Commuter - Spesh Sirrus or Globe Vienna?

Bluefoam

I'd like to take advantage of the bike to work scheme & have been having a look online for a suitable bike. The two that caught my attention are the Specialized Sirrus & the Globe Vienna - both made by the same people.

I like my mountain biking, but know nothing of the components on bikes like these. Would I be better off sticking with the Specialized or would the Globe be equal - it just seems slightly more stylish than the specialized...

Also is it worth going for the base model, or should I consider getting an elite/comp etc... My commute is likely to be 6km each way tops...


http://www.specialized.com/gb/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=47262&eid=4356&menuItemId=9341

http://www.globebikes.com/us/en/globe/GlobeBike.jsp?pid=10VNA1

beans

FWIW, I commuted a little longer than 7k on a basic Sirrus for 4 years. I ended up upgrading the saddle to something harder, and the pedals for SPDs, but everything else was stock. No quibbles from me as far as a reliable commuter goes.

That same bike is still being cycled into town every day, I gave it to a friend 18 months ago.

Stark

The Sirrus is a little bit sportier, although Specialized have downgraded their bikes to such an extent these days, that I would be looking at the Sport model as the minimum spec these days if I was getting one. (A few years ago, the basic Sirrus was plenty).

Bluefoam

Its a bit shocking to see that the Irish prices are so much more than the UK.

£399 v's €520 for the Sirrus... It might be worth getting it up north and upping the spec rather than using the bike to work scheme...

Stark

Well it's the difference of €70 when you take into account the sterling conversion. Most bike shops will give you a year's free servicing, so if you get it serviced twice, that will make up for the difference. You can get it for €490 in Cycleways so only €40 in the difference between North and South there.

I wouldn't consider either price to be good value for the most basic Sirrus though. I'd have a look at Giant and Trek bikes. The Trek 7.3FX isn't that much more expensive and it comes with much better components. Similar story with a Giant FCR 3 or a CRS 2.

Bluefoam

Anyone here used a Focus before, do they have a good reputation?

http://www.focus-bikes.de/index.php?id=23&L=0&R=1&tx_dcwproductdbfe_pi1[cat_id]=16&tx_dcwproductdbfe_pi1[pr_id]=133&cHash=79b2d641df352574af8601b49d939510

Lumen

Bluefoam wrote: »

Anyone here used a Focus before, do they have a good reputation?

http://www.focus-bikes.de/index.php?id=23&L=0&R=1&tx_dcwproductdbfe_pi1[cat_id]=16&tx_dcwproductdbfe_pi1[pr_id]=133&cHash=79b2d641df352574af8601b49d939510

Yes and yes.

They were very popular before the prices went up last year. Wiggle are still the main UK distributor AFAIK, although I think Eurocycles in Ireland sell them now.

wersal gummage

i was also looking at the specialized cirrus (elite) recently but ended up going for the giant rapid, might be worth a look. same thing - using it for a 10k commute each way plus 40k cycles on the weekends.

daymobrew

Stark wrote: »

The Sirrus is a little bit sportier, although Specialized have downgraded their bikes to such an extent these days, that I would be looking at the Sport model as the minimum spec these days if I was getting one. (A few years ago, the basic Sirrus was plenty).

Agreed.
I got a Specialized Sirrus Elite (one with carbon fork) back in 2007. With its skinnier tyres (700x28 on Sirrus cvs 700x35 on Vienna) it is faster.

I too put SPD pedals on mine.
I am very happy with my Sirrus.

Bluefoam

Okay, new question. I'm not too clued in about gear ratios etc... But I just discovered the Charge Tap with an 8 speed hub. Would an 8 speed be suitable for general 5/6km cycles or am I better off going with the focus with a greater selection of gears?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Charge_Tap_2010/5360044277/

Caroline_ie

if you re not really sure about bikes and gears etc, for maintenance purposes, the Charge sounds a good idea, as maintenance will be so much easier and the gears should be plenty for a commute! Nothing worse than having noisy gears and not being able to fix them ...

Bluefoam

Caroline_ie wrote: »

if you re not really sure about bikes and gears etc, for maintenance purposes, the Charge sounds a good idea, as maintenance will be so much easier and the gears should be plenty for a commute! Nothing worse than having noisy gears and not being able to fix them ...

Thanks Caroline_ie, I should clarify: I can maintain the gears, but don't have a great understanding of gear ratios - never had to think about it as I'm from an MTB background.

From a logical point of view, more gears sounds better. I'm slightly sceptical of buying an 8 spped, but my fears may be unfounded...

short circuit

Bluefoam wrote: »

Thanks Caroline_ie, I should clarify: I can maintain the gears, but don't have a great understanding of gear ratios - never had to think about it as I'm from an MTB background.

From a logical point of view, more gears sounds better. I'm slightly sceptical of buying an 8 spped, but my fears may be unfounded...

See below for comparison of different internal hub types and the gear ratios. All you are concerned about is the top and the bottom ratio. More gears just split into smaller steps.

Also, when people talk of 30 gears on a bike, only about half of them are useful .. the rest are either combinations you shouldn't cycle in to avoid putting strain on the components ... or are overlaps of other combinations. 8 internal gears for a Dublin commute is plenty

Golfanatic

my dad has a sirrus and he loves it hes and it for ages cycle to work on it everday. must say the sirrus pro looks deadly anyone know the price

Bluefoam

I think I am crazy, but there is possibly a new (longterm) plan. I think I will buy the Focus & turn it into a hub geared bike over an extended period... It'll be a fun project.

You can see the parts needed here


Technical Stuff: I'm inclined to go for an eccentric bottom bracket rather than the chain tensioner as I like the look of a single speed bike. Also Shimano have a new 11 speed hub on the way,which is also lighter...

I know its a lot of money, but I'd probably look at getting the bike off the internerd & the parts through the bike to work scheme...

any thoughts on this project?

short circuit

Good luck with the build. Post back on how you get on.

But if you are going to do this, I recommend doing it properly ...
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Versa-8-Speed-Versa-VRS8-STI-Levers-for-Internal-Gear-Hubs-21918.htm

By the way, wouldn'd you find it cheaper to buy a frame and do it from scratch ..

Bluefoam

Like I said, ill take a long term approach to it. I need a bike right now & the focus seems to fit the bill. When I have the bike for a while, ill start putting my plan together. No point in assembling parts until shimano launch the 11 speed.

This should be a bit of craic...

Bluefoam

Besides, if I built from scratch, it would probably cost more to buy all of the components individually.