that I have now 
For me, larger clearance and disc brakes make perfect sense, yet I still want to retain my racey geometry so choice is somewhat limited.
Despite having slagged off disc braked road bikes in general, and Avid BB5 mech brakes in particular, at great lengths on this forum, I now find myself building up a flat-bar Boardman disc hybrid into a drop bar road bike. Life is funny like that sometimes.
Anyway, the donor bike cost €180, my wheelbuilder trued the horribly out of whack Boardman wheelset for €10 in the tip jar, the drops/Tektro long-pull road levers/stem were in the parts bin, the new Stronglight mudguards were €25, the existing flat bar shifters will be mounted under the bars using some Cinelli Spinaci brackets, so for €215/£160 I have a rather nice winter road disc bike!
Photos to follow when I mount the front 'guard!
Anyway, the donor bike cost €180, my wheelbuilder trued the horribly out of whack Boardman wheelset for €10 in the tip jar, the drops/Tektro long-pull road levers/stem were in the parts bin, the new Stronglight mudguards were €25, the existing flat bar shifters will be mounted under the bars using some Cinelli Spinaci brackets, so for €215/£160 I have a rather nice winter road disc bike!
Photos to follow when I mount the front 'guard!
Shand Stoater?
http://www.shandcycles.com/bikes/stoater/
Frame and fork for £995, complete bike from £1,995 so you could either harvest your old winter bike or buy a whole new bike.
Other end of the cost spectrum, Cotic Escapade (new one, with vertical dropouts) which goes to 42c tyres
http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/escapade
Hydro 105 disc build for £1,595
http://www.shandcycles.com/bikes/stoater/
Frame and fork for £995, complete bike from £1,995 so you could either harvest your old winter bike or buy a whole new bike.
Other end of the cost spectrum, Cotic Escapade (new one, with vertical dropouts) which goes to 42c tyres
http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/escapade
Hydro 105 disc build for £1,595
Edited by MisterJD on Sunday 13th March 07:54
TheFungle said:
If I did that I'd have the bike that I have now 
For me, larger clearance and disc brakes make perfect sense, yet I still want to retain my racey geometry so choice is somewhat limited.
Kinesis Racelight 4S is sold as a winter bike with race bike geometry. Worth a look?
For me, larger clearance and disc brakes make perfect sense, yet I still want to retain my racey geometry so choice is somewhat limited.
There are a few now but I still really like the Mason. Really good ride quality, comfortable and decent handling. Two other guys in the club have gone for them after a brief spin on mine.

The framesets are £900 IIRC
Also Hunt wheels, very good. A bit early to say how the hubs will hold up in the long term but everyone who has a set is saying good things. Half sensible money although much more and I would go for hand built.

The framesets are £900 IIRC
Also Hunt wheels, very good. A bit early to say how the hubs will hold up in the long term but everyone who has a set is saying good things. Half sensible money although much more and I would go for hand built.
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