And another new bike thread..

smacl

So after what has been a difficult few months with practically no leisure cycling due to family commitments, my good wife said casually to me yesterday, "You should really buy a new bike". Can't argue with that, but while the old bike is a bit of a Frankenstein's monster of 2nd hand bits and odd upgrades, I'm very fond of it. Anyhoo, spec is as follows;

Budget: €2000 - €2500
Use: Long days in the hills / exploring the countryside, light touring, light off-road (e.g. canals etc..)
Must be: Robust, comfortable, clearance for 28mm tyres with mudguards, eyelets for racks, and have a wide gear range.

Current contenders:

SPA cycles Ti Audax 105
Thorn Audax MK3
Genesis CfF 30

Thoughts?

cdaly_

I'm riding a Thorn Club Tour which is a pleasure to ride. It's a touch heavier than the Audax MK3 but takes wider tyres (35mm Vittoria Voyager Hypers). It covers all of your bases. Come by and take it out for a spin...

Fian

This one just outside your budget:

hi-mod carbon + hydraullic discs + ultegra


Here is an obligatory slightly above your budget one - this is one I currently have on order:

HI MOD carbon, Di2 + hydraullic discs



This second one has di2 + hydraullic disc brakes on a hi mod carbon frame.

You can configure bikes on their website, so you can change things around if you wish.

I ordered on 28 april and is due to be delivered in early July - so there is some waiting involved. Unfortunately they recently raised their prices

EDIT: oops missed that you wanted off road capabilities. Neither of these would shine at that. Nor do they have mudguards / eyelets.

smacl

cdaly_ wrote: »

I'm riding a Thorn Club Tour which is a pleasure to ride. It's a touch heavier than the Audax MK3 but takes wider tyres (35mm Vittoria Voyager Hypers). It covers all of your bases. Come by and take it out for a spin...

I've been admiring the pictures of your Thorn put up recently _cdaly, which was what led me to the Thorn site to start with. Lovely looking machine, and I'm dithering between 28s or larger tyres myself. My bike handling skills are weak enough, and I doubt I'd handle deep drops and bar end shifters that well, so will probably stick with STIs. Was also eyeing up a rohloff based Thorn, but it looks like a poor choice with drops. Many thanks for the offer to view the thorn in the flesh prior to pressing the button, I may well take you up on that.

smacl

Fian wrote: »

EDIT: oops missed that you wanted off road capabilities. Neither of these would shine at that. Nor do they have mudguards / eyelets.

Funny enough, I was also looking at the possibility of a Rose bike or a Canyon, but really fancy the idea of road + light off road in the same bike. There's also been a few times last year that I've missed the option of panniers, so I reckon a light tourer / audax bike would suit my needs better than an out and out road bike.

cdaly_

smacl wrote: »

I've been admiring the pictures of your Thorn put up recently _cdaly, which was what led me to the Thorn site to start with. Lovely looking machine, and I'm dithering between 28s or larger tyres myself. My bike handling skills are weak enough, and I doubt I'd handle deep drops and bar end shifters that well, so will probably stick with STIs. Was also eyeing up a rohloff based Thorn, but it looks like a poor choice with drops. Many thanks for the offer to view the thorn in the flesh prior to pressing the button, I may well take you up on that.

I've found the bar-end shifters to be very handy to use. You can have STIs on the Club Tour in any case. Mind you, Thorn are not that eager for drop bars in the first place. They'll very happily sell you straight bars of various type.

Pick the right time and give me a shout...

not yet

smacl wrote: »

So after what has been a difficult few months with practically no leisure cycling due to family commitments, my good wife said casually to me yesterday, "You should really buy a new bike". Can't argue with that, but while the old bike is a bit of a Frankenstein's monster of 2nd hand bits and odd upgrades, I'm very fond of it. Anyhoo, spec is as follows;

Budget: €2000 - €2500
Use: Long days in the hills / exploring the countryside, light touring, light off-road (e.g. canals etc..)
Must be: Robust, comfortable, clearance for 28mm tyres with mudguards, eyelets for racks, and have a wide gear range.

Current contenders:

SPA cycles Ti Audax 105
Thorn Audax MK3
Genesis CfF 30

Thoughts?

This part ^ didn't stand out...

She's up to something, be very, very careful..

OldBean

smacl wrote: »

my good wife said casually to me yesterday, "You should really buy a new bike".

It's a trap!

Budget: €2000 - €2500
Use: Long days in the hills / exploring the countryside, light touring, light off-road (e.g. canals etc..)
Must be: Robust, comfortable, clearance for 28mm tyres with mudguards, eyelets for racks, and have a wide gear range.

Current contenders:

SPA cycles Ti Audax 105
Thorn Audax MK3
Genesis CfF 30

Thoughts?

Having messed around on the canals a bit recently, I think you might need something on the beefier side of a road bike.

