Cycle to work - happy dilemma
Discussion
Bit controversial this one - Im looking to buy a new bike through the ride to work initiative which I plan to use for actually cycling to work
Happily my employer is signed up for credit and so my ceiling is 2k
My spec list includes clearance for 30mm or over tyres, drop bars, full mudguards and hydraulic brakes
Im limited to using a third party for the scheme but most of the usual suspects are on their list but not Planet X
The most likely contender is a Spesh Roubaix disc at bang on 2k
It looks sweet and would be a most excellent winter bike for the club run too
My hesitation is that even with a BFO lock and secure gated parking at work I dont think I would ever relax when Im at the office knowing I had a 2k bike locked up in the car park, consequently Im torn between something from Planet X at full price but probably just below what the Ruby would cost through the scheme (PX are just about to fit hydraulic discs to their commuter bikes)
Aaaargh
My current commuter is about to be retired on health grounds
The journey is decent and something with a bit of class would be nice
I just think that a 2k superbike is too tempting a target to leave locked all day versus something from Doncaster made with offcuts from plumbers merchants for effectively about the same price
Comments welcome
Happily my employer is signed up for credit and so my ceiling is 2k
My spec list includes clearance for 30mm or over tyres, drop bars, full mudguards and hydraulic brakes
Im limited to using a third party for the scheme but most of the usual suspects are on their list but not Planet X
The most likely contender is a Spesh Roubaix disc at bang on 2k
It looks sweet and would be a most excellent winter bike for the club run too
My hesitation is that even with a BFO lock and secure gated parking at work I dont think I would ever relax when Im at the office knowing I had a 2k bike locked up in the car park, consequently Im torn between something from Planet X at full price but probably just below what the Ruby would cost through the scheme (PX are just about to fit hydraulic discs to their commuter bikes)
Aaaargh
My current commuter is about to be retired on health grounds
The journey is decent and something with a bit of class would be nice
I just think that a 2k superbike is too tempting a target to leave locked all day versus something from Doncaster made with offcuts from plumbers merchants for effectively about the same price
Comments welcome
1. Get the 2k Roubaix, and a couple of rolls of mismatched gaffer tape. The cheapest, cloth-backed sort and the more likely it is to fray a bit the better.
2. Crudely wrap gaffer tape around Roubaix frame, making it look instantly old, tatty and undesirable.
3. Profit
Disclaimer: This may not work.
2. Crudely wrap gaffer tape around Roubaix frame, making it look instantly old, tatty and undesirable.
3. Profit
Disclaimer: This may not work.
You can get two big kryptonite locks for about £80. Just leave them at work overnight/weekends to save lugging them around and make sure whatever you lock the bike to is tough so the thief doesnt go through that rather than the lock to get the bike.
Personally if its a secure area within sight of a thoroughfare where people are occassionally walking past the bikes and who could spot a potential thief I wouldnt worry about it.
With all due respect, it will just look like any other road bike after a few weeks of commuting grime. In Bristol in particular, thieves just look for easy targets rather than expensive bikes. If they see an expensive bike with two d-locks next to a cheap bike with a thin cable lock, they go for the cheap one.
Oh, and get the Roubaix if you like it!
Personally if its a secure area within sight of a thoroughfare where people are occassionally walking past the bikes and who could spot a potential thief I wouldnt worry about it.
With all due respect, it will just look like any other road bike after a few weeks of commuting grime. In Bristol in particular, thieves just look for easy targets rather than expensive bikes. If they see an expensive bike with two d-locks next to a cheap bike with a thin cable lock, they go for the cheap one.
Oh, and get the Roubaix if you like it!
I wouldn't worry about it too much. My old bike was more than that and used to leave it in a secure area with just a Dlock when I worked at Southampton Uni. My current bike is of similar value and my previous job on an RAF base I didnt lock it and my new employer I keep it in the secure office and work are happy for me to do so.
SixPotBelly said:
1. Get the 2k Roubaix, and a couple of rolls of mismatched gaffer tape. The cheapest, cloth-backed sort and the more likely it is to fray a bit the better.
2. Crudely wrap gaffer tape around Roubaix frame, making it look instantly old, tatty and undesirable.
3. Profit
Disclaimer: This may not work.
Yeah but electrical insulation tape, rather than gaffer tape.2. Crudely wrap gaffer tape around Roubaix frame, making it look instantly old, tatty and undesirable.
3. Profit
Disclaimer: This may not work.
For £2k you can have a fully built up Kinesis Racelight for your all year bike AND a PLANET X Pro Carbon for high days and holidays...
There's something about Specialized lately for me, unless you have silly money (like £3k+) they aren't in the ball park. I've seen last year's Tarmac locally, £1500 reduced to £900, and it has a SORA groupset.
There's something about Specialized lately for me, unless you have silly money (like £3k+) they aren't in the ball park. I've seen last year's Tarmac locally, £1500 reduced to £900, and it has a SORA groupset.
Bungleaio said:
How about the Diverge Comp smartweld? I've got one on order at the moment so I can't comment fully but I picked it over the Roubaix.
I like the look of that. Keep thinking I want something with road bike layout that will take mudguards, with discs. Let us know how it goes. Magic919 said:
Most bikes look pretty well the same from £1000 to £2000. Just buy the one you prefer. Many people cycle to work on far more expensive metal and have no problems.
Don't agree that most bikes are pretty well the same from £1k to £2k! Also, I can imagine that people who do cycle to work on really expensive bikes, don't lock up on on the railings outside the office or even in public. Generally speaking I think serious cyclists like to run a dedicated commuter and save the nice bike for weekends and the summer ect ect.
