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Dreaming of a new winter commuter/get around town bike

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    #2
    roadster5
    Registered Users Posts: 105 ✭✭roadster5


    Im also in the market for a long distance touring bike and woud be interested in poeples views on the above choices

    I am currently currently considering a Genesis Tour de Fer 20
    https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bike/tour-de-fer-20

    Thanks

    Rob


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    #3
    droidus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭droidus


    WMP wrote: »
    Because its nice to fantasize and look at nice bikes.

    But I'm also considering replacing my 10 year old Cube touring bike. It has served me well but is starting to get old and worn out and I feel I can justify replacing it after 10 years.

    I found a few and wanted your opinions. What do you think and can you suggest any better alternatives?

    Must have's:
    Mudguards, rack and dynamo lights.
    Flat bars.
    11 speed or better hub gears (never had and want to try)
    Gates belt drive (never had and want to try)

    Last two seem the way forward for a bike that should do me another 10 years at least.

    Options:

    https://www.stevensbikes.de/2019/index.php?bik_id=73&cou=US&lang=en_US

    https://www.rosebikes.de/rose-black-lava-2-carbon-drive-trekking-herren-822216

    https://www.canyon.com/en/urban/commuter/2018/commuter-8-0.html

    Cheers!

    A few thoughts.

    Hub gear and belt drive are a fantastic combination and should see you well through the winter.

    The first two bikes are both at the heavier end of the average. The canyon range looks good but are very pricey for something you dont get to try first.

    The Alfine 11 is reportedly less reliable than the Alfine 8 and whilst it has a better range you arguably dont need those extra gears.

    Here's a thread with some more options:

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=104928282

    I went for the Cube Hyde race after 6 years on a cannondale hubbed bike. New tyres, mudguards, a bit of handlebar shortening and have been very happy with it since. If you can live with alfine 8 and no dynamo its probably the best mix of value and quality.

    https://www.cube.eu/cz/2018/bikes/trekking/urban/hyde/cube-hyde-race-blackngreen-2018/


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    #4
    droidus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭droidus


    Damning review of the canyon here: https://cyclingtheafsluitdijk.wordpress.com/2018/02/23/canyon-commuter-the-worst-bike-i-ever-had/


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    #5
    WMP
    Registered Users Posts: 84 ✭✭WMP


    The Genesis bike looks like a good bike Rob. Have you decided on it? It would be ideal but I am really after hub gears this time.

    Droidus, thanks for posting that thread. I had actually searched for it but couldn't find it. I agree that the first two bikes are heavy and bulky looking. I agree on the canyon also, looks good but its very pricey for what you are getting. You can get a Rose with Rohloff hub for nearly the same price. I think the canyons look great online but I have seen a few in the flesh and was disappointed. Nothing special about them at all. I have seen some similar style cubes that look better and are about half the price.

    I really like the Boardman URB and the Radon Urban Supreme SE and have seen it online for 1199 which looks really good.

    https://www.radon-bikes.de/en/urban-fitness/urban/urban/urban-supreme-fe-2018/

    Has anyone tried out the Alfine 8 and 11 speed hubs? I had a very quick spin on both but not far enough to really test them out to know whether the 8 speed would be enough. Around town and my commute is flat.


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    #6
    droidus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭droidus


    The Boardman is the lightest of the options, but to get the belt drive you have to go to the 11 which is nearly €2500. I had to dismiss it as an option as it wasnt available here and I couldnt get it on Bike to work. The 8.9 looks like a good compromise.

    The Radon is a nice, sensible looking machine, good value, but heavy enough.

    Ive done about 4000 miles on the cube hyde race this year, 20 miles a day across the city, up and down a few hills. Its fine. My previous bike was also an alfine 8 and the only problem I ever had was with the chain stretching. No problems at all with the belt except it creaks a bit when its wet. Thats 7 years in total doing my commute on an Alfine 8. Id never go back to a derailleur. With mudguards, tyres, pedals, USB lights, rack and a bit taken off the handlebars, the Cube becomes as practical as the Radon and not quite so chunky.

    I initially wanted to upgrade to an Alfine 11, but the combination of price and questions about reliability made me stick with the 8. The only thing to look out for is gear ratio. The Cube is lower than my Cannondale was, so that took a bit of getting used to, and is expensive to change because of the belt.

    My number one bit of advice would be to make sure you try the bike before you buy. I thought the BMC's looked great, but they it didnt feel right when I took one for a spin.


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    #7
    cdaly_
    Registered Users Posts: 6,440 ✭✭✭cdaly_


    Have you considered a Thorn?. The Mercury seems to fit your bill.


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    #8
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 49,589 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    hopefully he's better at designing bikes than he is at designing brochures.


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    #9
    WMP
    Registered Users Posts: 84 ✭✭WMP


    Droidus, I like the look of the Boardman as it looks light and fast. Same for the BMC. But it doesn't come with integrated lights and rack. I'd rather buy a bike configured the way I want it. Thanks for the review on the Cube Hyde. You have made me think I should go for the 11 speed hub : ) I agree that any bike really needs to be tried out before buying.

    The Thorn looks good but I probably wont spend that much.

    I am going to have a look in some bike shops after work today. Cheers!


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    #10
    droidus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭droidus


    Be wary of the 11! Generally seems fine but when they are faulty it seems they are really faulty. Oil leaks are the main complaint.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=alfine+11+reliability

    Fitzcycles has both the BMC and the Cube IIRC.


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    #11
    droidus
    Registered Users Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭droidus


    Oh, and no shop will let you take a bike out for a test in the rain, so today may not be the best day.


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    #12
    WMP
    Registered Users Posts: 84 ✭✭WMP


    droidus wrote: »
    Oh, and no shop will let you take a bike out for a test in the rain, so today may not be the best day.

    I did have a look yesterday but didnt find anything I was interested in taking for a spin. Hunting more online and found two interesting options. I partcularly like the Ghost. Its quite heavy but has everything I wanted otherwise.

    Have also contacted my LBS and asked if he can offer or build me something similar or better. Lets see : ) If not I might go for the Ghost Urban.


    https://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=8;product=258161;menu=1000,173,205;pgc%5B7076%5D=7078;pgc%5B14840%5D=14842

    https://www.bike24.de/1.php?content=8;product=298073;menu=1000,173,158;pgc%5B130%5D=464;pgc%5B14837%5D=14839;pgc%5B131%5D=467


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