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Help choosing new bike for commute

  • 23-03-2009 10:51am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 258 ✭✭


    I used to cycle everywhere on a mountain bike with slicks. Bought a car a year and a half ago and got lazy. With the bike scheme in place at work I thought it would be a good time to pick up a new bike and try and start cycling again. Based on whats available locally I have narrowed it down to a few choices.
      Giant CRS 1.0
    • Trek Valencia
    • Trek 7.5 FX
    • Felt QX85
    • Specialized Sirrus Comp - out of the running due to dealer
    The prices and specs vary a bit but these are the models that junp out at me. I think the all give me the option to add mudguards and panniers at a later stage if I need them. Any thoughts on these bikes?


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 295 ✭✭Tails


    PM sent


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 63 ✭✭stephenrd


    Have a look at the Kona Dew range also



    http://konaworld.com/09_asphalt_en.htm




    I've just bought this


    http://www.konabikes.co.uk/2008/dew/dr-dew.php


    which is working out really well so far. I do a 20km round trip on it daily and its really nice to ride. It has a nice riding position - not too relaxed but not too racy, and the sloping top tube and steel fork does well to cope with the bumps.

    I bought mine from Cyclogical on the Quays



    Stephen


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,618 ✭✭✭Civilian_Target




  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    I like the trad look of the straight bar on the Charge bikes.

    This looked cool...
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Charge_Mixer_2009/5360039102/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,995 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    Personally out of those I would go for the Trek 7.5FX (or the Sirrus Comp.) I am biased having owned Trek 7.2 and 7.3FXes myself. The Sirrus has carbon seatstays which may smooth out the road, but the Trek has wider tyres and at those sort of widths don't know that sort of thing would make a big difference. Gearing is pretty similar although the Trek, using MTB gears, has a wider range (27-118") with higher top and lower bottom than the Sirrus which uses road gearing (31-112.5").


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 258 ✭✭thegrayson


    Thanks for the feedback. I live in Galway and will be buying via the bike scheme. The selection of hybrid/ commuter bikes in the four shops here is fairly slim. Have ruled out the Specialized due to the dealer's attitude, will happily spend my money elsewhere. None of the models I have listed are actually stock items in any of the stores, I picked them from the catalogs after talking to staff and am waiting on feedback regarding price and availability.
    The Valencia is the cheapest of the bunch, but reasonably spec'd for that price. The Giant CRS 1.0 seems to have the most upright ride position. The Trek 7.5FX and the Felt I know only from the catalogs and whatever I could find online. Good bike reviews seem scarce.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 90 ✭✭durrus


    My local bike shop has both the CRS1.0 and the Trek 7.5fx in stock - no use to you as they are in Waterford but I was asking the guys in there and they were unanimous that the Trek was the better bike. In that faded white colour it looks fairly cool as well! What's a Velencia?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 258 ✭✭thegrayson


    Trek Valencia One of Trek's Urban range.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,618 ✭✭✭Civilian_Target


    None of them seem that commuter to me. I know they look nice, but you'll find things like mudguards, pannier racks, and integrated lights very useful on your way to work!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,107 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    blorg wrote: »
    Personally out of those I would go for the Trek 7.5FX (or the Sirrus Comp.) I am biased having owned Trek 7.2 and 7.3FXes myself. The Sirrus has carbon seatstays which may smooth out the road, but the Trek has wider tyres and at those sort of widths don't know that sort of thing would make a big difference. Gearing is pretty similar although the Trek, using MTB gears, has a wider range (27-118") with higher top and lower bottom than the Sirrus which uses road gearing (31-112.5").

    Had a 7.3FX (now stolen alas :( ). Nippy as hell, did quite a few duathlons on it and some longish (100k) cycles on it and bar the lack of drops it did a grand job. I wouldn't consider the wide tyres a huge advantage, I actually replaced them with 25mm Continentals and found the new tyres to be just as comfortable and more grippy. Fitting a rack to it was awkward though due to the geometry at the back. The top supports for the rack would cross over the brake cables.

    My next commuter will be as practical and ugly as possible I think. Will keep a separate road bike for races/long spins that I never leave locked anywhere.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,178 ✭✭✭xz



    the specs say that it is an 8 speed yet the photo is clearly of a fixie


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,995 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    I agree, I had a rack and mudguards on my Trek hybrids (no problem fitting mine, could have been the frame size or year though, I know what you mean) and the Specialized Sirrus I am planning on selling (mean to put a thread up tomorrow :)) I agree with the tyre width personally, I don't think anything over 700x25c is necessary for anything on-road, but 700x28 or 700x32 would give more comfort and some people do want that. I replaced the Trek (after it was stolen, four times) with the Sirrus actually because at the time the Sirrus was more flat bar road bike (700x25c tyres and road gearing.)

    th_Sirrus_01.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,995 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    xz wrote: »
    the specs say that it is an 8 speed yet the photo is clearly of a fixie
    It's a hub gear :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,178 ✭✭✭xz


    blorg wrote: »
    It's a hub gear :)

    oooooh fancy, more fiddly when it goes wrong I imagine


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    None of them seem that commuter to me. I know they look nice, but you'll find things like mudguards, pannier racks, and integrated lights very useful on your way to work!

