Flat bar road bikes

rowanh

I cycled a Giant rapid 3 yesterday, i like it a lot, im just wondering if there is anything else worth checking out? I did also look at a Laphierre 300 yesterday which seems good value but i didnt like the colours available (want to avoid white/grey/silver) or the round grips.

The Boardman bikes look good but i cant get anything from Halfords with the btw scheme. 2wheels have a Scott Speedster 50 FB which looks good but someone i work with found their customer service very poor to the point i would avoid them.

I want something around 10kg, carbon fork, good groupset etc and comfy handle bars, 25mm tyres for around 750-850, i want to keep it enough under 1K that i can get a few accessories included with the btw discount. If anyone had any suggestions id appreciate it.

rowanh

The Focus Focus Arriba 2.0 also looks good but i cant buy a bike in Eurocycles and i cant find it anywhere else online in Dublin.

Lumen

You're not likely to get much useful advice since you've not disclosed the restrictions of your particular bike to work scheme.

If you're limited to a few shops, find out what they sell and post specific questions.

rowanh

I need to use the biketowork.ie voucers, a lot of the shops use them, list is here

I was just talking to someone in The Bikerack, they do Avanti, the Blade 3 sound great on paper, im going to look at the Blade 2 as they have them in stock. The Blade 3 is €720, spec is as follows.

Sizes S-52cm, M-54.5cm, L-57cm, XL-59.5cm
Frame ADT 7005 UL Ultralite Alloy
Fork ADT E1 Carbon with Alloy 1-1/8" Steerer
Front Derailleur Shimano Tiagra 4603
Rear Derailleur Shimano Tiagra 4601
Shifters Shimano R460 30-Speed with Shimano Gear cables
Crankset Shimano Tiagra 4603 50/39/30T
Brakes Alloy Mini V-Brake, Cartridge pads
Brake Levers Tektro RX1.0 Alloy
Wheelset / Rims Alex APT3-18 32H
Hubs Shimano Tiagra
Spokes DT Swiss Industry Stainless Steel
Cassette Shimano Tiagra 4600 12-28T 10-speed
Handlebar Alloy Flat Bar 25.4mm with Alloy Bar Ends
Handlebar Stem Alloy Ahead 25.4mm
Headset FSA Aheadset 1-1/8" Upper, Integrated Lower
Grips Zero Voyager II Lock-on Comfort
Pedals Shimano M424 Clipless
Tyres Kenda Kwick Roller 700 x 28c with Superlite Tubes
Saddle Zero Zelix
Seat Post Zero Attack Pro Carbon 27.2mm
Bottom Bracket Shimano Tiagra
Chain Shimano 105 5600

I guessing no one has heard of these? There seems to be very little about them online, they are from New Zealand. I dont know a whole lot about bike components but i think Tiagra is the best you would get on a sub 1k euro hybrid and there seems to be a lot of it. Also i think id like 28c tyres over thinner ones. Im wondering where they compromised, the brakes and wheels maybe?

Rowan

reallyunique

Check out the "Which Alfine 8 commuter" thread. More expensive but steel and hub gears. If a flat bar is your thing then you should at least test ride one of the bikes mentioned there.
If you anticipate racing then a bike like this probably wont do. If you want to commute or just have a bit of fun messing about on a bike it should be fine.

I notice that the spec seems to be from the manufacturer's site so it may be quite dramatically different by the time it arrives in Ireland. If this is the bike the shop is actually selling you though it is good value. Wheels are the obvious place where money will be saved and although I've had several Alex rims before and loved them they are probably where the corners have been cut. Shouldn't make a bit of difference if you're just commuting though. The saddle might be worthy of an upgrade but that's so much of a personal thing that something I'd hate could be your favourite. The brake brand isn't mentioned but replacing one set with another should be cheap and unless they're complete rubbish and fall to bits they're likely to be safe enough.

If you're buying and think you might be reselling in a year or so then go for a more well known brand. You won't get your money back but people like to buy things they've heard of. Think Giant or Specialized.

Getting a carbon fork is nice but the biggest determinant of ride quality on a bike like that is going to be the tyres. 28's should be soft enough to make the fork and frame less of an issue.

One final thing, I think I remember seeing a Focus in Joe Daly in Dundrum, though I could have imagined it. That's on your list so if you like the Focus more then give them a call.

Please spend money on a high-end Kryptonite lock plus a cable one, they're expensive but worth it. For commuting a rack is nice plus some mudguards.

Best of luck

Brian?

I know you said flat bars but I can't help it.
You will never regret buying a road bike.

http://www.wheelworx.ie/bikes/road-bikes/road-bikes-men/Speedster-S40

Just about in budget.

rowanh

Thanks reallyunique, thats some god info.

