New "do it all" road bike - opinions needed!
Discussion
Hi,
I've been commuting by bike for a while now ( few days a week, about 25 miles a day). I've been using an increasingly sheddy old Carrera hybrid, which has actually done the job well over 5 years in all weather. I've also started doing longer distances ( up to about 40 miles) at the weekend for fun.
I'd like to perhaps enter a few sportives, and I may also be doing a very long distance ride with some friends next summer to raise money for the BHF.
I'm after a road bike with more endurance focussed geometry and mounts for panniers/mudguards. My budget is ideally 500 to 800 quid.
I've never looked into road bikes much before, but my shortlist at the moment is down to:
B'twin Triban 540
Mango Point R
Ribble winter audax
Merlin Axe - although haven't found any reviews yet.
I'm not sure where the sweet spot is - some of these have better components, presumably the others have better frames.
Could any one help to shed some light - or maybe suggest another?
Many thanks in advance
I've been commuting by bike for a while now ( few days a week, about 25 miles a day). I've been using an increasingly sheddy old Carrera hybrid, which has actually done the job well over 5 years in all weather. I've also started doing longer distances ( up to about 40 miles) at the weekend for fun.
I'd like to perhaps enter a few sportives, and I may also be doing a very long distance ride with some friends next summer to raise money for the BHF.
I'm after a road bike with more endurance focussed geometry and mounts for panniers/mudguards. My budget is ideally 500 to 800 quid.
I've never looked into road bikes much before, but my shortlist at the moment is down to:
B'twin Triban 540
Mango Point R
Ribble winter audax
Merlin Axe - although haven't found any reviews yet.
I'm not sure where the sweet spot is - some of these have better components, presumably the others have better frames.
Could any one help to shed some light - or maybe suggest another?
Many thanks in advance
Have a look at Genisis Croix de fer
Adventure / touring bike, I was recommended this for my commute and I have to say i'm loving it. It is my first road bike, so I can't compare it to anything but my MTB though.
It can take panniers front and rear. You may be able to get a 2016 bike with 105 group set for £800, I've got the one down with Tiagra groupset and can't fault it.
Adventure / touring bike, I was recommended this for my commute and I have to say i'm loving it. It is my first road bike, so I can't compare it to anything but my MTB though.
It can take panniers front and rear. You may be able to get a 2016 bike with 105 group set for £800, I've got the one down with Tiagra groupset and can't fault it.
Probably a bit out of budget, however I just built up a Fairlight Strael whilst upgrading my nice bike to Di2, moving some parts over and buying some new, as my commuter and winter bike, full gaurds etc.
I am simply blown away by how comfortable and confidence inspiring it is, I put 320kms under the wheels last week and that included 2 x 80kms rides at the weekend.
I searched long and hard for the right spec for what I wanted, discs, full gaurds, rack mounts, 4 season pedigree built in, not weighing the same as a boat anchor. The reviews have all been very positive and now I see why. The finish is outstanding and the handling for a relaxed bike is so good.
James Hayden just won the transcontinental race on one as well .... I can see why he chose it, except sponsorship and a myriad of other reasons I don't know about, but as a bike it's greater than the sum of its parts.
I am simply blown away by how comfortable and confidence inspiring it is, I put 320kms under the wheels last week and that included 2 x 80kms rides at the weekend.
I searched long and hard for the right spec for what I wanted, discs, full gaurds, rack mounts, 4 season pedigree built in, not weighing the same as a boat anchor. The reviews have all been very positive and now I see why. The finish is outstanding and the handling for a relaxed bike is so good.
James Hayden just won the transcontinental race on one as well .... I can see why he chose it, except sponsorship and a myriad of other reasons I don't know about, but as a bike it's greater than the sum of its parts.
Dr Murdoch said:
Have a look at Genisis Croix de fer
Adventure / touring bike, I was recommended this for my commute and I have to say i'm loving it. It is my first road bike, so I can't compare it to anything but my MTB though.
It can take panniers front and rear. You may be able to get a 2016 bike with 105 group set for £800, I've got the one down with Tiagra groupset and can't fault it.
I'd recommend the Genesis Equilibrium 10. Yes, it's over budget, but it's such a great do-it-all bike, you really wouldn't be disappointed. It still has fixing points for mudguards and it's 3kg light than the Croix de Fer too. I bought the Equilibrium Disc 20 for my winter bike and I couldn't be happier with it. Adventure / touring bike, I was recommended this for my commute and I have to say i'm loving it. It is my first road bike, so I can't compare it to anything but my MTB though.
