Giant FCR1 vs CRS 0

245

Hi,

Can anyone tell me which is the better of these two bikes:

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=38&idproduct=23645

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=38&idproduct=23645

And why is the better choice (I'm a bit clueless on the finer points of bike technology). I think that the FCR looks more purposeful for what that's worth... Any idea which is the lighter bike?

Both are the same price and the same type and are what I'm looking for (I think). Basically I need a bike for a 10k (each way) commute on the usual varied road surfaces. I want it to be as light as possible but also useful for the odd trek on grass/unpaved path. I'm planning to fit it with Schwalbe Marathon Plus Smartguards in 32mm width for a slightly softer (and hopefully puncture resistant ride), and mudguards etc.

To complicate things, I've already submitted by quotation for the bike to work scheme to HR and so for an easy life all around, I'm limited to that price range and that retailer.

Thanks for any comments and suggestions

Edit:

Also noticed this one, but I'm more familiar with Giant as a brand:

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=38&idproduct=24233

CheGuedara

There's been a lot of people like yourself looking for advice on hybrids here recently and TBH, unless you will be regularly going on off road or very broken surfaces then what you really need to consider is this

http://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=35&idproduct=23611

But to answer your question - the FCR is a flat bar racer and the CRS is a hybrid the primary difference being the FCR would be *slightly* racier as regards position and has thinner tyres and caliper brakes where as the CRS is more upright, has fatter tyres and V brakes as well as having mountainbike gear ratios (= less speed, but more low end gears for climbing)

Of the two, the FCR is a better bike - better frame, fork and components IMO, cant say it'll be lighter but I would suspect so.

If it was me I'd get the Defy and fit KHS raceblades (mudgards) to fit the bill.

*Alternative option - Escape sub zero: 700x32c tyres, disc brakes, 8 speed internal gears (essentially zero maintenance) on a nice aluminium frame - build and designed as a fast commuter, but only as a commuter.

petethedrummer

I would buy the FCR or RCR rather than the CRS. The speed gained on your commute with the Flat bar racer type would outweigh any limited off roading possibilities of the CRS, in my opinion.

I don't know much about off-roading (yet), maybe one of the mountain bikers here would know if there are any trails where you could take a CRS type bike and get a bit of enjoyment out of it. Where do you live?

I had an FCR but gave it to my brother and bought an SCR (precursor to the Defy). The FCR was a good bike. Used it all the time and now my bro does. The SCR I prefer, cos its faster. Anyways you might get hooked and buy numerous bikes.

Edit: Just to confuse things even more, there are also cyclocross bikes. Which are generally for racing round flat muddy fields.

245

Thanks for the replies. I like the look of the Defy but one of the reasons that I was looking at the hybrid was because I don't want too feel every bump and stone that I go over. I had a series of Peugeot racers that were nice, light and fast but very harsh on bumpy roads a good few years ago and reckon that I'd prefer something a bit more comfortable.

What if I were to get the Defy and fit 32mm tyres to it? - I tried a bike with them fitted and it seemed a lot more comfortable than the narrower, higher pressure tyres.

I live on the Curragh and was thinking of the bike as an easier way to keep up with my two dogs on longer rambles. I don't want to end up with a poor compromise and would give greater priority to road use as it'll be by far the more important use for the bike. I can always buy a cheap secondhand mountain bike if necessary rather than have the worst of both worlds.

Apologies if I've shocked the purists with my 32mm suggestion Is it a runner?

petethedrummer

Ah the Curragh, that does change things a bit. Plenty of path riding opportunities there. I had 28Cs on my SCR over winter. It said on my wheels that it was the max width they could take. As for the FCR taking 32Cs, just give cyclesuperstore a ring. They'll probably tell you in a few seconds.

As for trail riding, I have no clue what would be suitable. maybe someone here has been to the Curragh. Or give me a few months on my new MTB and I'll be an expert.

CheGuedara

245 wrote: »

What if I were to get the Defy and fit 32mm tyres to it? - I tried a bike with them fitted and it seemed a lot more comfortable than the narrower, higher pressure tyres.

