Another "Which bike?" thread!

PaddyofNine

Time to upgrade my old rust bucket of a mountain bike, and the BTW scheme seems like the perfect enticement.

I've been looking at two models in particular:
The Cannondale Bad Boy Deore, or the Specialized Sirrus Comp. Both lovely bikes, but I'm wondering which you'd choose, given the choice?

It'd be mainly for commuting to work in Dublin, with the odd jaunt on a flat path/track in the local park - nothing off road!

Lumen

This is good value:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=57647

I've ridden one. It's nice.

PaddyofNine

Lumen wrote: »

This is good value:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=57647

I've ridden one. It's nice.

Thanks, I'll check it out...

PaddyofNine

Hey, so I'm still looking for a bike on the BTW scheme - going shopping this week. So I've a question for all the bike experts in here...

If you were to spend all the available BTW fee on a hybrid in the morning, what would you get? Like I said, mainly used for commuting with maybe the odd weekend cycle if I get more into it....

(One of the lads at work told me I should definitely be looking at an aluminium frame with carbon fork, and a Shimano 105 gearset - opinions much appreciated)

coolbeans

Lumen wrote: »

This is good value:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=57647

I've ridden one. It's nice.

A bike designed for speed on the beach. Hard not to like.

Lemag

PaddyofNine wrote: »

(One of the lads at work told me I should definitely be looking at an aluminium frame with carbon fork, and a Shimano 105 gearset - opinions much appreciated)

Tick, tick and tick.

PaddyofNine

coolbeans wrote: »

A bike designed for speed on the beach. Hard not to like.

Not sure if I'll be hitting many beaches this winter...

Lumen

PaddyofNine wrote: »

If you were to spend all the available BTW fee on a hybrid in the morning, what would you get?

I think you'd be nuts to spend €1000 on a hybrid. They depreciate like rocks.

On the other hand, this is a really nice bike for cycling around town:

Cube Hyde Pro Bike '11
https://www.cyclesuperstore.ie/shop/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=0&idproduct=40338

Icyseanfitz

Lemag wrote: »

Tick, tick and tick.

thats actually a nice looking bike

PaddyofNine

Icyseanfitz wrote: »

thats actually a nice looking bike

It is alright. I looked at a Giant Trek 3 today as well, nice bike.

Plascebo

Whatever you do, do not rush into it. Was looking to get back into the saddle after many years and had it stuck in my head to get a mountain bike. Eventually got this:

http://www.eurocycles.ie/Mens_Mountain_Bike/Corratec_X-Vert_Expert_Disc/4590_p.aspx

Lovely smooth bike, but I have come to realize that a hybrid would have been best suited to my commuting needs. So TAKE YOU TIME...

Lemag

Plascebo wrote: »

Lovely smooth bike, but I have come to realize that a hybrid would have been best suited to my commuting needs. So TAKE YOU TIME...

and if you were to have bought a hybrid you'd probably have realised that a road bike would have been more suited to your needs. If you'd bought a road bike you'd probably then realise that an even more expensive road bike would yet even more suited to your needs :pac:

PaddyofNine

Plascebo wrote: »

Whatever you do, do not rush into it. Was looking to get back into the saddle after many years and had it stuck in my head to get a mountain bike. Eventually got this:

http://www.eurocycles.ie/Mens_Mountain_Bike/Corratec_X-Vert_Expert_Disc/4590_p.aspx

Lovely smooth bike, but I have come to realize that a hybrid would have been best suited to my commuting needs. So TAKE YOU TIME...

Cheers, good advice. As you can see from the post dates, I've been looking at various models for a few weeks now. Looked at a Trek 7.5FX there yesterday too - wasn't hugely enamoured with it...

Esmimyst

In 2009, I've bought a Claud Butler Levante. Not the best bike but was definitely up compared to the Dawes Discovery 201 that I had before.

Then, because the CB wasn't enough for long ride (but good enough for commuting), I bought a Cube Agree GTC Race in July '10. Was a fantastic bike and my first dropbars bike. However, I've soon realized that the carbon bike option is really only for people who race often... Otherwise, it's a waste of money. I've sold the bike 1200€ this august after only a year (it cost me 2100€...).

However, I didn't use the carbon to replace the CB. The CB was replaced in November '10 by a Cube Streamer (mid range alu bike with 10spd system) and for commuting, it's the best.
It's about 8,6kg (without water bootle, pump and mudguard) and it is very comfortable. Compared to the GTC Race, it's about the same for me and I would have bought the Streamer over the GTC Race everytime now I know...
However, the 2011 Streamer isn't the same as the 2010 (which I've got). For 1000€, look at the Cube Attempt 2011 (also 10spd with 105). Cube bikes are good. Check reviews for that.

But one thing is sure:

Whatever you do, do not rush into it. Was looking to get back into the saddle after many years and had it stuck in my head to get a mountain bike. Eventually got this:

http://www.eurocycles.ie/Mens_Mounta...sc/4590_p.aspx

Lovely smooth bike, but I have come to realize that a hybrid would have been best suited to my commuting needs. So TAKE YOUR TIME...

funkyjebus

PaddyofNine wrote: »

(One of the lads at work told me I should definitely be looking at an aluminium frame with carbon fork, and a Shimano 105 gearset - opinions much appreciated)

That would probably be a road bike that he was taking about, which is what you should be getting instead of a hybrid if you do plan on going in cycles on the weekend and building up some distance.

If you can get a road bike for 1k with 105 in a shop you be doing well, but you aren't restricted to shops so do have a look online as the saving can be masssive. That bike Lemag linked to is fantastic value. If I needed a bike around that price range tomorrow, I'd probably go with that (not too keen on the colour, but at that price!)


EDIT: Having said that the reviews for the Airlight aren't that inspiring, but still at that price I'd wonder if you'd get anything better,105 quipped bike for e600 odd... ..seems a bargain for a starter bike.