It can take panniers front and rear. You may be able to get a 2016 bike with 105 group set for £800, I've got the one down with Tiagra groupset and can't fault it.
45Flipper said:
Dr Murdoch said:
Have a look at Genisis Croix de fer
Adventure / touring bike, I was recommended this for my commute and I have to say i'm loving it. It is my first road bike, so I can't compare it to anything but my MTB though.
It can take panniers front and rear. You may be able to get a 2016 bike with 105 group set for £800, I've got the one down with Tiagra groupset and can't fault it.
I'd recommend the Genesis Equilibrium 10. Yes, it's over budget, but it's such a great do-it-all bike, you really wouldn't be disappointed. It still has fixing points for mudguards and it's 3kg light than the Croix de Fer too. I bought the Equilibrium Disc 20 for my winter bike and I couldn't be happier with it. Adventure / touring bike, I was recommended this for my commute and I have to say i'm loving it. It is my first road bike, so I can't compare it to anything but my MTB though.
It can take panniers front and rear. You may be able to get a 2016 bike with 105 group set for £800, I've got the one down with Tiagra groupset and can't fault it.
Do not underestimate how useless rim brakes are in the wet if you're coming from a disc braked bike, and a road bike with Tektro callipers will be hopeless even compared to V Brakes if your Carrera is an older one so at the least budget for some decent brake pads as soon as you buy the bike.
Genesis Croix de Fer here as well, it is such a versatile bike, mine is a 2013 frame,
I run Clement X'PLOR MSO 32 x 700c tyres which are great on the road and superb on cycle tracks and gravel etc. I have also used Continental Cyclocross Speed tyres and they worked well. I would quite happily tackle a 100 mile sportive without changing a thing, yesterday I was enjoying the local canal towpaths, it just such a versatile bike!
The geometry makes for a stable ride, it feels safe in foul weather when my Canyon feels sketchy to say the least!
I have a Tiagra 50/34 chainset and 34/11 rear cassette which is plenty fast enough and gives great climbing ability. Not a single issue in 3 years of use!
I run Clement X'PLOR MSO 32 x 700c tyres which are great on the road and superb on cycle tracks and gravel etc. I have also used Continental Cyclocross Speed tyres and they worked well. I would quite happily tackle a 100 mile sportive without changing a thing, yesterday I was enjoying the local canal towpaths, it just such a versatile bike!
The geometry makes for a stable ride, it feels safe in foul weather when my Canyon feels sketchy to say the least!
I have a Tiagra 50/34 chainset and 34/11 rear cassette which is plenty fast enough and gives great climbing ability. Not a single issue in 3 years of use!
If you fancy building one up yourself, you could put together a Kinesis T3 build with Tiagra or 105 and RS10s.
I'm just putting a T3 together myself at the moment; paid £350 for frame and fork brand new and am sourcing the rest of the build from other bikes and the spares box, but £450 is just about enough to get yourself a full Tiagra groupset, some commuting wheels and finishing kit from, say the Deda Zero 1 range. If you took the finishing kit and/or wheels from your Carrera, you could go for 105 well within your budget and upgrade the other bits when funds allow.
I'm just putting a T3 together myself at the moment; paid £350 for frame and fork brand new and am sourcing the rest of the build from other bikes and the spares box, but £450 is just about enough to get yourself a full Tiagra groupset, some commuting wheels and finishing kit from, say the Deda Zero 1 range. If you took the finishing kit and/or wheels from your Carrera, you could go for 105 well within your budget and upgrade the other bits when funds allow.
Another Genesis fanboy here!
If I were in the same situation, I would also be looking towards the Equilibrium or Croix der fer with the caveat of not buying anything fitted with the same useless Tektro brakes as my Genesis Flyer, they are awful - the rest of the bike is wonderful though and to be honest I never go fast enough on the single speed for the brakes to really be a problem, but on an all year round commuter, discs would make sense.
If I were in the same situation, I would also be looking towards the Equilibrium or Croix der fer with the caveat of not buying anything fitted with the same useless Tektro brakes as my Genesis Flyer, they are awful - the rest of the bike is wonderful though and to be honest I never go fast enough on the single speed for the brakes to really be a problem, but on an all year round commuter, discs would make sense.
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