    From casual looking, it seems to me that a lot of the bikes that come with all that seem to be quite low end heavy bikes, and not all that nice looking.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    xz wrote: »
    oooooh fancy, more fiddly when it goes wrong I imagine

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hub_gear

    They say they are more reliable. That guy who cycled around the world had one I think. I like the idea of being able to change gears without moving, I'm always getting caught in the wrong gear at lights. Fixies, yeah I know...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 257 ✭✭Fairdues


    This thread is going to be much more important now that it looks like the new urban car parking levy is about to be introduced from 1st July 2009! A flatrate of E200 per annum. I'd rather put it towards a bike.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 258 ✭✭thegrayson


    I'm not that fussed about the look of the bike. I have had a few down through the years and have only ever changed bikes due to the old on e being stolen. I'll out my current MTB into semi-retirement and drag it out for a trail ride every now and then.

    The intention is to cycle four days a week. I'll be driving one day only to carry a heavy gear bag needed for training after work and stock my locker with clean shorts and trousers. Given our wonderful weather I'll no doubt fit mudguards but have no real use for a rack as yet.

    Has anyone a thought on the Felt? or the Giant CRS?

    Got some prices today. The Valencia is €569, the 7.5FX is €749 and the 7.3FX is €560.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,234 ✭✭✭neilled


    thegrayson wrote: »
    I'm not that fussed about the look of the bike. I have had a few down through the years and have only ever changed bikes due to the old on e being stolen. I'll out my current MTB into semi-retirement and drag it out for a trail ride every now and then.

    The intention is to cycle four days a week. I'll be driving one day only to carry a heavy gear bag needed for training after work and stock my locker with clean shorts and trousers. Given our wonderful weather I'll no doubt fit mudguards but have no real use for a rack as yet.

    Has anyone a thought on the Felt? or the Giant CRS?

    Got some prices today. The Valencia is €569, the 7.5FX is €749 and the 7.3FX is €560.

    How about a day drive up north to buy one if thats what your set on? You'd save the guts of around €200 on the 7.5 (which is what I have).

    The new models come with that new deore LX urban bike drive train, whereas the old models had a tiagra derailleur and deore cranks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,618 ✭✭✭Civilian_Target


    BostonB wrote: »
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hub_gear

    They say they are more reliable. That guy who cycled around the world had one I think. I like the idea of being able to change gears without moving, I'm always getting caught in the wrong gear at lights. Fixies, yeah I know...

    I have hub gears on my machine too, incredibly reliable and low maintenance, and changing down when stopped is just much better. Can't recommend them enough.

    I agree though, too many of the bikes that come with practical things, in particular integrated lights, tend to be the sit-up-and-beg type that don't really work in windy, pot-holed Ireland.

    Here's what I'm talking about though, not sure if it's inside your budget or not
    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/specialized/globe-city-31-2007-hybrid-bike-ec001353 = solid and heavy with integrated lights. (Not convinced by Shimano Inter hub gears either)

    http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/stratus-30e-2009-hybrid-bike-ec018125 = much better, nice hubs, lighter etc. but not integrated lights


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,618 ✭✭✭Civilian_Target


    Oh, and the daddy... although maybe a little out of any sane person's price range http://gb.cannondale.com/bikes/07/ce/urban/touring/model-7TS1.html


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,995 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    You can get very good lights cheap these days so I wouldn't be concerned about whether they are integrated or not. Similarly you can add a rack and mudguards so the question is really more one of cost, e.g. is it cheaper to get the bike with all of this integrated (lights €20, rack €25, mudguards €25 might be typical cost, so it can be.)

    My current commuter I added all that to:

    th_tricross_mudguards_01.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    Personally I'd want far better lights than come with bikes.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,618 ✭✭✭Civilian_Target


    blorg wrote: »
    You can get very good lights cheap these days so I wouldn't be concerned about whether they are integrated or not. Similarly you can add a rack and mudguards so the question is really more one of cost, e.g. is it cheaper to get the bike with all of this integrated (lights €20, rack €25, mudguards €25 might be typical cost, so it can be.)

    My current commuter I added all that to:

    th_tricross_mudguards_01.jpg

    Nice bike!

    I agree on the mudguards and rack... the lights, well, you've obviously never tried a good integrated lighting rig. Adding one to a bike generally means you have to rebuild the front wheel for the dynahub, so it's hefty if it's not installed in the first place.

    That charge looks awesome too, dunno how it would handle mudguards and a rack though :/


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 258 ✭✭thegrayson


    Got a price of €799 on the Felt QX85. Does this seem okay?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,107 ✭✭✭✭Stark


    That from an LBS with decent after sales service? That's a good price. It's €742.50 off Wiggle, but that's without the after-sales support.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3 MoWoolf


    I don't know much about bikes but for what its worth i had a giant crs 1 which i used to commute from knocklyon into the city and back (about 8k each way) on a daily basis. It was a great bike and i never had any problems. I am 5'8" but a good 17stone. I had a few cheaper mountain bikes actually recomended by teh sales staff but they were destroyed in under a year. You could get a giant crs 1 now for €689.

    Mine unfortunately was stolen from my back garden after leaving it with the brother who failed to keep it locked to our tree! Trying to work out whether i should blow an extra couple of hundred and get the trek 7.5 over the 7.3.

    Anyone any thoughts?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,995 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    MoWoolf wrote: »
    I don't know much about bikes but for what its worth i had a giant crs 1 which i used to commute from knocklyon into the city and back (about 8k each way) on a daily basis. It was a great bike and i never had any problems. I am 5'8" but a good 17stone. I had a few cheaper mountain bikes actually recomended by teh sales staff but they were destroyed in under a year. You could get a giant crs 1 now for €689.

    Mine unfortunately was stolen from my back garden after leaving it with the brother who failed to keep it locked to our tree! Trying to work out whether i should blow an extra couple of hundred and get the trek 7.5 over the 7.3.

    Anyone any thoughts?
    Why not get another Giant CRS if you know it fitted and were happy with it. Generally they are a bit better value than the Treks.


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