New road bike (BTW)

Alkers

Long term mountain biker here but also commute by bicycle and do the odd road spin, greenways etc.

Looking to get a new bike through the bike to work scheme, I'm happy to spend the full 1,250 but don't really know where to start.

I'm thinking front disk at least, thinking gravel bike rather than full racer but don't know much after that - drops vs flat bars etc. Would like to be properly measured / fitted and want something as light and fast as possible.

Any recommendations where to start in terms of models to look at or even a helpful bike shop in Dublin?

I don't need any equipment or anything else.

loyatemu

drop bars - yes; gravel bike is probably fine if you just want to do leisure spins, sportives etc.

Cycle Superstore are probably the biggest around Dublin, but everywhere is really low on stock, you may have to take whatever they have available, or be prepared to wait (I'm waiting a year on a bike I ordered, and it's just been delayed again).

Alkers

Current considerations, just from looking online:

https://www.cannondale.com/en-es/bikes/road/gravel/topstone-alloy/topstone-4

Love it but unsure at how 10speed only ei be, prefer hydro discs and no weight given.

https://www.halfords.ie/bikes/hybrid-bikes/boardman-urb-8.6-urban-hybrid-bike-2021---s-m-l-frames-423974.html

Seems a lot.of bike for the price, need to try the hub gears and only three might be very limiting, somewhat concerned about halfords as an assembler.

Mr. Cats

Can’t comment on the Boardroom except to say it looks more like a commuting bike rather than something that you would go off-road on.

At this price level Cube often provide well-spec’d bikes. Something like this for example:

https://www.cube.eu/en/2022/bikes/road/gravel/nuroad/cube-nuroad-pro-inkgreynblack/

seems to be in stock in a few sizes here so might be worth trying to arrange a test ride? You can beat a bit of real world viewing and sitting on the bike to see if it’s what you’re looking for. (I’ve no idea if this particular bike shop any good)

https://www.cyclebike.ie/cube-nuroad-pro-2022.html?id=253139944&quantity=1

loyatemu

that's marked as "backorder" in every colour and size, so not in stock. Cube are having serious supply line issues, you could be waiting a long time.

68 lost souls

I have a 2019 Cube Nuroad (non pro model with mechanical disc and tiagra) and have done multiday gravel rides on it and it held up great but would have liked something a bit lighter than that and hydraulic would have been nicer but has done be great service. I have a friend with another NuRoad, I think his is the Pro and he is very happy with it. I was commuting this week on my gravel bike and its very comfy but certainly with 38mm gravel tyres a good bit slower than my road bike. Having a set of wheels I could swap slicks onto might help with that though.

A colleague purchased a boardman ADV 9.0 recently and its a lovely bike, if you could stretch I'm sure you would be very happy with that.

You could also look at the option of say a CX bike which is what a lot of my clubmates use for both Gravel and CX.

Mr. Cats

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119523660#Comment_119523660

You’re right - I missed that

Alkers

Just to bump this, nothing ordered as of yet but the price difference between Irish shops and UK or EU retailers is staggering.

I found this to nullify the b2w scheme on a 6k EMTB but thought at this price point Irish retailers would be more competitive

hesker

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119523660#Comment_119523660

I enquired about a NuRoad at my LBS last week and was told it could be anything from late 2023 to 2025. Cube website has a page discussing their supply issues but improvement will take a long time it seems.

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119680411#Comment_119680411

my order was originally due in January having ordered in August 2021. I still don't have it (they're now saying December).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119680325#Comment_119680325

when I've been looking there's been no price difference other than the VAT differential between IE and European websites, while UK prices have been higher again. That's road bikes in the 2-3k range (Cube, Felt, Giant etc). I haven't looked at eBikes.

CantGetNoSleep

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119680840#Comment_119680840

I'm hoping you didn't pay up front for that?

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119682611#Comment_119682611

they have a deposit, the rest is BTW. TBH I've looked at alternatives and there's very little in my size and budget - I already have a bike, I can wait.