Bike shopping help

papa-lazarou

Apologies to everyone who must be sick of this topic. I'm in the market for a new bike and am very cautious about buying, as I'm currently cycling a piece of junk Raleigh that's only a year old and falling apart. Get what you pay for.

Criteria:
Typical usage: 5k cycle to work.
Budget: Even though I will be buying on the BTW scheme, I wanted to keep bike to about 400 but have now stretched to 600.
Comfort: I occasionally find myself cycling with fingertips on handlebars or cycling with no hands as sitting more upright feels better for my back. And I felt very comfortable on the bikes I cycled in Amsterdam.

Concerns:
Maybe I'm being too cynical but I've been in 3 bike shops now, and each one has tried to sell me a different brand as the best brand, and when I look around the shop, it's apparent that they specialise in that brand, so I don't entirely thrust them from that perspective.

Style over comfort
I'm having a struggle with this one. It's a toss up between a slick looking hybrid (Giant, Trek, Specialized depending on which shop I'm in!) or getting an Amsterdam style bike. My gut feeling is that I really want the former, and an Amsterdam bike just isn't me, regardless of comfort, which I know is a bit stupid.

Current choice:
I like the last bike I was shown, and reviews look good. The Specialized Sirrus Sport. Though I'm unsure if the model I was shown in Cycleways is the 2012 model or not.

I'm yet to sit on a Giant bike, and see if it is any better for cycling more upright, but from what I've seen so far that's more about the (Amsterdam) handlebars than anything else.

I need to get out to more shops. But very hard to find time at the moment, and my current bike seems to be getting worse by the day. You can hear me rattling along from a mile away and grannies pass me out on every hill.

Any of your thoughts on any of this much appreciated.

--
p.s. while I'm here, any of you guys get pelted by missiles, rocks / potatoes etc while cycling through some (what I NOW consider) dodgy areas? 3rd time in a row yesterday getting hit in the head by a gang of little ****s with a good aim.

papa-lazarou

Would be happy even with someone recommending the Specialized Sirrus Sport.

Think I'm happy to go with that, unless anyone can show just cause, why this man and this bike may not lawfully be joined together in matrimony. Let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

Skrynesaver

The Sirrus is a good hybrid, and if you're sure you won't regret not getting a road bike next summer, go for it.

By the way, where'd you get the free spuds?

papa-lazarou

I don't think so - I think it's definitely a hybrid for me, if not an Amsterdam bike.

The free spuds were delivered at Portland Row. I'm taking a different route come October. Not going through there again when they're armed with bangers.

Cheers.

ednwireland

papa-lazarou wrote: »

I don't think so - I think it's definitely a hybrid for me, if not an Amsterdam bike.

The free spuds were delivered at Portland Row. I'm taking a different route come October. Not going through there again when they're armed with bangers.

Cheers.

mmmmm bangers and mash........

sorry