Opinions on bike to work bike

thom119

Looking to get a bike on the bike to work scheme and i've narrowed it down to these two

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/charge-plug-3-2014/

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/felt-f85-tiagra-2014/

Just looking for opinions on each, or any other recommendations.
I'll be doing a 12km commute and want something that can be used at the weekends too

I want to get some extra equipment too so budget is around 700 for the bike alone

Thanks in advance

EmcD123

The charge one looks lovely. The fork says its steel so is it also a steel frame? Love the thin tubing.

Have you looked in the bike shops around you yet? You can find some fantastic deals in some of them.

Chartsengrafs

I think you get a lot of bike for €640 on that Felt. I genuinely think that's a very good deal for a proven frame, and I find they're usually well built. You'd be doing well to get better for under €700. I'd be all over it.

EmcD123

Felt is a well respected brand. Looks like the better bike if you do take up cycling longer distances eventually

thom119

EmcD123 wrote: »

The charge one looks lovely. The fork says its steel so is it also a steel frame? Love the thin tubing.

Have you looked in the bike shops around you yet? You can find some fantastic deals in some of them.

I had a look in a couple of local places but none of them could match the deals I found on wiggle

Unless you need to carry heavy panniers to work go with the Felt. It will be more fun at the weekends.

If you think you will be using panniers regularly the steel framed charge is probably more suited.

Beasty

OSI wrote: »

Can you buy from a UK online retailer on the B2W scheme?

If you have general BTW queries please use the BTW megathread which is linked from the FAQ and has all the answers to questions like this

Beasty

OSI wrote: »

It was relative to the OP's post given he's looking to, and given advice to, buy from a UK retailer. If he can't buy it from a UK retailer, then different advice needs to be given.

The answer to your question is in the BTW megathread. If there was a problem with what the OP had asked I would have pointed that out. Now back on topic

Thanks

thom119

So before asking on this thread, I was leaning towards the charge, now i'm even more unsure than before...so i'll go through the pro's of each I can think of;

Charge
-Disc brakes
-Puncture resistant tyres
-wider tyres (more comfortable on bumpy mountain roads)

Felt
-tiagra groupset
-lighter
-cheaper

thom119

thom119 wrote: »

So before asking on this thread, I was leaning towards the charge, now i'm even more unsure than before...so i'll go through the pro's of each I can think of;

Charge
-Disc brakes
-Puncture resistant tyres
-wider tyres (more comfortable on bumpy mountain roads)

Felt
-tiagra groupset
-lighter
-cheaper

They are two very different bikes. The Felt is more of an entry level racer, the charge more like a hybrid with dropbars.

If you plan on doing any sport cycling go with the Felt. But your commute will be more comfortable on the charge.

If I had to choose one just for commuting I would go with the charge.

Hunterbiker

As has been said its comparing apples and pears. I was looking at the charge4 and was in your situation looking at a similar alternative. The Charge Plug range is very good and being steel would be a plush ride.

i thought hard about it and decided that as I was looking at longer spins at the weekends the charge would still be good but I'd probably want a 'racier' bike for weekends at some point so I went with something different. I love what I have and I'm glad I got it.

If I'm honest I still want the plug 4 but thats the old N+1 talking and I only have space for 1 at the moment...

I purchased througj Wiggle too great turnaround etc.

CramCycle

When you say used at weekends do you mean longer spins or just for heading out on similar distance trips for socialising.

I think the Charge would be incredibly comfy for commutes and longer spins but you will be slower than the felt over a long distance. If it's going to be commuting and short distance, the charge is the winner. If you plan to take up long spins and more sporty pursuits then go for the felt.

I would choose the chat large either way though as it's a really nice looking bike IMO

thom119

Quick update,

I decided to go with the Felt as it can be used at the weekends and was that little bit cheaper, which allowed me to get some extra essential gear on the BTW scheme

Should be arriving in the next couple of days so i'll let you know how i get on with it after a couple of weeks