Specialized sirrus

thebourke

Anybody have one of these bikes
http://www.bikez.ie/product1932_specialized-sirus-2009.html
i am thinking of getting one through the government cycle to work scheme..
will be cycling approx 17k per day mon to friday...
any recomendations please?

blorg

I have an older Sirrus, it is a good bike and that is a good price for it. Only thing I would suggest if doing the government cycle to work scheme is that you can only do it once every five years so you might be tempted to get a more expensive bike on it (more of a discount on a more expensive bike.) Having said that an entry-level Sirrus should cope fine with 17km a day.

Boden08

Have to agree. Used the bike to work scheme back in Jan to go for the Sirrus Elite and it's an excellent commute. Got panniers etc included in the deal (although I rarely use them) and felt I'd made more use of the discounts.

thebourke

i was also looking at a giant crs 3.40 and giant crs 4.0 bicycles?
which would be better sirrus or giant bikes?
will basically be cycling approx 100k per week

blorg

The Sirrus is probably marginally more road bike ish. I'd go for it. The CRS are decent too, just avoid the front suspension.

Funsterdelux

Just get the Sirrus, you'll never look back.

I used to commute 40km a day for work, not a bother on the Sirrus.

All I have had to replace so far after 3 years is brake pads, a tyre and a couple of tubes, general wear and tear.

thebourke

how much are you actually saving on getting thr bike through the government scheme

BostonB

thebourke wrote: »

how much are you actually saving on getting thr bike through the government scheme

Its like pension contributions. You pay for the bike out of your wages before tax. Up to a max limit of 1000. So it depends on how much tax you'd normally pay on your wages and how much the bike is you buy.

Tails

I got a sirrus with the intention of commuting and thought it was a great investment. People were looking at me as if I was mad for commuting the 20k round trip on a bike but after a few weeks people took it for granted. But yeah its a nice bus, I would recommend as has been suggested here to go for one of the higher models. I had an old model "standard" sirrus which is somewhat equivalent to this years sports model. I saw a couple of guys on the wicklow 200 on the elite model, so I would suggest spending a little extra.

BostonB

The Giant FCR range seems to be lighter than the equivent Specialised Sirrus. The Sirrus seemed aimed more at comfort, and the FCR performance.

copacetic

BostonB wrote: »

The Giant FCR range seems to be lighter than the equivent Specialised Sirrus. The Sirrus seemed aimed more at comfort, and the FCR performance.

don't think that holds up BostonB, the current higher end sirrus frames are only slightly different to the Allez models, (carbon forks and seatstays etc, road components). I'd also disagree about the weight difference, if there is any it certainly wouldn't affect performance.

For me the sirrus is equivalent to the fcr (performace hyrbids/flat bar road bikes), the various globe models are equivalent to the crs range (comfort hybrids).

billyhead

I was considering this or the specialised tricross bike as a decent commuter under the bike to work scheme but went for the tricross becasuei prefer the drop down bars due to riding a road racing bike for a couple of years. I must say I think the Tricross is a decent alternative you should check out aswell

BostonB

copacetic wrote: »

don't think that holds up BostonB, the current higher end sirrus frames are only slightly different to the Allez models, (carbon forks and seatstays etc, road components). I'd also disagree about the weight difference, if there is any it certainly wouldn't affect performance.

For me the sirrus is equivalent to the fcr (performace hyrbids/flat bar road bikes), the various globe models are equivalent to the crs range (comfort hybrids).

Maybe they are. Its only my unscientific opinion from comparing them in store and a short test ride. V brakes, comfort saddle and grips, fatter tyres, triple vs double clearance for mudguards.

Both are my shortlist to replace my MTB. Can't decide either. I'd even been considering a road bike and making the commute a workout, by extending when I can. I think a lot depends on what you are looking for and what your route is like. 90% of my route is on smooth tarmac and very few turns through and across traffic. My MTB is fine for wet days and when I need to carry some stuff as it has panniers. Be nice to have something nicer for nice days. Dunno if I'd find a road bike or similar hybrid too hard though.

copacetic

would agree on the brakes, but thats for mudguard clearance and gives you much greater choice of tyres in the future. the tyres are 25 v 28? Personally I'd prefer the 28 for commuting. I guess the saddles and grips may be more comfortable on the spesh, but that is partly because they make more comfortable saddles and grips.

On the triple, I thought both the fcr and sirrus had triples throughout the range?

I had a giant ocr and it was a great bike, so I've nothing against them. Personally though my feeling is that the sirrus and the bad boy are the originals who took hybrids mainstream so I just have a soft spot for both of them.

However if you have a road bike already or will be hard on them during a commute I think a more 'urban' style is better for commuting in dublin.

BostonB

FCR high end seems to be double. I'm not saying one is better than the other, just that the FCR appears a lot closer to the road bike. Arguably the Sirrus is a better bike for commuting for that reason. Most shops I asked that was their opinion.