leisure bike on cycle to work scheme.

Fian

Colleague of mine wants some suggestions for a bikes suitable for leisure spins on the cycle to work scheme, would be grateful for any suggestions. Pasting in the ones I have come up with together with my comments on them.

http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bikes/road-bikes/boardman-road-team-carbon-bike

This one is all carbon – carbon reduces road buzz/vibrations so tends to be more comfortable. 9 kg so not particularly light as carbon bikes go. Tiagra gearset which is decent, mid range. Compact chainrings and endurance geometry which is what you would want. This is good value, difficult to get an all-carbon bike at this price point.

https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/road/endurace/endurace-al-5-0.html

This one is is pretty equivalent to the boardman. Boardman would probably have the edge on it.

https://www.evanscycles.com/en-ie/cannondale-synapse-alloy-105-5-disc-2016-road-bike-EV239410


Cannondale are really good frames/bikes. This one is a bit heavier than some of the others listed here. Mechanical rather than hydraulic disc brakes. I would probably give this one a miss. Not sure if you can get cycle to work scheme on evans cycles.



https://www.canyon.com/en/road/endurace/2016/endurace-al-6-0.html

This next one is the one I would probably want to get. Shimano 105 11 speed gearing, which is a step up from tiagra gearing. Aluminium frame rather than carbon, but it is lighter than the boardman. Endurance geometry. Slightly over budget. Better wheels and brakes. All round good entry-mid level bike. Carbon fork to reduce road buzz, but not carbon frame. This one would be my favourite close to your intended budget.


https://www.canyon.com/en-ie/factory-outlet/#category=road-bikes&id=17896

This one is a really good bike. It is aluminium rather than carbon. Ultegra gearing which is a step up from 105. Hydraullic disc brakes. This one is a great bike, but it is a bit outside the budget you mentioned. Good wheels - wheels can be the most expensive component). This is a cyclocross bike, intended for use in fields as well as on road, but it is a comfortable geometry. You couldn’t ride this in a field without changing the tyres. You can see in the photos some wear, this would matter a lot more in a carbon bike, fine in an aluminium bike.

This is the best bike in this list up to now, also most expensive, also best value for money.

magicbastarder

Fian wrote: »

Not sure if you can get cycle to work scheme on evans cycles.

on this note, your colleague should check if there are any restrictions on where he or she can buy which are applied by their employer.

Fian

magicbastarder wrote: »

on this note, your colleague should check if there are any restrictions on where he or she can buy which are applied by their employer.

yes, same employer so I know canyon & halfords are ok, pretty sure (but not certain) evans are not.