Id probs buy something £500 max (actually more like £300) to commute on, so I can lock it up at shops and not worry too much. Plus a £2grand bike will have better components on it, which through winter you might not be able to exploit, yet will be laboured with higher replacement costs.
Each to their own, I often ride my best bike to work in the summer, or even dry days in the winter , but I can actually take it into my office and then I ride straight home. My usual commuter Ive chained up everywhere and its always there when I get back
I did spend £800 on a commuter last year, but the harsh rural roads (loads of mud and slurry) were killing it quickly even though I had full guards and flaps! Plus over 10 miles @ 6am I couldn't even exploit the decent qualities of the bike! I got a 2nd hand old Kona MTB with semi slicks for £90 , much easier and stress free, plus it has been really tough to break it!
My experiences are a bit tainted as the roads are quite grim at the moment where I live in Wilts, when I was in Reading the roads were kinder through the Winter, although the traffic and drivers less so!
Each to their own, I often ride my best bike to work in the summer, or even dry days in the winter , but I can actually take it into my office and then I ride straight home. My usual commuter Ive chained up everywhere and its always there when I get back
I did spend £800 on a commuter last year, but the harsh rural roads (loads of mud and slurry) were killing it quickly even though I had full guards and flaps! Plus over 10 miles @ 6am I couldn't even exploit the decent qualities of the bike! I got a 2nd hand old Kona MTB with semi slicks for £90 , much easier and stress free, plus it has been really tough to break it!
My experiences are a bit tainted as the roads are quite grim at the moment where I live in Wilts, when I was in Reading the roads were kinder through the Winter, although the traffic and drivers less so!
I think the only thing that matters here is whether you're happy to insure the more expensive bike.
The vast majority of bike thieves will be opportunist smackheads looking to feed their habit, and will probably get £20 for the bike, whatever it is. They're just as likely to take the Apollo BSO next to yours as they are yours if the lock on the Apollo looks easier to crack.
Buy whatever takes your fancy, leave a heavyweight lock at work, insure the bike and enjoy riding it. If it gets stolen, you'll be hacked off whether it's £500 or £2k, but just claim on your insurance and get another one.
One thing you might want to check with your employer though is whether you can still get the £2k after April. We could get £3k, but there's some change to consumer credit law coming in for the new tax year which means we're dropping back down to £1k.
The vast majority of bike thieves will be opportunist smackheads looking to feed their habit, and will probably get £20 for the bike, whatever it is. They're just as likely to take the Apollo BSO next to yours as they are yours if the lock on the Apollo looks easier to crack.
Buy whatever takes your fancy, leave a heavyweight lock at work, insure the bike and enjoy riding it. If it gets stolen, you'll be hacked off whether it's £500 or £2k, but just claim on your insurance and get another one.
One thing you might want to check with your employer though is whether you can still get the £2k after April. We could get £3k, but there's some change to consumer credit law coming in for the new tax year which means we're dropping back down to £1k.
Food for thought, thanks for the replies
The Diverge was something which hadn't occurred to me, I'm aware of the current fad of 'gravel bikes' but had also been frustrated by the lack of mudguard provision. Niner rlt hang your head in shame...
Interestingly since my post the recent snow and frosts have made the local drag even worse so big tyres are now a prerequisite
Do any of you have a diverge?
I'm curious for real world experience, it seems to dovetail the roubaix very closely and I can't call which niche is of more utility to me - road speed on the club run versus bulldozing through the potholes
Cheers
The Diverge was something which hadn't occurred to me, I'm aware of the current fad of 'gravel bikes' but had also been frustrated by the lack of mudguard provision. Niner rlt hang your head in shame...
Interestingly since my post the recent snow and frosts have made the local drag even worse so big tyres are now a prerequisite
Do any of you have a diverge?
I'm curious for real world experience, it seems to dovetail the roubaix very closely and I can't call which niche is of more utility to me - road speed on the club run versus bulldozing through the potholes
Cheers
I get my divege on Friday, I'll update my earlier thread about it http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Bungleaio said:
I get my divege on Friday, I'll update my earlier thread about it http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Out of interest, how is that differentiated from a CX bike?I fully intend to use mine as much as possible so I have ordered the mudguard set as well as the bike, they look pretty good quality and were only £35 from memory.
I understand the diverge differs from CX bikes because it has more of a relaxed geometry setup as well as different gearing as it's designed to be used recreationally rather than for racing. This is how the figures compare between the 58 frame Diverge and the Crux
I understand the diverge differs from CX bikes because it has more of a relaxed geometry setup as well as different gearing as it's designed to be used recreationally rather than for racing. This is how the figures compare between the 58 frame Diverge and the Crux
| CRUX ELITE CARBON EVO | Diverge comp | |
| B-B Drop | 67mm | 74mm |
| Chain-Stay Length | 425mm | 418mm |
| Crank Length | 175mm | 175mm |
| Fork Rake | 49mm | 51mm |
| Front-Center | 609mm | 621mm |
| Handle-Bar Width | 440mm | 440mm |
| Head-Tube Angle | 72.5° | 72.5° |
| Head-Tube Length | 170mm | 200mm |
| Reach | 387mm | 391mm |
| Seat-Post Length | 350mm | 350mm |
| Seat-Tube Angle | 73° | 73° |
| Seat-Tube Length, B-B Center to Top | 570mm | 530mm |
| Stack | 597mm | 621mm |
| Stand-Over Height | 825mm | 820mm |
| Stem Length | 110mm | 110mm |
| Top-Tube Length, Horizontal | 570mm | 582mm |
| Trail | 58mm | 55mm |
| Wheelbase | 1025mm | 1028mm |
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff