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Flat bar bikes for commuting

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  • 18-01-2008 11:05am
    #1
    Tempe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭


    Anyone got any advice on flat bar/hybid bikes for commuting? I'm planning to upgrade mine soon. I do about 20k a day and I've been looking at Genesis Ridgeback Day 1 and 2's . They seem to get good reviews but only one shop in Dublin sells them (cyclogical)!!

    Other bikes would be Giant's FCR range, Cannondale Synapse and Speciaized Sirrus

    Thanks....


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    #2
    Ghost Rider
    Registered Users Posts: 1,883 ✭✭✭Ghost Rider


    I have an FCR3 (2007 model) and find it excellent. However, my commute is quite short and I'm currently preferring to use a singlespeed. It's easier to keep clean and properly functioning, especially in this manky weather.
    Tempe wrote: »
    Anyone got any advice on flat bar/hybid bikes for commuting? I'm planning to upgrade mine soon. I do about 20k a day and I've been looking at Genesis Ridgeback Day 1 and 2's . They seem to get good reviews but only one shop in Dublin sells them (cyclogical)!!

    Other bikes would be Giant's FCR range, Cannondale Synapse and Speciaized Sirrus

    Thanks....


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    #3
    petethedrummer
    Registered Users Posts: 7,604 ✭✭✭petethedrummer


    Ghost Rider wrote: »
    I have an FCR3 (2007 model) and find it excellent. However, my commute is quite short and I'm currently preferring to use a singlespeed. It's easier to keep clean and properly functioning, especially in this manky weather.

    I have the exact same bike, I do 25 km when I can manage to get up in time.


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    #4
    penexpers
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,038 ✭✭✭penexpers


    I owned a Specialized Sirrus and I would have no complaints about it. Very fast bike and the suspension seatpost was nice for absorbing some of the shocks.


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    #5
    dub_skav
    Registered Users Posts: 2,530 ✭✭✭dub_skav


    I was looking at the Sirrus and Giant FCR ranges myself. Ended up going with a Lapierre RCR 500, which I find excellent. Really nice ride position and a nice fast bike. They have them in Cycle superstore, worth a look if that's the kind of thing you're planning on

    Lapierres and Giants here


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    #6
    blorg
    Registered Users Posts: 15,989 ✭✭✭✭blorg


    I have had a Sirrus Elite for many years now (converted to drops in 2006) which I am very happy with. When I got it (2002 I think) it was one of the only options but now there is a whole lot of stuff to choose from in that class, I would certainly consider the Giants etc.


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    #7
    Tempe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Tempe


    Thanks for the replies......as you mentioned there's quite a range of these type of bikes now which I suppose is good for us. I also own an entry level road bike (Trek) which I generally use at weekends. I was thinking on using this to commute with but I find the upright posistion of the flat bar bikes much safer (my commute takes me along the Dublin quays which is a challange in itself).

    I like the look of the Giant bikes.....does anyone have or know anyone with a Genesis? I don't see many around but they seem to have a big reputation.


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    #8
    RtD
    Registered Users Posts: 165 ✭✭RtD


    I'll give another vote for the Giants, I have an FCR1 ('07) and she's a beaut. The 105 set has only skipped twice in the four or five months I have it, first time when I got a few small branches caught in it and the second time when the rear mech decided to swallow a newspaper that was blowing around on Pearse St. If your budget allows I recommend a carbon forked bike, really helps remove some of the 'road buzz', though I undid some of this good work by changing my tyres to 23c for that small bit of extra speed.


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    #9
    TinyExplosions
    Registered Users Posts: 6,860 ✭✭✭TinyExplosions


    I had one of the Ridgeback Mountain bikes... cheap as chips, but a great rider... I wouldn't have any hesitation is getting one of their higher end models.... You should be able to find them in Cycle Superstore as well.

    You could also look at fixed gear -my commute is anything up to 15km, and no problems on my Kona Paddy Wagon -I do have flats on it, but will be putting drops back on for longer rides


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    #10
    daymobrew
    Registered Users Posts: 6,501 ✭✭✭daymobrew


    dub_skav wrote: »
    I was looking at the Sirrus and Giant FCR ranges myself. Ended up going with a Lapierre RCR 500, which I find excellent. Really nice ride position and a nice fast bike.
    I got a Sirrus Elite for Christmas. I preferred the Sirrus over the RCR500 because I felt that its spoke configuration would make for stronger wheels (more spoke overlap) and the Armadillo 700x28 tyres would offer good puncture protections.

    I was also influenced by my positive experience with my previous two bikes (both Specialized: no suspension '96 Hardrock and a '01 FS Rockhopper; I put skinny tyres on both).


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