I was playing around on one of these recently, and it'd be perfect for it - http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/frames/camargue-frameset.html

Really good fun frame too. Woodchipper handlebars, front rack and full mudguards, you'll take on anything.

Otherwise, something like a Salsa Casserole?

OleRodrigo

I've seen the Spa Cycles Audax 105 (steel ) out a few times out on events, and I really like its unassuming, classical good looks. Not sure it would be worth going for the Ti version, unless you like the aesthetic of ti, the Reynolds 725 is just as good with little extra weight and the spare cash could go on the excellent upgrade options. Also, the narrower tubing of the steel gives the frame a better look, imo.
Not sure the Spa Cycles will give you 28mm+ clearance with mudguards though - that's generally a feature of touring bikes.

I went with the Genesis Equilibrium 20 Stainless myself. The Spa Cycles Audax 105 was on the short list ( along with the Van Nicholas Yukon ).
.Dont have very positive thoughts on disc brakes so I wont share those.

If you want something light, I'd go with the Spa Cycles over the Thorn Audax, unless you were buying just the frame and forks. In that case I think the decals on the Thorn are more robust and could build a nicer bike than the Spa Cycles. If you really want the disc brakes, the CdF is a lovely bike but I wouldn't fancy lugging that and some luggage around a hilly 200/300 or even a light tour. Then again, if I was riding canals and off road regularly I'd love a CdeF. Clearly the answer here would be two new bikes. :pac:

Edit - the CdeF 30 isn't actually as heavy as I thought. Not sure about the quality of the Disc brakes though, would need some research there, assuming they were good its probably the closest to what you're looking for.

smacl

Still scratching the head on this one. Was about the pull the trigger on the Genesis CdF 30, but decided to have another trawl around the net first for some other similar options, given the CdF 30 is basically a cross bike with wide gear ranges and hydraulic disc brakes. I found what I reckon is a better option for me in the Rose Pro DX Cross-3000. Not as pretty as the CdF with an Alu rather than steel frame, but a full 2kg lighter, full Ultegra, and still a good bit cheaper than the Genesis configured to exactly what I want. The frame is the same as their randonneur version which takes a rack and mudguards, which I'll also be including, so all good there.

While I know this is putting function over form, I reckon its ideal for my go anywhere all year round bike, which can run tyres for any conditions. Any thoughts before I pull the trigger?

OleRodrigo

One of the lads was on a stainless CdeF yesterday and it looked fantastic, not as bulky as I thought it might. He said its often mistaken for an equilibrium.

I'd prefer steel to alu for a workhorse all rounder. Once you load it up it will be heavy anyway, so that 2 kilo difference would probably go unnoticed.

cunavalos

Its probably a bit more heavy duty than you were originally looking at but what about the Specialized Awol.

Easily meets your budget will take up to 42mm tyres. I will admit it is a bit on the heavy side with custom racks (front and rear) and full mudguards but i have used it on the grand canal out as far as sallins when it was still a bit soft and was able to keep cycling the whole route. Also have taken it on fire roads as well and am happy enough with it so far

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/specialized-awol-comp-15?gclid=CJaWzP7qyMUCFcZ02wod5gUARQ

smacl

After much gnashing of teeth I've gone with the Rose CX bike, primarily on the basis that I know I'll appreciate the weight advantage when climbing on the back of long days. The CdeF certainly looks the nicer bike and was a very close second, but the custom Rose build gives me almost exactly what I'm after at a great price point. Many thanks for all the feedback and I'll put another post up of what its like after its been out on a maiden voyage in about 6 weeks.

Fian

smacl wrote: »

After much gnashing of teeth I've gone with the Rose CX bike, primarily on the basis that I know I'll appreciate the weight advantage when climbing on the back of long days. The CdeF certainly looks the nicer bike and was a very close second, but the custom Rose build gives me almost exactly what I'm after at a great price point. Many thanks for all the feedback and I'll put another post up of what its like after its been out on a maiden voyage in about 6 weeks.

Nice bike, congratulations!

I am gutted that the delivery date on my own currently ordered rose bike has been moved back, so I now have another 12 weeks to go before it arrives, back from an original date in early July. Ah well, I'm sure it will be worth the wait. Hope yours arrives speedily!

I thin the rose looks great!

smacl

Fian wrote: »

Nice bike, congratulations!

I am gutted that the delivery date on my own currently ordered rose bike has been moved back, so I now have another 12 weeks to go before it arrives, back from an original date in early July. Ah well, I'm sure it will be worth the wait. Hope yours arrives speedily!

I thin the rose looks great!

Cheers, delivery date was another thing pushing me towards the CdeF, which I could have got from Evans almost immediately. The Rose checkout said 6 weeks, so hopefully it won't be much more than that. 12 weeks is taking the píss.