New bike advice please.

[Easy_Rider]

I started this new job a couple of weeks ago and have been cycling in to work. Yesterday the admin lady sent me an email about the C2W scheme thinking I might be interested because she's seen me cycling in (I thought it was to encourage new cycle commuters, but hey ho).

Anyway, I looked at it and thought I might just be interested in it because i'm using my retro stable at the moment and it will save the wear and tare on them if I got a new bike, but what bike to go for? It would be nice to be able to use the bike outside of work as well, so I thought about a mountain bike, but the new mountain bikes just look slow and cumbersome for the road, so then looked at the racers but would these be too uncomfortable for a commute? Hybrids, will it get used much away from the commute? Don't really want to spend a huge amount, but what's good for your money nowadays? Spending the full 1k seems a bit too much for a commuter too. If it helps I was thinking of using these guys down the road from me http://www.cheshireoakscycles.co.uk/ I popped in there after work and they showed me a few bikes, including a Cannondale racer which looked ok but not sure its worth 800.

Any help appreciated, I'm a bit lost on new bikes :?

 

[FluffyChicken]

Have a look at the Charge bikes, they seem good enough and seem to be good for the commute with some offroad (look under XC)

The Duster MID looks quite nice
http://www.chargebikes.com/products/bik ... l.php?id=7
ot the Genesis range (say the Altitude)
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/mountain/
or as it C2W try Halfords and the Boardman Hybrids seem quite good for a commute bike and probably fine for bridleways as well.


Got neither just what I think are quite reasonable.

 

[MikeD]

Cyclocross bike. Brisk all-seasons commuter and entertaining off-road bike all in one

 

[barry2017]

You are a prime candidate for a touring bike.

Many enthusiasts have spent an entire lifetime with no more.

 

[Easy_Rider]

I like the look of the Charge duster, steel frame

I like the idea of cyclo cross and I did have a look at one at that shop, but something just put me off, maybe it was those particular models.

Thought about a tourer chris and you're right it's probably the bike for me, any you could recommend? All the ones i've seen so far just look "girlie"

 

[barry2017]

Thing is, the girlie bits (mudguards, rack), combine with the geometry to make it more useful. Touring bikes don't have all those extra bits on for (anti) fashion, they're there because it makes them better to use. As to the top touring bike, I have to say the best one is what you choose by owning a few and finding the bits you do and don't like, then going bespoke. Sorry if that is not helpful.

For me, it would be a frame made by Edison's. The best bits from the three Dawes Galaxies I've owned, combined with my new Saracen (not a BSO Saracen, an NOS one) and my Peugeot (which I killed :cry: ). Add a Sturmey hub and I'd be sorted for bikes for the rest of my life.

For a great introduction (and bear in mind it might also be where you end up) how about a Hewitt Cheviot?

 

[FSR-Si]

I got a boardman mtb pro from halfords on the c2w scheme, i got it 2 weeks ago and love the thing, All the mags raved on about how good it was with comments like "how can they sell a bike for 1k when it has a £1500 kit list" it won all the awards when tested, so i thought i'd give one a try, its light weighing in at 24lb, its very stiff so it puts the power down quick and is fast, the forks are nice and plush and the brakes are spot on, all in all its well worth the 1k price tag and even better if you get it on the scheme

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... yId_165499

 

[stew-b]

another vote for the boardman hybrids,they are exceptional value for money,got one for my wife

 

[Easy_Rider]

More good suggestions, what do you think of these Chris from 2 of my LBS' http://grahamweighcycles.co.uk/shop/pro ... cts_id=197
http://www.thebikefactory.co.uk/product ... ctid=50881 reynold 520 any good?
Apologies for the questions, just a bit lost on new bikes, it would also help if I knew what I wanted


The boardmans do look good and have seen them before, are they available anywhere else, want to try and avoid halpoo tbh.

 

[crud]

i dont know what the details are of the cycle to work scheme but i can only assume its as much use as the car scrappage scheme or similar? would you be better off spendint a couple hundred pounds on a quality second hand commuter?