I think petethedrummer is right - 28c is probably as big as you're likely to be able to fit, though there should be enough air in that to make all but off road feel rideable. The difference between them and 30/32c would be minor. I'd recommend asking the store though to be surethough.

What I will say is to search this forum - there are quite a few recent threads where people have been asking about converting MTBs, flat bar racers and hybrids to drop bars (an expensive thing to do) .

What this tells us is there are a lot of people out there that buy these types of bikes and later discover what they would use more and better and might have bought in the first place is a proper racer.

I'd say for hucking around with the hounds -cheap mtb, for the rest (out of the bikes linked to) - the Defy

pburns

245 wrote: »

I like the look of the Defy but one of the reasons that I was looking at the hybrid was because I don't want too feel every bump and stone that I go over. I had a series of Peugeot racers that were nice, light and fast but very harsh on bumpy roads a good few years ago and reckon that I'd prefer something a bit more comfortable.

What if I were to get the Defy and fit 32mm tyres to it? - I tried a bike with them fitted and it seemed a lot more comfortable than the narrower, higher pressure tyres.

Fancy seeing you here!:D How's the Scooby?;)

I've been in a similar position lately. Wanted to get a decent road bike. I've never had a racer or narrow-wheeled bike - BMX and a heavy MTB in my youth, bought an old Trek MTB a couple of years ago that is too slow on-road and too rigid and big off-road (bought on a whim, wrong frame size:o). The c2w scheme was a chance to right that wrong...

I had similar indecision between a hybrid or a flat-bar racer. I am more familiar with Treks and eventually settled on this Trek 7.5 - it's more flat-bar racer than hybrid.

I'm happy enough with this 'cos I have the old MTB but personally if I only had one bike and was not going to be doing 100kms up and down Wicklow and around the Ring of Kerry like many of the guys here I would have gone for a hybrid.

I have a friend who is a keen cyclist (not to the level of guys here though - about 40 miles most weekends and a cycling holiday or two). He has a hybrid (Dawes) and is very pleased with it.

The tyres are 700x32 on my Trek 7.5 which is not too narrow but TBH at first I found it very uncomfortable after the MTB on rough 'acne-scarred' tarmac (35-40psi vs. 110). Even at this stage I'll take out the old MTB if I feel a bit delicate or 'headache-y'.

CheGuedara wrote: »

I'd say for hucking around with the hounds -cheap mtb, for the rest (out of the bikes linked to) - the Defy

Mmm..I think a hybrid might do both without falling between two stools. (As you can gather I'm no expert though).

BostonB

CheGuedara wrote: »

...*Alternative option - Escape sub zero: 700x32c tyres, disc brakes, 8 speed internal gears (essentially zero maintenance) on a nice aluminium frame - build and designed as a fast commuter, but only as a commuter.

For commuting on tarmac I'd go FCR.

For short distance and running around a field the CRS or Escape sub zero.

The Escape looks great but I suspect its a very heavy bike. But probably the most comfortable.

245

Thanks again to you all for all the advice.

I've decided to rule out the CRS 0 - I considered the FCR1 but to my untrained eye it seems to be a flat handled Defy - those bars are quite wide as well - wider than I'd really like.

I think that the Defy might be too uncompromising for me in terms of a knobbly ride and maybe twitchyness but what about this:

https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=23631

It seems to me that its a good all-rounder - nice and light, drop bars, reasonably good components and it seems to be built to take abuse. The only things that might go against it are alloy forks and V brakes. Tyres are quite chunky too.

Is it a good choice - what do you think?

neilled

If your taking it off road, then I guess cyclocross is the way to go. Have a look at the specialized tricross as well whilst your at it.

245

I saw the Tricross in Cycleways last Saturday and really liked it - they didn't participate in my work's BTW scheme though so I couldn't buy it. The TCX is the nearest that I've come to it and its identically priced.

Only problem is that I've noticed that it was recently much cheaper

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=59311229