What commuter? Ride to work scheme... £1k limit..

[PorkRind]

So, I'm after a new steed, the bianchi's a bit hard on the cycle track and fancied something a bit more forgiving but not quite as sluggish as a XC bike. I'm thinking cyclocross and have 0 knowledge in this area.

I saw a Whyte Suffolk in the sale for £1k and thought it looked ok and had a decent spec.. I've just read a LOT of bad comments about the bike - mostly about the frames being weak.. I think an alloy frames going to be as unforgiving as carbon, if not more so anyway, right?

So what other bikes should I be looking at- was thinking a steel Kona Rove? Or a KOna Jake?

So, I need:

A More comfortable bike in general - steel frame/ wider tires, 28?
Groupset around Shimano 105?
Disk brakes would be nice, but at this price I don't expect them.
Gearing - a wide range rear cassette would be good - for the bigger hills !

Budget £1k

[jamiebae]

Genesis Croix de Fer ticks all those boxes (except for the 105 level group)

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/croix-...

Slightly over budget but might be cheaper elsewhere?

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/croix-...

Under budget, but loses the HyRd brakes, although the normal cable ones are still fine IME.

I actually run one of these:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/day-on...

It's a bit heavier than a CdF but with the Alfine gears you still get a really good range (if larger gaps between ratios) but the maintenance is absolutely minimal. I've only had to adjust anything once in 1,500km of all-weather use and that was because I changed the tyres and had to remove the rear wheel.

[donfisher]

PorkRind said:

I saw a Whyte Suffolk in the sale for £1k and thought it looked ok and had a decent spec.. I've just read a LOT of bad comments about the bike - mostly about the frames being weak.. I think an alloy frames going to be as unforgiving as carbon, if not more so anyway, right?

Where was that out of interest?

I’ve been running a Dorset as a regular commuter for about a year now. In fact it’s been my only useable bike for most of that period. .

No problem with the frame but the Wyhte branded Alexrims it came on were cr4p (regular spoke breakage, I'm 100+kg though) as were the OE Maxxis tyres. Also I swapped my front bake for one of the HyRds that come as standard on the Suffolk.

I’m not sure if I’d zealously recommend one but It’s been a reliable comfortable bike if not particularly handsome or exciting.

[PorkRind]

donfisher said:

Where was that out of interest?

I’ve been running a Dorset as a regular commuter for about a year now. In fact it’s been my only useable bike for most of that period. .

No problem with the frame but the Wyhte branded Alexrims it came on were cr4p (regular spoke breakage, I'm 100+kg though) as were the OE Maxxis tyres. Also I swapped my front bake for one of the HyRds that come as standard on the Suffolk.

I’m not sure if I’d zealously recommend one but It’s been a reliable comfortable bike if not particularly handsome or exciting.

Hi

I saw these comments here:

http://road.cc/content/forum/133503-thoughts-whyte...

I've just been informed I can up the budget if I pay the difference upfront..

[donfisher]

Hmm, cheers. Will keep an eye on that bit on the downtube.

[Magic919]

Is the frame material versus comfort thing really that simple? My bikes are either carbon or aluminium and I haven't had a steel bike in recent memory.

I've got a Whyte Montpellier as my commuting bike and just about to pick up a Boardman CX Team. I expect the wide tyres will make it feel different, maybe the extra weight. Will be interesting to see.

I'm not sure the carbon Montpellier is something I'd recommend as it got a lot heavier when they switched materials. No idea if they've sorted that yet.

[yellowjack]

Two CX bikes I've seen in the last few days have looked fabulous, and speaking to their riders, they were loving them. I'm not going to be too much use to you, as I can only remember the manufacturers names. They were 'Pinnacle' and 'Genesis'. They really did look the part, though, with big 32mm tyres on. The Pinnacle had cable rim (vee?) brakes and the Genesis had hydraulic disks.

[ecsrobin]

Get the genesis with alfine gears!!! I got an amazing deal on a Ridley X-bow which saved a huge amount and it is seriously quick but every time I get on my friends genesis with alfine I regret my purchase and feel I need to go and buy one now. It's so quiet and so smooth with a comfortable relaxed riding position perfect for commuting and off-road at the weekend.

[m444ttb]

I bought a Cannondale CAAD X Tiagra as the 105 model wasn't going to be available for a few months at the time. Both were available for under £1k. Sadly my scheme didn't allow any sort of top up. The bike has been great aside from needing Cannondale to rebuild the rear wheel under warranty (kept breaking spokes but fine ever since). I'll probably use it at the weekends come winter when it's at all wet and I'm looking at doing some CX 'multi-terrain' type sportives. I'm firmly in the camp of if I had to own one bike it would be a gravel racer / cyclocross style. I'd buy a Boardman CXR Di2 right now if I could.

[bakerstreet]

The Cannondale CaadX is worth a look along with the Planet X SLX. The top Cannondale has SRAM Hydraulic Rival 22 and looks really good. Its aroind £1500 and will be a decent ali frame too.

I have the Planet X and its pretty good. Its carbon and I certainly think its more comfortable than my ali bike.