My last bike was a road bike though maybe it was a crappy one but i really didnt like it, i found it uncomfortable and awkward and i got a lot of punctures, i actually stopped cycling for the last couple years because of how much i didnt like it. I will be using the bike for commuting, people in work are asking me to do some 100k cycle with them which i am considering but if i was doing that kind of thing id prefer to have something that is not perfect for it rather than something i dont like cycling to and from work everyday. Maybe i should check out some decent road bikes though.

Lumen

There are many ways to use a bike, and many types of bike and cyclist.

Hybrids (or flat bar road bikes, if you prefer) present most of the efficiency upsides of a drop-bar road bike whilst demanding less of the cyclist in terms of physical conditioning and specialist clothing.

I love all (four? of) my drop bar bikes, but every time I ride them in normal clothes (as opposed to lycra) I find myself mildly irritated by the fact that my clothing seems to want to drag itself up my back and sleeves in response to the stretched out position.

If you've had a bad experience with a drop-bar bike I think you're right to try something different.

rowanh

Sounds about right, i would be cycling in jeans generally..

reallyunique was right about the spec of the Avanti, the one for 720 has many different components, the one with the spec above is 1100.

Joe Daly does do focus bikes but does not stock the Arriba, on the Focus website they have the following,

Frame Road Sport, alloy, double butted
: Fork Fork FOCUS Alloy
: Wheelset Concept EX
: Gear ratio Gear ratio front: 50/34, rear: 11-30
: Number of Gears Number of Gears 18
: Rear derailleur Rear derailleur Shimano Sora
: Crankset Crankset Shimano Sora
: Brakes Brakes Shimano Sora
: Handlebar Handlebar Concept EX
: Color Color Magicblack/Firered

Im wondering would having only two gears at the front be an issue, it certainly wouldnt for cycling to work but if i did want to do something like a very hilly 100k cycle would i want the extra gear?

Also it doesnt have a carbon fork, it was mentioned above this is not such an issue with thicker tyres. Would most wheels that take 25mm tyres take 28? I would assume they would..

Lumen

rowanh wrote: »

Im wondering would having only two gears at the front be an issue, it certainly wouldnt for cycling to work but if i did want to do something like a very hilly 100k cycle would i want the extra gear?

An 11-30 9sp cassette has quite large gaps in it. That would be more of an issue than the lack of a third chainring.

If you have a third chainring you can run a closer spaced cassette because the overall range is greater.

reallyunique

If you really want the Focus, ring Joe Daly and ask if they'll get one in, might be worth it if it's the one you really want.

Hmmmm, compact doubles eh? If you're touring and carrying a lot of luggage you definitely need a triple. For most road work the compact seems to get most people close enough. If you're really going to ride the steepest stuff your fitness level will be the real issue. Unless you're racing you should be able to plot a course to avoid the worst hills or just get off and push
I've heard of some people taking mountain bike cassettes from the newer 2x10 set ups and using them but I could have just dreamed it.

If you're worried about making it up hills you probably don't have the confidence in your fitness level. That's actually an easier upgrade than changing the bike but if you really believe you'll need the triple then hold out for it.
I'm considering a steel fun bike and I am seriously thinking of putting a double on.

The whole drop bar thing is a bit Marmite-esque, you either love em or you don't. I just about tolerate them on my touring bike but I just can't get comfortable. Could be the bike is the wrong size for me. You do go a bit faster I suppose but it's not a race so I usually just knock it down a gear and spin on.

Have fun buying and ride LOADS of different bikes!

rowanh

Yea Joe Daly will get one in, they have one in Eurocycles though it looks differnet to the one on the Focus website, might pop in there and have a look. The one on the Focus


I honestly dont have a clue about doubles and triples, anywhere ive been cycling in Dublin since i got my first adult bike 8 years ago or so has been very flat and ive only really used the top gear and one a few down from it.. My fitness is ok though not sure how id get on in a 100km cycle over hilly ground, my quads certainly wouldnt be used to anything like that.

Id cycle loads of bikes if there were more to try, i might go into 2wheels and check out the Scott they have and the Focus in Eurocycles. I could also take a look at a trek 7.4 though from what ive read i think i will prefer the rapid 3 to it.

I had a look at the Alfine 8 commuter thread, im a little confused as to what they actually are, they have the gears inside the hub?

Lumen

rowanh wrote: »

I had a look at the Alfine 8 commuter thread, im a little confused as to what they actually are, they have the gears inside the hub?

Yes. They're a bit draggy though, a bit like cycling through treacle. Some people notice this more than others.

Craig06

My girlfriend got a lapierre shaper and loves it. It's only 8 speed but I think they do a version with 9 speed and carbon fork if you wanted that.