Alternative bike suggestions to Kona

mapera

Hi all,
Recently purchased a bike on bike to work scheme with chainreactioncycles. Bike purchased was the kona minUte, however after paying and receiving some accessories I was told that the Kona minUte was no longer available.

I'd rather not go through the hassle of a refund, so they have offered a couple of different bikes as a straight swap. I'm no bike expert, so I'm just wondering if either of these suggestions are worth it?

These are what hey have suggested:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/corratec-harmony-gent-2013/rp-prod89405

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/ghost-tr-1300-city-bike-2013/rp-prod82988

Do you think these match up to the Kona?

They are open to other fair suggestions, so if anyone has any suggestions as an alternative would be great?

Thanks for any help

Regards,
Alan

Hmmzis

Avoid the ones with suspension forks, you don't need that for city commuting and even less for light touring.

Do CRC still sell Giant? The Rapid is a very good city/hybrid bike that will take full midguards and a rack for paniers.

Darkglasses

Yeah I don't like either of those bikes for the same reason as Hmmzis, suspension is something to avoid unless you're regularly riding off road.

What size are you?

Is this one too expensive - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/cube-sl-cross-city-bike-2013/rp-prod111960

Seaneh

Get a refund from CRC and buy this:
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mens-nework-5-id_8222609.html

Rack, mudguards, hub dynamo and lights for less than €320.

You couldn't beat it with a big stick.

at1withmyself

Same as the others - avoid the suspension forks. Can you post your budget for the bike as it will help people give you suggestions. I had a quick look and some nice options available.

mapera

Thanks for the feedback guys, really helpful.

The kona minute was listed at 950, but was on sale, so paid only 487... Pretty gutted to lose out on that. As you can see the substitute bikes aren't unreasonable price wise ( although none worth the 950!)

So I guess I could get a refund of the 487, or my preference would be to find an alternative on their site.

Thanks,
Alan

Seaneh

I think you dodged a bullet with the minute to be honest. It's a cargo bike, not an every day bike, it's not really what you needed and it would have been a pain in the arse to find panniers to fit it.

This would probably be a better fit. Add mudguards and a rack for little money.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/vitus-bikes-vee-27-city-bike/rp-prod81001

mapera

Cheers dark glasses... I'm 5'9 and inseam around 31" ( short legs ! ), so probably looking for a frame size up to 21" max.

Cheers,
Alan

Darkglasses wrote: »

Yeah I don't like either of those bikes for the same reason as Hmmzis, suspension is something to avoid unless you're regularly riding off road.

What size are you?

Is this one too expensive - http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/cube-sl-cross-city-bike-2013/rp-prod111960

mapera

Ok, so they have offered 3 different bikes. Any thoughts on which of these is the best?

1. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/corratec-c-29er-t-base-gent-2013/rp-prod89403
2. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/ghost-tr-1800-city-bike-2013/rp-prod82991
3. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/cube-touring-nl-city-bike-2013/rp-prod111964


Thanks for all the help.

Seaneh

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/corratec-c-29er-t-base-gent-2013/rp-prod89403

Hub dynamo and lights, makes it the winner for me. Has everything you need for commuting.

mapera

Thanks Seaneh, I think you might be right, cheers.

Darkglasses

Yeah that one looks class, wouldn't mind one myself.

at1withmyself

The Corretec is nice alright although what about this one:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/vitus-bikes-vee-27-city-bike/rp-prod81001

You could buy a rack, mudguards & lights separately and its a nicer looking machine (imo)

mapera

Cheers, although it is a replacement bike...a straight swap. I've decided to go for the Corretec in the end...chuffed.

Thanks for the help

Seaneh

Should be happy out with that, all you need now is a pair of panniers and some wet gear and you're 100% sorted for winter commuting, and you never have to worry about your light batteries dying. You can even get USB things that attach to the hub power for charging phones/mp3 players/whatever while cycling home!

Alek

I have Kona Minute as my van-bike for over a year now.

As far as there are many better bikes for commuting (it is heavy!), none of those mentioned above could take a child seat with a passenger to Tesco's and return with 50kg of groceries. It comes with spacious panniers, too.